How to plan the ultimate self-drive ski getaway

Gaze around the French roads in the peak of winter and you’ll notice something obvious; there are hordes of foreign vehicles.

Whether it’s those that have crossed the English Channel from the UK, or those which have come across from other parts of Europe – most tend to have one thing in common. They’re heading to the Alps.

Self-drive ski getaways certainly aren’t something new, but they’re absolutely worth considering if you haven’t done it before. They provide flexibility that flying just can’t compete with – and create a road trip vibe which adds to the whole charm of a skiing getaway.

So, how do you plan such a trip? Let’s take a look at some of the golden rules that you should look to follow.

Location, location, location

Pardon the cliche, but it needs stating. If you’re going to be driving to your ski resort, there are umpteen variables to consider.

Of course, the standard ones will still apply here, whether it’s about the ‘type’ of resort you’re looking for or even the length of the season. In relation to the former, it might be about staying to family friendly areas, which have every other attraction you can think of as well as the slopes themselves. With the season duration, if you’re thinking of traveling towards springtime, it goes without saying you’ll need to choose a higher altitude resort, with Morzinebeing one example.

In addition to the above, you don’t want to be too far from home. While we’re all for road trips, there does come a limit, and some of the resorts can take over 20 hours to drive to from the UK. As such, find your limit, and work from there.

The right vehicle

This will be influenced by a variety of factors – the number of people in your group, the amount of luggage you’ll be taking and of course the type of terrain you’ll be covering.

If you’re looking for a vehicle which is good for skiing, then you’ll want an estate or SUV. That’s because you’ll need the extra space for all of your equipment, and you’ll also want something which is robust enough to tackle winter conditions.

Of course, size isn’t everything, and you will generally need to make use of winter tyres or snow chains to ensure there are no hiccups when ascending the mountain.

Picking the right route and time

Even if you’re a seasoned winter driver, nothing can prepare you for the snowstorms that can blitz the Alps. In fact, on many occasions, the roads will close.

As such, make sure you plan your route accordingly. Traveling in the peak of the evening is never recommended; after all, the last thing you need is to be attaching snow chains in the thick of the night.

Then, there are the toll roads. If you’re coming from the UK, this might be something of an alien concept, but they are very common across Europe and you’ll need to factor these into your route and budget.