Hiring a car in the alps for skiing?

miikeeyy92 · 6 Jan 2017 at 20:59

Hi all,

Looks like the cheapest way for myself and 3 mates to get from Lyon to Les Deux Alps in March is to hire a car - Avis being by far the cheapest.

Has anyone done this before? Anything specific to be aware of other than road conditions/closures?

Thanks.

paradigm · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:02

Once you take into account fuel, parking, damage waiver insurance,(EDIT) and toll roads, is it actually cheaper?

Weather and road dependent you will also NEED chains (I've been in taxis that have been stopped and disallowed to continue without chains fitted, even if they had snow tyres).

I'd have probably driven all the way rather than fly at all, if what you wanted was the cheapest way to the Alps from the UK!

Altibus is usually by far the cheapest way from airport to resort.

Begbie · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:04

Why not just get a transfer bus?

It's what I done from Geneva, you won't need the car there will you?

Will Gill · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:08

Just get a transfer, you won't use the car whilst you're there and if it dumps and you have no chains you won't be allowed up/down the mountain etc.. unless you drive all the way from the UK fully laden with food and luggage it's simply not worth it.

(17th year/Season of experience talking)

miikeeyy92 · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:09

paradigm said:
Once you take into account fuel, parking, and damage waiver insurance, is it actually cheaper?

Weather and road dependent you will also NEED chains (I've been in taxis that have been stopped and disallowed to continue without chains fitted, even if they had snow tyres).

I'd have probably driven all the way rather than fly at all, if what you wanted was the cheapest way to the Alps from the UK!

Altibus is usually by far the cheapest way from airport to resort.

We have free parking at the end, and its 155km for the journey and the car is £170 between 4. Chains is £25 on top i think which sounds like it will be worth it.

As for driving from the UK, we got some cheap flights!

Begbie said:
Why not just get a transfer bus?

It's what I done from Geneva, you won't need the car there will you?

Transfers from LYS to Mont-de-Lans are hundreds of euros. As for transfer buses, one has to get to Grenoble first before they go to our destination (ones I've found anyway) and then they don't go on the dates we'd like!

Right bloody nightmare having people sort out different bits of the holiday!

Will Gill · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:11

Add in the cost of Péages (road tolls), both ways, plus fuel and the cost quickly spirals.

jpaul · 7 Jan 2017 at 07:38

tried http://www.faurevercors-aeroport.fr/reservation e65 each aller/retour ?
as they say car costs + hassle digging it out if it snows.
(A car in Chamonix can be nice to get around whilst there.)

peterattheboro · 7 Jan 2017 at 08:22

My flight to Geneva was £130 return with a board bag and then an £80 return transfer.

Doesn't seem worth the chew hiring a car.

geekman · 7 Jan 2017 at 08:28

If you do get a car with snow chains, make sure you practice putting them on and taking them off a few times before you use them for real. It really isn't as easy as it looks and you don't want to be trying it for the first time in the freezing cold with snow falling all around you.

mr tommo · 7 Jan 2017 at 08:37

Done this a couple of times, and also hired people carriers from the U.K more recently.

Don't hire chains with the car, go to ANY large Carrefour supermarket within 40-50 miles of a mountain and you can pick up the correct sized snow chains for under £20.

9 times out of 10 you won't need them, keep the receipt and return on your way home.

Edit : Use Via Michelin to get a rough idea of toll road costs.