Taking a Caravan Skiing

[jerry4]

We are considering taking our touring caravan to the french alps next winter as a cheaper alternative to renting traditional accommodation in a ski resort. Can anybody give me any information on touring sites that are within easy reach of ski lifts. Also, if anybody has done this type of holiday before, any tips etc. We would like to find somewhere that has some non-skiing activities, as not all of our party would be skiing

Jerry

 

[MikeJE]

Maybe www.leversoyen.com would be of interest. I was looking at it with a view to a summer stay but have never stayed there yet. Also see www.lesarcs.com and bourgsaintmaurice.com

 

[Guest]

I am sorry but when I first saw your title I had this vision of a caravan 'swoooshing' down the slopes on 3 runners.

Seriously, I have never done it so can only suggest try searching around the resort web pages as they often list sites in their areas.

 

[Gumbo]

Just booked half hour on our Council Ski slope to see how well the Van behaves on a ski slope, will let you know tomorrow!!!

No I won't van self insured silly to take risks.

Following the thread This sounds like a nice a couple of months in the Alps.

Hope people give sensible replies, Lutz is away maybe he would have some ideas???

 

[Percy1]

Try these:

http://www.campinglescale.com/
http://www.lesauches.com/uk/
http://www.champ-du-moulin.com/en/wintercamping.htm

 

[jerry4]

I'm not sure my caravan DIY skills extend to replacing wheels with skis, but an interesting thought. Wonder if the 85% rule would still apply and what type of towing vehicle would be best. A skidoo maybe!!

Thanks for the replies. I'll look at the websites suggested this weekend and see what I come up with.

Jerry

 

[JanB]

Hi - great way to use your caravan. We used our caravan for ski holidays for many years, mainly in garmisch-partenkirchen in Germany and also Altenmarkt in Austria. We tended to go for the Christmas and Easter School holidays and occasionally during February. If you haven't got onboard water then I would suggest that you use a small container for water in the van rather than use an aquaroll - or get some hefty insulation for it. We used all the onsite facilities apart from toilet, remember that the waste water container will really freeze up solid, just not worth using one IMHO. We always use a snow portch awning with a sharply sloping roof (so that the snow slides off rather than build up on it). Remember to lift your electric cable each day to make sure it doesn't ice up into the ground - got that t-shirt, can take a long time to free it from ice!!!! Keep your boots in the van - nowt worse than freezing cold boots in a morning.

Check the resot you choose in case you need snow chains for the car.

Leave the heating on 24 hours saves risking freezing up - and gives you a cosy van to return to after a days skiing. We kept our ski gear in the shower, rigged up a pole so that it trousers and jackets could hang up and dry out if necessary. Some sites in ski areas have drying rooms and boot and ski lockers for hire - we used to have very good facilities at the site in Alternmarkt.

We were lucky at the resots we used that there were lots of other things to do on non sking days - swimming pool is always useful, most people enjoy slidging or tubing, we are also keen iceskaters which was fun in the evenings on outdoor rinks.

Bourg St Maurice has a very good campsite and lots to do in the area, a friend of ours spends 4 months there every winter.

Enjoy - it is worth the drive.

 

[JanB]

Hi - great way to use your caravan. We used our caravan for ski holidays for many years, mainly in garmisch-partenkirchen in Germany and also Altenmarkt in Austria. We tended to go for the Christmas and Easter School holidays and occasionally during February. If you haven't got onboard water then I would suggest that you use a small container for water in the van rather than use an aquaroll - or get some hefty insulation for it. We used all the onsite facilities apart from toilet, remember that the waste water container will really freeze up solid, just not worth using one IMHO. We always use a snow portch awning with a sharply sloping roof (so that the snow slides off rather than build up on it). Remember to lift your electric cable each day to make sure it doesn't ice up into the ground - got that t-shirt, can take a long time to free it from ice!!!! Keep your boots in the van - nowt worse than freezing cold boots in a morning.

Check the resot you choose in case you need snow chains for the car.

Leave the heating on 24 hours saves risking freezing up - and gives you a cosy van to return to after a days skiing. We kept our ski gear in the shower, rigged up a pole so that it trousers and jackets could hang up and dry out if necessary. Some sites in ski areas have drying rooms and boot and ski lockers for hire - we used to have very good facilities at the site in Alternmarkt.

We were lucky at the resots we used that there were lots of other things to do on non sking days - swimming pool is always useful, most people enjoy slidging or tubing, we are also keen iceskaters which was fun in the evenings on outdoor rinks.

Bourg St Maurice has a very good campsite and lots to do in the area, a friend of ours spends 4 months there every winter.

Enjoy - it is worth the drive.

 

[Anne_374532710]

We have now been on three skiing trips with our American motorhome, first to Bourg St Maurice in France and then the last two winters to St. Anton where there is a brilliant park just off the motorway at Pettneu, so no traveling on mountain roads. Each pitch has its' own adjacent log cabin which houses a large shower cubicle, a bathroom sink and also a sink with draining board, a toilet and a heater with underfloor heating too. This is a real bonus because it means you don't have to keep any water on board that can freeze up and also you have somewhere to hang all your wet clothes. Each pitch also has the use of their own lockable, heated cupboard to keep your skis/snowboard, boots etc. in. There is also a restaurant and a wellness centre with a huge indoor heated pool. Take caution though not to make too much use of the electicity as it is charged seperately and is very expensive, which we found out to our dismay when checking out, so we now take gas fires with us. The ski bus stops right at the gate and takes you to the local slope at Pettneu or onto St. Anton which is just a couple of miles away. Also you can go on to St. Christoph, Zurs and Lech.

 

[vectisrambler]

Jerry,

We have never taken our caravan skiing but have been tempted until we looked into it. We ski twice a year and usually self-cater, so it was natural for us to consider the van option. To that end we visited a few sites close to ski resorts, including the one at Bour St Maurice. These sites tended to be in the valleys and get very little sunshine in the depth of winter. They struck as cold uninviting venues, unlike the sunny heights up out of the mists and the damp.

We then considered the 'savings' against our normal self drive and directly booked apartment. Additional ferry fares, additional fuel, two additional night stops en route, camp site fees, electicity charges, etc soon wiped out or radically reduced the 'savings' to the point whre there was no compettition with the comfort and convenience of a ski in ski out apartment.

If I were resident on the Continent and making regular trips for a few days at a time, I may feel differently.

Phil

 

[nelmo]

Phil, how do you work out your figures?

I was looking into this and, bearing in mind that I have 2 young kids and thus have to go in school holidays, a cheap SC apartment was

 

[nelmo]

(Annoying how you can't edit on this forum)

Sorry, just re-read your post and you state you booked accommodation directly. However, the campsite I am looking at is

 

[nelmo]

(agghhh, me again)

Made a mistake in my calcs (forgot I have to come back!!), so

 

[vectisrambler]

Hi All

I cannot make a fair comparison with a family of four flying to their resort. I admit to not having school aged children and always missing the peak of the French Half Term weeks.

My calculations are based on paying about