Hi Guys,

I'm off skiing in the Italian Alps this winter, anyone got any advice on car preparation for the trip. Or what, leagally I need to know about driving in France, Switzerland and Italy, bulbs, snow chains, hi vis jackets etc.

Thanks.

I drove through a few different European countries a couple of years ago and i use the AA country specfic pages

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/countrybycountry.html

Dougall

... i use the AA country specfic pages ...

+1

Personally I'd recommend winter tyres.

I guess alot depends whether you want you are just driving to the resort, or are planning a bit more driving once there.

From my experrience, the 'average' alpine roads (the type upto ski resorts) are kept clear (clear tarmac) most of the time, only being covered by snow for a short time after a snowfall.

The more common danger on these roads is black-ice in the morning, and from dusk onwards (during the day most ice patch seem to melt)

Many smaller roads around resorts can be covered in inches of hard-packed snow-ice for the entire winter.

- all weather/altitude dependent of course !

General stuff:

Check all your fluid levels in the vehicle; make sure you've got correct anti-freeze; worth taking extra water and anti-freeze concentrate (you can empty your washer bottle quite quickly);

Small shovel (or something can you could use to big snow with); a small foam matt can be usefull if you need to crawl around on the ground to fit snow chains; pair of gloves for same purpose; WD40

Watch out for local drivers ! The swiss seem to drive faster in the winter than the summer !

The worst drivers are the German and Dutch going upto/down from the resort - seen some really aggressive dangerous driving

It can be very intimidating driving up narrow roads, with a huge drop on one side, and another car about 2 foot away from your rear bumper !

Edited 17 November, 201015 yr by snow_muncher

^

What snow_muncher said. I've done it with just summer tyres and chains and then with winter tyres. I'd definitely, definitely recommend getting winter tyres - it's much safer and easier. This year, with my winter tyres, I didn't have to put my chains on once and I would certainly have needed to on summer tyres.

Also, practice putting on and removing your chains a couple of times before you go. Don't make my mistake and do it for the first time at the side of a road in a blizzard at 11:30 at night. :wonder:

Oh yeah, take some cash Euros to pay off the French police when you get yanked for speeding due to inevitable autoroute boredom.

Hi Guys,

I'm off skiing in the Italian Alps this winter, anyone got any advice on car preparation for the trip. Or what, leagally I need to know about driving in France, Switzerland and Italy, bulbs, snow chains, hi vis jackets etc.

Thanks.

The link on Dougalls post is a good one

I went to the Alps a couple of years ago in an Octy L&K diesel, Just did the usual preps for any long trip & didnt bother with winter tyres but took chains. We found all the main roads & resort roads were cleared every day but if you come off them you will have problems. At the end of our week we had to dig the car out (we took a shovel) & needed the chains just to get out of the hotel car park but took them off as soon as we were on tarmac. The only other problem we had was the washers freezing up on the journey down but the car was showing -10 so understandable. Thankfully we had some water in the car.

As well as all the extra things you have to carry I would add the following

Water & food in the car in case you get stuck, I know someone who was caught in a queue for 8 hours a few years ago following a huge accident in the snow ahead. Have your ski jackets accesible + a blanket etc just in case you need them + suitable footwear, especially useful if someomne has to get out with the shovel

If you have a tow rope take it, if you get stuck you can often find someone to help but odds are they wont have a rope.

Other things I always take when going on a long trip, very basic tools, a roll of duck tape in case you have a minor bump & a spare set of keys kept by someone else & not left in the car.

Also always keep a reosnable amout of fuel, when my friend was stuck for hours some in the queue ran out of fuel.

Make sure you have decent recovery insurance,

Thousands do the trips every year & many go ill prepared & seem to get back OK so you should be fine

Edited 17 November, 201015 yr by Stuart_J

Hi Guys,

I'm off skiing in the Italian Alps this winter, anyone got any advice on car preparation for the trip. Or what, leagally I need to know about driving in France, Switzerland and Italy, bulbs, snow chains, hi vis jackets etc.

Thanks.

Take the Ducati...

I've done it before, good fun trip..

Only thing to add to the above - just take your time - take plenty of stops en route and make sure you have a shovel of some sort if needed. The roads are swept clean and are generally fine. Allow enough time to defrost / dig out your car before you need to leave. Try and plan your trip so you are not having to drive on any Alpine roads early in the morning before they've been swept..

I copied the other cars in the car park outside our chalet in lifting the wipers of the screen so they don't freeze in place.

This was my car after being parked up for a week:

Back, looks ok, a little bit of snow to clear...:

Front, er, cripes! there's a car in there somewhere. look closely and you can just see the wipers sticking up.

This took about an hour to dig out and defrost. :p

If going through France make sure that your headlights are adjusted prior to arrival and not when in France, either by the sticker thingys from Halfords (about £5) or via a dealer. Ensure you have a hi vis vest or jacket for ALL occupants of the car and that they are in the car and not the boot. I lived in Spain (if you're going that way to the Alps, I suggest you get a new satnav) but regularly travelled up through France.

About 2 years ago, France brought in new traffic laws and the French Police were only TOO keen to enforce them with on the spot fines. The ferry companies promote this, and try to flog you the gear but it is all way over priced.

If you wear spectacles, ordinary and tinted, don't forget a spare pair, as in some countries it is the law to have a spare pair. I carried two spare in case I broke a pair, but you have to draw the line somewhere!! Don't forget First Aid boxes, fire extinguishers, warning triangles, (in Spain there is a requirement to carry two warning triangles; one to be placed to the rear of the accident/breakdown and one to the front). Spare fuses and bulbs, be interesting to see how they can enforce that with cars fitted with xenons!

Most of all, enjoy it. Give me French and Spanish smooth and empty two lane motorways over our overcrowded rumble strips any day!

Fin

Just reiterating what others are saying but it is important stuff. On top of the legal requirements for driving on the continent...

Snow Chains...during the winter they can & will turn you back if you turn up at the mountain without them.

PLENTY of food & drink in the car

You can not bring enough blankets & clothing layers

Replacement fluid for the various engine bay bits!

Always keep the fuel topped up well

Extra shoes & trousers and latex gloves, fitting snow chains will make them all very cold & wet.

Couple of good powerful torches (we used to do the journey at night & fitting snow chains the dark isn't much fun...)

We used to drive up to the alps and a couple of times we got stuck near the top of the mountain in traffic. All it takes is a couple of cars to slide into each other and you can be stuck for a very long time!

Travel on Sunday since most vacation traffic is on Saturday. Travel early on Sunday morning, it is amazing how empty the roads are until 14h00.

Have some small candles (Tealights) to heat up your car if you get stuck in the horror traffic jams. And make sure that your gas tank is pretty full (at least half) in the mountains, you will run 1 liter of fuel an hour in a traffic jam. If you run low on fuel, try to use the engine every 10 min out of an hour and check that the exhaust is not stuck into the snow.

Gasstations are usually 24hr/7 days a week open on the highways, on other roads the stations might be closed after 18h00. There can be huge distances between gasstations.

And make sure that you have good quality wintertyres, the weather is unpredictable and forecasts can change during the day. Wintertyres (and chains) can save your life in the Alps.

Be aware that many navigation systems plan a Summer route in the Winter and then you will find out that the pass is closed. The center of Switzerland has only a few routes given all the mountains. Check the mountain passes that are open, since most passes are closed in the winter and you can loose many hours driving all the way back (it happened to me!) and taking the detour. Also check the closure time of the train ferry if it is on your route, some close at 17h00 (and I was there at 17h25, arghhhh!). Train ferries are always faster and cheaper than taking the multiple hour detour.

The worst drivers are the German and Dutch going upto/down from the resort - seen some really aggressive dangerous driving

Many thanks! Please keep to the right lane if you see a silver metallic Scout with Dutch License plates in your rearview mirror

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by Constant

I've driven to the Alps to go skiing the last 5 years (at Feb half-term); 4 times to Switzerland (4 Valleys) and earlier this year to Austria (Obergurgl). Switzerland was about 9 hrs from Calais (the tunnel) and was a relatively easy drive, and as Obergurgl was only 100 miles further I reckoned on an additional 2 hrs each way. Added to the fact we'd be using German autobahns as opposed to French autoroutes (hence no tolls) I thought the journey would be cost-neutral (no tolls paying for the additional fuel).

However we had the journey from hell! Everyone seemed to be heading South and Southern Germany resembled a car park; Germans, Belgians, Dutch, and good old Brits all had the same idea. It didn't help that half-terms across Europe seemed to coincide either. Impatient drivers were everywhere (despite popular belef we really are more considerate over here), the roads were clogged, traffic management was virtually non-existent. From tunnel to hotel took 16 hrs! The journey back we diverted through France to avoid as much of Germany as possible and it was equally bad; 16 hours later we arrived at Calais, although really bad weather didn't help as the last 300 miles were in blizzard-like conditions.

I suppose what I'm saying is that it is a long way, you'll need to be as prepared as possible, have European breakdown cover, winter tyres were essential as well as a legal requirement. I have Vredestein Quatracs on and whilst not an out-and-out winter tyre (ie you can get a 'more' winter tyre) they do have the snowflake symbol on and would stand police inspection; I have had them fitted permanently for 2 years (yes, all through the summer too) and they are faultless. I've not had to resort to snow chains (good job as I don't have any) and some weather and slopes have been on the steep and icy/snowy side.

I'm in full agreement about advice given by others above, I just wanted to ensure you knew what you were getting into. I seriously doubt I'll drive to Austria again (we're flying next Feb) although as other half is a teacher we have only a week to spare which may make our schedule a bit more hectic than your's will be. An overnight stop would make a whole world of difference.

Have fun and be safe.

Traffic forecast are available for the mainland, indicating the heavy traffic periods.

http://www.anwb.nl/verkeer/buitenland/verkeersinformatie,/verkeersdruktekalenders.html

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by Constant

Really looking forward to this, we're taking the chunnel, then driving through france into Switzerland then to Livigno in Italy. I understand there a car train through a part of the alps.

Any recommendations on prepping my car, what antifreeze and screen wash would be best and mixed at what ratios.

Anyone got a spare warning triangle, mines not there :S I'd like an original, but might have to settle for a different one.

Really looking forward to this, we're taking the chunnel, then driving through france into Switzerland then to Livigno in Italy. I understand there a car train through a part of the alps.

Any recommendations on prepping my car, what antifreeze and screen wash would be best and mixed at what ratios.

Anyone got a spare warning triangle, mines not there :S I'd like an original, but might have to settle for a different one.

Double check on the AA or RAC sites for exactly whats required, In Spain as of last year I know you now have to carry 2 triangles

Minus 30 C screenwash is recommended for the Alps. Be aware that the wind chill factor will result in colder windscreen temperatures than the outside air, so at -20C you probably will need the -30C fluid.

I always buy 4 cans of 5L before departing, since you have to pay double or triple when buying it at a gasstation (and sold out during periods of continuing snowing). When driving at normal winter temparatures (minus 5 C) I mix it 1to1 with water, not only to save money, it cleans my screen better when the fluid is not too think. If you mix -30 C 1to1 it will result in -10C fluid (or even worse), so be careful not to mix too much.

I understand there a car train through a part of the alps.

I loved the auto train, the Swiss are very efficient. On busy routes the train departs every 20-30 minutes and enough space for all cars. You drive your car onto the train and 15-20 later you are on the other side of the mountain. Loading and off-loading goes very fast. I forgot the price, but it is always cheaper than the detour. There is a huge mountain area between Switzerland and Italia, so the options are limited.

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/services/im-zug/zuege/autoverlad-uebersicht.htm?=

thanks guys.