In less than 24 hours time Betty the Yeti is off for her first long distance adventure, taking me and the other half to the Alps for a fortnight of skiing.

Folding the back seats down and loading up with luggage including boot bags, rucksacks and 4 pairs of skis. Music (150 odd albums) loaded onto an SD card in the Bolero (and another SD card with 50 odd more albums in the armrest box), 6 CDs of stand up comedy in the CD changer, Tom Tom hard wired in and mounted on a proclip on the A pillar ...

Overnight ferry (good meal and a bottle of wine, then off to sleep in the cabin) from Hull to Rotterdam, then driving down via Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France to Chamonix.

I'm looking forward to the journey almost as much as I'm looking forward to the skiing ... can't get enough of driving this marvellous car!

In less than 24 hours time Betty the Yeti is off for her first long distance adventure, taking me and the other half to the Alps for a fortnight of skiing.

Folding the back seats down and loading up with luggage including boot bags, rucksacks and 4 pairs of skis. Music (150 odd albums) loaded onto an SD card in the Bolero (and another SD card with 50 odd more albums in the armrest box), 6 CDs of stand up comedy in the CD changer, Tom Tom hard wired in and mounted on a proclip on the A pillar ...

Overnight ferry (good meal and a bottle of wine, then off to sleep in the cabin) from Hull to Rotterdam, then driving down via Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France to Chamonix.

I'm looking forward to the journey almost as much as I'm looking forward to the skiing ... can't get enough of driving this marvellous car!

We've taken Beti (please note the different spelling!!) on a similar trip previously. The miles just float by and you get out feeling so fresh it's untrue. Hope you have a great time.

You'll have a great drive down, don't forget to switch to tourist mode when you're off the boat and make sure you time it right that you run out of fuel in Luxembourg, it's cheapest there in Europe.

The miles will tick down very quickly.

We've taken Beti (please note the different spelling!!) on a similar trip previously. The miles just float by and you get out feeling so fresh it's untrue. Hope you have a great time.

Betty is the name my wife chose. I think the car is beautiful, but when the other half first saw it she said "Ugly Betty". I think she's grown used to the quirkyness now, and whatever she thinks about the looks, she loves the car as much as I do. Nonetheless, the name has stuck.

Betty is the name my wife chose. I think the car is beautiful, but when the other half first saw it she said "Ugly Betty". I think she's grown used to the quirkyness now, and whatever she thinks about the looks, she loves the car as much as I do. Nonetheless, the name has stuck.

That's funny as it was exactly the same reason we ended up with Beti!! Good ol' Ugly Beti! I only changed the spelling due to their already being a 'Betty the Yeti' on the forum

Sorry but the Ugly Betty's has been appropriated by us on the railway for the Class 70's!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_70_%28diesel%29

Edited 10 March, 201115 yr by Llanigraham

I would suggest taking out the rear seats:-

1. easier access from rear doors

2. more space

3. lighter car=far better fuel consumption, etc.

4. can refuse hitchhikers without any "conscience"

I would suggest taking out the rear seats:-

1. easier access from rear doors

2. more space

3. lighter car=far better fuel consumption, etc.

4. can refuse hitchhikers without any "conscience"

Can't be a*sed! Plenty of room without all that faffing about!

In less than 24 hours time Betty the Yeti is off for her first long distance adventure, taking me and the other half to the Alps for a fortnight of skiing.

Folding the back seats down and loading up with luggage including boot bags, rucksacks and 4 pairs of skis. Music (150 odd albums) loaded onto an SD card in the Bolero (and another SD card with 50 odd more albums in the armrest box), 6 CDs of stand up comedy in the CD changer, Tom Tom hard wired in and mounted on a proclip on the A pillar ...

Overnight ferry (good meal and a bottle of wine, then off to sleep in the cabin) from Hull to Rotterdam, then driving down via Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France to Chamonix.

I'm looking forward to the journey almost as much as I'm looking forward to the skiing ... can't get enough of driving this marvellous car!

Have a good trip. We took the same route in January and took our Yeti to Austria. Great trip, great car and still rare on European roads. Off again in July and it can't come too soon.

John

You'll have a great drive down, don't forget to switch to tourist mode when you're off the boat and make sure you time it right that you run out of fuel in Luxembourg, it's cheapest there in Europe.

The miles will tick down very quickly.

Thanks James, first time I've used this route to France (usually go via the tunnel and Calais/Reims). Didn't know about cheap fuel in Lux, so I'll try to plan for that.

Have a good trip. We took the same route in January and took our Yeti to Austria. Great trip, great car and still rare on European roads. Off again in July and it can't come too soon.

John

Cheers John, we went that route to Austria (St Anton) last winter, in a Volvo V50, and that's one of the reasons why we've now got a Yeti Ribble Valley? You can't be too far from us?

Thanks James, first time I've used this route to France (usually go via the tunnel and Calais/Reims). Didn't know about cheap fuel in Lux, so I'll try to plan for that.

Yeah well worth it. Well at least for petrol anyway, I'm sure diesel was cheap too. I have a friend in Lux who I go see often and I make sure that I get there on fumes. If you have time drive into the centre of Luxembourg and park and take a look around, it is a lovely old town on what seems like 10 different levels.

Make sure you take lots of snaps too!

You'll have a great drive down, don't forget to switch to tourist mode when you're off the boat and make sure you time it right that you run out of fuel in Luxembourg, it's cheapest there in Europe.

You are of course correct. See all the prices here in this thread I started in the general section:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/192539-a-look-at-average-fuel-prices-over-the-world-in-us-dollars/

Enjoy the trip!!! I'm very much looking forward to doing such a trip soon!

Cheaper is Andorra, but way out of your trip

Fill her up in Lux it is cheaper! And stay at Frances speedlimit! Many many traps and radars. But travelling in France goes very well. Average distance in an hour can be 130km, I always travel on the cruise control, so I cant be caught.

Cigarettes are also cheaper in Lux.

Just plan the trip so you can halt in Lux on the way to Chamonix and on the way back.

Have a nice trip!

Have a good trip Bob.You must be somewhere near me in Elland but Yetis are as rare as rocking horse muck in Calderdale but did see a silver one the other day in Hebden Bridge.

Hope the wind has died down for your crossing.I use Hull Rotterdam on a regular basis and once away from the port the run down the fairly new motorway past Brega (A16 I think) over the bridges and a load of water is great. Antwerp area can be a bit busy will be interesting to see where Tom Tom woman takes you (I have a very bossy Garmin version).

Hopefully me and SWMBO will be making the trip later in the year or early next and not working!!!!

If we can afford the fuel!!!

Some great deals on wine onboard Jacobs Creek Shiraz/Cabernet £2.99 for 6.

Very envious look forward to your photos and report!

Edited 11 March, 201115 yr by Maffa

Have a good trip Bob.You must be somewhere near me in Elland but Yetis are as rare as rocking horse muck in Calderdale but did see a silver one the other day in Hebden Bridge.

Hope the wind has died down for your crossing.I use Hull Rotterdam on a regular basis and once away from the port the run down the fairly new motorway past Brega (A16 I think) over the bridges and a load of water is great. Antwerp area can be a bit busy will be interesting to see where Tom Tom woman takes you (I have a very bossy Garmin version).

Hopefully me and SWMBO will be making the trip later in the year or early next and not working!!!!

If we can afford the fuel!!!

Some great deals on wine onboard Jacobs Creek Shiraz/Cabernet £2.99 for 6.

Very envious look forward to your photos and report!

Hi Maffa, I'm halfway between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. I see that silver one 2 or 3 times a week - seems to commute in the opposite direction to me - and we usually exchange a flash and a wave. I've got a brand new latest model Tom Tom that avoids the traffic ... took me from home to Ossett last week without touching the M62. As I climbed that hill from Elland area to Ainley Top, she took me left and through a housing estate (I almost gave up and ignored her, couldn't believe this road led anywhere), down a narrow little road and then up on to the moor ... mainly roads I never knew existed. Hope she does as well on the mainland!

All packed and everyting in it's place; had a nagging doubt about whether the skis would fit for length, but middle seat folded forward, tails down to the boot floor, they project about 4" over the drivers shoulder ... good enough for me. All tied down and secured so they can't move. Ready to rock!

Have a good trip mate. Want to do this myself one day when the little one is old enough to ski.

Mark

Cheers John, we went that route to Austria (St Anton) last winter, in a Volvo V50, and that's one of the reasons why we've now got a Yeti Ribble Valley? You can't be too far from us?

Between Clitheroe and Blackburn. I used to run coach holidays to the Post at St Anton.

John

Have a good trip mate. Want to do this myself one day when the little one is old enough to ski.

Mark

Hi Mark, I've had my son on skis since he was three when he started going to children's ski school at a local dry ski slope. He's 22 now, a confident, competent skier and as he's never used resort ski schools we've always skied as a family and had a fine time.

John

From all the "I wish" comments it looks like there could be a case for a Yeti European Tour?

Google maps says Rotterdam to Mlada Boleslav is about 900km. Does the factory do tours?

John

Hi John,

yes they do tours by arrangement I believe and possible at Kvasiny too

Skoda Auto

Hoping to go look at the museum at least sometime in July before also heading south to Austria for a few days, if all goes to plan Will opt for the tunnel again as it's much cheaper to drive down there than catch the ferry from Hull; all of 45 minutes away plus my good lady is not that keen on ships

TP

Hi John,

Our little one has just turned 14 months but we would love to go next year.

Mark

The factory tour is really interesting and the museum is nice too, plus you're not far from Prague if you wanted to see some sights me personally I'm not a fan of Prague, I much prefer Hradec Kralove which is 60/70 miles from Mlada Boleslav.

The drive isn't too bad either!

Hi John,

Our little one has just turned 14 months but we would love to go next year.

Mark

We first took our lad to the Alps when he was about 14 months old. He's been every year since then. In the early days I used to have the morning skiing on my own while wifey would play with Andrew in the snow. Then we'd go out for walks or with a sledge or sightseeing in the afternoon. It worked for us.

The thing we never did was put him in a foreign ski school as I've seen some parents do so as he got older he could use the skills he had learned on dry slope (Ski Rossendale). It meant we had to do a bit of time with him on nursery slopes but we had good times.

Don't know where you are but most dry ski slopes offer chidern's sessions. A ski holiday with a toddler can be really enjoyable so long as you give and take and let them find their ski legs without forcing them.

We've always driven out to the Alps too. If only we'd had a Yeti in those early days!

John