Ski Travel

Self drive ski holidays are a great way to save money, enjoy a much more flexible holiday and be nice to the environment.

Driving to your ski destination can save a lot of money, even when you take channel crossing, fuel costs and road tolls into consideration.

Self driving is also a much more flexible way to travel compared to flying – there are no luggage restrictions or surcharges so you can pack as much as you like and with your journey in your own hands, you can travel at your own pace, stopping off to see the sights or even staying somewhere overnight on the way. Having your own car is also great if you’re staying in a large ski area like the 3 Valleys or Paradiski and fancy a day’s skiing somewhere further afield without having to pack yourself onto a crowded ski bus.

In terms of the drive, most of the popular French ski destinations are around a 10 hour drive once you get off the ferry. The routes are relatively simple and pleasant thanks to the French roads being a lot clearer than the UK motorways and some fantastic scenery of the countryside and mountains.

Our self drive deals include ferry transport over the channel from Dover, Folkestone and Hull.

If you’re booking a self drive holiday, remember:

• To have money aside for road tolls
• To take vehicle documents, insurance and licence with you
• To pack a High Viz Jacket and safety triangle (it’s the law in France)
• Have your car serviced before you go
• Kit out your car with headlight converters, winter tyres, snow chains & a good shovel

It’s not as popular as flying or driving to your ski destination, but the Eurostar ski train is an excellent way to get to the mountains on an enjoyable, hassle free journey.

While it’s often assumed to take much longer to get to the slopes compared to flying, Eurostar daytime journeys actually take a similar amount of time from door to door (in fact, many argue it’s faster). You’ll enjoy a smooth, comfortable and much more hassle free journey with a speedy check in, chairs with more foot room, table seats for sociable travel and even a bar and cafe area serving a range of food and drink. Unlike flights, there are no weight restrictions for luggage, ski / snowboard carriage is welcome as part of your luggage and you won’t be hanging around at the other end waiting for your suitcase because you’ll have it with you. While airport transfers can take hours (sometimes longer than the flight itself) train station transfers tend to be a lot shorter – you can usually hop off the train and be at your accommodation within half an hour.

Our Ski train holidays depart from Ashford or St Pancras and take the Eurostar ski train, which offers direct access to most of the big French ski resorts including Val D'Isere, Meribel and Courchevel and provides a Swiss Alps service too (connected with TGV Lyria) serving resorts such as Zermatt and Verbier.

Book one of our hotels, chalets or apartments with independent travel and know that however you get there, you’ll have a fantastic stay in your ski accommodation. Our ‘accommodation only’ options include hotels, catered chalets and self catering apartments. We have some of the best ski deals around so grab yours before someone else does and if you haven’t already, you can always sort out travel arrangements another day.

Lots of people like the flexibility of taking the transport into their own hands. Choosing accommodation with independent travel is a great option if you’re going on a ski holiday with a group and it’s too difficult for everyone to get to the same airport, or if they all have different travel preferences. If it’s your responsibility to plan the holiday for everyone, it can reduce a lot of hassle on your end to book the accommodation and let everyone worry about their own travel.

Whether you decide to go by plane, train or drive, your accommodation will be waiting for you when you arrive.