Savvy skiers are now driving to the Alps – here’s how to do it

Heading for the slopes but keen to avoid the airport? Pack your car and hit the road, says Dave Watts

Driving has long been a great way of getting to the mountains. Travelling by car avoids all the hassle of airports, baggage allowances and tiresome transfers at the start and end of your ski holiday – and with the ski season approaching, the number of British skiers hitting the road looks set to boom.

Recent research by the Ski Club of Great Britain showed that 28 per cent of people intend to drive to the slopes this winter instead of fly, compared with just 16 per cent in 2019. It’s easy to see why.

“Self-drive ski holidays represent excellent value. They also give skiers more flexibility. Guests can bring skis, boots and as much luggage as they want without paying the airlines’ skyhigh extra charges,” said Alison Willis, from tour operator Peak Retreats.

It’s not just the journey that appeals. In many resorts, having a car is handy for visiting nearby ski areas, to extend your trip and to help ease the stresses once you arrive. “Fifty per cent of our clients take self-drive packages and lots of them stop on the way down and back to get seven or eight days skiing in,” said Jane Bolton of Erna Low. “Those renting apartments also shop in cheaper supermarkets in the valley to avoid paying high prices for food and wine in resort.”

I couldn’t agree more that driving beats flying. A group of three friends and I have driven to the Alps regularly for holidays. Over the years we’ve cracked the code to the perfect escape. We book a week in a smart apartment – which are increasingly comfortable and spacious – and, rather than joining the weekend traffic, set off early on a Thursday. En route, we stay in a valley town with its own ski area at a bargain price for two nights, ski there on Friday and move on early Saturday morning to our resort for the week.

We repeat the tactic on our return, departing Saturday morning and stopping at a different resort, gaining an extra afternoon on the slopes and an easy drive home on Sunday. Our itinerary often includes many of the resorts listed below – either as the main base or as a stopover. We’ve had great days skiing in La Clusaz and Courmayeur on the way to or from bigger resorts such as Val d’Isère and Courchevel in the Tarentaise. That’s the joy of driving to the Alps: you’re in control of your own schedule, with the choice to ski or stop, as much or as little as you want.

Driving can also work out much cheaper than flying, especially if you are taking your own equipment and splitting the cost of fuel between a group. It’s a great way of travelling for families too, who don’t need to worry about cramming childrens’ gear into their luggage allowances.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to drive to the Alps.

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i Snow business: try driving this year h Packing options are better with a car