Why driving to the Alps (via Eurotunnel) is the way to do it
Load up the car with all the family or a group of friends, hit the road and head for Folkestone, where Eurotunnel will whisk you across the Channel in just 35 minutes
Five reasons to do a self-drive ski holiday with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle:
Reduce your carbon footprint
If your car is full of passengers (three people +), your carbon emissions are reduced by up to 67% compared to flying – even less if your car is electric.
What’s more, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle produces on average 2kg of CO2 per car per crossing, compared to 147kg of CO2 for a typical Dover-Calais ferry. That’s 73x less!
Make the journey part of the holiday
Enjoy all that France has to offer on your way to or from the slopes. Stop overnight in one of the wine regions for a slap up meal (Champagne or Dijon works out well with distances) and fill your boot with supplies for the holiday.
Flexibility
Taking your car makes it easy to transport your ski gear to and from the slopes, or even change resorts if snow conditions aren’t great.
No delays (no airport transfers)
By the time you’ve made it to the airport, checked in, flown, and, on the other side, made your transfer to resort, you’re often looking at travel times on par with driving all the way.
Airport transfers to ski resorts are not only mega expensive but can cause delays, waiting for other travellers or baggage. Driving yourself means you can get straight to your accommodation and choose your travel times.
Save money
The cost of flights and car hire has significantly increased since the pandemic, making Eurotunnel a much cheaper way to travel to Europe, particularly for groups and families. If you have multiple people in your car it’s likely to work out cheaper than flights. Throw in what can be eye-watering costs for airport-to-resort transfers, and you’ll wish you drove all the way.
More room for ski gear
Taking a car allows skiers to pack more than the amount aircraft baggage allowance permits for no extra cost – perfect for those who have a full quiver of skis they’re looking to take out. Ski and board bags often cost £40 each way, so you’ll be saving beer money.
Family friendly
Driving to a ski resort is a great option for families who might find it easier to pack up the car and travel in more comfort than by plane, say. The scenery and regular stops at service stations cut up the journey, which you can be fully in control of.
Ski Resort Drive Times (from Calais)
- Le Grand Bornard & La Clusaz (7h35)
- Saint Gervais (7h45)
- Chamonix (7h45)
Savings
Crossings can be booked from £82 per vehicle (up to nine passengers) each way with a Short Stay Saver ticket with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (valid for 5 calendar days).
Standard tickets (for any duration) cost from £104 per vehicle (up to 9 passengers) one way.
Flexiplus tickets mean you can turn up any time and get on the next available train, plus give access to the club lounge, and cost £269 per vehicle one way.
And for some, the best thing about all of this is that you can take your pet from just £22 each way.
Eurotunnel customers can take advantage of an exclusive promotion with Skimium ski rental service with savings of up to 60%.
For more information visit Eurotunnel
