Route Calais-Annecy Toll Free/Minimal?? (1 Viewer)

BeeSea

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Calling all you seasoned MoHo skiers...We are heading off next Wednesday for our first skiing mission in the MoHo. We've digested and acted on on all the brilliant prep advice on this amazing forum. We've earmarked a few resorts to sample over the 4 week trip (Morzine, Samoens, Praz de Lys etc). What we'd like to glean is your suggestions on the best toll free or minimal toll route to get down to the Annecy/Chambery/Alberville area from the ferry. We are in no rush, but would prefer to avoid the farmers lanes!! Google comes up with the N57 via Luxembourg.
 

jonandshell

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Luxembourg, Nancy, Gex, Annecy from memory.
Nice little stopover before Gex, a free aire at Les Rouses with a nice warm up ski resort right outside the van.

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Feb 9, 2008
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Well as promised recommendations and some more.
Calais to Annecy. Total cost with tolls (Class 2 motorhome) €220 (Includes fuel cost, Toll cost €104.40) time 8.1/2 hrs distance 823 Km.
Without Tolls €175. Time 12.41 Hrs distance 945 KM via Luxemburg (Cheap fuel in Luxemburg ?).
Route: (With Tolls) https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/R...wance=0&corridor=&departureDate=&arrivalDate=
Avoid Paris option. I would recommend the toll route for this journey.

Here's the 'some more bit'
Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. This first link is an award winning database about France. It’s big and with a host of information on best routes to many locations. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. It’s almost Toll free (more on that a little later) and almost all duel carriageway from start to finish with the exception of about 100 K. This route is great for motorhomes small, medium and large. Note: (HGV’s are not allowed on French roads, Sunday’s, so plan your journey over a weekend if possible).

https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm

Tolls: We avoid the toll road from Calais to Abbeville and save 12.50 Euros. The non-toll route is quite scenic and fairly straight forward, between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Abbeville.

At Abbeville, join the A28 and cross the river Sein at Rouen. We take the second exit immediately after crossing the bridge (about 50 m past the first exit at the end of the bridge), swing down and under the bridge you have just crossed and continue on this road and join the A13 motorway until the N154 which takes you down to Evreux. (Note: there are a number of different options for getting through Rouen and no doubt other members will have their own preferences. We find this very straight forward on both outward and return legs). Approaching Tours on the D910 join the A10 toll road at Jct. 19 and exit at Jct. 23. This will take you through the city via the toll road, (about 2.50 euros). At Jct. 23 take the exit lane for Montbazon which returns you to the D910. (Reverse for the return leg). That’s the last toll to pay until you hit the bottom of the A63 after Bordeaux.

To save toll fares on the A63 south of Bordeaux please read the route recommendations in the above link. Do not come off the A63 near the bottom as all roads will be heavily congested and it’s worth paying the last few tolls. (Fuel costs approx. €126.72. (Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.20 per ltr. 3.5T motorhome)). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.

If heading to the Mediterranean side of Spain, it’s worth taking the N121-A to Pamplona after crossing the Spanish boarder on the A63 at Irun. It’s clearly sign posted (Large white sign) about 300 m after passing through the last toll booth and crossing the river. You will find more details in this link for the N121-A and how to navigate Spain toll free.

https://about-spain.net/travel/no-tolls.htm

If you decide to pay Tolls in order to save time getting to Spain, your best route options are in this link.

https://about-france.com/tourism/routes-to-spain.htm

Should you choose to plan your own routes anywhere in Europe and also establish Toll costs, (or toll free costs) use this link. Under route options, select caravan then select toll roads. Toll costs for a class 2 motorhome will be calculated for the whole journey. You can also choose Non toll routes and other options. This is currently one of the best online free route planers.

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

As for stop overs on routes, you can’t go wrong using the App below which is free but I would recommend getting the paid version for about £6.00 which you can then use off line. You will find numerous places to stop along the above route and I have deliberately not made any recommendations so drivers can make their own choices. This app is also brilliant for finding other places too and highly rated by many users.

https://www.campercontact.com/en/content/app

There is another popular app/website that is used which you may also find useful if you’re doing a lot of wilding and looking for free overnight stops. It too is used by many motor homers in Europe. Get the paid version to use off line for around £9.00

https://www.park4night.com/

Finally, probably the best off line maps ‘App’ and used by many. It also includes a sat-nav function which is quite good and can also be used off line. Again many motor homers use this, especially in Morocco.

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BeeSea

BeeSea

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Fantastic response so far PhilandMena & JonandShell. Thank you :)
 
Feb 18, 2009
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Hi BeeSea = good timing - plenty of early season snow - another vote for Luxembourg route this always seemed easiest for us to get down to the Alps - and fill up with cheap diesel as a bonus
Enjoy your first skiing trip in the van

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@BeeSea The pro's and con's of which route.
If you travel non-toll via Luxemburg your total journey time is approx. 12.4 hrs with 4hrs of that driving on non motorway. This will have an impact on your fuel consumption as compared to being able to drive at a consistent speed on a toll road and some of the roads may have minor issues with snow/ice. However, there will be a fuel saving of around 18 cents per litre if you brim in Luxembourg. If you can get 70 Lts in that will be a saving of 12.6 Euros. This will be offset against the greater distance you have to travel.
If you go via the toll route, you will be able to drive at a more consistent speed and therefore get a better fuel consumption. (However, you will need to refuel off the motorway to get the best deals and this is easy, just brim when you come off the ferry and then one minor detour around half way down or so to brim again and it's job done. (your sat nav will do all the work for you). Although you will be paying an additional €104 40 in tolls your journey will be some 4 hrs shorter and you will be driving on motorways that will be free of ice and snow (Any snow or ice that forms on toll roads is very quickly dealt with) and a shorter overall distance..
When you add up all the costs, time, quality of roads and time of year, I'm of the view the toll option is probably going to be the best option, especially at this time of the year.
Like you I prefer and use Non toll route most of the time, it's a pity Annecy is not in the south west corner, there are some fantastic non toll routes right down to the Spanish border.
My wife and I visited that area some years ago, a stunning area and some great ski resorts. Have a great journey.

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BeeSea

BeeSea

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Beautiful pics @PhilandMena! and thank you @SteveandSue. As we've got no real rush, and as long as the forecast is good, we think we'll give the Luxembourg route a go. We were toying with a Belgium Christmas market on the way as well, so it fits. Wednesday arvo ferry here we come....Every day's a school day with the MoHo :)
 
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+1 for Luxembourg (fill up with fuel!!), then eastern France. Good half way stop at Point a Mousson or Charmes. Ai
re by the river. We only ever go from Zeebrugge, but have done this route from Dunkirk by cutting over towards Brussels. The route south is generally good dual carriageway, but toll free, for much of the way.

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jonandshell

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The ski area and free aire at Port du Balancier, Les Rousses on the non toll route.
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BeeSea

BeeSea

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Thanks @jonandshell ...might take a left turn and drop in on the way down if the cover holds up. Looks like a great place to do Christmas!
 

jonandshell

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Thanks @jonandshell ...might take a left turn and drop in on the way down if the cover holds up. Looks like a great place to do Christmas!

There's a restaurant and ski shop at the aire too. Its quite low so check the snow before you commit.

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Chablais

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Hi Folks, we are in Essert Romand at the moment, just a few Km from Morzine and Les Gets, we have the most snow this area has seen at this time of year in ten years! It has snowed 4-6 inches a night for almost a week! There is a free aire(car park) at the base of the Perriers lift in Les Gets, it has a toilet dump and a flot Bleu nearby, but no hook up. There is also a new aire in Morzine, free to use, but have to pay for the Flot Bleu, it is on the free bus route about 1km from the lifts.
You will need snow tyres and chains if you arrive when it is snowing. Otherwise the roads are clear most of the time. One point to note, there is no LPG for 30km. So fill up if you rely on gas for heating.
We have been out on skis almost everyday for the last two weeks, there is well over four feet of snow cover across the mountains. The whole area has opened early due to the fantastic condistions.
There is also an aire at Praz De Lys, and also Samoen, both nearby, and good good ski areas, smaller than the Portes du Soliel but cheaper and quieter.
We have been cleaning the snow off the roof of the van everyday as we rely on the solar panels for battery re-charge, so ensure you have some ladders that can reach the roofline if you rely on solar!
Have a great journey over, from our experience, Philandmena has the balance about rigt on the use of tolls, we generally avoid, but there is definately a case to use them at some times.
Hope you have a great time
 
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BeeSea

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Thank you @Chablais, really useful info as Morzine area was our first destination for Christmas, so we might bump into you if you're still there :)
 
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BeeSea

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@Chablais We're just on our way down through Belgium now and wanted to check a few details about Les Gets/Morzine...Campercontact shows no water at Les Gets Aire/Carpark and Morzine isn't free (11.50 a night). Can we get an update? Thanks :)

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Chablais

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Hi
I need to go and check physically will go Thurs am and check. There is no charge at Les Gets the sign has been taped over. From memory I cannot remember seeing a water tap. But there is defo a flot bleu about 100m away so presume that has water.
It is right at the base of the Perrier lift a really good position and the snow is fabulous. About 70% of lifts are open with the remainder opening on 23rd
If you are stuck you are welcome to get water at our place in Essert Romand we are here until Dec 30th
Will check the Morzine aire and let you know
Andy
 
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BeeSea

BeeSea

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Thanks @Chablais !! Don't go too far our of your way. We're just looking for a park/aires in the valley to do Christmas and have a ski (med-advanced). We're totally wild camp equipped, but looking for a village close by and a lift or ski bus. Les Gets seems to be the pick in the valley?? Thank you :)
 

Chablais

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You are walking distance to the village at the Les Gets park, not in the valley. If you want a lower cost lift pass(and a smaller ski area) then Praz des Lys or The Grand Turche at St. Jean D'Aulps are half the lift pass price also a bit quieter. It is quiet here in Morzine area at the moment, but it will be super busy over Christmas now rhe snow is here in abundance.The car park in Samoen that you are allowed to use is not in the village, but at the base of the lift, and there is also a cafe/bakery there, but no services as far as I know. You can also park for free at Sixt fer a Cheval which is further up the valley from Samoen, very quiet, very small village, but a bakery and a couple of bars, there are services. You can ski from there and link with Samoen/Flaine.

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BeeSea

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Great INTEL @chablias, we'll be there Friday night and have 2-3 weeks to have a sniff around! :)
 

Chablais

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Been to look at the new Morzine aire, and it appears to be free, could not find any signs relating to a charge. There is a charge for the Flot Bleu and also for hook up. There was just two vans using it this morning. It is not that large, maybe space for 8-10 vans.
Hope your journey has been good, no new snow forecast for the next few days so should be plain saling, all roads in our area are free of snow.
 

Chablais

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Update, the Les Gets Aire has a brand new sign erected yesterday!! It is 18 euros one night, five nights for 47 euros, so not free anymore.
The season starts tomorrow, Sat 23rd so i guess signs are still going up.
Blue sjy forecast for weekend and Christmas day

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BeeSea

BeeSea

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Thanks @Chablais, I did read that it was 18 Euros. We might look elsewhere.. (Praz des Lys, Samoen, Suxt fer a Cheval, Morzine??). I am down at Cluses tonight and will head up in the morning.
 

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