Cali Skiing

[Brian’s Dad]

We're thinking about driving to the Alps for skiing this year.

Couple of reasons, fancy giving it a go in the Cali plus a bit more flexibility with COVID.

Logistics, think we'll need a roof topper, duct the heating upstairs and some snow chains (all pretty simple), we've already got snow rated tyres.

It appears there are some ski resorts with car parks with EHU, showers, toilets, ski lockers etc. I think if we can find somewhere like this it will be a good fun adventure. Any suggestions on locations? We'll probably leave Friday back the following Sunday (late Jan).

Thanks in advance!

 

[Brian’s Dad]

Someone must have some thoughts on this?

 

[flying banana]

Zugspitz resort. Cable car across the road. Nice bar. Amazing showers etc. Topper is a good idea. Keeps Ice and snow out the roof mechanism as well as keeping warm. You dont need to duct heat upstairs. The topper and a good quilt was more than enough for me. You could use an electric blanket on hook up

 

[Azteccamper]

Someone must have some thoughts on this?

Nice town with cable car up to meribel and the 3 valleys skiing.
camping-brideslesbains.com

 

[Jay20cali]

Done this every year for the last 7 years
The last few we just drove there in our cali and stayed in a cabin.
Le grand bornand
There’s some aires but for that amount of time I would personally want to stay on a campsite

 

[Tim Hook]

Here's a couple of previous posts -

Winter Fun

Hi Folks, just wanted to report in about my recent trip to the mountains and sing the praises of the wonderful Cali and fantastic France. I set off in my van on 21st Jan and drove down to Courchevel Le Praz. Crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre on the overnighter. 10 hour comfortable drive down...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Best Ski Campsites

Which campsites do your recommend for skiing and why? I’m planning on ‘following the snow’ if there is any at the Easter holidays so lots of recommendations would be really helpful please to have on one thread. I’ll start with http://www.camping-samoens.com/ a great site in Samoen, France...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Brian’s Dad]

Here's a couple of previous posts -

Winter Fun

Hi Folks, just wanted to report in about my recent trip to the mountains and sing the praises of the wonderful Cali and fantastic France. I set off in my van on 21st Jan and drove down to Courchevel Le Praz. Crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre on the overnighter. 10 hour comfortable drive down...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Best Ski Campsites

Which campsites do your recommend for skiing and why? I’m planning on ‘following the snow’ if there is any at the Easter holidays so lots of recommendations would be really helpful please to have on one thread. I’ll start with http://www.camping-samoens.com/ a great site in Samoen, France...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Thanks, I was trying to work out what the threads would be called

 

[andrejab1]

Last year we spent a couple of nights stealth camping next to cable cars in Austria. You can use the restrooms there, and we can go a couple of nights without showering (baby wipes ftw).
For a longer period, we'd be looking for a campspot with a spa (also to pass the long winter nights).

We slept downstairs, and we shoved the hardwear (skis, poles, boots) under the Cali.

This year we've upgraded the Cali with roof bars and rack to stow the hardwear more safely and we plan to spend more nigts away tour-skiing.

 

[sbmcd]

I can recommend this campsite near St Anton, brilliant private shower / bathroom / washing up sink for every pitch, free ski bus stops out side the campsite, swimming pool next door, what's not to like. https://www.camping-arlberg.at/

View from/of your van.

Happier times earlier this year North Devon (Cream first) Lovely. Good campsites that way?

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Brian’s Dad]

I can recommend this campsite near St Anton, brilliant private shower / bathroom / washing up sink for every pitch, free ski bus stops out side the campsite, swimming pool next door, what's not to like. https://www.camping-arlberg.at/

View from/of your van.

Happier times earlier this year North Devon (Cream first) Lovely. Good campsites that way?

vwcaliforniaclub.com

I'd spotted this one, did you drive from England?

 

[Trev]

And there’s this thread as well.

Austria skiing

Juat arrived in Pettneu nr St Anton. Will post some more things as we go along in the hope it may be helpful for others considering winter camping. First thing we learned is that petrol stations on German autobahns can be a long way apart. 65m warning light came up and no service stations for...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Have also skied and camped at Val Cenis. Quite a bit cheaper than Pettneu but no private bathroom!

 

[Trev]

I'd spotted this one, did you drive from England?

Just brace yourself for the electricity bill at the end. Great site.

 

[sbmcd]

I'd spotted this one, did you drive from England?

From Scotland, did the Hull Zeebrugge crossing. Note there are two levels of private facilities, we went for the better of the two, not much more. The heater ski lockers have boot warmers, bliss. You pay for the electricity used but found it not too expensive.

 

[sbmcd]

Does anyone know of anything similar to camping Alberg with private facilities anywhere else in the Alps?

 

[ejmoore]

Vicarious Books publish a guide, All the aires: mountains, which lists (it says) 191 aires & 81 campsites.

Might give this a try next March, but I'm not hardy enough for camping in a small vehicle in really cold weather.

 

[westfalia]

Tirol.

Camping Mayrhofen - Der Erlebniscampingplatz

Der Campingplatz Mayrhofen befindet sich inmitten einer atemberaubenden Landschaft. Genießen Sie Ihren Urlaub voller Natur Pur!

www.campingplatz-tirol.at

The last time we camped there they were fully booked
but let us stay near the entrance with hook up.

Essential for me is a drying room, pool and a good restaurant.

 

[Chris Hardern]

There is a municipal campsite at Samoens which we had 6 nights at in 2018. It has a ski locker where you can leave skis and boots and is a short walk to the gondola so you don't need to drive anywhere.

 

[MrsC]

There is a municipal campsite at Samoens which we had 6 nights at in 2018. It has a ski locker where you can leave skis and boots and is a short walk to the gondola so you don't need to drive anywhere.

This is a great site and location. We drive our Cali from Calais and it’s such an easy drive - 8 hours. We haven’t stayed at the site but stay in an apartment in Morillon which is part of the linked ski area. The ski bus will also get you into town in a couple of minutes if you don’t fancy the walk.

 

[James Lewis]

Not read the whole thread, so not sure if theyve been mentioned already, but id like to try these two sites...

Bienvenue au camping l'Oustalet

Bienvenue au camping l'Oustalet

www.oustalet.com

Camping Rutor

campingrutor.altervista.org

 

[James Lewis]

Not read the whole thread, so not sure if theyve been mentioned already, but id like to try these two sites...

Bienvenue au camping l'Oustalet

Bienvenue au camping l'Oustalet

www.oustalet.com

Camping Rutor

campingrutor.altervista.org

Youre from Bristol, did you buy from heritage Bristol?

 

[TeamLee]

There’s an excellent website and Facebook group (search for winterised) with loads of advice on places to stay

Maintenance Page - Winterised

www.winterised.com

I can recommend the aire at Les Menuires in the 3 Valleys. Spent a week there last Xmas. There are water/electric facilities but no toilets (similar to most aires). About 150metres away is a swimming pool and spa. We bought a weeks pass and used showers there. The van was warm enough without any extra insulation- all we had was a very thick duvet.

 

[Brian’s Dad]

Youre from Bristol, did you buy from heritage Bristol?

I got mine for on Loughton VW. Have used heritage for warranty work, sadly not impressed!

 

[Trev]

There’s an excellent website and Facebook group (search for winterised) with loads of advice on places to stay

Maintenance Page - Winterised

www.winterised.com

I can recommend the aire at Les Menuires in the 3 Valleys. Spent a week there last Xmas. There are water/electric facilities but no toilets (similar to most aires). About 150metres away is a swimming pool and spa. We bought a weeks pass and used showers there. The van was warm enough without any extra insulation- all we had was a very thick duvet.

Thoroughly recommend winterised.com it’s the skiing equivalent of this forum!