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We left our caravan here
campsiteone year, 'though its a few year back now. I believe someone on here went skiing there more recently.It was absolutely beautiful both under several feet of snow and in the spring sunshine, but we did not leave the van there for the summer as we wanted coastal for the kids!
The drawback from a skiing point of view is that its a bit low and a bit far to drive to get any where higher if conditions are bad. The garage mort (leaving the van there) was also a little dearer than at many places we had enquired back then but you did get to stay on your pitch rather than be put in an odd corner somewhere.
Right on the edge of the National Park, the walking is right on your doorstep and the downhill skiing also very close by (walkable but not for us with the children and ski kit) and a free ski minibus ferries to and fro the slopes. The cross country skiing passes alongside the site.
There are plenty of other beautiful sites for winter which look to be as nice for the summer too and plenty seem to offer long term rates but you generally need to ask. From a skiing point of view Bourg St Maurice gives easy access by road to high skiing in several resorts and is at the foot of Les Arcs, bit mundane in some respects though.
When you leave your van air everything well, in the drying room if possible, and put as much as possible in to plastic bags. Don`t leave cushions in place they may well go mouldy on the under sides.
Tips for winter caravanning?
Use a waste bucket not the usual small necked containers because it will freeze and a bucket of frozen waste water is still easy to empty a traditional container is impossible!
Remember all the usual requisites for car, eg chains, very low temp washer additive etc.
Take a couple of fan heaters (for when in occupation)and leave on low overnight, leave them on frostguard during the day.
A slow cooker is a useful cooking aid providing a hot meal after a days skiing without any effort,
Take extra bedding, especially for ladies, our colemen polar sleeping bags were fine for the males but I also needed a couple of fleecy blankets too.
Chemical handwarmers are nice in the bottom of a sleeping bag and warm the feet.
Be aware that it can get very cold! One year at Les Contamines the night temps regularly dropped below minus 20 and some motor homes had real problems with their diesel engines.
A re-enforced small porch awning is extremely useful as a transition area from winter conditions, snow or rain, to the want to be kept dry van!
Leave boots, kit etc in the site drying room overnight.
I can`t immediately think of anything else but I`ve probably forgotten a few things I`ll post more if I think of them. There will be some old threads to find somewhere if you do a search.
I`ll try to answer any specific questions if you want to ask but we haven`t been able to get to the Alps since son no 1 went to Uni!
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Topic: Summer and Winter Site in French Alps
