3:48pm Monday 2nd November 2009
In a winter when many skiers will count every pound – and euro – leading ferry firms are busy promoting the attractions of an eight-hour drive to the slopes of the French Alps.
“You are free to pack unlimited luggage and ski equipment into and on top of your car, and ferry travel gives you the freedom to stretch your legs and enjoy great onboard facilities,” says Sarah Staunton at P&O Ferries.
P&O crossings this winter start at £25 each way for a car and up to nine passengers on the short Dover-Calais crossing. P&O’s website has a direct link to Pierre & Vacances properties, plus suggestions for overnight and lunch stops en route to the slopes.
Meanwhile, SeaFrance claims that families of four could save up to £400 this winter by driving to the slopes.
SeaFrance crossings start at £19 each way for car and up to five passengers – less than £4 per person per crossing each way. The return drive in France of just over 1,200 miles will cost a total £116 on petrol and £55 each way in road tolls.
Although air fares start at £46 return for easyJet returns Gatwick-Geneva, weekly car hire could add another £200, and families could easily pay more than £100 when they exceed their baggage allowance at check-in.
Travel insurance provider InsureandGo says skiers and snowboarders can save around 40 per cent by heading to Bulgaria, rather than a typical resort in the French Alps.
Making a comparison in the pricey Christmas/New Year period, InsureandGo reckons seven nights in mid-range three-star accommodation with six-day lift passes would cost £819 in Bulgaria, against £1,366 in the French Alps, £1,162 in Austria and £1,045 in Italy and £1,264 in the US.
However, Rocket Ski offers seven nights’ half-board at two-star accommodation at Les Deux Alpes in Venosc, south-east France, from December 19, ex-Manchester, from £389.
From the same airports on Boxing Day, seven nights’ half-board at Montgenevre in the Cottian Alps on the Franco-Italian border starts at £529.
Cheapies from Inghams include seven nights’ room-only at two-star apartments in Meribel from £314, incl return flights ex-Gatwick and transfers. Regional departures are available at a supplement.
* INFORMATION: Inghams (020 8780 4447 and inghams.co.uk); Rocket Ski (01273 810777 and rocketski.com); seafrance.co.uk (0871 2222500 and seafrance.com); P&O Ferries (01304 863000 and poferries.
com).
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