Is it worth taking your caravan or motorhome on a ski holiday?

by Ben Wilby
Winter caravanning is becoming more and more popular, with the pastime moving away from just the warmer months to becoming a truly all-year-round pursuit. As a result many people may be thinking about taking their tourer with them to a ski resort this winter.
Many resorts offer pitches and facilities to accommodate motorhomes and caravans, and this can be a great way to experience the joys of skiing at a relatively low cost.
Despite this there are a variety of issues and extra problems that can occur with ski holidays.
With this in mind, we at CaravanTimes have taken a closer look at the benefits and problems associated with taking your tourer with you – as well as the preparation required.
Preparing your tourer and taking the right things
Ensuring that you and your tourer are ready for the freezing conditions is an essential part of the trip and could be the difference between an enjoyable time and a disastrous trip.

For starters, snow chains are not only incredibly important, bringing safety and stability in the treacherous conditions associated with ski resorts, but are a legal requirement for many designated roads around the Alps region.
It is also advisable to put chains on your caravan’s wheels as well as your towcar, when snowy conditions hit. This will aid control of the tourer and ensure that it does not skid too much while being towed.
As chains can often be fiddly and difficult to manage it is worth taking the time to try them before going on holiday – putting them on once in clear weather and again during rain or snow to ensure they are easy to put on and fit correctly.

Ensuring that your on-board water will not freeze is also vitally important and making sure you are able to keep it flowing will help your holiday run smoother, while an on-board water tank or adequate on-board water storage is advisable in case of emergencies.
Along with water, gas is vital, keeping your tourer warm when temperatures drop into the minuses. Although more expensive, propane is probably a better option than butane due to its lower freezing point and you will need to take a decent supply to last the trip.
Any outside pipes should be protected against frost and a variety of different solutions can be found for this, from insulation sleeves to heating kits that wrap around pipes to keep them warm.
It is not just the tourer that you have to ensure is ready for the bitter cold – but yourself and family as well. Taking items such as the correct clothing, plenty of spare clothes, sleeping bags and a lot of towels will help you stay warm.
Spending a night in your caravan in Britain at its coldest may also be a good idea. It will provide a similar experience to time spent near snow-covered mountains and will help you learn the best way to keep warm.
Dangers and risks
There are some fairly obvious dangers to taking your tourer on a ski holiday; chief among them is driving in the bad conditions.
Many organisations offer detailed advice on this but a few key rules such as ensuring all windows are de-misted, that you drive at a suitable speed, and clear any snow from your vehicle, will help keep you safe.

When heading to the piste, ensure you listen to and follow all instructions, wear the correct kit and do not attempt hills and roads that you are not ready or equipped for.
Places to stay
If you are not too scared off by the risks, then there are plenty of sites with caravan pitches that you can stay at near some major ski resorts.
For those that want to stay close to home Scotland has a few excellent places to ski, such as the Cairngorm mountains range which has sites like the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park and High Range nearby.
For those whose real passion is the Alps however, there is a variety of different places available, with the Caravan Club having a few sites to cater for eager skiers.
Among these is the Le Champ Du Moulin, located just 300 metres away from cable cars which go directly to the Les Deux Aples ski resort, the site also offers a paragliding for beginners course.
It is also worth exploring what other caravan sites offer. Some such as Camping L’Escale have drying rooms as well as indoor swimming pools and bars to warm up after a long day skiing, while other resorts will be more basic.

Plenty of other sites are also available with varying distances between them and the skiing itself. For those unafraid of driving in harsh conditions some parks are remarkably close to resorts, while others are available that are safer to tow in but have a longer commute to skiing.
Is it worth it?
There is no definitive answer and taking a tourer on a ski holiday will not be for everyone. For the right person however they could be an invaluable way to explore the Alps in a relatively cost-effective way.
Being properly prepared, having experience of towing in difficult conditions, and taking the right equipment will you will all help the journey go smoothly.
It could be best to leave your tourer at a nearby resort and simply drive the last few miles which will likely have worse driving conditions.
But with modern caravans now much better equipped to withstand the cold, there has never been a better time to take your tourer skiing.