It is already October and for many it is the perfect time to plan a winter sports holiday. To fully enjoy yourself, you have to be prepared for anything. That's why I'm giving you 5 tips today to go on winter sports well prepared by car.
Good preparation is half the job. This certainly applies to traveling to a winter sports destination. The weather conditions combined with the popularity of the holiday destination can often cause problems along the way. Getting in the car and hoping for the best is therefore really inadvisable. Make sure you are well informed in advance about possible closures of mountain passes and traffic jams. Sometimes it pays to take another motorway, even if it initially seems to be a detour. Standing in traffic for hours in the cold is certainly not recommended with children in the car.
If you unexpectedly end up in traffic jams, make sure you have addresses to hand where you can spend the night. A nice motel or hotel nearby is always a good idea. You can also choose to pause during the traffic jam. Use this time to rest or let your children run wild.
In addition to the environmental stickers, many European countries also use Autobahn and toll vignettes. For countries such as Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania you can simply use digital vignettes. These are linked to your license plate in an online system. There is no need for a sticker on the windscreen. However, if you go to a country like Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria or Slovenia, you have to use regular vignettes. The validity of the vignettes varies from country to country, please pay attention to this when purchasing.
Fortunately, you can order all these vignettes quickly and easily online. Please take into account a certain delivery time, digital vignettes are arranged within 1 working day, but the environmental stickers for Germany and France must be sent by post.
Before you get in the car on the way to winter sports, it is good to have a general check up of your car. Many people sometimes forget to check their coolant, just like their windshield washer fluid. It is also recommended to have the battery checked before departure. This is because the cold temperatures can sometimes cause problems.
Winter tires are a must, keep in mind that many garages have a waiting period. In addition, your tires must have a profile of at least 4 millimeters. Brakes that work well are also a must if you go into the mountains by car.
An extra set of spare bulbs is not a luxury. Rather take too much than face an unexpected situation.
All countries have different traffic laws and regulations. In Germany, for example, you are required to use winter tires much sooner than in the Netherlands. This applies not only in the mountains, but everywhere. If there is possible slipperiness, you are obliged to use winter tires. If you don't do this, you can be thrown on the receipt. In addition, an environmental sticker is mandatory in many large cities in Germany. Without this sticker you can get a ticket.
Are you planning to go to France for winter sports? Do not forget to purchase an alcohol tester. These are mandatory in France, although there is currently still a policy of tolerance. Like Germany, France has also introduced an environmental sticker.
Where in Germany you can simply meet with 1 sticker, in France you have to pay attention to a number of aspects. They have different environmental zones with environmental stickers in matching colours. Make sure you are well informed, so that you have the right sticker on the car.
Safety is paramount while driving, but that certainly applies if you go on winter sports by car. The roads can be treacherously slippery and an accident lurks just around the corner. Even if you are well prepared, things can always go wrong. The following items are a must for your safety:
But there is much more to take you safely to and from winter sports. Keep your family safe with these essential winter tips.
Are you going on winter sports this year? If so, which nice destination have you chosen?
