The distance from my house in North London to Tignes is almost exactly 700 miles (1150km). I did the trip yesterday and the total journey time, including ferry crossing and three fuel stops was 13 hours. You can reduce the total journey time by one hour if you use the Eurotunnel to cross the channel, more if you break speed limits (not advisable).

I started from my London home at 10.15am. It took me just over 1.30hours to get to Dover. Not bad, considering I have to cross from North to East London, navigate Blackwall tunnel and cross the M25. I always plan for a minimum of 3 hours for London to Dover ferry departure as I have been caught out in traffic before and missed my fair share of ferries. I also use any spare time before ferry departure to refuel the car, check tyre pressures etc. Gets me further into France without stopping and currently fuel is cheaper in the UK too.
Ferry left on time(they normally do) and with a crossing time of 1.30 hours I reach Calais at 4pm local time (don’t forget you loose one hour travelling to the continent). Also make sure you take the ferry to Calais, not Dunkerque or any of the other port, otherwise your crossing will be longer and your drive to Tignes too.

The route goes broadly Calais – Reims – Troyes – Dijon – here you got a choice either Lyons – Albertville or direction Geneva – Annecy – Albertville. The Lyon route is longer, faster but higher motorway fees. I always drive from Dijon direction Geneva to Annecy – Albertville – Bourg St Maurice – Tignes. Shorter distance and less expensive and if you drive into the night there is no time penalty.

Calais to Reims is just under 200 miles and you are in the centre of the Champagne region. The Champagne is a fairly flat but obviously many wineries and vineyards. If you are driving from the Midlands, this is probably half way point and not a bad stopover. I always do the journey in one day, but I do stop to buy Champagne. My tip here, don’t buy near Reims where all the big Champagne makers are based, drive on another 100miles and stop near Troyes, which is still the Champagnes. For me this makes a perfect first fuel stop (300miles into the journey) and gives me an excuse to pass my favourite Champagne makers.

After Dijon, you pass the Burgundy region, another possible stopover and opportunity to buy wine, this time Burgundy!! From here you either drive via Lyon to Tignes or drive via Annecy (Geneva). The Lyon route is quicker, but the Annecy route is more scenic and cheaper. Both routes will lead you to Albertville from where you climb the mountains towards Tignes.

The total drive time from Calais to Tignes will be 9 hours if you keep your stops to a minimum and short (8 hours if you are super fast and have a big petrol tank). It took me 8.30 hours but I had to stop 3 times for petrol. If you drive the first time or if you travel with a young family you should plan for 10 – 11 hours from Calais to Tignes. If you try to avoid motorway charges and drive route national, you save 65Euro (£50) but you journey time will be more like 12 – 14 hours.

Cost to drive to Tignes, ferry £80 return, motorway charges £50 one way, petrol £120 one way, which makes return trip cost (by car) about £420 – £450 depending on ferry cost and fuel consumption of your car. Normally driving makes only sense if you are a group sharing the cost. There are four regional airports with low cost flights, good car hire and airport transfer options. Do the maths.

I always leave London late morning 10amish to beat the traffic. That normally gets me into Tignes around midnight. I have lunch on the ferry and only stop for fuel. Because I pass lake Annecy late, I also beat the traffic along the lake.I don’t like to get up early.

The French national football team has announced some time ago that it will train at high altitude in Tignes, France. Training in Tignes means the adaptation of the body for the games taking place at altitude. Some games in South Africa this summer will be conducted at high altitude in Johannesburg (1,700m), Bloemfontein (1,400m) and Rustenburg (1,500m).  Tignes a 2100m is more than ample preparation for the altitude the team will face in south Africa. The air is notably thinner at these heights and the oxygen content per cubic metre of air is reduced thanks to the lower air pressure. This generally means that the body, in particular the muscles, can no longer be supplied with sufficient levels of oxygen.

The France football team will be in Tignes from May 18th to 25th for their traditional training at altitude, before a series of friendly matches. France will face Costa Rica on the 25th May and  Tunisia on the 30th May in Lens, followed by a game against China on June 4th, in Pierre de la Réunion. This world cup, the football training in Tignes is particularly important as matches will take place in Johannesburg, at an altitude of 1800 metres (1/4 final and final). Well, that is if the French team can make it that far. If the previous track record is anything to go by, France has always done well after a visit to Tignes. Winning the title, runners-up and quarter final appearances.

It might be news to you, but Tignes got a fantastic summer season with state of the art outdoor football fields, tennis courts and a high altitude golf course in addition to the usual Alpine adrenalin  sports and summer skiing. Summer season normally starts mid June and closes mid September.

The French team are a little early for their preparation and given recent dump of fresh powder, Henry and his buddies might have to put on some gloves for outdoor training.  Snow is something they won’t have to prepare for in South Africa.

In case you want to follow Les Bleus beyond Tignes, here are the first round World cup fixtures:

Friday, the 11th of June 2010
Cap (8:30pm)
Uruguay – France

Thursday, the 17th of June 2010
Polokwane (8:30pm)
France – Mexico

Tuesday, the 22nd of June 2010
Bloemfontein (4:00pm)
France – South Africa

Let’s hope the French team can make it past the first round. would be great to welcome them back to Tignes for the Euro preparations in two years time.

Imagine the sound of cowbells as you walk up one of the many trails around Val claret and Tignes Le Lac. If you never been in Tignes during the summer you probably can’t imagine the Alpine fauna that springs to life during the summer period on the foot of one of the largest ski-able glaciers in Europe. Imagine the contrast of green, white and blue.

Imagine skiing down the Grand Motte in a T-shirt on empty slopes, sunbathing on a terrace at 3000m in your shorts or bikini, having lunch overlooking some of the most stunning mountain ranges in the Alps. Well that just covers the mornings in Tignes.

Imagine yourself on a mountain bike downhill, racing down one of the many bike trails in full body protection, helmet and goggles. Toviere Aeroski, Palafour chair lift and Grande Motte funicular makes sure you can do this all day without breaking sweat.

Imagine playing a hole of golf at 2300m. Tignes golf course is the highest in Europe, 18 holes in a unique alpine setting.

Imagine playing football or rugby next to famous teams such as the French National Football team, Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Francais and Montpellier. Imagine great facilities, playing every ball game possible from tennis to beach volleyball.

Imagine the largest children and grown-up theme park in the world, without the crowds, without the theme but with all the fun. Imagine the largest children playground you can imagine. Imagine the buzz of children having fun

Imagine Tignes in summer.

Last weekend holes were even higher with additional ‘greens’ set-up below the Grand Motte at over 3000m. Up there you don’t call them greens any longer, better ‘whites’ as the golf is played on the glacier.

Now Tignes is not your average resort and golf is not know for its underground movements. To understand last weekend’s concept of golf you have to understand the difference between a middle class skier and a crazy off-piste boarder.  For one weekend only, the golf course is extended around the entire resort and the mountains nearby. Everyone could join in, which might not be the spirit of the normally elitist golf.

The weekend and concept of ‘Wild Golf’ in Tignes has gone down very well with everybody in Tignes. BBQ and Concert on Saturday evening by the lake drew a huge amount of people.

This week the golf course is back to normal, 18 holes and more of a traditional crowd. Beware traditional means something different here in Tignes.