Take the car, throw the skis in the boot and set off for the Alps – with a bit of luck it takes no more than 8 hours. No wonder the prospect of luxury skiing almost around the corner attracts more and more Czechs. Are you going too? Before you start waxing your skis or snowboard, read our tips so that nothing surprises you on the way to our neighbours.

Travel insurance

Do not brush travel insurance aside, even when your destination is within easy reach, and if you intend to carve up the pistes, all the more reason not to underestimate its quality. Good travel insurance should cover both medical expenses and liability, which covers the consequences if you are the one who causes an accident.

Get good, well-priced cover… even at the last minute

If you plan to stay on marked pistes during your winter fun, basic travel insurance will be enough. But if you have your eye on ski touring away from the proper trails, keep in mind that the insurer bears no responsibility for any consequences.

For well-priced, good and at the same time fast cover, use for example the calculator from Srovnejto, which compares the individual insurers' offers clearly for you. The magic of online calculators is appreciated above all by latecomers who only remember travel insurance on the day of departure.

Keep up with Austrian road legislation

Although only a few hours on the road await you, we recommend having the vehicle checked at an authorised garage before the trip. As the local legislation states, Austria requires winter tyres from November to 15 April, of course depending on the signage and the weather conditions. 

Also include in your mandatory car equipment for Austria:

• Snow chains (do not exceed 50 km/h with them)
• Orange high-visibility vests (provide them for all passengers and keep them within direct reach from the seats)
• Warning triangle
• First-aid kit
• Motorway vignettes 

Using the motorway is essential for a smooth and above all fast journey. If you travel through Germany, motorway charges need not worry you. In Austria a 10-day motorway vignette costs 9 euros, and have euros ready for some tolled sections as well.

Documents

Other necessities naturally include documents, whose validity you had better check well in advance. Drivers cannot do without a driving licence, a vehicle registration certificate and a green card proving third-party liability insurance. Make a duplicate of the green card as well, because it is confiscated in the event of an accident.

As a passenger, keep a valid identity card, a European health insurance card and, not least, proof of travel insurance to hand. Bear in mind that the blue insurance card does not replace travel insurance. With it you can claim only necessary medical care, so do not rely on it.

Watch out for storing skis correctly

Did you know that in Austria badly secured skis or a snowboard in the car carry really high fines? So if you decide to carry your winter gear inside the car, slide the “load” into a rigid bag and make sure you have fastened it well enough. 

Find out in good time and avoid complications 

It is not for nothing that fortune favours the prepared, so add thorough research to your planning schedule too. Find out in advance about the weather and also about the current situation on the roads and routes you will take on the way.

Source: www.e15.cz