Spring Skiing in the Alps with a Short-Term Lease from AutoFrance
/There’s so much to discover in the French and Swiss Alps, and the best way to see as much of it as possible is by car.
My Auto France Peugeot 2008 parked at the base of Tignes ski station in the Alps
The last three years, I’ve spent at least a month each ski season in the Alps in search of my favorite resorts and destinations. As someone who is ski-obsessed, I try to extend my seasons to be able to ski as much as possible, and will often continue practicing the sport well-into the Spring.
This last season, instead of choosing a traditional rental car for my month-long trip in the Alps, I opted for a short-term lease from Auto France. The program (also known as Car-2-Europe), is a unique service available to visitors and non-residents of Europe to lease a brand-new car from Peugeot. The program offers plenty of advantages over a traditional rental car, which I had learned first-hand when I used the service for another trip I took through Spain and Portugal in 2019.
Both of my experiences using Auto France were great, and in this article I’ll detail exactly what I loved about the 2025 Peugeot 2008 I recently leased and why it was the best choice for my ski trip to the Alps.
Why you should consider a short-term lease Peugeot for your trip to the Alps
There are a number of advantages that a short-term lease from Auto France has over a traditional car rental. If you are weighing your transportation options for an upcoming ski trip to the Alps, this article describes my experience choosing Auto France for the second time, the benefits of having your own car to have the freedom to access multiple destinations, and how the Car-2-Europe program’s roadside assistance came to my rescue when I needed them.
The Spring is my favorite time to visit the Alps. Road conditions tend to be much more manageable, while the snow coverage on the pistes is ideal.
There are hundreds of ski stations across the Alps, so it’s understandably hard to just pick one– especially if you are visiting Europe from the US. I personally love choosing accommodations in the Alps that have a few stations nearby to be able to experience multiple destinations before picking a favorite. Especially if you’re visiting the Alps during an extended stay of at least four weeks, leasing a car from Auto France’s Car-2-Europe program makes traveling from station-to-station even easier.
Ready to be one of the first on the mountain in Chamonix, France
In the past three years, I have been able to ski in over 40+ stations all across Europe, which was made much more convenient by having a car. This past season, I was inspired to revisit some of my favorite stations that I had already been to, as well as discover more towns and resorts that were new to me. Some of my favorite ski areas in the French and Swiss Alps that I revisited this season were Tignes, Val d’Isère, La Rosière, Argentière, and Zermatt– but you can also click here to see a map of every station I’ve ever skied.
My brand-new Peugeot 2008 had 2KM on the odometer when I picked it up from Orly Airport in Paris
Driving to Ski Resorts in the French and Swiss Alps
The most significant reasons why I choose to drive a car for my ski trips to the Alps is the flexibility and convenience. As someone who frequently travels alone with my dog– and with a month’s worth of luggage and ski equipment– having my own car means I can easily pack all my belongings and travel directly to my destination without having tow worry about any transfers or connections.
And once I’m in the Alps, having a car to be able to drive to multiple stations helps me make the most of my stay. I usually choose accommodations in an area that’s central to multiple stations and ski resorts, so that each day I can check out the conditions online and head to wherever is best, and I can easily visit friends who happen to be in nearby villages. European ski stations and mountain villages are typically well-connected with shuttles and public transportation, but the flexibility of having a car means I can save a considerable amount of time and effort by not having to walk around or wait anywhere in the cold and in my ski boots.
One of the biggest benefits of visiting the Alps to ski during the spring season is the weather. Not only are conditions on the pistes ideal for skiing, but conditions on the road tend to be much better for driving when compared to winter months. The Alps are steep, and oftentimes ski areas are located thousands of meters above the mountain villages and are accessed by high-capacity gondolas. Even if the ski areas have considerable snowfall, the roadways in the villages can be clear and dry. My Peugeot 2008 lease from Auto France included snow chains, but I didn’t have to use them even once during my month-long stay in the Alps during March/April 2025.
Taking the scenic route around Lac Léman in Switzerland
Woke up to fresh snowfall in the Savoie region of France
Why I chose a Peugeot 2008 for my ski trip in the Alps
The Peugeot 2008 I drove this year was actually the same model, but newer, that I leased from Auto France back in 2019. And it also happened to be the same color! I had such a great experience the first time around that I was happy to stay with the same model for my second trip. I particularly remembered how spacious the SUV was, while also being easy to handle and fuel-efficient.
When considering the configuration of the interior of the car for my ski trip, I was especially interested in a model that would fit all of my gear and my dog for our drive from Paris to the Alps and back, and would also conveniently fit my skis and equipment for daily trips to the ski stations. The Peugeot 2008 was the perfect choice to do that. For my month-long trips to the mountains, I travel with three sets of skis, my boots, and two suitcases that fit all my clothes and additional accessories. I was easily able to load and reload the car by myself as I drove from Paris to Savoie, then to Chamonix, Zermatt, and Saas-Fee.
For me, One month in the mountains means several pieces of luggage and three sets of skis!
the back seat was reserved for my dog and a few additional bags
One check-in size luggage went in the trunk
My 190cm ski case fit comfortably in the front seat
Taking in the views of the Swiss Alps after crossing the border from France
What are the advantages of a Car-2-Europe lease from Auto France vs. a traditional rental car?
One of the greatest benefits of the program is the cost, which tends to be hundreds of dollars less than a traditional car rental for a 28-day period. For a longer lease term (up to 6 months), the savings are even more drastic. There are never any hidden costs, and all arrangements are coordinated by Auto France prior to delivery of the vehicle. Pick-up and drop-off are also convenient, and can be arranged from many major airports near the Alps and throughout Europe.
When making your reservation through Auto France, your Peugeot model is guaranteed so you know exactly what you are getting at your scheduled pick-up appointment. This is especially helpful if you are traveling with gear and equipment like I was– and Auto France’s website also provides helpful specifications that detail the size, capacity, and seating configurations of each of their models. The program also guarantees that your car is brand new– in fact, my Peugeot 2008 only had 2km on the odometer when I picked it up, and I even had the pleasure of peeling off some of the protective plastic decals off the steering wheel and the dashboard!
Perhaps the greatest advantage of choosing a short-term lease from Auto France is that full insurance coverage is included. Not only did this benefit provide me with peace of mind throughout the duration of my trip, but the program’s customer service efficiently coordinated my rescue when I experienced a roadside emergency on my way back to Paris from the Alps.
Loading the car ahead of a big ski day! Aiguille du Midi of Chamonix pictured in the top right.
Descending L’Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix, France
Skiing La Vallée Blanche in Chamonix, France
Roadside Assistance and Full Insurance Coverage from Auto France
A short-term lease from Auto France includes roadside assistance and full insurance coverage, which I benefited from first-hand
On my drive back to Paris from Switzerland, I was actually able to experience the Car-2-Europe program’s roadside assistance first-hand. I was only a few hours outside of Paris when my right rear tire blew out on the highway. Thankfully, I was able to safely pull over to the side of the highway and easily accessed the documents and paperwork I kept in the dash to find the number for roadside assistance.
The friendly English-speaking customer service agent quickly dispatched a tow-truck to my location, and once my car was loaded up, we were transported to a garage. The customer service agent from the Car-2-Europe program continued to facilitate the next steps with the garage, and I was presented with a number of options. The program’s standard procedure is to replace the vehicle right away, but because I was already set to return my original car the following day, I opted to instead just be transported to my final destination in Paris, and consider my lease complete. They coordinated a taxi to pick up me, my dog, and all of my luggage from the garage right away, and even ensured that the vehicle was large enough to fit everything. The Peugeot Car-2-Europe customer service handled everything, including all costs and arrangements, and I was only required to provide a signed statement of the events that occurred for their insurance purposes.
I was very appreciative that Peugeot’s Car-2-Europe program provided customer service that was friendly, efficient, and creative in offering me solutions to minimize any inconvenience or worry. Travel can be full of surprises– and though incidents like these can happen to anyone, I felt like I was in good hands throughout the experience and me and my dog made it home safely. Their handling of the situation was proof that their roadside assistance and full insurance coverage are two of the most significant advantages a short-term lease from Auto France has over a traditional car rental.
Zermatt, switzerland is a car-free village, and indoor parking is easily coordinated in the nearby village of Tasch
Saas-Fee is also a car-free town in Switzerland, with an indoor parking structure located right at the entrance of the village
Stopping for a car wash between Long drives across France and Switzerland
Driving through Paris, France in a Short-Term Peugeot lease from Auto France
Overall, my second experience leasing a car through Auto France was great, and I was able to make the most of my visit to the French and Swiss Alps. I would certainly recommend their service to anyone visiting the Alps, or anywhere in Europe, and is considering options other than a traditional car rental.
Are you planning a ski trip in the Alps and wondering if a short term car lease is the best option for you? Leave me a comment below with any questions about my experience with the Auto France Car-2-Europe program and I’ll be happy to provide any additional insight!
Passing the Arc de Triomphe in a Peugeot 2008 from Auto France’s Car-2-Europe program
About the author
Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:
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