French Travel News-2010/2011 | Family hire taxi to take them to skiing holiday in French Alps

Tuesday, December 28th at 21:35 by Deborah Nineham


One family were so keen to reach their skiing holiday in the French Alps that they hired a taxi for the 15-hour drive from Hampshire to the Alps.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Peter Lelliott, his partner Rebecca Butler and their five children had their flight cancelled from Heathrow earlier this week because of the snow.

They were so keen to reach their ski resort that they asked a local taxi driver if he would take them from Southampton to the French Alps for £1,000, which landed taxi driver Bob Ransley his biggest ever fare.

Like many other families who want to spend the winter holidays skiing, and relaxing in a skiing chalet, France was the ideal destination because of the quality of snow and slopes.

"There were no flights and no space on the Eurostar," said Mr Lelliott. "I tried to rent a people carrier but the only one I could find was not big enough. I offered the taxi driver the same money as the hire care would have cost and he was happy to drive us."

Mr Ransley spent a night in a spare bed at the family's skiing chalet, and began the journey home. "I've never been to France before so it was a bit strange driving on the other side of the road," he said.