Ski Season Van Life: How to Keep Your Campervan Warm, Dry and Dark in the Alps

As the first snow lands on the Alps, plenty of van owners start heading south and east with skis strapped to the roof. Ski season van life is brilliant – first lift with no traffic, a hot drink in your own kitchen at lunchtime, and a bed a few steps from the slopes. But a van in the mountains in January is a very different place to the same van on a beach in August. Cold, condensation and long nights all turn up at once.

I'm Rhys, and we're a small family business in Pembrokeshire making space-saving doors, blinds and nets for campervans and motorhomes. Here's a practical guide to winter in the mountains – and how to keep your van warm, dry and dark when it's well below freezing outside.

Before you go: winter rules on Alpine roads

A ski trip starts with the drive, and several Alpine countries have winter equipment rules that apply to campervans and motorhomes too. Rules change and depend on your vehicle's weight, so always check the official guidance for each country on your route before you set off.

France – the Loi Montagne

Under France's Loi Montagne, from 1 November to 31 March vehicles driving in designated mountain areas must either be fitted with winter or all-season tyres (marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol) or carry snow chains or snow socks. The areas are set locally and are usually signposted at the entry to the zone, so most of the French Alps and Pyrenees ski areas are covered.

Austria

Austria has a "situational" winter tyre requirement from 1 November to 15 April: when there's snow, slush or ice on the road, vehicles must be on winter tyres. Heavier vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have their own stricter rules, including carrying snow chains, so check carefully if you drive a large motorhome.

Wherever you're heading, practise fitting your chains on the drive at home – not at 7pm on a dark hairpin with a queue behind you.

The three big winter van problems

1. Heat escaping through the windows

Your heater can be working flat out, but glass is the weak point in any van. Cab windscreens, side windows and rooflights let warmth straight out, and you'll feel the cold radiating off them as soon as the sun goes down.

2. Condensation – the real enemy

UK councils and housing advice all say the same thing about damp at home: everyday living – breathing, cooking, showering and drying clothes – puts a surprising amount of moisture into the air. In a small van with two people, wet ski gear and a pan of pasta on the go, it builds up fast. When that warm, damp air hits cold glass and metal, it turns to water. Left alone, you get dripping windows, damp bedding and, eventually, mould.

3. Long nights and bright mornings

Mid-winter in the Alps means long dark evenings – but also dazzling mornings when the sun bounces off fresh snow. Add resort car-park floodlights and snow ploughs at 5am, and good blackout matters just as much in winter as it does in summer.

Practical tips for a warm, dry winter van

• Ventilate a little, all the time. Keep a roof vent or window cracked open slightly, even when it's cold. A small, steady airflow beats opening everything once the windows are already streaming.
• Lid on when you cook. Use lids on pans and run your extractor or open a vent while cooking.
• Keep the steam in the shower. A closed shower door contains the moisture so you can vent it or wipe down, rather than letting it drift into your bedding.
• Dry gear in one place. Hang boots and jackets near a vent or in the shower area rather than all over the living space.
• Cover the glass at night. Insulated blinds and covers keep warm air away from the coldest surfaces, which means less heat loss and less condensation.
• Wipe windows every morning. A quick wipe with a cloth or squeegee stops water collecting in seals and frames.
• Keep the floor clear. Snow off boots melts quickly – a tray or mat by the door saves your floor.

How THEdoûr products help in ski season

Our products are designed for small spaces, and several of them are made with exactly these cold-weather problems in mind.

Insulated window blinds

Our WINdoûr insulated honeycomb blackout blind and net uses a honeycomb structure that traps a layer of air between your living space and the cold glass, as well as giving you proper blackout for those bright snowy mornings. The DUO version adds a fly net for the summer, so the same blind works all year round. See our full range of campervan window blinds, including the ROLdoûr Slimline retractable blind and magnetic window covers. Not sure of your sizes? Our free Measure My Blind tool walks you through it.

Insulated door screens

For doorways in larger motorhomes, coachbuilts and bus conversions, the BLINDdoûr insulated blackout trackless door screen is made to measure from 1500–2000mm high and 600–2000mm wide, with a low-profile floor guide so there's no track to trip over in your ski boots. Pair it with the NETdoûr pleated net for the warmer months.

Shower doors that keep the steam where it belongs

A hot shower after a day on the slopes is a luxury – as long as the steam doesn't end up on your windows. Our ZIPdoûr insulated zip-close shower door is our lightest and most affordable option, popular in 4x4s and overland builds. For a more permanent fit, the ROLdoûr retractable and other shower doors close off your wet room and roll or fold away when you need the space.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need winter tyres to take my campervan skiing in France?

From 1 November to 31 March, in designated mountain areas under the Loi Montagne, you need either winter or all-season tyres with the three-peak mountain snowflake marking, or snow chains or socks in the vehicle. Check the official French guidance and your route before you travel.

How do I stop condensation in my campervan in winter?

Keep a little ventilation going at all times, use lids and an extractor when cooking, keep shower steam contained, dry wet gear near a vent and cover cold glass at night with insulated blinds. A quick wipe of the windows each morning finishes the job.

Are honeycomb blinds better than roller blinds in winter?

Honeycomb blinds like our WINdoûr trap air in their cells, which helps keep warmth in and cold glass away from your living space. Roller blinds such as the ROLdoûr Slimline are slimmer and great for tight spaces. Our campervan window blinds guide compares the options.

Do you ship to customers in France, Austria and Switzerland?

Yes – we're based in Wales and ship worldwide from the UK, so wherever you're building or basing your winter van, we can get your doors, blinds and nets to you.

Ready for your winter on the snow?

A warm, dry van makes all the difference when you're back from the slopes with cold hands and wet boots. If you'd like help choosing blinds, door screens or a shower door for your ski-season build, get in touch with our team – we're always happy to talk through your van. Or browse the full campervan and RV range to get started.

See you on the mountain – Rhys