Chamonix logistics

timaaaaay

Hi,
Thinking of going to Chamonix in Feb - even with directski's current discounts I suspect it would be cheaper to book everything myself. A few qs...

Where is best to fly into - Geneva or Grenoble?

What sort of money are you looking at for a transfer between the airport and the resort?

Is hiring a car a valid option?

How much should self catering accommodation cost?

Thanks

tywy

I'm not gonna check it all out for you... I'm supposed to be studying for exams but

If you want to check the price of Self catering apartments, I use www.homelidays.com

After a brief search, this looks like good value - http://www.chamexpress.com/

Why Chamonix btw? I haven't gone near it cuz I hear the lift system isn't great and that 3 valleys is a better option really.

sarsfield06

I was there for Christmas, was going to go DIY and then directski dropped their prices and got an apartment for 2 for €380 per person with flights and transfers. I had Ryanair flights booked to Turin but I dropped these flights as the directski deal was better value and less hassle. For DIY Geneva can be expensive to fly to and Turin is closer than Grenoble and is doable by public transport but car hire is better. Remember it will be €40 return thru' the Mont Blanc tunnel from Turin.

Having a car can be a hassle in Cham for parking and you might have to worry about chains also. Cham rocks, it is the real deal, some of the most amazing mountains and scenery in the world. I have skied everywhere in Europe and it is up there with the best. The buses are much better with loads of new ones with fancy lcd screens showing maps of route and next stops. Lift system isn't bad either and a new gondola has just open this season up from the town to Brevent. Great thing this year is you can ski in Courmayeur on lift pass wqith free bus connection.

timaaaaay

Why Chamonix? I have heard about the huge number of runs etc to be had and the quality of the runs also.

Thanks tywy for the chamexpress link - €25 e/w not too bad at all. Think we'll give the rental car idea a miss so!

At the moment for the week I want to go, can get return flights to Geneva with Aer Lingus incl taxes for €95 p/p. I see other weeks the flight Geneva-Dublin can be close to €200!! Cheapest accomodation I found so far was €33 per person /night incl breakfast but wasnt available for the entire week so must look elsewhere, will give a good look through that homelidays site later.

Thanks sarsfield for the good review, hope you are right!

RATM

Ive only ever been in Cham in the summer but a mate did a season there and said although it is a great spot that the ski buses can be a nightmare in peak periods in February. Maybe they have more this year Im not sure but from what I heard they certainly need them.
Alot of ppl Ive spoken to recommend hiring a car for the week in Cham as the five ski areas are not linked. It might cost a bit more but if there are 4 of you its not too bad and you can go where ever you like in the valley without waiting for buses that show up jammed to the roof.

paddyb

a car is the way to go in chamonix plus you also have the option to go to courmayeur as you can use your chamonix ski pass there.
ive stayed here before. Its in argentiere, only a couple of minutes walk from the grand montets lift

timaaaaay

Thanks Paddy and RATM, depends on numbers if we;ll hire a car or not, possibly only 2 of us going in which case we'll get the buses like the common man

Paddy the prices for that hotel look very reasonable, cheers,

De_man

fly to geneva, you'll be wasting a lot of time and expense going via Turin

transfers www.a-t-s.net 40 euro each way if i remember rightly
they pick you up from the arrivals hall!!!other companies are available

plenty of reasonable accomodation see chamonix.net

if hiring a car don't forget the snow chains:) car very very convenient
as the ski buses can be a nightmare

De_man

tywy wrote: »

Why Chamonix btw? I haven't gone near it cuz I hear the lift system isn't great and that 3 valleys is a better option really.

fair point, depending on the level of skiing ability you might even
be better off going to the Grand Massif, Samoens, Flaine Les Carroz or Megeve -

Chamonix & Courmayeur imho better for the off piste