The Ultimate Guide: How to Get to the 3 Valleys

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Airport Transfers

Door to Door Airport Transfers

A viable alternative to hiring a car at the airport is an airport transfer. An airport transfer is where a friendly driver awaits you at arrivals with your name on a board. He will help you into the car with your luggage and drop you and your family directly outside your door in resort. All you need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the view. With transfers from Chambery, Grenoble, Geneva and Lyon airports covering numerous ski resorts including Meribel, Courchevel, La Tania and Val Thorens, Snowbound Transfers take pride in being one of the best transfer companies in the Alps region offering many quality and competitive transfer options, as below:

• Shared Transfers
  Door-to-door shuttle transfers are perhaps one of the most economical ways of reaching your ski resort once you land at the airport. If you’re on your own or travelling as a couple, then a shared transfer to your onward destination can really help cut costs (and minimise your carbon footprint too). All shared transfers are door-to-door so you don’t have to worry about having to drag your luggage too far on drop off. Shared transfers are best for couples or singles.
• Private Transfers
  Private airport transfers are available for up to eight people (or 16 people between two vehicles). Whether you are on your own or joined by friends, when you choose a private minibus transfer you are guaranteed sole occupancy of the minibus so that you don’t have to share the journey with strangers. If you’re all sharing a chalet of course, then it makes sense to share your private transfer to resort with your friends, so a private airport transfer is the ideal option for those who like their transfers efficient, reasonable and convenient. It also means you don’t have to wait for other passengers. Private transfers are the most popular option for groups/families. Get in touch with your transfer provider for a quote.
• Luxury Transfers
  The Luxury Transfer is perfect for the VIP traveller who prefers luxury, space, privacy and a high-quality service with additional on board entertainment. Luxury airport transfers offer total peace of mind and all those little luxuries are taken care of; from tinted rear windows, a DVD player, leather seats and extra leg room as standard, a luxury airport transfer to your ski resort really starts your ski holiday in the Trois Vallees as you mean to go on! Also, it’s a nice idea to surprise someone with an upgrade to a luxury transfer if you’re celebrating a special occasion or milestone birthday!
• Last Minute Transfers
  Although better for all parties involved if you can book in advance, you can often pick up a last-minute airport transfer which offers flexibility and the chance to change your mind! If you arrive at the airport tired and eager to get to resort, then a last-minute airport transfer might be a good idea. Times of shared transfers can be found here.

PROS

• The advantages are that you will be met at the airport by an English speaker who knows the resort inside out and then you can relax all the way to the resort. All of which means you don’t need to worry about mucking around with snow chains or finding your way there when you’re tired and eager to get to your chalet!
• Airport transfers are cheaper, faster (and much more pleasant) than public transport! Don’t wait in queue with hundreds of other tired travellers; with an airport transfer you will be greeted by an experienced driver displaying a board depicting your name and welcoming you with a warm smile. And nothing quite beats a door-to-door transfer service; it’s just so easy and convenient!

CONS

• You will be so impressed with the service and comfortable ride of an airport transfer that you might feel inspired to tip the driver (but even with that in mind it still winds up cheaper than a taxi!).
• The drive can seem long so if you get travel sick, ensure that you sit up the front- the windy roads can sometimes affect those who don’t usually suffer. That said, the stunning alpine views to enjoy along the way should take your mind off things and get you frothing for the epic ski conditions once you arrive at your ski chalet!

Get in touch for a quote. Let us help with an easy and convenient airport transfer service to make your ski trip start as stress-free as you intend the remainder to be…

Travelling by Train to the Alps

Eurostar trains stop at Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice where you can get a coach or train station transfer to many of the top ski resorts. Eurostar trains to Moutiers are the best for reaching Three Valleys resorts such as Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires, Val Thorens. Once arriving at your destination train station, you will have to book a taxi or private transfer to take you to your chalet.

There are three key ways to travel to the French Alps by train:

• Eurostar Direct Daytime Ski Train Eurostar runs direct day trains to the French Alps on Saturdays between December-April.
• Eurostar Direct Overnight Ski Train Direct night trains run on Fridays from January-April.
• Regular Daily Scheduled Trains You can take regular, scheduled trains running daily, year-round.  Take Eurostar to Paris, change trains and stations, then take either an overnight train with couchettes or a daytime TGV train from Paris with the French Alps.

PROS

• Your holiday starts as soon as you take your seat! Relax back and take in the stunning views zooming past the window as you travel through France before arriving at your destination relaxed and ready to ski.
• Generous luggage allowance means you can take your skis or snowboard, as well as two suitcases at no extra charge.

CONS

• With only a few direct trains per week, travelling to the Alps by train proves popular and books up fast, so you must book early to ensure you get the dates you want.
• Travelling by train can be more expensive than flying with budget airlines, and food/drink on board is extra. And it also takes a lot longer than flying so you will ‘lose’ two days of your holiday travelling by train.

Driving to the Alps in a Car

Some people choose to pack up their car and drive to the Alps. This involves a ferry crossing (the easiest crossing is Dover-Calais, both P&O Ferries and DFDS operate between the ports), or of course there’s always the Eurotunnel. Ferry crossings usually take between 75-90 minutes to cross the 26 miles between Dover and Calais, and then the actual driving (via Calais, Reims, Dijon, Lyon and Albertville) will total approximately 800 miles, with a driving time of about 12 hours.

PROS

• You can see lots of beautiful scenery on your drive down to the Alps and even choose to stop off overnight on the way to experience new cities or villages to enhance your holiday.
• You can squeeze all your luggage, boards and kit into your car which means no extra luggage charges!

CONS

• Driving in snowy conditions can be treacherous. Even the most experienced driver can become disoriented and unstuck when driving in snowy conditions. Depending on the temperature, wind and depth of snow, in most cases snow chains, snow tyres (or a 4×4) are the only safe option for driving in the alps (if you know how to fit them!)
• Hidden costs! Fuel, parking, insurance, European breakdown cover and car maintenance costs all need to be considered. If you drive the whole way to the Alps on French toll motorways, the total toll bill alone is around £130 return (try using the French site Mappy, which gives details of toll charges so you can plan your route).

Hiring a Car at the Airport

Perhaps you want to fly to the Alps and hire a car at the airport to cut your driving time in half. It’s a little bit of a minefield so you’ll have to be prepared! You will need to ensure that your hire car company permit the car out of the country (if you’re landing in the Swiss side and want to ski in the French side, for example), you’ll need to pay extra for winterisation of the car, be offered extra insurances and also you must make sure that the car is fully equipped with everything it needs to be legally allowed to drive in the EU.

PROS

• You can squeeze a few friends into your hire car, thus cutting costs and sharing the driving if needs be (and insurance allows). Be aware though that they will all need room for bags/equipment too!
• You will have independence and are not limited by train/bus departure times (and reliability), meaning that you can relax and take the journey at your leisure. You can even stop off at places of interest on the way!

CONS

• As above with driving a car to the alps, driving in the snow can be treacherous so you must ensure you have snow chains (and know how to fit them) as well as other precautions to ensure safety. Weather conditions can change quickly in the alps, with fog and adverse weather quickly disorienting drivers who aren’t accustomed to such wintry conditions so choosing to hire a car from the airport mustn’t be a decision that is taken lightly!
• Many people find that once they arrive in resort, they park their car and don’t need to start it up again until it’s time to leave! That’s a lot of wasted car hire charges, parking charges and insurance costs…

Buses from the Airport to the Three Valleys

A bus service from the airport to the Three Valleys is a good budget option for individuals who want to travel to their ski resort economically. For bus transfers from Geneva airport you can check timetables and reserve tickets online at Altibus. Bus transfers from Chambéry airport can be booked via the Mobisavoie website, and if you want a bus from Lyon Saint Exupéry airport to the Three Valleys, look here.

Top tip! When looking at timetables, be aware that they’re in French so L = Lundi / Monday, M = Mardi / Tuesday, Me = Mercredi / Wednesday, J = Jeudi / Thursday, V = Vendredi / Friday, S = Samedi/ Saturday & D = Dimanche / Sunday.

PROS

• Depending on when/where you travel, buses to resort can be very reasonable!  Be aware that tickets can be bought from the ‘Bureau de Transport’ in Méribel Tourist Office, but purchases must be made at least 48 hours in advance (and the bureau is closed on Sundays and Mondays).
• This is a good option for those looking to minimise their carbon footprint.

 CONS

• They take a long time! Also this service only operates four times a day on Saturdays and once on Sundays in winter. You can’t pick up a bus to suit your flights/trains, instead you may be waiting around for some time waiting for your bus. And then there’s no guarantee that it will have space for you so you may well have to wait for the next one!
• Buses don’t drop you to the door, so lugging your bags, equipment and ski gear will be a bit of a challenge if you arrive in the dark or during a huge snow fall!

Best way to get to a ski resort!

Conclusion

Airport transfers are easily the fastest and most convenient way to travel to the alps… as well as being the most flexible and most reliable method, an airport transfer to the Three Valleys is most definitely the most popular choice for those who are budget-savvy yet know that getting to the snow is the most important thing about a ski holiday!

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