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Travelling to Avoriaz
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If you're not taking a package holiday, where travel to your resort is already catered for, then you might want to consider how you're going to get from the UK to the Alps. Avoriaz is not so far way from the UK, and can be reached by car, train or aeroplane. With the advent of DIY travel and travel websites, it's easy to check public transport timetables in France, and there are plenty of companies offering transfer services from the airport to Avoriaz. Our guide gives you an idea of the options available, plus some tips on how to get your sporting equipment safely to Avoriaz. |
| Planes, Trains or Automobiles : Which is the easiest way to the Alps? |
This really depends on personal choice, budget, phobias, hobbies (spotters!), and days of travel.
If you are travelling on Saturdays the Eurostar whilst potentially being more expensive than charter or low-cost flying, gets you to within a tiny distance of the 3 Valleys and Tarentaise resorts with the minimum of fuss in around 7hrs.
Outside the weekends and without direct train links things are trickier and require the jury this end to investigate further before give you a definitive decision....
Flying, whilst seemingly less time moving between countries, involves much longer check-ins and greater potential for delays. This all counts towards stress, tiredness and length of time to get to your destination.
With flying you are much more likely to get a 'bargain' price, and if you want to arrive/depart on days other than the weekend is probably less hassle than negotiating the train.
Driving out from the UK by car is relatively inexpensive if you can share the journey with several friends. Bear in mind that the normal nine hour journey across France may take much longer if you chose to travel on a busy Saturday or encounter heavy snowfalls. |
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last updated 7-Aug-2008 |
| Travelling between the Airport and Avoriaz |
Geneva (CH) airport is the best and closest airport to use for Avoriaz at just over an hour away by motorway. Alternatives include Turin, Lyon Airport (Satolas) and Chambéry, each being about 1½, 2½ and 1¼ hours away respectively. There is also St. Etienne, and Grenoble though these are not such good airports.
To travel from these airports you have the choice of scheduled bus, shared shuttle, hire car, taxi, tour operators, or train. However, make sure you check with whomever you booked your accommodation in Avoriaz with to see if they make arrangements for you anyway or as an 'optional extra'.
Buses:
From Geneva Altibus provides a means for booking coaches on-line, wih SAT being the principal operator for the route. Moreover, a timetable for buses departing Geneva Airport for all ski resorts, can be found at Geneva Ski Resort Bus Timetable. From Lyon St. Exupéry and Chambéry there is no regular route.
Shared Shuttle:
Locally based companies run shared minibuses which take you door-to-door from most airports in the region. From Geneva the cost one way is approximately €40. Take a look at our listings page for aiport transfer companies.
Car hire:
Car hire can be arranged from each of the airports above and if there are several people travelling is not always an expensive option. Pre-booking is highly recommended if not obligatory. Try using Holiday Autos for the best searches and prices.
Taxi:
A taxi for up to 4 people will cost approximately €150 (or 300 CHF if you get a taxi at the door) from Geneva. For more than 4 people the cost will be higher for the vehicle and probably cheaper per person.
Tour Operators:
Here there are two possibilities:
1. you can book a Flight & Transfer with an operator which they sell through their agents/web-sites/call-centres - therefore is paid for in advance and you will appear on the transfer manifests
2. you can make your own flight arrangements and upon arrival at the airport catch up with a rep from one of the companies and book onto their coaches.
In both cases as the reps are unlikely to know where you are staying (they have no details as you made your own accommodation arrangements), make sure you establish the return journey procedures: give them the flight you are on, get the resort office's contact details and call on Thurday evening for transfer details/confirmation.
Method 2. is not guaranteed but is ususally fine. Expect to pay €50 one-way for Geneva-Avoriaz and you will have to pay the two journeys seperately (as the return cannot be guaranteed till the end of the week).
See Tour Operators listings for contact details
Train:
Although it is possible to come from/go to all the above airports by train a journey would involve changing at least once and would take a great deal of time and is therefore not recommended.
Bus - Geneva Airport Ski Bus Schedule
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last updated 19-Jun-2008 |
| Getting your Sporting Equipment to Avoriaz |
There are numerous options for getting your sports equipment to resort, be it flying, train or coach. Most travel companies have their own individual policy terms and conditions depending on the type of sporting equipment you are transporting. Here's a snap shot of the different transport options and a guide to their restrictions:
Several airlines from around Europe will get you to the Alps without too heavy a hit on the old purse strings, check here for further airline information. Low-cost carriers such as Easyjet or Flybe regularly fly between Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble and the UK. You then have a number of options to get you from the airport to your resort, all of which are explained further in the following sections.
A review of airlines terms and conditions in relation to sports equipment baggage indicates that it is highly likely that you will be subjected to a standard charge for taking your sporting equipment on board. Leisure 'Equipment' that will require additional handling can include bikes, golf clubs, parachutes, mountaineering equipment or skis/snowboards. If you like your skis, it is imperative that you pack them in a ski or board bag for protection! Most airlines will still take your skis if they are not in a ski bag; just don’t be surprised at the condition they arrive in at the other end of your flight. A ski or snowboard bag can also be packed with soft items (ski trousers, jumpers etc) around your skis or board to give them added protection. Just be careful if the equipment is covered in storage wax.
Recently we decided to test the airlines by taking our mountain bike over from the UK to Geneva. ; bmibaby; Aer Lingus; and KLM indicated that there was an average additional charge of between £15 (€22.50) and £25 (€36) to take your mountain bike, one-way. However, having recently travelled from the UK to Geneva with our mountain bikes on a low cost carrier we feel the need to clarify this minor detail as we ended up getting stung at check in for 'excess baggage'!! Having duly paid the £15 for bike carriage, and with our luggage weighing in at about 20kgs, we were informed that even though we'd paid to take the bike on board, the combined weight permitted for all luggage was 32kgs. Anything over and above that would be subjected to 'excess baggage' charges. Full suspension bikes although light are generally not below 12kgs so our excess baggage payment ended up costing us another £35! Our bike was carried in its original cardboard box so who knows what the charges would have been had it been transported in a plastic case! Interestingly though we had to get a connecting flight from Belfast to Geneva on the same day, not wanting to pay another £35 we cleverly selected our check-in staff, a few cheeky smiles and bit of banter all proved to be a winner, no excess baggage charges, so we guess that's the random lottery that is excess baggage charges and check-in staff! The more conventional airlines such as British Airways its code share partner Swiss airlines permit free transport of bikes providing they fit within the free baggage allowance, and are packed in a hard shelled container.
Airport Transfer companies - If you choose to take a mountain biking holiday most holiday firms will collect you from the airport where the hours drive from the airport is included within your holiday price. However, should you choose to book your transfer independently most airport transfer companies will still permit you to take your mountain bike in the vehicle provided you give advance warning at the time of booking.
By Car or Hire car from the airport - If you prefer the use of your own car you can drive down the autoroutes to Alpe d'Huez. It’s approximately an 8-10 hour drive (895kms/550 miles) from Calais and will cost around €70 in road tolls. Check out Viamichelin for exact route information. The most convenient way to travel with skis is a roof "coffin" style box that will carry several pairs of skis/boards, boots and poles. A roof rack is also a handy alternative and can be retned from many ski shops. If using a roof rack, try to cover the bindings over to prevent them getting covered in grit and salt. Roof boxes and roof racks should be lockable and therefore fairly secure from thiefs.
By Train - If you choose to take a train all the way to your ski resort it may involve a couple of changes and cost slightly more than a cheap flight. Eurostar recommends using its registered luggage service for your bike if you’re travelling from London, Paris, Brussels or Lille and charges approximately £20 for carriage of your bike. If travelling by France's national rail system check here for further train and route timetables.
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last updated 19-Jun-2008 |
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