As an independent chalet company, we can organise every aspect of your holiday apart from your flight or train to France (or Switzerland if you’re landing in Geneva).
To make this process as painless as possible, we’ve packed this section with tips information on the most popular routes from the UK (although we’re sure our more ingenious guests will find alternatives). If you need any info that’s not covered her, just drop us a mail or call. We’ll go above and beyond to get you sorted!
Flights
Our nearest airports are:
- Chambery – 1.5hrs away
- Geneva – the most popular airport, 2.5hrs away
- Lyon/Grenoble – 2.5hrs away
To pick up the best deal possible, it’s always a good idea to keep your eye on when Easyjet releases its ski flights. We’ll usually give you a heads-up on our social media a few days before, so you’re ready to book at the best price.
Airport transfers
We work with trusted, fully French-registered and insured local transfer companies to get you to the chalet smoothly. Most use 8-seater minibuses, but if you’re travelling with a crowd, larger buses are also available. No need to shop around – we can check for the best price and book it for you. As soon as you know your flight times, drop us a mail and we’ll do the rest.
From Geneva
Due to recent legislation, chalet firms like ours are no longer legally able to pick up their own guests from Swiss airports, including Geneva – only properly-registered transfer and taxi companies can now offer this service – but don’t worry, we can help you arrange this.
BEWARE: You may find cheaper transfer rates online, but be careful. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. We’ve heard horror stories of companies getting stopped during routine checks, leaving guests stranded and scrabbling around for price last-minute taxis! Make sure the company has a transport licence number and if you’re not sure – check with us as we can ask around. Don’t let Day 1 of your holiday turn into a costly headache!
From Chambery/Lyon and Grenoble
Good news! We can pick up our own guests from these French airports on our 8-seater minibus. However places are limited so let us know in plenty of time.
Shared airport transfers
If you are in a small group, it can often be more cost-effective to use a shared transfer from the airport. These are typically arranged by bus companies and stop at Aime or Landry train stations.
Bens Bus and Altibus all offer shared bus transfers from Geneva to Aime train station.
Snowdrone runs frequent minibus transfers from Geneva airport and drop off at Landry (close to the chalets)
From Aime or Landry, we can usually pick you up for 30€but if we don’t have if we have availability, we’ll book you a local cab.
Car Hire
An alternative solution to transfers is to hire a car from your destination airport – we can provide you with complete driving directions and a local map of each chalet.
We have a free local carpark outside Chalet Pisteside in Les Coches, and free underground parking for our Montchavin Chalets. If more spaces are required, we will point you in the direction of extra parking, and we will ensure there is somewhere to park your car for unloading and loading on your arrival and departure days. Should you choose to hire a car, we would advise you check out our driving section (later on this page) for advice and links on driving in France and in the Alps.
Check out autoeurope.co.uk for car hire prices
Please note, if you do book car hire, make sure you have either snow tyres or book snow chains – they are compulsory in the Alps.
Trains
The train is a great way of getting to the Alps. It’s green, there are fewer luggage limits, it’s mostly stress- free, and it also takes you right to the heart of the Alps – so close in fact, that it’s only a 20-minute transfer to our chalets.
Eurostar
Eurostar’s ski train leaves London St Pancras on a Saturday, a platform change in Lille, and then onto Landry. The return train leaves on the Sunday. If this sounds interesting, let us know – we might be able to help with a local hotel for the first Saturday night.
London St Pancras to Landry (change in Paris)
You can still travel by train on the Eurostar with a change in Paris (Gare de Nord to Gare de Lyon). From there, you catch the SNCF train to Landry. Landry is only 10 minutes from the chalets so it’s even quicker to arrive. If we can’t pick you up from there, we work with a local Landry taxi company who’s super reliable, or if you get the timings right, there is a bus that goes up to Montchavin and Les Coches.
For complete information, or to book your train, visit the Eurostar website or the Voyages SNCF website
Driving
Many of our guests choose to drive to our chalets, either from the UK, or with a hire car from the airport. There is a free local carpark for our Les Coches chalets, and free underground parking for our Montchavin chalets.
Should you choose to drive, we would advise you keep reading our “Driving in the Alps” section, below, for advice and links on driving in France and in the Alps.
Expect the drive from Calais to take at least 10 hours, and the drive from the local airports to be between 1.5 hours (Chambery) and 2.5 hours (other airports) – or more during peak periods.
If you decide to leave the UK on Saturday and stay somewhere en-route, we recommend Troyes as a good stopover destination. If you are travelling with your family, a top tip is to book an Ibis hotel as they have family rooms sleeping 4 (you’ll need to call them to book as the rooms don’t show on their website!)
For full directions to any chalet, please contact us.
Driving in France
We can offer advice on driving in France, but there are far more qualified sources – so we recommend you follows the links below for more info. Some key points to note though:
- drive on the right (fairly obvious that one)
- you must always have your driving licence, registration and insurance documents on you at all times
- you must have one reflective dayglo jacket or similar in your car, as well as a warning triangle
- you are advised to have a spare bulb kit
- you require a breathalyser kit
Driving Links:
www.theaa.com – then look for links to driving and/or driving abroad
www.rac.co.uk – then follow news/advice and driving abroad
Driving in the Alps
Whilst the roads are cleared regularly, snow can come at any time, making the driving conditions treacherous. From 1st November each year, it’s a legal requirement to have either snow chains or snow tyres on your car when driving around the Alps. Police regularly stop all cars and only allow those that have either snow chains or snow tyres to continue. Most car hire firms will hire you chains, but do check before booking.
Also, if you have chains, practise putting them on before you get to the snow – it’s ten times more difficult when it’s a blizzard outside and you haven’t even once got them out of the bag…