How to get to Val d'Isere

[miniandy]

I'm looking to get to Val d'Isere over New Year and all I need is a flight - what is the best airport to fly into? Cheers

[Prof Higgins]

Think the best is probably Geneva, probably closer options but will be smaller and therefore less well served (if at all) from the uk.

[moosepig]

Snow train far better bet. Eurostar to Paris, overnight to Bourg St Maurice, short transfer up the valley to Val D.

[miniandy]

I hadn't thought about that. Do you get a bed on the train? Also how long does it take to get to Val from Bourg and Geneva? Last time it was 3hrs to Courchevel on a bus...

[robbieduncan]

It's about 20-30 minutes from Bourg (in a car). It's got to be 2 hours (at least) from Geneva...

[fid]

Chambery might be worth a look. Otherwise, I'd go for Lyon over Geneva.

[miniandy]

fid said:

I'd go for Lyon over Geneva.

Why is that?

[Incorrigible]

IIRC Chamberys closer

You get an extra couple of days skiing if you can be arsed to drive, you also save shit loads of money on beer buying it in the valley before you go up to Val

Ski train, don't bother with a bed just party

Also can I reccomend "the lost valley" (might be hidde valley I forget) as a blinding ski route

[miniandy]

Ah I see. So by drive you mean all the way?! My god! Is it not much easier and less hassle to fly?!

And I'm not getting lost in any valley - I'm a beginner!

[bigandclever]

moosepig said:

Snow train far better bet. Eurostar to Paris, overnight to Bourg St Maurice, short transfer up the valley to Val D.

Another vote for the snow train. Done it a few times now (Courchevel, Les Arcs, La Plagne) and it's great. Check in at Waterloo for a half 4pm ish departure. Get to Paris around 8pm (local time) and dump your stuff on the platform - then you have an hour to grab a meal / go to the nearest supermarche and buy a couple of crates of biere. Back to the snow train (pick up your stuff from the new platform and throw it on the train) and wander down to the bar / party carriage, or put the beds up in your couchette (6 people in each) and have a bit of a knees up. It can get a bit dull early journey - you sit in some sidings for what seems like 2 hours. But you're in a pub! Then it's all the way to Bourg St Maurice (bar is open all the way, but is bloody expensive (but that's why you bought beer in Paris, right?)) where you get off and get a bus. Haven't been to Val D, but the other transfers I've done were not more than 30 minutes. So you arrive in your resort at just after 9am, get your passes and get on the slopes latest by 10am. And then coming back you leave at the end of the day, so you effectively get a couple of extra days skiing over the flyers in a week.

[fid]

miniandy said:

fid said: I'd go for Lyon over Geneva. Why is that?

Last time we flew into Geneva the airport's service was shocking. Ski company changed the return flights so their charter flew back from Lyon instead. Although, that was the first and only time I'd flown into Geneva, and I doubt it's always that bad.

[john_p]

Options:

Fly to Lyon (BA/Air France from Heathrow), then train to Bourg St Maurice+bus (~5h) to resort OR hire car OR direct coach (Satobus ~4h)

Fly to Geneva (Easyjet from Luton?) no idea on transfer to resort but probably similar to Lyon route

Ski Train to Bourg St Maurice (overnight)

Drive

Coach

Incorrigible said:

Also can I reccomend "the lost valley" (might be hidde valley I forget) as a blinding ski route

Vallon de la sache is good fun too I got dragged reluctantly down it and it was the most terrifying skiing experience ever

All have their pluses and minuses.. I got the train from Lyon airport to Bourg St Maurice and it was about 11 hours travel door to door .. it worked out quite cheap - BA flight was £100 return, trains another £30..

I would consider the direct train to Bourg St Maurice next time, as you can travel overnight, has a disco carriage and arrives in the morning, although it's worth checking whether you can get a bed/cabin etc as I wouldn't fancy starting my skiing holiday having slept in a chair overnight.. plus I just looked online and it was £372 for one person return (!)

How many of you? If there's a few then it might be cheapest to hire a car from Lyon/Geneva and drive..

>> Edited by john_p on Tuesday 4th October 20:09

[puggit]

11 hours to fly/train via Lyon?

Fk me - might as well drive all the way!

[cptsideways]

miniandy said:

Ah I see. So by drive you mean all the way?! My god! Is it not much easier and less hassle to fly?! And I'm not getting lost in any valley - I'm a beginner!

Its a doddle of a drive, leave 4-5pm from the south east, get a quick Dover/Calais crossing, drive till 10-11pm other side, overnight in F1 hotel/Ibis, get up early be on the slopes for midday.

Though the mobile pub does sound like a good idea!

[Balmoral Green]

Any fool knows that the best way is by 612, a blue one I think. Faster than the train/plane anyway.

[cyberface]

That was to Verbier, not Val.

Anyone done the drive down to Val d'Isere - how long does it take typically? Are the roads OK?

I was considering the place but the transfer time is a pain from Geneva, but driving's always a laugh if you've got a decent length ski holiday...

[miniandy]

Balmoral Green said:

Any fool knows that the best way is by 612, a blue one I think. Faster than the train/plane anyway.

I'll just give mine a clean...

[Balmoral Green]

cyberface said:

That was to Verbier, not Val.

Ah, right. So what colour do you need for Val?

[cyberface]

Balmoral Green said:

cyberface said: That was to Verbier, not Val. Ah, right. So what colour do you need for Val?

I thought the red ones were fastest.

[munky]

Another vote for the overnight train - great fun in the disco carriage, trying to hold your drink and perhaps have a boogie whilst people fall over each other as the train goes round the bends! However on our trip the bar did sell out of every type of alcohol except gin, so take supplies

Only thing is, you can't buy tickets for the train directly as far as I'm aware. You need to book via an agent / tour operator. If you get stuck PM me and I'll dig out the name of the one we used in January.

Other alternatives though:
1) There's also a fast train, basically a Eurostar service all the way from Paris (Gare du Lyon I think, as opposed to the disco train which departs from Gare du Nord). Get yourself a seat in 1st class, it's probably the fastest way to get there all things considered

2) Fly to Chambery, as someone suggested.

3) Fly to Geneva and get a helicopter to Val d'Isere, there's a helipad nearby.