 Poster: A snowHead
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Been to the 3V many times but always used tour op transfer. We are looking at going more independently this time and cant believe the coat of transfers...more than the flight ! There are 4 of us and tfr is around £500 !!!!! Any ideas on a better way. Car hire is not as cheap as it used to be...also why is it £100 more for cwr hire from swiss side of geneva airport than the french side...whats the catch.
Is it better to train to moutiers then altibus to resort. Maybe fly to lyon then train to chambery then transfer. Any ideas / experience welcomed please
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Re car hire in Geneva , swiss side is more expensive because Swiss franc is much stronger than the £ and Swiss cars have snow tyres, French side don't .
Car hire is cheaper in Lyon .
Hiring a car from Lyon should be cheaper than a return Altibus from Geneva l it will also give you more freedom .
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You have a PM 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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backhojo, the flight is carrying 130-300 people, fills up with gas and other saleable goods (beer, food etc) turns around and goes back with 130-300 people on it. The transfer company pays a driver to drive for up to 3 hours, wait for an hour, help with the bags, drive another 3 hours, carry 4-6 people and have a backup (assuming its a good transfer company) on standby, thats why they cost a bit more in relative terms, plus you arent paying insurance or getting ripped off with parking, fuel, chain costs.
we have always used 3vt (3 vallees transfer) on our trips, sure not cheap, but reliable as the tide coming in, quality and service to boot. They get us from Chambery to Courchevel 1850 (the altiport to right at the top) in about 1hr 40 so we can do our front door to first ski in about 8 hours.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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backhojo, yes, transfers often cost more than the flight. They take longer, too. 
If you are competent with snow chains no reason why you can't hire a car from the French side and save some dosh. Though be aware you will either need to drive through Geneva or pay the Swiss motorway vignette (40 swiss francs last time I bought one, but I think that might be changing). For four of you it will probably be cheaper, though unless you pay for covered parking in resort you might have to dig the car out of a big snowdrift!
Altibus isn't that cheap either, actually and the trains add hassle. With four people, personally, I'd hire a car, Swiss side, in the hope of avoiding the use of chains and being able to get straight out to the border on the Swiss motorway. Though unless you travel light you'll need to upgrade from the smallest car.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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backhojo, If a transfer is cheaper than average check that they are insured and have the licences to operate across France and Switzerland, there were some genuine horror stories of Brit operated minibuses being stopped and passengers just dumped because of the French Police checks last season.
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Not sure why you consider the train to Chambery then transfer, the train to Moutiers will be more convenient - then get the bus upto the resort. But again it isn't cheap IIRC about 70 euros per person return from Geneva, a lot less and quicker from Lyon (the town not the airport station).
I haven't hired from the swiss side of Geneva airport for years. If you know the way around the French side is a bit easier anyway.
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How about a combination of Altibus to Moutiers then a taxi up to whichever resort you are in.
Or- as long as you can stomach it- drive from the UK- though I appreciate you're another 2 hours from this side of the tunnel than I am.
Car hire in Geneva- we always go from the Swiss side as it's easier to find your way in and out. I would guess that even if it stays parked in resort for the week it will cost less than £500!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Have you looked into a shared transfer? Check out http://www.findtransfers.com - you can post your required dates and transfers and then it matches up with other people looking for similar transfers
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Ditch the flight and just drive from UK
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Boris, +1
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Hi backhojo,
Travelling independently from Geneva to the 3 valleys the train is a real faff - as a minimum you'll change once in Geneva station and once in Chambery but many have a third change too.
Your best option is you don't want to pay for a private transfer is either a shared transfer (eg Find Transfers above) or a public bus transfer (www.altibus.com or www.bensbus.co.uk) or a hire car.
Good luck!
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backhojo, Have a look at a car rental comparison site such as carrentals.co.uk to find the best price for car hire. Depending on your dates, you can rent an estate car for £256 from the Swiss side of Geneva for a week. That price was from 18th to 25th January with ebookers.com, it should be equipped with winter tyres and will have the Swiss vignette required for travelling the short distance on the Swiss motorway.
If you want to pay for the CDW excess insurance it is usually cheaper to search the internet for a separate policy.
Another option is plane to Chambery, flights from East Midlands with Jet2.com. Then Altibus to resort from the airport (with a possible change at Moutiers) for 50 euros return.
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You know it makes sense.
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Bens bus - surely the best in terms of price and convenience? Not sure I'd want to faff about driving up to 3V in potentially bad conditions.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I personally consider the car a plus, and would go that route myself, especially if self catering.
It is an easy drive and any traffic hold ups would be the same in a van.
You also do away with the stress of waiting for some teenager with a hangover being an hour late picking you up.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Filthyphil30k, not all companies use teenagers..............www.ski4funtransfers.co.uk/Team.php
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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redrunmarcus, thanks for that. I am sure they don't, my point was you are in control in your own vehicle.
The last transfer I did to Tignes was not a teenager, but still drove like one, made me want to be as pissed as everyone else on the mini bus.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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And although they all look very nice and mature we are back to 700 euro for 4 people.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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redrunmarcus, I hadn't noticed that page. Are you actually retiring?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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IIRC we paid 3vt about 460 for door to door service, just checked and a return from CMF for 4 is about 520 euros and 550 from GVA and 670 from Lyon. Whilst certainly not cheap, when you add up car hire, parking, CDW, fuel, tolls, usual hire company stiffing you for something extra plus the faffing with picking the car up, returning it etc. it's the choice we go for if you are going to stay in one place.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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backhojo, you can add your journey details on our Shared transfers page. Local companies can get back to you with an offer if anything comes up. Expect it to be a bit last minute though. http://www.findtransfers.com
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boredsurfin, Yes finnish at the end of October.......so if you need a KP .......
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