Poster: A snowHead
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So due to friends being on other flights I will find myself arriving at Chambery in a couple of weeks 4.5hr before my flight - and 2.5 even before check in opens!! The only alternative was a public bus that arrives just as check in opens but takes much longer and so leaves resort only a bit after our transfer.
So what on earth am I going to do at the airport with myself for all that time? I've not flown from there but well aware it's not exactly Heathrow! Any tips? Anything worthwhile nearby - good places for lunch etc? Is it worth going into town? I'll have my luggage with me until check in opens.
Starting to wish I was going via Geneva!
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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the airport is tiny, only a smallish restaurant and bar. I would look at alternatives nearby the airport, although I'm clueless on the local area.
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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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A fantastic opportunity to have a couple of hours alone with a good book......
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@TommyJ, Maybe worth going into Aix les Bains or Bourget du Lac and have lunch or a drink in a restaurant overlooking the lake (Lac du Bourget). You'll probably have to get a taxi but it shouldn't be much, maybe 10 euros.
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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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Drink heavily?
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Ouch! I think alcohol is the only answer!
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Sit outside in the SUN ....
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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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Thanks everyone. Looks like alcohol and the kindle is the way to go!
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What @pam w, says! ^^^^^^
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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You could sit at the end of the runway and watch all the aircraft go around and bug off to Grenoble and Lyon 'cos the weather is shite at Chambery
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feefee wrote: |
What @pam w, says! ^^^^^^ |
Exactly!
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You know it makes sense.
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TommyJ wrote: |
Thanks everyone. Looks like alcohol and the kindle is the way to go! |
Yep, and a decent book as Pam says.
A few years back we were delayed in Chambery for 9 hours. Longest 9 hours of my life (although to be fair I got absolutely smashed.....)
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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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That happened to me once a few years back (thanks to the gross incompetence, not to say negligence, of Crystal. Was stuck there for about 6 hours before check-in opened. I'd finished my book on the transfer coach. The snack bar ran out of everything, there was no beer left et etc. I certainly lost any will to live that day.
Feeling cheered yet, @TommyJ,?
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Poster: A snowHead
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@LOTA, absolutely essential to carry enough reading for any foreseeable delay. Kindle or similar. Then delays are really quite enjoyable, provided you are on your own. Best way to travel.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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pam w wrote: |
@LOTA, absolutely essential to carry enough reading for any foreseeable delay. Kindle or similar. Then delays are really quite enjoyable, provided you are on your own. Best way to travel. |
This was in the days before new-fangled devices like iPods, Kindles or smart telephones!
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pam w wrote: |
A fantastic opportunity to have a couple of hours alone with a good book...... |
Precisely this. While I now work from home, I travelled for a living for fifteen years, and the one thing I always had with me is enough reading material to tide me over for any delay.
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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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Take some food, save a few Euros for beer and chill with a book. Go upstairs and you will find a restaurant, bar and a toilet that is cleaner than the awful one downstairs. Get settled and avoid the Esprit kids area round the corner (that's where I normally am)
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I have a morbid dread of being stuck somewhere for more than 10 minutes without a book. So, take a book/kindle and a giant bar of Dairy Milk and all is well with the world.
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Agree, book, selection of snacks/beverage of your choice, earplugs/headphones and the time will fly! Far rather sit on airport with book than faff with extra travelling!
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Is there a pharmacy at the airport that sells Lemsip?
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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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LOTA wrote: |
pam w wrote: |
@LOTA, absolutely essential to carry enough reading for any foreseeable delay. Kindle or similar. Then delays are really quite enjoyable, provided you are on your own. Best way to travel. |
This was in the days before new-fangled devices like iPods, Kindles or smart telephones! |
Hand luggage full of books plus possibly one bought in airport on way out as that didn't count as "luggage". Never mind the clothes, books were top of the packing list. I'd also take an "ought to read" long, possibly heavy going book as an extra in case I ran out. Still pack a physical book as well as tablet, phone and kindle to ensure if I run out of battery I can still read. All the kindle has done is added space for other essentials in my hand luggage!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Eugh...hate chambery airport I must admit, mainly as had so many bad experiences. But sometimes it is a necssity and when all is well it's defini9tely convenient.
I would make sure you have snacks (the cafe/food is limited), book that you are looking forward to charging through, good music playlist, bevcerage of choice, and be prepared to sit on your coat as when its busy can be difficult to get a seat apart from the floor.
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Quote: |
I would make sure you have snacks (the cafe/food is limited), book that you are looking forward to charging through, good music playlist, bevcerage of choice, and be prepared to sit on your coat as when its busy can be difficult to get a seat apart from the floor.
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very good advice. I recall a squabble over the last croissant one time......
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You know it makes sense.
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foxtrotzulu wrote: |
Is there a pharmacy at the airport that sells Lemsip? |
bug, beat me to it.
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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 once spent nine tortuous hours there on 23rd December with a small child with all other flights being cancelled. By some miracle our inbound flight finally landed just before 11pm and they turned it round in time for us to take off before the airport shut at midnight, so we made it back for Christmas Eve. Luckily we had plenty of snacks and a portable DVD player for our daughter. We managed to sit on the floor next to a power point, so did not have to deal with battery power running out. I think I must have had some good reading matter with me (was in the days before the Kindle).
If you want to go outside for a meal, there is a hotel at the entrance of the airport - http://www.hotel-cervolan.fr/?lang=en - which is just a short walk from the terminal. Looks like they have a good restaurant. (It will certainly be better than that served in the airport restaurant.)
Take a good book/Kindle (don't forget a charger) and enjoy a bit of quality down-time.
Hope your journey goes well.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good grief people. Can you really not spend half a day without getting drunk or eating too much? Read, listen to music, go and have a look at Chambery, whatever. Do not sit there mindlessly chewing and pouring alcohol down your throat, it's pathetic.
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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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@Lizzard, Pah. You need to get a beer and chill out.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Why not pretend to be a TO rep and wander around giving lots of helpful and reassuring advice.... Oh sorry I got that a bit wrong i think
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Lizzard wrote: |
Good grief people. Can you really not spend half a day without getting drunk or eating too much? l: |
They are on holiday.
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@blahblahblah, and? Not seeing the relevance.
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Look out, fun police in the area.
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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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Lizzard wrote: |
@blahblahblah, and? Not seeing the relevance. |
You are brighter than that.
It is not unusual for people to eat and drink on holiday, amounts and at times they would consider abnormal. I am always amazed that people sit in Gatwick airport drinking at 6.00 in the morning, but hey ho, they are doing what they enjoy on holiday.
Chambery airport is really pretty crap, and if reading is not your thing there is not much to do.
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