 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi. My son and I are going to be flying to Geneva on our way to a cheeky long weekend in Courmayeur at the beginning of March. Both vaxed and boosted, both planning to get the 48hr PCR test as per the current regs for Italy.
The hotel recommended hiring a car rather than booking a transfer as it will be cheaper.
Are there any kinks to be aware of in terms (a) choosing which side of GVA airport to leave from, and (b) what route to drive? I don’t mind paying tolls, I’m not trying to make it as cheap as possible, I just want to increase the chances of a smooth and snag-free drive to the resort. The day we travel will also be a day on which we intend to ski 
If folks here think that a transfer is still the best way to go, I’ll take it and ditch the idea of the hire car.
Thanks in advance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What time do you land? And are you taking skis? Transfer will most likely save you an hour but if you have own skis and drive you could stop off somewhere on the way. Swiss side probably marginally better in terms of speed picking up and car will have the vignette needed for driving round Geneva
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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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Hi. We land at 0905, without skis. Hoping to be in resort for some afternoon skiing. Thanks!
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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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Ok the very cheapest transfer I can find is gbp250 each way. Ouch. So, hire car from the Swiss side it is.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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One way tickets for the Mont Blanc Tunnel are eye-watering - buy a oneweek return.
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Thanks GeorgeVIII - at what point in the journey did they have to show their COVID docs? Just at the airport, or also on the road border with Italy?
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@grimupnorth, Their transfer took place one week after France announced border closures to UK arrivals (and no transit through France) but their papers and certs weren't requested at any point after boarding in Manchester. Go figure.
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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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Do the FR and CH side differ in who gets winter tyres?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Brilliant 
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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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Check flixbus to see if your timings work with that.
Not sure what the price is all the time, but when I was considering Courmayeur for mid Jan, it was showing £7.99 pp each way.
Doubt you'll get a car much cheaper than that if the timings work.
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I’m flying to Geneva and picking up a car on the French side on the 22nd Feb. I’m a bit worried about the FRench Swiss border, do I need anything other than the NHS Covid app to transit through France? Thanks
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You know it makes sense.
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If you're in a French side hire car you'll probably need to buy a Swiss motorway vignette.
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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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@grimupnorth, Around the lake , and the Bernard is the best , easiest and most reliable route. Mt Blanc always seems to have long queues these days
March shouldn't be a problem ( then again who knows when it snows ) but the Swiss are the World's best at snow clearing. If you get stuck you can always stay in Verbier.
CH - side is (imo) a no brainer. Some 'heroes' know better ... many others know that time, life and peace-of-mind on balance says hire in Suisse.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks, is there border control when you leave Geneva, or is it plain sailing when you leave Geneva airport until you get to the Mont Blanc tunnel? Thanks again
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Robcumnor wrote: |
| Thanks, is there border control when you leave Geneva, or is it plain sailing when you leave Geneva airport until you get to the Mont Blanc tunnel? Thanks again |
There is a Border Control but they rarely seem to stop people.
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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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| Agenterre wrote: |
@grimupnorth, Around the lake , and the Bernard is the best , easiest and most reliable route. Mt Blanc always seems to have long queues these days
March shouldn't be a problem ( then again who knows when it snows ) but the Swiss are the World's best at snow clearing. If you get stuck you can always stay in Verbier.
CH - side is (imo) a no brainer. Some 'heroes' know better ... many others know that time, life and peace-of-mind on balance says hire in Suisse. |
If you come that way and rent on the Swiss side, drive to and park in Le Châble (1hr30 from GVA airport) at the free parking, rent some skis for the afternoon from Mountain Snow at the base station and spend your afternoon skiing Verbier. Then come down at the end of the day and it’s another 1h30 to Courmayeur through the Grand St Bernard tunnel.
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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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| BobinCH wrote: |
| Agenterre wrote: |
@grimupnorth, Around the lake , and the Bernard is the best , easiest and most reliable route. Mt Blanc always seems to have long queues these days
March shouldn't be a problem ( then again who knows when it snows ) but the Swiss are the World's best at snow clearing. If you get stuck you can always stay in Verbier.
CH - side is (imo) a no brainer. Some 'heroes' know better ... many others know that time, life and peace-of-mind on balance says hire in Suisse. |
If you come that way and rent on the Swiss side, drive to and park in Le Châble (1hr30 from GVA airport) at the free parking, rent some skis for the afternoon from Mountain Snow at the base station and spend your afternoon skiing Verbier. Then come down at the end of the day and it’s another 1h30 to Courmayeur through the Grand St Bernard tunnel. |
Now that is a plan. Two world class ski resorts in a weekend. Head onward to Courmayeur before dinner though, despite your assertion that budget isn't the main driver.
On the other hand, use the MB tunnel route and have the first afternoon in Chx. Still two world class ski resorts in a weekend. If you do that, then double definitely get onward to Italy before dinner.
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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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@grimupnorth, Make sure you hire from the Swiss side. You will definitely get winter tyres which is not the case for French side hires. The exit and especially return routes for car hire are simpler from the Swiss side. And you will have the vignette to use Swiss motorways which French side cars may not. No brainer.
And second the suggestion of skiing Verbier on your way, most efficient use of time for maximum skiing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| midgetbiker wrote: |
| BobinCH wrote: |
| Agenterre wrote: |
@grimupnorth, Around the lake , and the Bernard is the best , easiest and most reliable route. Mt Blanc always seems to have long queues these days
March shouldn't be a problem ( then again who knows when it snows ) but the Swiss are the World's best at snow clearing. If you get stuck you can always stay in Verbier.
CH - side is (imo) a no brainer. Some 'heroes' know better ... many others know that time, life and peace-of-mind on balance says hire in Suisse. |
If you come that way and rent on the Swiss side, drive to and park in Le Châble (1hr30 from GVA airport) at the free parking, rent some skis for the afternoon from Mountain Snow at the base station and spend your afternoon skiing Verbier. Then come down at the end of the day and it’s another 1h30 to Courmayeur through the Grand St Bernard tunnel. |
Now that is a plan. Two world class ski resorts in a weekend. Head onward to Courmayeur before dinner though, despite your assertion that budget isn't the main driver.
On the other hand, use the MB tunnel route and have the first afternoon in Chx. Still two world class ski resorts in a weekend. If you do that, then double definitely get onward to Italy before dinner. |
Afternoon Vallée Blanche to warm up the legs
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There is some great advice here, thanks all, especially @agenterre. I'll certainly hire in Switzerland. The idea of stopping to ski in Verbier is interesting, wouldn't have thought of that.
Assuming for now that I'd like to get straight to Courmayeur .... the 'round the top' route is going to be at least 3 hours. Are the delays in the Mont Blanc Tunnel likely to be so bad that they will add 90 min to the 'straight through France' route?
Thanks again!
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Thanks so much for all advice, Swiss side is £700 to hire for 6 days, French is £250, how much extra hassle is french side? If they do have winter tyres do you also need chains? Also the vignette, where can you get one, is it attached to the license plate? I’m going again on the 10th March with the misses, so I could potentially use it twice. Thanks again everYone
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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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Someone else has already mentioned Flixbus and I would definitely recommend this option to the Aosta Valley . It was so straightforward; extremely cheap and it takes all the hassle out of the tunnel. The app is brilliantly accurate at tracking the bus and we didn’t have any problems on either leg of the journey
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@donzy3030 thanks but the timings for Flixbus don't work.
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