 Poster: A snowHead
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Appreciate some advice from any 3V veterans...
I'll be in Meribel Mottaret in Jan, coming in from Paris, and leaving on Sat 11/1 for Geneva
1. Is my best bet inbound to do TGV to Moutiers, then some sort of cab ?uber ?minibus service from Moutiers to MM ? If so, any recommendations for the road leg ?
2. Looking at the Saturday trip from MM -> Geneva
- unless I've mis-read Maps, it appears public transport would require at least 2 non-fast trains
- is the best bet here a dedicated road transfer service ? If so, any recommendations please ? we won't be carrying skis, just general luggage
3. Is the Saturday AM departure particularly prone to long road delays due to tourist changeover ? what sort of realistic timeframe should I put on this ? I'm hoping to do a short tour in Geneva that afternoon, but don't want to book it in if the transfer out of 3V is likely to be a disaster...
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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Last Jan I went to Les Menuires (next to Meribel) via Geneva. I took Altibus bus from Geneva airport to Moutiers and then Altibus from Moutiers to Les Menuires (there will be an option from Meribel) - and then the opposite on the way back...
The one thing I would recommend is booking ASAP as they get booked up and.... pay the few euros extra for flexibility if you miss a connection for any reason
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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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For 1, I did the early morning train from Paris to Moutiers last year, and it joined up well with an Altibus (https://www.altibus.com/en/) up the hill.
2. The train is a bit slow, yes. If there's just a couple of you Ben's Bus or Altibus again might work. There are a few companies that do shared minibus transfers, but I don't recall any names offhand.
3. That's a pretty quiet week, so I don't think it will be too bad.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Forget trying to get the train back from Moutiers to Geneva. Swiss and French rail don't seem to interact on what should be a route created for the winter from Geneva airpot to Moutiers, Aime & Bourg St M.
Depending on how many of you there are, a private or a shared minibus transfer from Mottaret is probably the esiest option, those using a bus down to Moutiers and then one of the busses to Geneva airport will be a slightly cheaper option.
You may get caught in traffic, but the worst jams tend to be further up the Tarantaise valley, so the aime side of Moutiers rather than the Albertville side. It can also be slow around Lake Annecy, but the views make up for that!
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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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| JDL65 wrote: |
Forget trying to get the train back from Moutiers to Geneva. Swiss and French rail don't seem to interact on what should be a route created for the winter from Geneva airpot to Moutiers, Aime & Bourg St M.
Depending on how many of you there are, a private or a shared minibus transfer from Mottaret is probably the esiest option, those using a bus down to Moutiers and then one of the busses to Geneva airport will be a slightly cheaper option.
You may get caught in traffic, but the worst jams tend to be further up the Tarantaise valley, so the aime side of Moutiers rather than the Albertville side. It can also be slow around Lake Annecy, but the views make up for that! |
Yes I have been discovering this trying to even find a sensible rail route…
Any recommendations for the transfer services ? 2 adults, 2 tweens
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ben'sBus are really good and reasonably priced
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@grrr, as others have said, Altibus from moutiers to MM on the first Saturday maybe the cheapest way to go, i have used these a couple of times to both meribel and les menuires. though by the time you have paid for 4 bus tickets a taxi maybe not much more money, and no doubt a lot easier as they will drop at your accommodation, am sure you may be able to get a quote via the tourist office website.
on the return journey, you could look at the following, www.coolrunnings.eu, they are based in val thorens and do both shared minibus and private transfers, they have been recommended on here before, and friends i was with this easter in VT used them and were very happy.
i just did a trial quote for your dates and passengers and a private minibus to Geneva from MM, came to 360 euros in total
i have also used ben'sbus before and they were good as well, but you may need to change at moutiers for a connecting bus to Geneva
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Thanks all
For MM to Geneva, looks like the options are:
coolrunings.eu 360eur (private transfer); every other company seems at least 100eur more expensive
altibus 251eur
bensbus 228eur
Anyone have any other private transfer recommendations ? There would be door to door convenience with the private transfer, but not sure if it's worth that much of a premium...
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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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| grrr wrote: |
Thanks all
Anyone have any other private transfer recommendations ? There would be door to door convenience with the private transfer, but not sure if it's worth that much of a premium... |
Snowcompare.com
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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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What about TGV to lyon, hire a car, drive to mottaret, leave car back at GVA when you go home?
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| grrr wrote: |
Thanks all
For MM to Geneva, looks like the options are:
coolrunings.eu 360eur (private transfer); every other company seems at least 100eur more expensive
altibus 251eur
bensbus 228eur
Anyone have any other private transfer recommendations ? There would be door to door convenience with the private transfer, but not sure if it's worth that much of a premium... |
Strangely:-https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=170664
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You know it makes sense.
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Well turns out coolrunnings is already fully booked for the period.
Does anyone know if there is a local shuttle around Mottaret stops ? The tourism website talks about a Meribus, but doesn’t have any timetable or stop info as it’s not snow season yet…
I’ve booked Ben’s Bus, but the hotel is about 600m from the stop… wondering about the feasibility of walking down 4 suitcases in the dark and snow/ice at 7am !!
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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 think Meribus services start at about 07:00-07:30. But that is probably from Meribel, so it will be 7:30+ when it gets to Mottaret.
Where are you staying? If in Laitelet then the Chalets lift might start earlier and get you down to Mottaret centre.
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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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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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Thanks everyone - this has been incredibly helpful
I’m staying at Le Hotel Mottaret; they are sadly very difficult to get information from
Based on timetables and timings I ended up booking a private transfer for 350eur (plus 15eur Ben’s plus cancellation)
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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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@grrr, glad you are sorted.
But for the benefit of anyone else thinking about transfers, I reckon Le Hotel Mottaret is only about 200-250m from the Ben's Bus stop in Mottaret Centre.
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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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@ecureuil, thanks
There was still the issue of needing a taxi when we arrived at Geneva if we used Ben's Bus, plus my concern about getting the bags down to the bus stop in Mottaret early in the AM in snow/ice/dark... I figured the door to door convenience was worth the price premium...
Thanks to @garfy1971 for pointing me to snowcompare.com
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@grrr, The Hotel isn't too bad to get down to / from the tourist office bus stop but with 4 people probably the sensible move to do what you did.
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@grrr, glad you got it sorted
i must admit, when i was looking into a midweek transfer for a few of our party in VT last season, i was surprised that there was not much difference in private and shared transfers when the numbers of travellers stack up (4pax). all you ever heard was horror stories, so not sure if the smaller, newer boys are just being more competitive between them.
though obviously, if it is a return journey, then car hire may be a better option
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I figured the door to door convenience was worth the price premium..
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as you say door to door convenience is worth the premium, also don't forget you can dictate the time you need the transfer, and not be dependant on the coach transfers timetables, as you could be having to get to the airport a few hours before you actually need to be there.
also, if any of your party are susceptible to travel sickness, you have a better chance to manage it in a minibus than a packed coach!!
you mentioned a taxi when arriving at Geneva, i am assuming you are staying overnight in a hotel that evening?
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| terrygasson wrote: |
@grrr, glad you got it sorted
all you ever heard was horror stories, so not sure if the smaller, newer boys are just being more competitive between them
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Horror stories as in no shows, or just high price ?
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you mentioned a taxi when arriving at Geneva, i am assuming you are staying overnight in a hotel that evening? |
Yes, we fly out the next day. Assuming the transfer works out time wise, we should the whole afternoon to poke around Geneva
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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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@grrr,
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Horror stories as in no shows, or just high price ?
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it was stories on previous threads of people being quoted eye watering prices, TBH I have only ever used transfer companies on a couple of solo trips I have taken, so it made financial sense to use them.
when I have been in groups we have hired cars from the airport, or as a family we DIY and drive out.
obviously, logistically it does not work out for you on this trip as you are arriving and departing from different locations
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