 Poster: A snowHead
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Verbier is the ideal, in proximity to either Médran or Mayentzet lifts up the mountain. If that’s pricey (which it will be), then at the margins of the town (where you’d have to get a bus) or if that’s still pricey, down in Le Chable or in the satellites of La Tzoumaz or Nendaz.
The plus of Le Chable over Nendaz and La Tzoumaz is its excellent train connections to/from Geneva Airport. Basically, you don’t have to worry about synchronising flights with the train connections.
I’m currently in La Tzoumaz, but on the way out I had to hang around in Martigny for 2+ hours awaiting the connection to here, and on the way home I either get a 07:40 (a bit early) or an 09:20 (a bit tight) bus out that connects through to GVA via the train. Whereas if I was in Le Chable or Verbier, I’d have much more choice of train to get.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 4-02-25 15:25; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| v1cky24 wrote: |
| So just to check before I book - le chable is the easiest bit to access here for 4V fromGVA? I think this is probably the most important bit of the trip. I want to maximise ski time. The suggestions above with the overnight in martigny is winning favour at the moment. JUst the logistics with bags ski hire on the thursday morning to consider. |
Yes, Le Chable is by far the easiest and most reliable access to the 4V from Geneva.
I’d say you would still make that last train with a 40 min delay to your flight but as an insurance policy you would still have the IBIS Palexpo (10 mins walk from terminal) as a backup if for whatever reason you miss the last train to Martigny.
In the morning if you get the 7:51 train from Martigny station you’ll arrive in Le Chable at 8:17, in good time to pick up lift passes and be first in the queue at Montagne Show when they open at 8:30 for ski rental. I checked for you and they said no problem to look after a couple of bags for the day
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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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@BobinCH, aw you are so kind. You and @LaForet, are clearly very knowledgeable of this area! I must admit I’ve spent many years now heading back to various bits of France/italy for my skiing and have never really considered going to 4V!
I’m super excited about the thought! It will be like a mini adventure 
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Hmm I can see some engineering works affecting trains on 5.3.25. Says amended timetable. I wonder if they sell tickets for trains if they aren’t running?
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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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If you are going to use the Swiss railways, I’d suggest downloading the SBB phone app which is pretty good and has the usual live trains and route planning functions, station preferences etc. You can also open an account with SBB and if you are willing to record a credit card, buy tickets via the app or portal, and store electronic tickets on your mobile.
I still tend to buy my tickets via the web portal, just because the mechanics are sometimes a bit easier and I can print them out, but store them in my account so they’re accessible on the app on my mobile.
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That info was gleaned from that app @LaForet, I’m wondering if it’s the 5am train now looking best option .. I don’t know if the trains they have on the timetable are the amended ones or not. I’d like to think they wouldn’t sell tickets for trains that aren’t running mind you!
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@v1cky24, wait until end Feb/start March to make your booking for the 5th night when the timetable will be clearer
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Slightly odd thing on the train back from Martigny to Geneva Airport on Thursday - checking on the SBB app on the train it showed that the Geneva-to-airport segment had been cancelled at short notice. The guard announced in French after the penultimate stop, and at Geneva we had to cross the platform to another train which did the final leg. In fact, arrival time was still the same, as it stops for a while anyway at Geneva. It wasn’t clear why, as the track to the airport seemed to be fine, with no engineering works etc.
So always worth checking on the app once you’re settled on the train.
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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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Hire a car and go to Morzine. Drive will only take just over an hour and you'd be pretty unlucky for roads not to be clear. Car, from Swiss side, will have winter tyres/chains.
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How do they pick up the rental car if they're arriving after the desks have closed?
It's a genuine question of interest, - are there key lockers and you get a code to open them? Hertz now email you the damage sheet for the car, so presumably you get that sent off when you open the locker? But what if you find something not on the sheet? How do you inform them of a scratch/dent etc if there's no one there?
The worst delay I've had is 6½ hours, but fortunately never picked up outside of hours there before, so I'm not sure what the process involves.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@LaForet, my recollection, albeit many years ago, was that the GVA hire car desks stayed open until the last customer arrived (often me).
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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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@LaForet, I think Swiss side usually closes at 11.30pm. With a mid week late flight you'd hope that would give OP enough time to collect a car. I've booked with Hertz before with a midnight pick up, seem to recall I just phoned them when I booked and they arranged for someone to be there.
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Checking the Hertz website, it says that you have to arrange any out-of-hours pickup before you make a booking. Not all their rental locations do it (although I’d imagine GVA does) and there is an additional charge. Slightly circular explanation as it doesn’t cover what happens if you arrive well after closing time (say, due to a flight delay) but haven’t booked this in advance.
As mentioned, the site does say that you should always provide a flight number so they can make arrangements if your flight is delayed beyond the usual desk closing time (23:30 at GVA). But they don’t say just how long they’ll wait until they go home. Perhaps at somewhere like GVA there’s at least one person around 24x7 to handle such situations? But they’re not explicit about this, and just say you need to enquire separately if you think it’s a possibility.
The OP’s flight is scheduled to arrive at 22:00 which is probably 22:30 by the time they got to the car rental desks. So only an hour’s delay and they’re past the nominal closing time. So perhaps if the OP does opt to do this, then they should contact the rental company so they’re clear about what to do if it happens.
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Sun 9-03-25 19:46; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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@v1cky24, out of interest and a bit of a side note, how much do you think your YOLO weekend skiing will cost you? I'd like to do something similar if I get a free few days + find cheap flights from LBA as I live 5 mins away.
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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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Thanks all.
I think if I wasn’t just going with my daughter I might have hired a car. Which is a bit wimpy but it will be dark and potentially bad conditions - I’ve had quite a few bad experiences hiring a car too which puts me off. Though this has always been on trips to Spain to be fair. I wouldn’t rule it fully out.
@george_1, Flights are out of ncl in to lba weds-sat and cost £180.
Accommodation I have sourced in le Châble - £240 (though this is super cheap  everywhere else round here is ££££)
Lift passes for me and daughter plus locker £287
Train to from le chable will depend on when I book and how brave I am for booking ahead but can be sourced for circa £90 at best
Then it will either be a night in ibis in Gva or a place near station in martigny for about £100. And ski hire for £100
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Poster: A snowHead
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@LaForet, thanks for that intelligence on the train. I’m one of these people that push boundaries excessively so and would be tempted to go for a later train and this is reminding me not to!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Having a blast here. Skied down to tortin today . Checking I still have it. I have a dry mouth from Adrenalin though Tilly wants to ski down from mont fort. I’m going to assess it
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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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@v1cky24, 
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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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Well we did it. The black off Mont fort. Though I saw at least x 3 blokes fall 70% of the way down the
Moguls. My youth absolutely nailed it. Proud mama. The skiing lessons have paid off
Thank you to those who recommended here. I’ve had a wonderful little break. Would definitely consider back over this way for the family holiday. Especially @LaForet, @BobinCH, #love
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@v1cky24, great to hear it went well! Where did you stay that first night by the way?
Next time come back in pow conditions and your daughter won’t want to go anywhere else
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Great to hear it all worked out well. So many people post on here for advice, then never give feedback. It’s much appreciated, and useful for others with the same questions subsequently.
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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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I genuinely didn’t have anywhere other than somewhere in France in mind for this one! My horizons have been expanded. The train was a nice touch too and so easy! I found on the Gva website that you can get 10CHF off per ticket per way if you use the train to get to the airport as well! Small bonus.
We stayed in Martigny @BobinCH, late check in at the martigny boutique hotel. 5 mins from station. Then in le chable at l’escale restaurant /hotel. Very basic little place but lovely all the same. 5 mins walk from gondola. All went swimmingly!
Really like the ski area. It could have done with a bit more snow yes. Very slushy at the bottom at the end of the day but hey. I’m not complaining!
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| v1cky24 wrote: |
| I genuinely didn’t have anywhere other than somewhere in France in mind for this one! My horizons have been expanded. The train was a nice touch too and so easy! I found on the Gva website that you can get 10CHF off per ticket per way if you use the train to get to the airport as well! Small bonus. |
I'm off to have a look for this little discount!
Glad to hear your trip went so well. I'm a big fan of using the train from GVA on my trips as they're generally solo and a few days at a time and during the week.
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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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@GuyrillaMonsoon, I think I was looking for directions to the train station on the Gva website and found it! It worked a treat anyway. I think the outbound Gva - martigny leg was about £5 for my daughter and I!!
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Glad it all worked out so well @v1cky24 Apologies if I've missed it, but how much skiing did you get in the end? Did it all go OK for getting on the slopes on ski day 1?
How did you find CH price-wise for food and drink? Did you eat in Verbier?
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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I’m sure you’ll have a great time @mountainaddict, I can really recommend the out of ncl into Leeds thing. You can get x3 days of skiing in. Just need a lift to airport.
It’s not as easy for us north east folks! I think I might have to brave the car hire next. My hubby does a short trip to flaine every year. He loves it.
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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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Great tip @mountainaddict, I have a soft spot for La thuile over there. Would definitely consider back that way too.
I live almost in the middle of ncl and lba so either are options for ski trips. If they had a 3-4 day option over a weekend that would be ideal. Manchester has more choice but it’s a bit of a pain getting over there. I’m sure you’ll have a great time in flaine. Short transfer time on the other end is good for maximising skiing time!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Cheers @v1cky24. Flaine isn't definite, but I'll do a trip report wherever we end up 
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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.
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Just updating this to say that this campaign has now ended 
I've been able to book my return train with the discount, but no new codes are available.
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That’s a shame @GuyrillaMonsoon,
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