 Poster: A snowHead
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Am I being wildly ambitious or do you reackon it's possible to take a long weekend off work, cheap flight to Geneva and squeeze in 2 or 3 days skiing?
I'm thinking Chamonix would be the best resort for location, but I would be very grateful if anyone could offer any advice or suggestions on doing something like this
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Blue Mark, I'm sure it's possible. I know the topic has been discussed before...and the snowtrain/eurostar always gets a mention as an alternative to flying.
This thread may be of some use?
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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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Blue Mark, It is definitely possible. Many of us have done just that. Equally you could fly to Turin and visit an Italian resort. (or Salzburg or Zurich etc etc). One of the biggest costs (often overlooked) is the transfer - a hire car is probably preferable if you are only doing a weekend.
The cheapest way is probably going by overnight coach with www.skiweekends.com who I have also used and would do again.
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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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Blue Mark, it is certainly possible - Flaine is another good possibility from Geneva. Also look out for cheap flights to Lyon or Grenoble and head out to Alpe d'Huez or Les 2 Alpes.
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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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certainly possible but i'd look at other options - you can get cheap flights from Southampton to Chambery for example. We did that last year in order to take a long weekend in Courchevel. Took an early morning flight on Thursday, were on the slopes by 1pm and left on Sunday.
Courchevel is about 75 minutes drive from Chambery
In my experience, finding affordable accomodation for a long weekend is the most difficult bit. Hotels seem to find that they are suddenly fully booked when you say that you only want to stay for 3 nights which overlap 2 potential full-week bookings. If you are prepared to stay at the cheaper end or the very expensive end of the hotel list, then you probably have more choice.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Blue Mark, depends where you live and whether you have cheap flights nearby.
This year for example we have five 2-day weekends booked. Out Friday typically on the last BA (20h00) from Heathrow (we live central London) generally make Bar Boudha in Morzine for midnight and a nightcap, leave slopes Sunday at 16h00 for the 18h50 back in. Booking early meant our most expensive flights were about 80 quid return.
Accomodation definitely the trickiest element.
But please don't try it, the flights are busy enough as it is... 
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Done a few long-weekend/partial-weeks to Chamonix. As Tony Lane said, Sleazyjet early am from LTN or LGW gets you there for the start of the half-day lift pass, and you can ski to about 4-4:30pm on the return. Fri eve or Sun eve are expensive, so take Thu/Fri morn out and Sat/Mon eve return for cheaper deals. Staying in a bunkhouse (for 12euro a night) was just fine for us too - resulting in the guide's fees being by far the biggest outlay! IIRC, ATS GVA-Cham is 40eur one-way, and take just about 1hr.
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thanks for yr words of wisdom.
I'm currently based in SW scotland, so the snow train or bus is out of the question really!
I'm finding the transfers to the resort to be the most logistically challenging thing to organise because it appears the bus times leaving Geneva don't allow for travelling late on thursday and late on sunday to enable maximum time on the slopes.
I'm gonna keep trying though 
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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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Blue Mark, we always hire a car. It's not any more than paying for a transfer and agreed, it's not possible to get a bus anywhere at sensible times. We use holiday autos or book direct with Hertz (which helps as we have corporate club membership that lets us jump the queue!)
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SAVDA & SAT both do regular buses from Geneva to French & Italian resorts. The timetables may not be ideal for your flights, but they're worth a look as they're pretty cheap and don't take tooooo long.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I do this trip every year:
Sunday afternoon fly out of Luton > Geneva. return flight this year cost £46.
Hire car until wednesday night this year £138 through Holiday Autos. Two of us so split cost in half.
Drive to Morzine in an hour, ski porte du soleil area including avoriaz, even ski into switzerland for lunch if you fancy ( dont forget swiss francs).
Stay in hotel sporting b&b.
Get last flight home wednesday night.
Whole trip incl ski pass, ski hire, eating out and beverages until 1am each night costs less than £500.
Have done this trip setting of on 6am flight and was skiing by 1230 french time and that included going to hire shop.
Thoroughly recommended.
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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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Just booked hotel sporting at £70 for a twin en suite room b&b.
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