 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
Going to Val in January, am thinking about using the eurostar from Ashford to Bourg St Mourice(Sp).
Any views on this please, also are there transfers from station to resort or taxi's only??
Have flights in holiday package but may get those back and use the train. I live 10 mins from Ashford Int
Thanks Tim
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I live 10 mins from Ashford Int
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No brainer...take the train! Best way to go IMHO!
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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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It is easy to get a bus from BSM to VT.
Take the train.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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madog, I vote the train too - two extra days skiing for a start! By the way it is quicker to get off in Moutiers than BSM to get to Val T. The coach from the station takes about an hour and stops at Les Menuires on the way. The cost for a return coach/bus is £25-30 (thanks to the exchange rate!).
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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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Sorry guy's I meant Val D'isere
apologies, Thank you for replies tho
Tim
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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madog, fair enough, then do get off in BSM  . Sorry, I don't know how you'd transfer up to Val d' from there but I'm sure someone'll be along shortly who does.
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| flowa wrote: |
| madog, fair enough, then do get off in BSM . Sorry, I don't know how you'd transfer up to Val d' from there but I'm sure someone'll be along shortly who does. |
Bus, Taxi, Thumb (as in "a lift"...)
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brian
brian
Guest
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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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Yes, bus (from just outside the station- straight on from the trains) is easy. Buy tickets at a special window just inside the station.
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Another vote for the train and my first  post this winter!!!
Bus timetables used to be found at http://www.altibus.com
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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madog,
Going straight through or change in Paris..?
Jump straight on the VD bus at BSM
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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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But is that the train where you have to sit up in a seat all night? Bummer. I've done the lying down sleeper from Paris, and I've done a sitting up coach - more than once. The coach is uncomfortable and cheap. The train is uncomfortable and expensive. What's the advantage?
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pam w,
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What's the advantage?
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Carbon footprint?
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You know it makes sense.
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Yes, I can see there's a carbon footprint advantage. But one coach with 52 people in is not doing too badly.
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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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If you're thinking about the Eurostar all the way to BSM, then I'd recommend looking into changing in Paris and getting the sleeper. All night in a rigid seat surrounded by whinging children (and I can't really blame them!) is tedious. Change to an SNCF sleeper and get a good night's kip instead 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well, I'm not that good at getting to sleep but I always sleep on the French sleeper train. But not sitting up, on a bus or anywhere else.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I like the sleeper from Paris, especially to BSM as it's the end of the line so, no worries about missing your stop.
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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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Pack ear plugs (or listen to your mp3 to cut the noise) and an eye do-da. Lying down beats reclining seats which don't recline far enough and if the carriage is full are impossible to get comfortable in.
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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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madog, if you live near the station then the train is the only way to go.
I thoroughly agree with ChrisWo and similar posts: if you are going by night then Urostar to Paris and taxi over to Gare d'Austerlitz for the sleeper. Well worth paying the extra for 1st class.
The daytime run-through Eurostar is OK.
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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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I live 20 minutes from Ashford, so this year for the new year La Plagne trip have decided to Eurostar to Paris (2 hours (plus a bit at the moment due the fire in the tunnel)), and then TGV to Aime La Plagne (4 hours 20 mins) - looking forward to it I must say. Have factored in a couple of hours in Paris in the middle in case of delays - think will head straight to Gare Lyon, leave bags with lost luggage and then grab a bite somewhere.
Anyone know if there's any form of luggage restriction on the Eurostar / TGV? I'll have my main case with me, plus backpack and then boots in their boot bag. Didn't see anything about it all when booking . . .
Ed
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Ed Ludlow wrote: |
Anyone know if there's any form of luggage restriction on the Eurostar / TGV? I'll have my main case with me, plus backpack and then boots in their boot bag. Didn't see anything about it all when booking . . .
Ed |
The luggage restriction is how easy it is for you to carry it on/off the train
There aren't any silly flight type 20kilo limits, as you hope the train will remain stuck to the tracks.
The direct services to BSM via Moutiers, Aime have a couple of rows of seats converted into luggage storage, but I guess that doesn't apply to the indirect..
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Excellent - guessed there was no weight limit, but wondered if there was any form of oversized luggage thing, which may include multiple bags or some such nonsense - glad there's not anyway.
Looking forward to it - definitely beats the other option which was driving! (Especially when you have someone at the other end to pick you up from Aime  )
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Ed Ludlow, there is some restriction: 2 items of baggage per person, plus 1 small item of hand luggage. You'll be fine with your stuff.
Remember, to get the cheapest fares on Eurostar (£29.50) you need to book early (120 days) and book a return.
On SNCF you can get the cheapest fares with a single. The SNCF site states you can book up to 90 days in advance. This is not quite accurate: you can book 3 months in advance.
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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 Jonpim, booked Eurostar in Sept, and paid I think 45 quid return. TGV was £160 I think, booked the day they released the tickets.
Did try and get direct Eurostar but they'd sold out. Still, not a huge worry, meeting a mate in Paris for the second leg of the trip. Also the stop in Paris means can pick up supplies for the journey without paying the, what I'm sure are crippling, prices on board 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
The luggage restriction is how easy it is for you to carry it on/off the train
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and (when I travelled in a 6 berth sleeper) how much of it you can fit with you on your bunk, how much of the available space your fellow passengers have taken on the floor and how easy it is to get it across Paris on the metro. If you're rich I guess you go First Class and have all the space. I managed all mine fine, but I was younger then. The rucksack was a great asset on a crowded metro and enabled me to mentally get my own back on all those Aussies who had shoved their rucksacks in my face on the Tube!
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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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Yes crossing Paris dans le Metro could be interesting. It was bad enough a few weeks ago with a small holdall and laptop bag - the thought of struggling with a massive suitcase, backpack and boots might just persuade me to jump in a cab . . .
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Ed Ludlow, nonsense - it's all part of the challenge. Just don't leave your skis on the metro...
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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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a massive suitcase,
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If you can't live without a massive suitcase, I'd suggest a cab. Maybe you could pack lighter? I had no problem with a large rucksack which included boots, and some of the bulky clothing stuffed in the ski bag. I did a week in Tignes, which meant a rush hour journey from my central London office out to Luton, with just the boot bag and ski bag - everything went in one or the other. That was enough to deal with on a crowded tube.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I could do, but unfortunately the mate I'm meeting in La Plagne has all his ski stuff in England, so I am taking that too, hence the massive suitcase 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Another vote for the train, albeit not eurostar all the way, the snow train isn't bad if you're not too close to the disco carriage, or change in Paris for the sleeper if you can get good rates (they have been a bit snidey by opening booking early of late)
Extra day's skiing makes it worthwhile to catch the train (quietest days too)
Bonne chance, maybe see you on the mountain!
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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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Ed Ludlow, OK, it's really simple. He pays for your cab. 
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