 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello All
I am just sorting out transport for my week in Cham over Christmas, there is going to be 2 of us going, I was planning on hiring a car, but a friend of mine suggested that a transfer would be better
Obvioulsy its a cost V hassle thing with the transfer 20E each way and the car coming in at £260 using holiday auto's
I am staying about 10 mins walk out of the centre of town but right next to the railway and a bus stop.
My biggest worry is the Q in the morning and at the end of the day for the busses to and from the slope
as I have never been to cham before I am looking for some info, if having a car will save a lot of time and hassle then I will go for it, but if people thing that you don't need one for cham then I might as well spend the money on over priced drinks and apre
What do you think??
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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've been twice and used the buses both times - it's ok but next time I'm hiring a car for convenience.
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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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I would spend the money on booze if I were you - I've been a few times in the last couple of years and found the busses to be fine.
If you're planning on going between the different areas in the same day or heading out to Courmayeur for a day then a car would be handy, but if it's just within the main areas and keeping to one per day then you should be fine with the free bus up and down the valley.
However, I have never been at xmas so can't comment on how busy they will be then, could be a 'mare for all I know ! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I took a car last year and was glad of it.
It's a fair old distance between the areas, and indeed between thet own and some areas.
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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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ajbaldwin,
I think the buses around are OK but I personally would not go to Chamonix without a car. A car gives you easy access to all the Chamonix skiing (Les Houches / Brevent / Flegere / Argentiere (GM) / Le Tour ) and if you are there for a week you can also easily drive to St Gervais / Megeve or Les Contamines which make a change and are quite nearby or pop through the tunnel to Courmayeur. A car will also make the transfers more convenient. That extra £200 may be a lot but it will not seem so bad when you are rushing to hit the powder and standing behind 50 people in a bus queue will it? 
For me a Chamonix skiing holiday is different to a Three Valleys or or other large ski in/ski out area holiday because of the variety around Chamonix and the car makes all that much more accessible.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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if you book a car from the french side for a week its about £150 try carhire 2000
most private transfers come in at 25 E + an extra E or so for tax so thats just over 100E for the 2 of you.
i would get a car for chamonix because sometimes its like joining an alton towers queue and you can only watch from the discomfort of the bus as it gets longer and longer
and if you have a car you cant stop for a bevvie on the bottom of the slopes saving 10 E a day....result!!!....well if thats what you consider a result!
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ajbaldwin, You don't "need" a car as the buses are perfectly fine, if a little crowded sometimes. However if you take a car you won't regret it as it makes life a whole lot easier in Chamonix. Plus you can avoid the 100 meter sprint to the lift queue!
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Chamonix buses are a battlezone in peak season at peak times, but so can the car parks. Depends on your definition of "morning" and "afternoon" . If you get to the slopes at 10.30 - no problems, similarly if you stay out V late or home early. 9am and 5pm are tough though. Personally I would use the bus, but more for green and financial reasons
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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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As usual thanks all for the quick and varied responses. I am not the most patient person in the world so I am thinking a car it is. also as I have a spare day (I fly out at 10:40pm I might use the car to check out another resort on the way back to Geneva
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If you go for the car option, hire on the French side of Geneva airport as Dizzymink suggests. It should save you at least £50++. The only hassle is squeezing yerself over to the French side (you'll know what i mean if you try it) and then having to drive through Geneva on the French side to avoid having to pay for a Swiss Vignette (30 Euros...i think?). Also, request chains....just in case etc 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you do take the bus the best is Alpybus who take you right to your hotel and run much more regularly than the ordinary buses.
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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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GreyCat, that was always my advice. But my latest hire (for February 2009) is the same price from either side - and you get snow tyres and chains and a vignette.
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As GreyCat implies - if prices for hire cars are similar then getting off plane with a load of luggage and through from Swiss side to French side of GVA airport can be pretty bad news. I have driven from French side through Geneva to Chamonix sans vignette and this too is not the best way to start a holiday.
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You know it makes sense.
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i got a vignette on ebay for £15 then sold it 2 weeks later for £15.
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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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whats a vignette?
to add t the questions we are travelling to cham for the first time at the end of jan with the car when you drive to the other areas are there easily avliable spaces to park near the main lifts?
do they cost money to park there? and how much is the bus equivalent?
Cheers Andy
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'll be there over xmas too... taking buses as I'm only skiing 3 days 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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aw-hicks, unless you are going to drive on the swiss motorway you wont need a vignette. Parking by the lift stations in cham is free you just have to find a space not a problem in jan!
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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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We used to hire on the Frech side of GVA but the last few years we have always picked up on the Swiss side. Its sometimes a little more expensive (but not always) but so much easier.
And as far as having a car in Chamonix- its a must for us. Gives you the chance to visit lots of other nearby resorts if the lifts are closed for whatever reason in the Cham valley. In the past we have had days at Megeve,Les Contamines,Morzine,Praz sur Arly,La Clusaz,Courmayeur,La Thuile, Verbier etc while based in Chamonix/Argentiere.
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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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Off Peak Season, I don't think a car is essential. The bus service is very regular and seats can often be found just a case of jumping on and off at the right places. I actually think you miss a bit of the experiance if you don't ride around on the local transport network, bumping into other brit's andtrying your luck at French with the bus driver!
Peak Season, Car is defo essential. Buses start to slow down due to the amount of loading and unloading and a seat can rarely be found thus you end up with some french womans sweaty armpit rubbing your nose and a BIG Austrian mountain man shoving his ski pole up your back bottom for the 20 min journey!
Good luck with what you choose!
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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 close to the town centre, but Argentiere side, I'd say your bus journeys are about:
Flegere 5-10mins
Grand Montets 10-20mins
Le Tour Up To 30mins
Brevent is difficult, the bus has to go through town so could take 5mins or 30mins! If your up for it, it will only take you 15mins to walk through town however there is a steep hill to climb. Not to bad in boarding boots but would'nt like to do it in ski boots!
Buses are every 10mins at peak times!
Hope that helps
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have hired a car at Geneva airport a couple of years back and by shopping around I got a Yaris for £120 for a week.
My view is that if you want to ski all the areas and maximise your time on the slopes then a car is the way to do it. I would only return to Cham if I was hiring a car. If I was faced with having to get ski-buses everywhere, I would probably choose another resort.
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We did Cham last Feb and had a car. The buses and trains are reliable and efficient, used them a few times but the valley and ski areas are strung out. The car gives you the flexibility and convenience. If I go again, the car will be with me.
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| aw-hicks wrote: |
| whats a vignette? |
It's Swiss road tax - you need to have the official sticker on your windscreen going through the border, or risk being stopped and 'invited' to buy one or - I have heard tales - being fined. They can be bought online, cost about £20 I think  and last for the year
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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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Interesting thread. My first time in Cham and I will have the Mundaneo there on 27th Dec. I had assumed it would sit in the car park all week without moving, with me and Mrs Shaker getting the bus.
It seems not
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| Anniepen wrote: |
| aw-hicks wrote: |
| whats a vignette? |
It's Swiss road tax - you need to have the official sticker on your windscreen going through the border, or risk being stopped and 'invited' to buy one or - I have heard tales - being fined. They can be bought online, cost about £20 I think and last for the year |
27eu at the border
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Anniepen wrote:
aw-hicks wrote:
whats a vignette?
It's Swiss road tax - you need to have the official sticker on your windscreen going through the border, or risk being stopped and 'invited' to buy one or - I have heard tales - being fined. They can be bought online, cost about £20 I think and last for the year
27eu at the border
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£22 plus £5 admin fee online at www.swisstravelsystem.com . If bought now lasts until end of Jan 2010.
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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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| beequin wrote: |
| Quote: |
Anniepen wrote:
aw-hicks wrote:
whats a vignette?
It's Swiss road tax - you need to have the official sticker on your windscreen going through the border, or risk being stopped and 'invited' to buy one or - I have heard tales - being fined. They can be bought online, cost about £20 I think and last for the year
27eu at the border
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£22 plus £5 admin fee online at www.swisstravelsystem.com . If bought now lasts until end of Jan 2010. |
but 27eu at the border is cheaper and it lasts until end of jan 2010. BUT if the border guard catches you it will need to be stuck to the window of the hire car and won't come off, so it lasts 2 weeks 
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| Quote: |
27eu at the border is cheaper
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Not for long.
Careful sticking will allow you to take it with you, or at least has done. Hired car at Grenoble and arranged to leave it on the French side of GVA, but did not have time to avoid the motorway. Not that we had cause to use it again!
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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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We spent last Christmas in Chamonix and it was great, we also go in February when it is much busier. We are flying to Geneva on Saturday and driving there for Christmas once again, can't wait. A car makes life so much easier over there and as there are so many places to ski it is much more convenient than buses, have a great time, we will, I hope.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
to add t the questions we are travelling to cham for the first time at the end of jan with the car when you drive to the other areas are there easily avliable spaces to park near the main lifts?
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Parking at Brevent costs 1 euro for the day. Parking at the other areas is free. The car parks can fill up at peak periods. We always drive around to Vallorcine if we are skiing Le Tour during the holidays as you can park close to the lift and you never have to queue there. Don't use the Flegere lift unless you happen to be staying nearby as it is an ancient wind-up contraption and the queues can be horrid. Instead use the link over from the Brevent side.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you all for the very helpful info
I cannot wait to go
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