 Poster: A snowHead
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I've booked a trip to Chamonix from 24th Feb to 27th Feb (weekend) and I want to know the most reliable and cost effective way to travel. I'll need transfers fom Geneva to Cham and return. Two years ago I booked cham express transfers and as there were problems getting skis out, I missed my transfer by about 5 minutes (I allowed lots of time). Cham express were totally unhelpful and even though it was 10am, they stated they wouldn't have space for me till 6pm that evening. Needless to say I used another company to get to Chamonix and I'll never use Cham express again.
Is there a train I can take? I'm staying in the Alpina, or should I just book transfers when I arrive at the airport? As these transfer companies don't seem to allow for delays I don't want to be in the same situation I was in last time. I arrive at 10am in geneva and fly out at 5pm.
Help would be appreciated.
On another note I got back from Alpe D'huez on the 28th Jan and I can't rate the area highly enough, I had a fantastic week in glorious conditions...
Thanks,
Lossy
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mrlossyman, not heard many complaints re cham express. Mountain Dropoffs is well spoken of, I think they try to distinguish themselves from the competition by higher standards of service.
There is a train but it's a pain, you need to change twice and takes ages.
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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 used Alpybus from CHX to GVA in Dec. No fuss, did exactly what they specified, and very cheap.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You'll find complaints about all of them online if you look, things do go wrong from time to time, but mostly there are very few problems when you consider they must move thousands of people on a busy day.
I've personally never had a problem with Chamexpress but I can understand you not wanting to use them again! I recommend Mountain Dropoffs, they are very good, I use them often. Cham-van are also good. None of these three have ever let me down.
I have used Alpybus a few times over the years, and only once had a problem, and to be fair, they let me know in time to find an alternative - but as they are cheaper, the service is necessarily cut a bit fine, so I must say they aren't my first choice.
I've done the train but it really is not ideal. The bus is a bit better, but really the transfers are the best option.
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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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| mrlossyman wrote: |
I've booked a trip to Chamonix from 24th Feb to 27th Feb (weekend) and I want to know the most reliable and cost effective way to travel. I'll need transfers fom Geneva to Cham and return. Two years ago I booked cham express transfers and as there were problems getting skis out, I missed my transfer by about 5 minutes (I allowed lots of time). Cham express were totally unhelpful and even though it was 10am, they stated they wouldn't have space for me till 6pm that evening. Needless to say I used another company to get to Chamonix and I'll never use Cham express again.
Is there a train I can take? I'm staying in the Alpina, or should I just book transfers when I arrive at the airport? As these transfer companies don't seem to allow for delays I don't want to be in the same situation I was in last time. I arrive at 10am in geneva and fly out at 5pm.
Help would be appreciated.
On another note I got back from Alpe D'huez on the 28th Jan and I can't rate the area highly enough, I had a fantastic week in glorious conditions...
Thanks,
Lossy |
I did the train transfer last summer and got there quicker than a colleague who took the minibus services. However, it does involve a tram connection through central Geneva, and now a bus replacement as the line has recently shut (a new direct train connection is being built with a completion date of 2017!)
You can still go the long way round by train. A super-scenic ride direct from the aiport to Martigny, then the spectacular Mont Blanc Express mountain railway to Chamonix. A fantastic trip but takes about 3 hours. You can see most of the route on this map http://rogerlascellesmaps.co.uk/SkiRail_Product_Information.aspx?area=SkiRail_Product_Information. Cheapest/quickest option will be one of the specialist companies mentioned in other responses.
NN
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| mrlossyman wrote: |
I missed my transfer by about 5 minutes (I allowed lots of time)...
Cham express were totally unhelpful and even though it was 10am, they stated they wouldn't have space for me till 6pm that evening...
I'll never use Cham express again. |
I appreciate the frustration, but don't understand your annoyance at ChamExpress.
A key difference between the "low cost" transfer operators (ChamExpress, MorzExpress and AlpyBus) and other transfer operators is that they run a timed, pre-booked service and won't wait for you if you're late. It's clearly stated in their Ts&Cs and is why they're cheaper than other transfer providers.
They ran the service on time. You were late. They offered to put you on the next service on which they had space. Had someone missed a bus in the interim they would have offered you the space.
In my book that's reliable and helpful, rather than unreliable and unhelpful.
If you'd been 5 minutes late for your plane or train then would you be saying the same of the airline or train operator?
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My annoyance was that I arrived at the Airport an hour before the transfer but the baggage belt handling Skis had broken meaning that although I had my luggage within 20 mins my skis didn't arrive for an hour. There were several announcements about this and Cham Express were aware, yet they did nothing. I was furious that as they were aware that it was a fault of the airport which they operate from and they knew of the problem yet did nothing to help. A valid gripe if you ask me.....
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Dear Mr Lossyman,
First let the reader note that his post relates to his experience at Geneva Airport TWO years ago due to a failing by the airport.
I concur with FlyingStantoni above, our transfers are scheduled, timetabled, departures. One of the benefits of our service is that you will not be kept waiting for other delayed passengers.
Your annoyance should be directed at the airport operations for oversized baggage. Not at us.
We have no connection whatsoever with the Geneva Airport, who frankly make it as difficult as possible for ALL the airport transfer operators to function.
You would have been offered the next available seats, and as it was probably a busy Saturday in 2010, there was no space until the afternoon.
The fact is, that if you travel as an individual, rather than with a tour operator, and thus make your own independant travel and accommodation arrangements to save yourself money, then you have to yourself accept the consequences if things go wrong. It is not for us (a bus company) to resolve issues/delays you have with the airport baggage systems. Also, any baggage delay announcements would have only been made inside the baggage hall to those affected, and not to the Arrivals Hall.
Perhaps this is a timely reminded to allow LOTS of time before your transfer departure when arriving at Geneva Airport. IMHO 60 minutes is not enough.
There are many, many people out there who really should still be travelling with a Tour Operator, where they will be babysat throughout their holiday and who is responsible for ALL elements of their holiday package.
We do exactly what it says on the tin, and we did exactly what it says on the tin.
Regards.
Andrew
www.chamexpress.com
www.morzexpress.com
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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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Well said Andrew,
Complaining about your service two years later, when it was no fault of Chamexpress is more than a little sad.
People really should read the Ts & Cs of companies that they are booking any travel arrangements with or go with a TO.
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Excuse me? I have every right to complain and the post isn't about complaining about Cham Express it's about asking for an alternative supplier of a service by explaining my experience. I find you quite simply arrogant and insulting and how dare you suggest I need to take a package holiday. I stated your staff were unhelpfull which was my experience and I have opted to use mountain dropoffs this time as suggested by another poster above. To be honest your reply is exactly why i'd never use you (cham express) again, you have no idea who I am, what I do or how I travel yet you make general statements. Hopefully by reading your desperate post, other users of the forum can see exactly how highly you regard your customers. If your company can't take any criticism it shows just how fragile you are...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
the post isn't about complaining about Cham Express
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 well yes, it is, actually. Cham Express' response seems perfectly reasonable to me. They run a reasonably priced bus service, to a schedule. You missed the bus (through not fault of theirs, but because of a delay in the airport) and they offered you the next available service. Seems fair enough to me - or have we all missed some vital aspect of your experience. Did you expect them to delay a bus full of people for you?
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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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Well said Chamexpress, It is strange that the OP's gripe should is with chamexpress and not GVA airport. You missed your transfer because of GVA airport and nobody else! It seems logical to me as FlyingStantoni, pointed out that if you arrived late for your flight and missed the scheduled service why blame the airline for your non show or late show! IMO take responsibility for your own actions! If you insist on blaming someone at least blame the right person!!
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"Perhaps this is a timely reminded to allow LOTS of time before your transfer departure when arriving at Geneva Airport. IMHO 60 minutes is not enough. "
Wowser - it only takes 60 minutes odd to downtown Cham . Kinda negates the point of a specialist transfer service. You do not get this kind of poo-poo from Go Massif transfers working out of the same airport so I guess they don't have sufficient capacity on the route to cope.
Thanks for the heads up MrLossy -
Andrew/ChamX - wot a crap response !!! the inverse of 9/10 cats liked it is 1 cat puked - suck up the criticism and learn. I do not even know your op and I already never want to !!!
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You know it makes sense.
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mishmash, Alas, I think you are wrong! 60mins GVA to Cham??? Does this include an accident on the road? A bouchon??? Road conditions???? If you were trying to make a reasoned response you failed. If however you wanted to be a troll, you got me!
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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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mishmash, the length of time it takes to get from GVA to Chamonix on a good day (yes, an hour would do it) is completely irrelevant here. The question is, how long to allow from your flight landing to being re-united with all your stuff and ready to get on a bus.
An hour will sometimes be enough, certainly, but not always and not, obviously on the day when the OP arrived. We are still waiting for any sensible suggestion as to what the bus service should have done, given that one passenger was late.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| mrlossyman wrote: |
| Excuse me? I have every right to complain and the post isn't about complaining about Cham Express |
mrlossyman, it's not ChamExpress this is being fragile about criticism here, it's you. The OP clearly criticised ChamExpress for poor service. Some people here are expressing the opinion that, in their view, you are being totally unreasonable in that criticism. You have every right to complain. Your fellow board members have every right to disagree with you.
ChamExpress certainly has the right to defend themselves given that they make a living out of providing a reliable, low cost transfer service that runs on time and this in an internet forum that appears on page 1 of a Google search for ChamExpress.
Your only criticism of ChamExpress seems to be that they neither delayed a scheduled service for you, nor laid on a special travel arrangements for you because you were late. At no other juncture in your journey to Chamonix would you have criticised any other form of scheduled transport for leaving on time without you.
Had you been on time and they waited for other people then you'd probably be posting about how unreliable ChamExpress is for not leaving on time. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| mishmash wrote: |
| You do not get this kind of poo-poo from Go Massif transfers working out of the same airport so I guess they don't have sufficient capacity on the route to cope. |
As you all know I am a great fan of Go-Massif and know the owners very well and we are good mates, so now I've put that into context I think it only fair to piont out why there is a difference between Cham Express and Go_massif
Essentially it isn't due to them (GM) having sufficient capacity, it's due to the fact that they do not run a scheduled service where CE do.
Therefore, GM watch the flights, assume you were on it (after all if you missed the flight then you will probably have rung them to tell them) and estimate when you will come through.
If you don't appear when they think you should they will ring you to find out where you are and hold their driver until you arrive.
However, if the delay is excessive they will juggle the other passengers and buses to get as many people out of the airport as quickly as possible.
This doesn't necessarily mean they will get you to the resort as quickly as possible.
They might squeeze you into a bus going to Samoens when you want to go to Flaine and decide to transfer you into another bus at Chatillon to do the hop round... or if it suits them (ie the drivers next pick up is in Flaine) you may have to drop the others at Samoens and stay on the bus until the driver goes round to Flaine..... or they may have one of the team in the Valley who can pop out and get you from a rendezvous point to take you.
All in all I do think it is unfair to slate CM when the OP has admitted they took a long time to get to the pick up point........
After all if there was an accident on the M1 and they missed their flight would it be the airlines fault???
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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 don't mind criticism at all. But lets face it, a half decent company would have started a reply with "Mrlossyman, I'm really sorry to hear of your Geneva experience when using Cham Expresss. Unfortunately we cannot etc. etc. etc." Once again it shows just how unproffessional the company is and how they regard their customers. Personal comments about customers, book a package deal? What a pile of tosh..... If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen, if you can't conduct yourself in business prepare to go under. Even if you lose one booking from this post (oh you already have) then I'm a happy man. There was no need for your personal and rude response...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just one other thing "Cham express were totally unhelpful", on the day I asked if they could suggest an alternative company, advise a local bus service or an alternative means of travel. They would not help at all and simply stated I missed the transfer. When I asked the next slot is was 6pm. THIS IS WHY THEY WERE UNHELPFUL.
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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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Lots of toys being thrown out of prams on SHs tonight. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think mrlossyman has just inadvertedly given ChamExpress some positive publicity and highlighted just how hard it is for some companies to please their customers.
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Mr L.
Forgive me, but when you miss your British Airways flight, do they 'helpfully' point you in the direction of EasyJet? I think not. We are not Tourist Information (though some days at the airport you would think we were!). Geneva Airport have an Information Desk who will gladly advise you of the alternative transport solutions to the problem that THEY created for you.
We honoured our contract with you, which is to get you on the next bus, with available seats, at no additional charge. You chose not to wait.
And please rest assured, that I have no issue with being 'personal'. I say it as it is. And if you don't like that, then frankly, that's tough - But at least you'll know where you stand. If you choose to go on a public forum and 'have a go' (two years later, about something that was not our error, - which is frankly pathetic) then you have to be prepared to take as good as you give, because believe me, I, and others, will give as good as I/they get.
Andrew
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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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Hi OP.
To help with your original query...I have always had positive experiences with Chamvan - and one good thing about them is that they provide a mobile number for the driver so that you can contact them directly at the airport should there be issues. They occasionally swap my return journey to another operator (eg alpybus) which is fine and gives me confidence that they have good relationships that will help them out of trouble should the logistics get challenging from time to time.
I confess that I try to avoid chamexpress also as I too had a bad experience a zillion years ago with them (we customers have long memories it seems). I didn't like the tone of the owner's response to you above - but he is fairly consistent in rebuffing complaints in similar fashion so maybe it's a deliberate branding strategy! I have friends who use them chamexpress regularly and seem happy enough.
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FAQ
are in the minority of two!!! It seems like the as 