Travel Information

We have gathered together information and links to other web-sites to help you plan your holiday. Whether you are just looking for information on flight routes or want to book our private airport transfers or Travel Insurance using our on-line link, there will be something here that will help you. All the buttons marked with the * symbol can be booked either direct through us or via our specially set up on-line links.

BUDGET AIRLINES

With the increase in low cost budget airlines, the freedom to be able to pick and choose your own flights to suit your own timetable has never been better. You are no longer restricted to limiting 'mass package' options - you can even take advantage of the cheapest possible fares by travelling on Fridays or Sundays. You can stay the extra night(s) in a cheap hotel, either near your chalet or near the airport or alternatively take advantage of some of our chalets that can be booked for weekends or from Sunday to Sunday.

To help you, we have set out all the main routes with direct web links for each company - budget, scheduled and chartered airlines. Alternatively, we can do the searching for you, for which we will charge £10 per flight. For transfer times and distances to airports please click on the button 'Private Airport Transfers' on your left.

ROUTES TO GENEVA AIRPORT

ROUTES TO LYON AIRPORT

ROUTES TO CHAMBERY AIRPORT

ROUTES TO GRENOBLE AIRPORT

SCHEDULED & CHARTER FLIGHTS

SCHEDULED AIRLINES

CHARTER FLIGHTS

PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFERS

We offer a full door to door transfer service on Saturdays/Sundays, ensuring that you are collected from the airport in a modern private vehicle. Our friendly, professional staff will collect you in 8 seat company vehicles, take you to your resort and time allowing, accompany you to organise your hire equipment before settling you into your chalet. For self catering guests it is also usually possible to fit in a quick Supermarket stop, to stock up on essentials. Our vehicles are filled on a first come first served basis and once all our vehicles have been filled we will look to book you onto transfers with other specialist transfer companies that we work with.

CHAMPAGNY EN VANOISE TRANSFER PRICES

Minimum Rate for Return Transfer = £360.00 per vehicle

This price is based on a maximum of 4 persons sharing a return journey between Geneva and Champagny en Vanoise.

Additional Passengers will be charged at an additional £40.00 per person (max 8 pers per vehicle*)

(*Full Vehicles work out at £65 per person)

With airlines flying into several different airports in the region, you may wish to fly to other airports. However, due to the extra costs involved (tolls, fuel, Km's and staff hours) the following surcharges on transfers from the following airports will apply:

Chambéry: - £10.00 per person Lyon: + £60.00 per vehicle Grenoble: + £60.00 per vehicle

For groups of 9-12 people who do not all fit into an 8 seater minibus, you can choose our transfer/car hire combo which is excellent value for money. We hire you a small car, driven by one of your group, to accompany our minibus back to the resort (the minibus would carry most of your luggage). This gives you added flexibility during the week, perhaps for shopping trips, especially if self catering. It also enables you to do splinter group ski trips to different resorts and is especially useful if you have some non-skiers among you.

Prices below are supplements to be added to the minibus transfer costs above: (Up to 8 passengers in minibus - prices as above).

For 9 people add £120
For 10 people add £150
For 11 people add £175
For 12 people add £200

* If you take the transfer/car hire combo the supplement price includes 7 day car rental, CDW insurance, airport taxes and snow tyres.
Please note; although we book the car for you, the car is your responsibility.

The supplement price does not include fuel and motorway tolls or any extras taken by you on collection of the car for instance additional drivers, extra insurance, car seats, roof racks etc.

LES HOUCHES / CHAMONIX TRANSFER PRICES

Minimum Rate for Return Transfer = £240.00 per vehicle

This price is based on a maximum of 4 persons sharing a return journey between Geneva and the Chamonix Valley.

Additional Passengers will be charged at an additional £30.00 per person (max 8 pers per vehicle*)

(*Full Vehicles work out at £45 per person)

With airlines flying into several different airports in the region, you may wish to fly to other airports. However, due to the extra costs involved (tolls, fuel, Km's and staff hours) the following surcharges on transfers from the following airports will apply:

Chambéry: £50.00 per vehicle Lyon: £100.00 per vehicle Grenoble: £100.00 per vehicle

See above for details.

The Chamonix Valley is a unique skiing location with some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. However, unlike many purpose built resorts the skiing is not interlinked, so to make the most of the area you do need transport throughout the week. Our minibus service will collect you from your chalet in the morning and take you to your chosen ski station for that day, collecting you at a pre-arranged time (normally from a convenient bar) to return you to your chalet. This service takes away the hassle of using the ski buses, particularly welcome if you have children, and also allows you to have a few après-ski drinks knowing you already have a lift home! For those of you wishing to sample Chamonix's vibrant nightlife we also include one free night-time drop-off and pick up before midnight during your stay. Additional transport can also be arranged during your stay by bribing our resort staff or asking them to arrange a taxi for you!

Daily In Valley transport to the ski areas is: £20.00 per person per week.

We appreciate that you may search for other quotes for airport transfers but as far as we know our prices are very competitive. It is possible that we may be beaten on price; however we recommend that you come back to us before you book as we feel that we are the best people to take you to our chalets and we would always try to match any like for like quote.

* Barrelli Ski Transfers are only available to customers who have booked accommodation through us. The above prices are supplements to be added to the accommodation prices.

AIRPORT TRANSFER TIMES

LES HOUCHES: Geneva 80km (1 hr); Lyon 210km (2½ hrs); Grenoble 223km (3 hrs)

CHAMPAGNY: Chambery 100km (1¼ hr); Geneva 140km (2 hrs); Lyon 175km (2½ hrs); Grenoble 170km (2 hrs)

* Transfer times are all approximate and dependent on traffic and school holidays!

CAR HIRE

You also have the choice of hiring a car from the airport for the week. This offers an alternative to the conventional transfer and gives you your own car for a week - if you think you need it. We act as agents for Europcar. The following list of models is only for guidance, exact models may vary from those specified. Generally we arrange car hire from Geneva Airport (Swiss and French sides); Lyon Airport; Chambery Airport; Grenoble Airport; Chamonix and Moutiers Railway Stations.

It is worth noting that hire from the French side of Geneva Airport is slightly cheaper - although it is normally more hassle when route finding to & from the airport and can ultimately be more costly because French hire cars don't come ready armed with a Swiss Autoroute toll sticker, which if you get your route wrong can cost you about £20 if you accidently end up on a Swiss Autoroute! And remember, don't agree to any unnecessary add ons to your rental at the hire desk!

CAR HIRE RATES

Rates include 7 days hire, unlimited mileage, third party cover, CDW, theft waiver, LAF or Road Tax, airport surcharge and local taxes. Rates do not include fuel, Personal Accident Insurance (should be covered on your holiday insurance) or insurance excess if you have an accident that is your fault. Minimum driver age 21 years.

Extras Payable Locally: After Hours Surcharge, Child Seats, Snow Tyres, Snow Chains, Magnetic Ski Racks: approx £25 per item per week

Additional Driver: approx £30 pp / week; young driver u.25yrs approx £55 pp / week (Switzerland) & £175 pp / week (France)

All above extras are approximate and for guidance only and will need to be checked locally at time of hire. Xmas and New Year Surcharges of 20% will be applied by Europcar to all Swiss car rental prices in table above.

GENEVA AIRPORT OVERNIGHT STOPOVERS

SKI DRIVE USEFUL INFO

FERRY CROSSINGS

We work exclusively with Sea France for the shorter Dover / Calais crossing and Brittany Ferries for the longer Portsmouth / Caen or Plymouth / Roscoffe route. The ferries still offer an alternative to Eurotunnel for those who prefer staying above sea level! Most of the new 'super' ferries are like mini cruise ships, so you can break your journey by taking advantage of some of the excellent facilities on board. Relax a little, have a coffee and a bite to eat, and arrive refreshed for the next part of your trip. The Portsmouth / Caen crossing is ideal for those finishing work on a Friday afternoon - you can catch the late night ferry, sleep in an en-suite cabin, take a shower and grab some breakfast ready for the quickest and cheapest route to the alps! Le Havre is approximately 1 hour less driving time to the Alps than from Calais.

We have included brief information on Sea France and Brittany Ferries, with direct web links to their reservation sites. This information is for guidance only - exact details are available on each relevant web site. If you wish to book a Brittany Ferry Crossing, please contact our office and we will be able to give you a code enabling you to book at a special discounted rate.

COMPANY	ROUTE	CROSSING TIMES	FREQUENCY
	Portsmouth / Le Havre	from 5hrs	3 times a day
	Dover / Calais	from 70mins	every 75 mins

Check in times: Now 1 hour before sailing, due to extra security checks

CHANNEL TUNNEL CROSSINGS

Eurotunnel is ideal for ski drivers as it provides a quick, smooth way to cross the channel - no delays by bad weather and stormy seas (you just have to keep an eye out for those sheep wielding French farmers!). It is just 35 minutes from platform to platform and you have direct access to motorways in Britain and France. During peak times there are up to 4 departures an hour.

We have included here brief information on Eurotunnel, the information is for guidance only - exact details are available on their web-site.

COMPANY	ROUTE	CROSSING TIMES	FREQUENCY	RESERVATION
Eurotunnel	Folkestone / Calais	from 35mins	every 20mins

Check in time: 30 mins before departure

SELF DRIVE STOPOVERS

TRAINS

There are now several direct links to the Alps offered by Eurostar and SNCF French Railways. The overnight options gain you 2 extra days skiing.

Eurostar / SNCF Overnight via Paris: perhaps one of the comfier train options, you leave Waterloo on the Eurostar on Friday afternoon (for Saturday arrivals) or Saturday afternoon (for Sunday arrivals), changing at Paris Gare du Nord (simply change platforms) for the overnight SNCF train, complete with sleeping couchettes, for a morning arrival in Moutiers (25 minutes from Champagny) or St. Gervais (15 minutes from Les Houches *). This gives you the option of getting into the holiday spirit over a few drinks with the rest of your party or conserving your energy by sleeping in your couchette! There is also the Eurostar / TVG Daytime via Paris: leaving on Saturday or Sunday morning and arriving in Moutiers or St. Gervais the same evening.

* There is infact a direct rail link between St Gervais and Les Houches / Chamonix, so you can get to within just 5 minutes of your chalet!

Snow Train via Folkestone: the famous train with sleeping couchettes and all night disco carriage that leaves from Calais on Friday evening for an early Saturday morning arrival in Moutiers. You drive to Folkestone, leave your car at the port in secure parking for the week and then join a chartered coach, travelling by Eurotunnel to Calais. Upon arrival in Calais, the coach transfers you to the Calais Ville station where you board your overnight train.

Eurostar Overnight Direct: takes you from Waterloo late on Friday evening, whisking you through the tunnel and across France to arrive in Moutiers early on Saturday morning. There is also a Daytime Eurostar Direct leaving on Saturday morning and arriving in Moutiers that evening.

RAILWAY STATION TRANSFERS

We will either pick you up in one of our company vehicles or if that is not possible we will arrange taxis to bring you from the stations to your chalet. The option of car hire is also available at both Moutiers and Chamonix Railway Stations. Click on 'Car Hire' for further details.

£10 per person each way for Moutiers/Champagny or St. Gervais/Les Houches

PERSONAL SKI TRAVEL INSURANCE

Having scoured the net for the best value for money ski insurance we were pleased to come across ski-insurance.co.uk. They offer a complete range of policies at some of the lowest prices we've found. And it couldn't be easier to book. If you click on the link below you can book your cover on line and print your full policy from your own computer.

You have the choice of 4 different policies, outlined in brief below:

• STANDARD COVER for 6 - 10 days: £22.95 Medical and other expenses up to £5,000,000 - Personal Liability up to £2,000,000 - Ski and Snowboard Equipment up to £1,000 - Ski Hire and Piste Closure - Loss of Ski Pass - Off Piste
• SUPER COVER for 6 - 10 days: £24.95 Cover as per Standard above plus: Cancellation and Curtailment of any pre-booked travel and accommodation costs
• SUPERPLUS COVER for 6 - 10 days: £29.95 Cover as per Super above plus: Increased Baggage up to £1500, single item and valuables up to £250 - Delayed Baggage up to £150
• SEASON COVER for 4 months (Europe): £119.00