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Travelling to Les Arcs
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If you're not taking a package holiday, where travel to your resort is already catered for, then you might want to consider how you're going to get from the UK to the Alps. Les Arcs is not so far way from the UK, and can be reached by car, train or aeroplane. With the advent of DIY travel and travel websites, it's easy to check public transport timetables in France, and there are plenty of companies offering transfer services from the airport to Les Arcs. Our guide gives you an idea of the options available, plus some tips on how to get your sporting equipment safely to Les Arcs. |
| Planes, Trains or Automobiles : Which is the easiest way to Les Arcs? |
This depends on personal choice, phobias, hobbies (spotters!), and days of travel.
If you are travelling out on Friday night or Saturday the Eurostar, whilst being more expensive than charter or low-cost flying, gets you to within a tiny distance of the resort with the minimum of fuss in ~7hrs. For popular dates this needs booking well in advance.
It is also possible to book onto the overnight 'snowtrain' which offers less comfort but is cheaper and permits an extra two days on the snow (if you are not too hungover bar carriage on the journey over!). Check out RailEurope. Outside the weekends and without direct train links it takes a little longer. The 'snowtrain' runs both a direct daytime and a direct overnight service from London or Ashford to Bourg Saint Maurice train station where you can catch a taxi or the Funival train up to Les Arcs. The night service leaves London/Ashford on Friday evening and arrives in the French Alps early on Saturday morning (returns Saturday night/Sunday morning) while the day service leaves early Saturday morning from London/Ashford and arrives late afternoon (same for return). The tickets tend to book up very fast.
A second option is to take a Eurostar to Paris or Lyon and take a French train (perhaps overnight from Paris).
A third option is to take the overnight Snowtrain. Travel from London Waterloo or Ashford International on Friday afternoon and change platforms at the Gare du Nord in Paris to board the Snow Train. There is a choice of six destinations in the French Alps, serving more than 25 resorts. The Snow Train gives you 8 days on the piste, and an onboard disco/bar carriage, plus accommodation in a 6-berth couchette. Prices start at £219 return per person.
If you are taking the 8 day option bear in mind you may not be able to check into your accommodation until the Saturday evening - arrange with your hotel/chalet/agency for somewhere to leave your bags while you ski on the first and last day.
Flying, whilst seemingly quicker, involves much longer check-ins, greater potential for delays, and hours of extra transfer time. This all counts towards stress, tiredness and length of time to get to your destination.
On the other hand, you are much more likely to get a 'bargain' price if flying, and if you want to arrive/depart on days other than the weekend is probably less hassle than negotiating the train.
Driving out from the UK by car is relatively inexpensive if you can share the journey with several friends. Bear in mind that the normal nine hour journey accross France may take much longer if you chose to travel on a very busy Saturday or encounter heavy snowfalls. |
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last updated 4-Jun-2008 |
| Travelling Between the Airport & Les Arcs |
Chambéry airport is the closest airport to use for Val Les Arcs at just 2 hours away on a good day by motorway and then by mountain road. Chambéry is used by several UK tour operators and there are some low-cost carriers who use it too but usually just on weekends.
Next up is Geneva and Lyon St. Exupéry (Satolas) each being 3½ and 4¼ hours away respectively.
To travel from these airports you have the choice of scheduled bus, shared shuttle, hire car, taxi, tour operators, private helicopter transfer or train. However, make sure you check with whomever you booked your accommodation with to see if they make arrangements for you anyway or as an 'optional extra'.
Buses:
From Geneva Altibus provides a means for booking coaches on-line, wih SAT being the principal operator for the route. Moreover, a timetable for buses departing Geneva Airport for all ski resorts, can be found at Geneva Ski Resort Bus Timetable
From Lyon St. Exupéry Satobus.
From Chambéry Altibus operate one bus runs per day.
Shared Shuttle:
Alps-based company ATS run shared minibuses which take you door-to-door. Booking on-line in advance of your holiday is recommended. Also, Mountain Transfers run shared minibuses which take you door-to-door. From Geneva the cost one way starts at around €280 (journey time 2½hours), from Chambéry, prices start at around €220, (journey time 1¾ hours) and from Lyon, the one way cost is around €320 (journey time 3 hours). Each of the costs mentioned are for up to 4 people and increases with each additional person
Car hire:
Car hire can be arranged from each of the airports above and if there are several people travelling is not always an expensive option. Pre-booking is highly recommended if not obligatory. Try using Holiday Autos for the best searches and prices
Taxi:
A taxi for up to 4 people will cost approximately €350 from Chambery/Lyon/Geneva. For more than 4 people the cost will be higher. See Taxis for contact details
Tour Operators:
Here there are two possibilities:
1. You can book a Flight & Transfer with an operator which they sell through their agents/web-sites/call-centres - therefore is paid for in advance and you will appear on the transfer manifests
2. You can make your own flight arrangements and upon arrival at the airport catch up with a rep from one of the companies and book onto their coaches.
In both cases as the reps are unlikely to know where you are staying (they have no details as you made your own accommodation arrangements), make sure you establish the return journey procedures: give them the flight you are on, get the resort office's contact details and call on Thurday evening for transfer details/confirmation.
Method 2. is not guaranteed but is ususally fine. Expect to pay €50 one-way for Geneva-Chamonix and you will have to pay the two journeys seperately (as the return cannot be guaranteed till the end of the week).
See Tour Operators for contact details
Helicopter:
A helicopter transfer with Whitetracks for up to 5 people (without much luggage) can be arranged to Les Arcs. There are two heli-pads in resort, one in Arc 1800 and a privately owned heli-pad between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000. Both provide easy access to the resort and neither charge a landing fee. In bad weather conditions the helicopter cannot fly and it must arrive during daylight hours.
Train:
Although it is possible to come from/go to all the above airports by train a journey would involve changing at least once and would take a great deal of time and is therefore not recommended, perhaps with the exception of Chambery. |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
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