How to get to Chamonix

Chamonix is a renowned ski resort, famous not just for its incredible off piste skiing but for its climbing and mountaineering as well. There could be few ski resorts around the globe which offer such very easy access to incredible skiing, snowboarding and climbing. And that’s before one considers the town of Chamonix itself with its wide assortment of bars, shops and restaurants. One of the great points about Chamonix is its proximity to Geneva air port. In less than one hr you are able to get from Geneva international airport towards the center of Chamonix. This makes Chamonix an ideal destination for ski weekends, as you’ve no need to waste precious time on long ski transfers.

You will find a plethora of air-port transfer suppliers who will take you from Geneva air port to Chamonix and many from the surrounding ski resorts. Most supply you with a friendly, reliable, air port transfer service between Geneva airport and Chamonix guaranteeing a customised, door-to-door service. The transfer drivers have an expert knowledge of the Chamonix Valley and the surrounding Mont Blanc areas. That’s why they can provide you international airport transfers to the whole region, including: Chamonix, Les Gets, Morzine, Les Contamines, St Gervais, Megeve, Courmayeur, and numerous more destinations in the France Alps.

So for ease of access, to some unbeatable skiing resorts, you ought to perhaps think about taking your annual ski vacation in Chamonix. It’s definitely not a ski resort suited to everybody but, if you’re good enough, then you will one day want to ski in Chamonix to see what all the fuss is about.

Skiing in Switzerland

Switzerland is an incredible ski country defined by the majestic Swiss Alps. The winter months provide the opportunity for novice and experts skiers alike to carve up some of the finest white snow on Earth! Listed below is really a breakdown of Switzerlands top five rated resorts and spots to ski. These five areas not only represent Switzerland’s greatest, but are also a few of the most sought after areas within the globe!

Zermatt – If you haven’t heard about Switzerland’s greatest ski resort, you have now! Skiing is a year round event in Zermatt. Enjoy the Sunegga and Gornergrat regions throughout the winter months and make your way over towards the Theodul Glacier for a fine intermediate adventure throughout the warmer summer months. With excellent snow, a broad array of obstacles and challenges, and some of the cleanest,freshest air within the world.

Zermatt caters to just about everybody. Additionally to incredible skiing, Zermatt features some of the most beautiful, organic ice skating rinks and numerous other adventure sporting actions for example climbing and paragliding. The world famous Matterhorn draws locals and tourists alike to scale this magnificent mountain. Nature lovers will appreciate the car-free resort with unbelieveable natural hiking trails.

Verbier -  As one of the more well-liked Swiss resorts in the Alps, the slopes can get a bit crowded during peak season. The slopes stay in pristine condition during the Spring months and make for a wonderful alternative towards the occasionally overcrowded winter. The broad assortments of unique and challeneging courses suits both beginners and advanced skiers. Tortin has consistently been rated as a best draw for experts while the numerous ski training locations in Verbier create a fun atmosphere for the beginner. Additionally, superb hotels, dining, sporting actions, and night life make Verbier one of the world’s first rate ski destinations and tourist attractions.

St. Moritz- Wish to experience a resort full of rich history, top class lodgings, and three hundred plus days of sunshine? If so, then St. Moritz is the location for you! Situated in the far south east corner of Switzerland, St. Moritz is among the most well-known destinations in Switzerland. Beginners will enjoy the area of Corviglia where you will experience relatively easy slopes while advanced skiers will soak up the mind-numbing bliss of Pontresina. The view is considered majestic. However, as with many of the other higher end resorts in Switzerland, be prepared to spend a bit of your cash!

Grindelwald lies in the valley of Bernese Oberland, situated very close towards the middle of Swizterland. With over one hundred and twenty miles of prime ski slopes, Grindelwald skiers have numerous different areas to select from, most choose the Kleine Scheidegg for a fine sking encounter. What sets this location apart from the others are the slopes accessible only by helicopter. In addition, you will be amazed to find that Grindelwald is a hub for activity. Should you ever get tired of the slopes, (highley unlikely) Grindelwald is filled with museums, top rated golf courses, and a broad array of other adventure sports.

Saas-Fee – Saas-Fee is located in southwest Switzerland, next to Zermatt, and is the home of the highest mountain in all of Switzerland, The Dom. What attracts numerous visitors to Saas-Fee may be the amount of glacial activity. Glaciers from the Dom and the Allalinhorn permit for year-round sporting actions, including summer skiing in some areas. With a broad variety of blue rated slopes, Saas-Fee brings in much of the intermediate and advanced enthusiasts. Don’t be intimidated,however. There are also many slopes and schools of training for beginners.

Ski Holiday Geneva

For a number of decades, the vast majority of skiers and snowboarders chose the package deal alternative to get themselves towards the slopes, and with good reason; the package deal brings all the main components of a ski holiday (flights, accommodation, transfers, lift pass) into one big parcel, and due to the buying power of the main ski tour operators, bundle quotes often offered the lowest charges.

However, the explosion within the availability of bargain-priced Geneva car hire from Ireland and also the UK to Europe has changed the dynamics of booking a ski holiday, and for those who are on the ball, it is possible to put together a DIY ski trip that undercuts the price of a package holiday.

And it’s not just the times which are changing; so too is the climate. To get the lowest rates with ski bundle holidays, you usually had to book months in advance; of course, the weather has always been unpredictable and despite some ski resorts being labelled “snow sure” there’s never been any guarantee that conditions would be fantastic. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that snowlines are rising and glaciers are retreating, thus marking the arrival of warmer weather within the mountains, and so booking far in advance these days is really a greater gamble than years gone by.

For these two reasons, there’s been a steadily growing trend for skiers and snowboarders to book a flight to a destination which has a number of ski resorts within not difficult reach. By booking early, snow sports fans can get the lowest costs on the flight, yet by holding off on choosing a resort its feasible to check the snow report up to perhaps just a week or two prior to your travel and make a choice based about the snow reports as to where may be the greatest place to go.

Geneva has long been known as a ski city, having access to dozens of main ski resorts inside a couple of hours drive in your Geneva Rental Car in both France and Switzerland; Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Chattel, Chamonix and Verbier are all close by and due to its status as a major flight hub, flights to Geneva from the UK and Ireland could be picked up very cheaply.

The close proximity of ski resorts to Geneva coupled with the number of good value flights has even led to a boom in weekend skiers who are flying out on Friday evening, reaching the ski resort of their option by Friday night, enjoying a Saturday and Sunday about the slopes, and returning to the UK on Sunday night, or in some case heading straight to work on Monday morning!

Money Saving Tips for a Ski Holiday Part 2

Many people have decided to cut short their ski holidays this year opting for a short break instead of a week long holiday. This can mean considerable savings on a ski pass as well as the option of midweek flights which normally work out much cheaper than at weekends.

Rather than trying to tempt customers with enticing cut price ski offers many companies have decided to scale back their operations this year. This will most likely mean that there will be less last minute bargains. Booking in advance at present looks to be the best bet for saving money.

Remember how expensive a time the school break in February can be. Expect to pay big money if traveling at this time. If it is the only time you can get away then be sure to book as early as possible.

According to a recent report by a major British newspaper the following resorts offer good value for money and are considered to be some of the cheapest ski resort options.

• Champoluc (Italy)
• Puy St. Vincent, La Rosière, Vaujany, Samoens, Mongenèvre (France)
• Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Alpbach (Austria)
• Engleberg, Adelboden (Switzerland)

Money Saving Tips for a Ski Holiday Part 1

In general ski holiday are going to hurt your pocket more than a sunshine getaway might. Despite the current financial climate costs have continued to rise at many top skiing resorts. Many customers have complained bitterly of extortionate prices at certain ski resorts such as nine euro for a beer and six for a soft drink.

People are spending considerable time this skis season looking for the best value deals. Cheaper resorts and accommodation are top of many people’s wish lists. Sometimes low cost flights may not be the best option when visiting Geneva. British Airways are charging for ski equipment transport which can certainly inflate the cost of flying. If possible you may wish to consider a train or a hire car to reach your destination. It is worth considering all options and weighing up the costs.

One cheap option many are considering this year is driving to the Alps after taking the ferry to Calais. Ferries depart regularly and allow as much equipment as you can fit into your car.

Self catering apartments are another way of saving money with considerable savings available when it comes to food. This is especially useful for large families.

Passes for smaller resorts can work out considerably cheaper. For instance you can get a six day lift pass at Val d’Isère for just two hundred and eighteen euro. The Flaine Grand Massif ski area is just a one hour drive in a Geneva Airport car hire and provides outstanding value. Here you will find plenty of skiing option to suit all levels.