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Old October 23rd 03, 10:10 AM
Marco Cattaneo
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Default Chamonix Infos


"Lobster Grrrl" wrote in message
...
I'm headed to Chamonix for two days in March, before I travel to
Zermatt for a week long holiday. I have a couple of questions I hope
you kind folks can help me with. First of all, is it easier to take a
train or bus to Chamonix from Geneva airport?


Definitely the bus. By train you would have to cross Geneva by bus, then
take a very slow and infrequent train to Le Fayet, and then another even
slower train to Cham. There are 4-5 buses per day from GVA airport to
Chamonix during the winter season, timetable at
http://info.chamonix.com/ACCES/ChxGva.php (look at Secteur International
times, which is the main airport exit)


Are these stations
adjacent to the airport? I found a link for the Swiss rail system
online, but nothing for the French rail, any links?
Second, any ideas on where to stay and ski? I'll be traveling alone,
so a single room is fine. Nothing real ritzy, but I would like a bit
of night life nearby. Good places to eat? It appears to me, while
looking at a trail map, that not all villages is Chamonix have lift
service? I see a lift at Les Praz 1060m, Le Savoy, and Argentiere
1252m only. Do you ride a shuttle from your hotel to the lift?


Yes, there is a frequent, free shuttle bus, that can get crowded. If you
want night life, stay near to Chamonix centre, if not, better stay near any
one of the Brevent/Flegere/Argentiere lift stations

I'm a telemark skier, and enjoy skiing red and black trails with the
occasional blue cruiser. Moguls are ok for a few runs, but I don't
want to ski them all day. Would I do better at Les Grande Montets, or
Le Brevent?


Try both. Grand Montets has to be seen to be believed, but you *have* to be
confortable with moguls. There are groomed pistes, but the best of the
skiing and of the terrain is on wide open mogul fields both on and off
pistes. Mostly north facing and high altitude, ideal conditions in March

Brevent (and Flegere, the two are linked) is less extreme, more of a family
resort, but nevertheless with plenty of advanced stuff if you look for it,
and fantastic views over the Mont Blanc massif. Mostly south facing and
lower, can be *hot* in March, snow cover will depend on how good a season it
has been.

Back to the train again. I need to travel from GVA to Chamonix, then
from Chamonix to Zermatt, and finally from Zermatt back to GVA. Is
this possible on one train line? Do the trains run freely across the
Swiss- French border?


No problems crossing the border. To get to Zermatt, take the Mont Blanc
Express (cog wheel, superb scenery) to Martigny, then mainline to Visp, and
cog wheel up to Zermatt. Takes about 5 hours, timetables at
http://www.rail.ch/pv/index_e.htm (but no winter timetable yet online for
the Chamonix-Le Chatelard (swiss border))

To get back to GVA airport, one train every two hours from Zermatt (change
at Visp), takes about 4 hours.


Thanks for all your help.
Nadine


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Marco Cattaneo |
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