Lobster Grrrl wrote:

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? 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?

I'd get the bus from GVA to Cham. There is a train but last time I
checked the bus was quicker. The french rail company do have a site -
try www.sncf.fr perhaps??


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.

The 3 main areas are Chamonix itself (skiing on Le Brevent and La
Flegere). Argentiere (skiing on the Grands Montets) and La Tour (skiing
on the Col du Balme). My personal recomondation for 2 days would be to
stay in Argentiere and ski on the Grands Montets. There are quite a few
hotels in Argentiere - La Courone (?) is central, and there are a few
inexpensive restaurants.

Do you ride a shuttle from your hotel to the lift?

Not sure, I don't know of any hotels that run shuttles except the 4-star
places. There is a public bus service.

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?
Either would suit these criteria, you could try both!

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?
Cham to Zermatt should be pretty easy. Trains don't stop, they check
passports on the train. Zermatt to GVA should be possible, check the SBB
website for both of these journeys.