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#11
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Is everyone asleep?
Ace wrote:
On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:59:01 +0100, "PSmith" paulDOTsmith_UK@tiscaliDOTcoDOTuk wrote: Still I understand the Austrian glaciers have had a good earfly dump. How sad: now back in UK the only current plan is Feb half term in Zermatt. Having always driven, I am now trying to establish how easy Geneva-Zermatt will be: wife+2 children, baggage, boots and skis. I am ready to man-handle the bags: my concern is will there be space for it on the train! (I don't want to waste my first ski day with getting luggage from the station etc as a result of the luggage transfer schemes). Any ideas? There should be plenty of space on the train, from my limited experience. But remember that you're going to have to change trains, probably at least twice. When I did it a few years ago it was only 1 change and it was just a short walk to change platforms and almost no waiting. Getting on the train in Geneva was very easy too as the station's right in the airport as you probably know. The luggage transfer schemes seem to work well for most people but I didn't bother as I only had 1 bag and rented my skis back then. If you're getting in at a reasonable time it's probably safe to dump the luggage in Geneva and then look for it again in Z. in the evening, but don't sue me if it all goes wrong |
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#12
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Is everyone asleep?
"BrritSki" wrote in message
... Ace wrote: On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:59:01 +0100, "PSmith" paulDOTsmith_UK@tiscaliDOTcoDOTuk wrote: my concern is will there be space for it on the train! (I don't want to waste my first ski day with getting luggage from the station etc as a result of the luggage transfer schemes). Any ideas? There should be plenty of space on the train, from my limited experience. But remember that you're going to have to change trains, probably at least twice. When I did it a few years ago it was only 1 change and it was just a short walk to change platforms and almost no waiting. Getting on the train in Geneva was very easy too as the station's right in the airport as you probably know. The luggage transfer schemes seem to work well However, I recall that it is not guaranteed to arrive same day, so non-starter really for skiers. Could always hope that your luggage is delayed arriving at GVA and forwarded later but, again, next day. (mentioned because have had some success here). Plenty of room on train and change at Visp, short walk and then train to Tasch or even all way to Zermatt. Usually no problems but book seats in advance. HTH Mike |
#13
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Is everyone asleep?
"Mike" wrote in message ... "BrritSki" wrote in message ... Ace wrote: On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:59:01 +0100, "PSmith" paulDOTsmith_UK@tiscaliDOTcoDOTuk wrote: my concern is will there be space for it on the train! (I don't want to waste my first ski day with getting luggage from the station etc as a result of the luggage transfer schemes). Any ideas? There should be plenty of space on the train, from my limited experience. But remember that you're going to have to change trains, probably at least twice. When I did it a few years ago it was only 1 change and it was just a short walk to change platforms and almost no waiting. Getting on the train in Geneva was very easy too as the station's right in the airport as you probably know. The luggage transfer schemes seem to work well However, I recall that it is not guaranteed to arrive same day, so non-starter really for skiers. Could always hope that your luggage is delayed arriving at GVA and forwarded later but, again, next day. (mentioned because have had some success here). Plenty of room on train and change at Visp, short walk and then train to Tasch or even all way to Zermatt. Usually no problems but book seats in advance. HTH Mike Couple of other minor points re the journey: * buy the train ticket(s) in the UK (via Swiss Rail - http://www.swissrailways.com/produkttexte.php?passid=3. The Swiss Transfer Ticket seems to be the thing to get; * it wasn't that obvious to me which platform you got the train from at Geneva airport. the signage is not very clear and the trains themselves don't seem to be marked. OPs might know what the clues are. So give yourself a reasonable amout of time to sort that out - and you may have to ask; * the GVA - Visp bit of the journey is on a train with 1st and 2nd class compartments and the distinction was not that clear to me (I expect it was marked somewhere but I didn't see it) so I got 'moved on' when the inspector came to call; * I was travelling mid-week (went Tuesday - Tuesday) so the train wasn't busy with skiers but it does pick up a lot of commuter traffic particularly on the bit alongside the lake. For the rest of the journey we had loads of space; * I don't think there's any catering on the train so stock up at the airport - there's a perfectly reasonable supermarket in the railway station (or it might be the station end of the airport); * Zermatt is car-free with lots of electric taxis (which sneak up on you when you're walking about). Many hotels have their own - so it's worth checking with whoever you're staying with if they've got one and how (if) you can book it to collect you from the station; * SCGB usually has a rep in Zermatt and he/she/they know their way around (but haven't checked the plans for this year). This is particularly useful for mountain restaurants as there are lots of them, some brilliant, some deeply average and some very obscurely positioned! Worth joining for on its own - I reckon. Actually there are a few SCGB members who know Z intimately and are passionate about the place. A lot of info available via the Ski Club website members area. Might end of there myself if the economy don't get me. Paul |
#14
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Is everyone asleep?
On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:23:32 +0100, "Mike"
wrote: "BrritSki" wrote in message ... Ace wrote: On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:59:01 +0100, "PSmith" paulDOTsmith_UK@tiscaliDOTcoDOTuk wrote: my concern is will there be space for it on the train! (I don't want to waste my first ski day with getting luggage from the station etc as a result of the luggage transfer schemes). Any ideas? There should be plenty of space on the train, from my limited experience. But remember that you're going to have to change trains, probably at least twice. When I did it a few years ago it was only 1 change and it was just a short walk to change platforms and almost no waiting. That's my recollection. Note that it helps if you get on the train going towards Zermatt, not away from it... Getting on the train in Geneva was very easy too as the station's right in the airport as you probably know. The luggage transfer schemes seem to work well However, I recall that it is not guaranteed to arrive same day, so non-starter really for skiers. We did this, thoug it was many years ago. We only found out that same-day arrival wasn't guaranteed after we'd arrived in Zermatt. The skis did turn up before the start of the first day's skiing, but it caused an anxious moment. -- -Pip |
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