Chamonix...making the most of a bonus day

Checked the pool....in the winter it doesnt open until 2pm so I guess the
best thing is to take breakfast en-route somewhere at a service stop and get
cleaned up and thermalled-up then use the multi-storey at Le Brevent.


"Sammy" wrote in message
oups.com...

John Ricketts wrote:
You not married then ? ;-)

OK, to be civilised: the sports centre/swiming pool is a good
suggestion, with lockers and showers, but I'm not sure it is open at
10am (more likely at midday).

I would suggest not rushing your family on to the slopes after a long
drive; take a leisurely breakfast en-route (at a nice hotel as already
suggested) and feign complete disinterest in skiing at all that day
yourself. Sooner or later someone in your family will suggest that
everyone kits up / freshens up - then it's just a matter of driving to
said carpark as if you were on a day trip. Make it seem like they are
dragging you onto the piste.

You do see a lot of day-trippers in disarray at the Grands Montets
carpark hopping into long-johns and salopettes, and noone else is
remotely interested. At Brevent there is a covered carpark. Have you
checked if there is any communal area to change in where you've booked?
Sammy

"John Ricketts" wrote in message
. uk...

We flew to Geneva on the Friday night instead of the usual Saturday. Stayed
at an IBIS by the airport and got picked up at 10:00 on the Saturday. In the
resort by 1100. Ski hire and lift passes sorted within 30 minutes in the
apartment by 12:00, on the slopes by 13:00.

We got early access to the apartment through me contacting the English
owner, some months in advance of our plans. He kindly posted the apartment
keys so we could get in early. When we arrived at 11:00 the cleaners were
still in but they said they would phone me when it was ready, which they did
30 minutes later.

Reason for going on the Friday: the flights were cheaper, the hotel was only
£22.00 each and we got an extra half days skiing.

Ash

PS. Resort by the way is Le Grand Bornand. Apartment right next to the ski
lift. Well recommended and only an hour from Geneva. We had a week of
excellent skiing, sunny every day, no winds and the slopes were pretty good
too.

You could go to the swimming pool - and change there and have a shower - no
need to swim if you don't want to!

You could ask an hotel if you could have breakfast there and afterwards use
a room for long enough to change (or use their leisure centre facilities
changing area ) to change after breakfast It will maybe a rather strange
idea to them - so it might be better to have the breakfast and then ask to
change!

Or you could stop at the last motorway service station before Chamonix -
probably the best one would the first one after passing Geneva (not the very
last one as it's small) and you could change there - they may even have
shower and changing facilities - for truck drivers - some do.






"John Ricketts" wrote in message
. uk...
I'm driving overnight to Chamonix this year (flew last time but too
expensive with family in tow). The thing is, we are likely to arrive at 9
or
10am on the saturday morning and can't get the apartment till 5pm. I don't
seem to recall any of the lift stations having changing
rooms/lockers.....anyone any suggestions where (the ladies in
particular!!)
can freshen up and get changed for the slopes?

Last year, I managed to grab a 1/2 day on arrival but it was a case of
getting changed in a public toilet.....less than ideal. Hence we didn't
bother with the thermals and hit the top of Le Tour in a blizzard!
(Bbbbrrrrrrrr.....can still feel it)!

snip

Or you could stop at the last motorway service station before Chamonix -
probably the best one would the first one after passing Geneva (not the
very
last one as it's small) and you could change there - they may even have
shower and changing facilities - for truck drivers - some do.

Thanks, already decided to do just that.... will pack all ski stuff
separately in roof box, and wash kits/thermals etc in carry bags.

Anyone got more info on the first service station past Geneva on the way to
Chamonix?

John Ricketts wrote:

Anyone got more info on the first service station past Geneva on the
way to
Chamonix?

Bonneville.

Sammy

That helps a little.....decent food?

"Sammy" wrote in message
oups.com...

John Ricketts wrote:

Anyone got more info on the first service station past Geneva on the
way to
Chamonix?

Bonneville.

Sammy

John Ricketts wrote:
That helps a little.....decent food?


Aire de Bonneville between Jn 16 and 17 on the autoroute blanche well
before you reach the toll at Cluses. Should do a breakfast, no comment
on quality.

Sammy

Cheers

"Sammy" wrote in message
ups.com...

John Ricketts wrote:
That helps a little.....decent food?


Aire de Bonneville between Jn 16 and 17 on the autoroute blanche well
before you reach the toll at Cluses. Should do a breakfast, no comment
on quality.

Sammy