best transfer geneva to Arc2000 for 11 people?

Have looked at a few options to get 11 people from Geneva to Arc2000 for Feb
1/2 term week but seem to come back to hiring cars! Seems silly when they
will just be left in the underground garage all week. Any other good
suggestions? How does the train work out, and how do you then get up to
arc2000 from BSM with luggage?

Cheers,
John

On 2 Oct, 07:19, "John Ricketts"
wrote:
Have looked at a few options to get 11 people from Geneva to Arc2000 for Feb
1/2 term week but seem to come back to hiring cars! Seems silly when they
will just be left in the underground garage all week. Any other good
suggestions? How does the train work out, and how do you then get up to
arc2000 from BSM with luggage?

Cheers,
John

Hi John,

Yeah, getting between airports and the tarentaise is never fun. Hiring
cars may well be the cheapest and you could always use them to visit
some other resorts in the area, although I'm sure I'd just stay in
Arc.

There was rumour of a direct train service from Geneva to BSM last
season. I never found out enough details to be sure and certainly
friends of mine always ended up changing once or twice (usually at Aix
Les Bains and then in Geneva to get to the airport). Perfectly
pleasant, but it does take 4 to 6 hours and I imagine half term week
will be busy. BSM station will be heaving for sure. Then you can take
the funicular, but I admit I don't know how you get from the top
station to Arc 2000. One of the other guys on this group will know
though. If the bags will be a problem, you could always try and get a
taxi to take the bags for you, or drive all of you up? I'm not sure
what prices would be but, for example, BSM to Tignes is about 100
Euros.

Cheers,

Matt

Last year, we just hired in Geneva and stayed in BSM. This year, we thought
we'd migrate up the hill to a big ski-to-door chalet and save a load of
hassle (no hanging around for teenagers etc). It just seems silly that the
cheapest option is still to hire 3 cars and park them up for the week. I
looked into mini-bus hire, and hire of 2 7-seaters but the prices were
ridiculous. Looks like it'll be 3 of the little Nissan Note's again from
Budget at about £140 each if I remember from last time (that's no ski-racks
and no "Protection-Plus" insurance which they try to rip you off with!).

If it was off-season, I'd drive all the way (MPV and car with roof-boxes). I
did it once at feb 1/2 term to Chamonix and it was just horrendous starting
from about Dijon.

Getting to BSM has turned out to be a right pain. For some reason, the most
convenient flights for us (Bristol or Birmingham) came straight on the
market at unaffordable prices. The best prices were from Luton-Geneva which
we did last time as well. Just adds 3hrs at each end but saves about £500
per carload!

Only another year and I won't have any school kids!.....ah the luxury of
off-peak skiing holidays!


"Matt T" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 2 Oct, 07:19, "John Ricketts"
wrote:
Have looked at a few options to get 11 people from Geneva to Arc2000 for
Feb
1/2 term week but seem to come back to hiring cars! Seems silly when they
will just be left in the underground garage all week. Any other good
suggestions? How does the train work out, and how do you then get up to
arc2000 from BSM with luggage?

Cheers,
John

Hi John,

Yeah, getting between airports and the tarentaise is never fun. Hiring
cars may well be the cheapest and you could always use them to visit
some other resorts in the area, although I'm sure I'd just stay in
Arc.

There was rumour of a direct train service from Geneva to BSM last
season. I never found out enough details to be sure and certainly
friends of mine always ended up changing once or twice (usually at Aix
Les Bains and then in Geneva to get to the airport). Perfectly
pleasant, but it does take 4 to 6 hours and I imagine half term week
will be busy. BSM station will be heaving for sure. Then you can take
the funicular, but I admit I don't know how you get from the top
station to Arc 2000. One of the other guys on this group will know
though. If the bags will be a problem, you could always try and get a
taxi to take the bags for you, or drive all of you up? I'm not sure
what prices would be but, for example, BSM to Tignes is about 100
Euros.

Cheers,

Matt

JR wrote:

Last year, we just hired in Geneva and stayed in BSM. This year, we thought
we'd migrate up the hill to a big ski-to-door chalet and save a load of
hassle (no hanging around for teenagers etc). It just seems silly that the
cheapest option is still to hire 3 cars and park them up for the week. I
looked into mini-bus hire, and hire of 2 7-seaters but the prices were
ridiculous. Looks like it'll be 3 of the little Nissan Note's again from
Budget at about £140 each if I remember from last time (that's no ski-racks
and no "Protection-Plus" insurance which they try to rip you off with!).

If it was off-season, I'd drive all the way (MPV and car with roof-boxes). I
did it once at feb 1/2 term to Chamonix and it was just horrendous starting
from about Dijon.

Getting to BSM has turned out to be a right pain. For some reason, the most
convenient flights for us (Bristol or Birmingham) came straight on the
market at unaffordable prices. The best prices were from Luton-Geneva which
we did last time as well. Just adds 3hrs at each end but saves about £500
per carload!

Only another year and I won't have any school kids!.....ah the luxury of
off-peak skiing holidays!


John,

Why not look at other times than the Feb half term. Christmas and Easter
are OK in Les Arcs and with Easter being very early this year I am
looking forward to some excellent snow.

John

JR wrote:
Last year, we just hired in Geneva and stayed in BSM. This year, we thought
we'd migrate up the hill to a big ski-to-door chalet and save a load of
hassle (no hanging around for teenagers etc). It just seems silly that the
cheapest option is still to hire 3 cars and park them up for the week. I
looked into mini-bus hire, and hire of 2 7-seaters but the prices were
ridiculous. Looks like it'll be 3 of the little Nissan Note's again from
Budget at about £140 each if I remember from last time (that's no ski-racks
and no "Protection-Plus" insurance which they try to rip you off with!).

If it was off-season, I'd drive all the way (MPV and car with roof-boxes). I
did it once at feb 1/2 term to Chamonix and it was just horrendous starting
from about Dijon.


I drove to Tignes in Feb half term last year, no bother at all. Drove
down to Annecy on the Friday via Frangy, stopped in an Etap, then left
at about 8am and was checked in and on the slopes having hired skis just
after lunch. No traffic to speak off doing the Frangy route. Went down
the A39 from Dijon missing Dijon, Chalon, Macon and Lyon and lots of
traffic.

In fact IIRC I had a boot fitting appt at 11.30 and we had checked in
and got kids skis before this. Was no traffic at all on the sat morning.

Bill

On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:10:55 +0100, Bill Seddon
wrote:


I drove to Tignes in Feb half term last year, no bother at all. Drove
down to Annecy on the Friday via Frangy, stopped in an Etap,

I've done the same on many occasions, but I'd heartily recommend the
Annecy centre Kyriad, which is built into the old town wall and
therefore right in the heart of things. About 50 restaurants within a
five minute strolling distance.

then left
at about 8am and was checked in and on the slopes having hired skis just
after lunch.

We'd normally aim to leave around 7, then be skiing by 9:30 or so.
Breakfast can wait until coffee time.

No traffic to speak off doing the Frangy route. Went down
the A39 from Dijon missing Dijon, Chalon, Macon and Lyon and lots of
traffic.

Does anyone still drive via Lyon? I gave up doing so in about 1998
when I first discovered the 'new' bit of A39 from Dole.

In fact IIRC I had a boot fitting appt at 11.30 and we had checked in
and got kids skis before this.

Ah, that explains the 'slow' start.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

Ace wrote:
On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:10:55 +0100, Bill Seddon
wrote:


I drove to Tignes in Feb half term last year, no bother at all. Drove
down to Annecy on the Friday via Frangy, stopped in an Etap,

I've done the same on many occasions, but I'd heartily recommend the
Annecy centre Kyriad, which is built into the old town wall and
therefore right in the heart of things. About 50 restaurants within a
five minute strolling distance.

Yeah that would have been better but was full. The Etap was in the
middle of nowhere and we ended up in a " Quick" burger or the like.

then left
at about 8am and was checked in and on the slopes having hired skis just
after lunch.


We'd normally aim to leave around 7, then be skiing by 9:30 or so.
Breakfast can wait until coffee time.

No traffic to speak off doing the Frangy route. Went down
the A39 from Dijon missing Dijon, Chalon, Macon and Lyon and lots of
traffic.

Does anyone still drive via Lyon? I gave up doing so in about 1998
when I first discovered the 'new' bit of A39 from Dole.

In fact IIRC I had a boot fitting appt at 11.30 and we had checked in
and got kids skis before this.

Ah, that explains the 'slow' start.

Boots were initially fitted on the sat morning, shop, Nevada Sports,
very quiet, I was told to ski on the them until Mon evening then come
back for foot beds / adjustment. Another hour or so on the Monday and
they are now perfect.

On 3 Oct, 08:31, Ace wrote:

No traffic to speak off doing the Frangy route. Went down
the A39 from Dijon missing Dijon, Chalon, Macon and Lyon and lots of
traffic.

Does anyone still drive via Lyon? I gave up doing so in about 1998
when I first discovered the 'new' bit of A39 from Dole.

I actually went via Lyon on the way to see Le Tour this summer, then
back via Bourg en Bresse. Can't say there was any difference in the
time and no real traffic either way, but that's what you get for
driving on a Wednesday I guess. I'd certainly think twice about it at
peak times on a Saturday during half term..

Matt

On Oct 2, 7:19 am, "John Ricketts"
wrote:
Have looked at a few options to get 11 people from Geneva to Arc2000 for Feb
1/2 term week but seem to come back to hiring cars! Seems silly when they
will just be left in the underground garage all week. Any other good
suggestions? How does the train work out, and how do you then get up to
arc2000 from BSM with luggage?

Cheers,
John

A private transfer will cost you around £100 a head return. 3 cars to
hire will cost you roughly half of this so I think it's a no brainer
(don't forget to book underground parking as otherwise you may
struggle to park if you arrive late during the French half-term). All
other means to get there are just hassle you don't need.

Hopefully you have the best price one can get on the accommodation -
you may want to double check on http://www.skicollection.co.uk/defau.../loadindex.127

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
XS
Peak Retreats http://www.peakretreats.co.uk
Ski Collection http://www.skicollection.co.uk

John Ricketts wrote:
Have looked at a few options to get 11 people from Geneva to Arc2000 for Feb
1/2 term week but seem to come back to hiring cars! Seems silly when they
will just be left in the underground garage all week. Any other good
suggestions? How does the train work out, and how do you then get up to
arc2000 from BSM with luggage?

Cheers,
John


John,

I take it you have consulted the normal places such as Alpskibus which
appears to offer a fair number of transfers.

I cannot speak personally since I rarely use Geneva airport but there
are suprisingly few trains per day to Bourg st Maurice from Lyon and
they all seem to take a long time; whereas there are many busses to Bourg.

From just outside the railway station in Bourg there is a large
coach/bus station with many service busses going up to Les Arcs (and the
other resorts in the area such as Tignes). IIRC the company is Autocars
Martin. I think they will take you to 2000, otherwise if they drop you
off at the interchange at the top of the funicular from where you take
the suttle bus to 2000 the same as if you came up the funicular.

There are also a lot of taxis outside the railway station

The bus stop is at the entrance to the 2000 village, so expect a bit of
a hike. I do not think a hire car will get you much farer! I have
noticed that many people park at Pre st. Espirit (large free car park)
either to take the lift for day skiing or to catch the bus upto the village.

I have not seen the timetables/costs for this year but if my memory
serves me well this was the situation last year:

The funicular runs up to 20:00 and starts again about 8:00 the next
morning.

They offered a lift pass on a Saturday evening for the funicular and the
next 6 days with a free return the following Saturday

Lots of people bring their luggage up on the funicular - it can get very
crowded.

The shuttle busses around the 1600, 1800 and 2000 stop quite early in
the evening (about 20:00).

The bus service between 2000 and 1600 is much less frequent than that
between 1600: and 1800.

When my nephew came out to Les Arcs using a bus from Lyon it was much
faster and cheeper to get the bus to BsM and use the funicular than get
the bus all the way to Arc 1600. I have no idea why.

I hope all this helps.

John