Geneva>Verbier-LaTzoumaz Transfer

I wondered whether I'm missing something? Does anyone know of a cheaper way for 2 people to get from GVA to the Quatre Valees than train+bus/gondola?

It's £51 for an adult return from Geneva Airport to La Tzoumaz (Verbier) using train and bus.

A taxi would be £533 return (seats 4).

A minibus would be £759 return (seats 10).

A small hire car is about £625 for a week (realistically seats 3).

Even with the economies of a large group, public transport is still the cheapest. For just the two of us, it's a no-brainer. Public transport does take longer outbound - at least 1-1/2 hours even if you get the connections right. On returning, it's closer once you subtract rental car snow extraction, fill-up, hire return, and transfer.

http://www.auto-europe.co.uk/car.cfm

£165 for a car for a week. Not sure where you've been looking to get that price!

For 2 of you, public transport looks the cheapest option.
Drive to Verbier is approx 2.5 hours.

Msej449, getting a 2 year 1/2 Fare Card from SBB works for me. Just renewed mine.

Ummmmm .... I've tried these 3rd-Parties before only to find that once they have my card details, they actually don't have any cars available at that rate after all. And then, like this site, don't include personal insurance, motorway vignette or winter tyres in the daily fee either. The only people with hire cars at GVA are the usual Sixt, Avis, Europcar etc and so I'm suspicious that they can discount by 50%-65%. But perhaps I'm doing them a disservice. Have you used these people?

Bandit: Yes, I'm seriously thinking of this as we usually manage to get out at least a couple of times in the winter and again in the summer. To date, it's worked out as break-even, although I'm sure if we have SBB cards, we'd do more summer train excursions. Thanks.

msej449 wrote: It's £51 for an adult return from Geneva Airport to La Tzoumaz (Verbier) using train and bus.

I thought that sounded cheap so I checked. According to the Swiss Railways website a full price 2nd class adult return from GVA to Riddes costs CHF 94, it can't quote the cost of the journey from Riddes to La Tzoumaz. A 1 year 1/2 fare card costs CHF 165, 2 years costs CHF 300.

You're right - I'm not sure what happened there .. total is CHF 105 which is around £72 for an adult return. About the same as 1/10th of a 10-seater minibus. Using my discount card with Avis I got £250 for the 8 days VW Golf all-in. Train+bus is still cheapest approach for two people but the car would work better if it was 3 people and be cheaper if 4 of us.

msej449 wrote:Ummmmm .... I've tried these 3rd-Parties before only to find that once they have my card details, they actually don't have any cars available at that rate after all. And then, like this site, don't include personal insurance, motorway vignette or winter tyres in the daily fee either. The only people with hire cars at GVA are the usual Sixt, Avis, Europcar etc and so I'm suspicious that they can discount by 50%-65%. But perhaps I'm doing them a disservice. Have you used these people?

Yep. Use HolidayAutos when we go away. Usually end up with Europcar, budget etc. If they dont have the size of car you booked they will usually upgrade you. IF they dont, and you end up with no car and want to cheat you out of your money, simply contact your CC company and let them deal with it - I find it unlikely though!

Remember one thing....

We added on a ski rack....

The car we got had a glass roof, not much use with a magnetic ski rack (unless we put in on the doors on the side!!) :roll: