Bardonecchia Advice

Hi, I know there are other posts on Bardonecchia but just wanted to get some further advice on a couple of things. We are thinking of going with the terrible twins (10 year olds) and would like to know:

How is it for getting to the ski areas from the town - is the bus service easily accessible
Has anyone taken the train from London (apparently there is a one change route through Paris - anyone got any idea of cost?)
If flying, would you hire a car at Turin? or is there no point?

Thanks in advance

Never done the train but the main station is in the town and I was led to believe the Paris train stops there. The bus service was fine when we were there but it was 4 years ago.

I went to Sauze on the train from London, and it stops at Bardonnecchia before Oulx station for Sauze.

It was all very simple getting there. I got the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris Nord, then the RER (like the metro) line D to Paris gare de Lyon which I did in about 20 minutes but you need to allow at least an hour.

Then I had to find the right 'hall' for the train to Oulx, which as far as I can remember was hall 2 (I asked at the information desk). Once you get to the correct hall it's up on the boards what platform the train will be leaving from about 20 minutes before it goes. As far as I remember it was the train to Milan.

It took 4 hours and 45 minutes from Paris to Oulx (in theory anyway, it was actually half an hour late) so it would be quicker to Bardonecchia.

I got my tickets as soon as they were available and it only cost me £117 return, but the price rapidly goes up. The problem is that the Eurostar tickets are available before the TGV so you can either risk that the Eurostar price will go up and wait until you can buy Paris to Bardonecchia, or buy the Eurostar first and hope they don't change the time-table. I bought the Eurostar tickets first and allowed extra time (2 hours) in case they changed the time-table from Paris.

They check your passport on the train before Bardonecchia.

You can book your tickets here:
http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/

This website is also very helpful for train journeys to ski resorts, and they do package holidays as well:
http://www.snowcarbon.co.uk

My daughter is out there from today for a week, I might be able to give more details when she returns.

Fantastic, thanks guys, really useful - I checked the train and couldn't believe it would be so quick and relatively painless (although I note your advice AllyG re.timings and timetables) and we are staying near the station so this looks like a very real option. Thanks again

J