Messages posted by : msej449
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I'd agree you should always hire from the Swiss side, and try Budget as a baseline, as they only seem to add snowchains to the on-line price. Look at http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-72/ which lists the Geneva car hire links. If you hire a 4x4 you probably won't get chains, as they may not fit anyway, so there's no point in nagging the rental clerk. Generally, winter tyres get you a pretty far, but you may chains to get across ice or up starts etc. They are truly a pain to put on, so remember to pack a good torch in your hand baggage in case you need to put them on outbound.
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Go to the Swiss Travel website at www.SBB.ch and you should be able to see the rail /bus/ télécabine itinerary for your trip. Set the start to geneva airport or aéroport gèneve. There's a rail station in the valley at Le Chable where they have a big car park and a télécabine up to the centre of Verbier at Médran. You probably have to change at Martigny and there's probably a bus from there as well. We've just got our Swiss Transfer Tickets, ordered throught sbb.ch as we're going to La Tzoumaz in January (connected to Verbier) - these cost £52 return per person and you can travel from any port of entry to one destination and back.
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For a young family of novices, I'd always recommend Italy: very friendly - both the instruction and other skiers. Usually cheap and family-friendly. The Aosta Valley resorts are probably worth a look.
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And if you're willing to share accomodation, and want a low-cost option, take a look at www.thebunker.ch which is a converted nuclear bunker in the Verbier sports centre complex offering cheap accomodation and skipasses.
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Take a look at the Swiss transport website www.sbb.ch (which can be switched to English). This has integrated timetables between rail, bus and télécabines. Set the departure to 'geneva airport' or «aeroport gèneve» and then a selected Swiss location: Verbier & Veysonnaz (Quatre Valées), Champéry (Portes du Soleil), Crans-Montana and, of course, Zermatt all have good public transport links. There's a special return available for £52 which is only for foreigners from any port of entry to a single destination and back (within a month). As you'd expect, the earlier in the day you arrive at Geneva Airport, the more options you have.
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The problem I've always had is that most private transfer websites don't quote rates and I've had to go through entering my details to get a quote again and again, only to find that it's turned out outrageously expensive every time. I've given up bothering. All I'd recommend is you have at least one car/van hire quote from somewhere like Sixt for comparison.
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Go to the Geneva Airport website for a list and links to hire cars:
http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-72/ Don't use Hertz - they always have a queue, and are notorious for 'extras' added (and they have no 'drive away' service). Budget are usually the most honest - I use them as the baseline for comparison. All the companies charge extra for snowchains. Sometimes www.sixt.ch have offers that aren't on sixt.com It can work out cheaper to hire one car and fill it with luggage, while others take the train, then use the car as a taxi/shuttle at the other end. Sometimes people like Sixt have 6/8-seater passenger vans at reasonable rates. Hire from the Swiss side - not the French - irrespective of where you're travelling. |
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I'd say it was good for beginners and intermediates, although rather prone to being windy. No so great for snowboarders. When we went a few years ago, none of the restaurants took plastic and you always had to book a place, even if you walked-in to an empty restaurant. Very friendly locals (as you'd expect in Italy).
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