Messages posted by : AllyG
Thanks Brucie :D My friends know I'm pretty good at it - I've saved them hundreds of pounds over the years! It just takes time doing the research, but as you can see I quite like doing it. It's a bit like doing a crossword, except that there isn't one right answer, there are usually several answers, depending on what matters to you most (like whether you can sleep on a night train etc.) Ally |
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The only thing I don't understand about it, is why the travel agent booked a week in Courmayeur starting on a Monday (March 15th). I mean, in my experience, standard holiday weeks begin on a Saturday, and sometimes on a Sunday (but never on a Monday!).
I don't think it's a wind-up, but if so, at least we will all know now how to get to Chamonix and Courmayeur from Paris by train :D :D :D Ally |
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Lift passes are free for under 5's in La Rosiere, and there are 3 free lifts - Clarines 1, Manessier, and Dahu (in the Les Eucherts area). The free lifts are only short drag lifts but they'd keep a total beginner busy for a bit. We're going to Courchevel 1550, and I noticed that the short drag lift here is free as well as a few others in the different areas of Courchevel. One can also get cheaper beginner ski passes ('mini pass') in Courchevel, with limited lift access to certain gondolas etc. costing 16 euros per day. Ally |
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Littleski,
I forgot to say, you need to book the TGV's (very fast trains) before you go, in fact as soon as possible I would say, as soon as you have worked out your route because the seats are reserved. The phone line for raileurope.co.uk is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (British time) and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and I should think the office is somewhere in England because English people answer the phone. I have been on several of the TGV trains and I've found them very reliable, comfortable, fast, clean etc. They seem to be 2 deckers with a bar/restaurant in them, and the ones I've been on have been incredibly long! Ally |
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Littleski,
Here's a map of the TGV links from Paris all over France so you can get an idea of where you're going. http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-trains/tgv.htm#DETAILED Ise, I tried your route on the raileurope website for Monday 15th March and I got stuck in Annecy for 3 hours. TGV Train leaves Paris Gare Lyon 9-50 a.m., arrives Annecy 13-30 (3 hours 40 minutes), costs £43 per adult. Train leaves Annecy 16-22 arrives St Gervais Les Bains 18-00, change trains, train leaves 18-32 arrives Chamonix Mont Blanc 19-12, cost £19 per adult. Then shuttle bus from Chamonix to Courmayeur. Littleski, Another alternative is to get the overnight sleeper train from Paris Austerlitz on Sunday 14th March which is direct to St Gervais Les Bains, but it costs quite a bit more - £163. Train leaves 23-02 from Paris Austerlitz arrives St Gervais Les Bains 0911 the next morning. Then change trains, train leaves 10-32, arrive Chamonix 11-12, then catch bus to Courmayeur. Or alternatively get a taxi from St Gervais Les Bains in the morning, distance to Chamonix (I don't know about Courmayeur probably something similar) 24Km or 15 miles, which would probably be expensive but much easier. There is definitely NOT an easy route from Paris to Courmayeur on Monday. On Sunday there is a direct day train from Paris to St Germain Les Bains. Ally |
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Ise,
That's a good idea going to Chamonix :D I did think of going to La Rosiere and then ski-ing over the top to La Thuile, until I remembered all the luggage! Did you mean Annecy? And have you actually checked the stations, changes and times? Littleski, Are you going from Paris to Courmayeur on Saturday March 13th, or Monday March 15th? I am a bit confused (again!), Ally |
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Littleski,
That must be very annoying, to live in Australia but to be so far from the ski slopes :evil: I have been thinking about your problem. It's not so easy to get from Paris to Courmayeur and there are several different possible ways of doing it. The following is the result of my research this evening, and may well have a few errors in it. One way (and I don't know this is the best way), would be to get the train from Paris Gare Lyon leaving at 07:42 and arriving at Torino Porta Susa (Turin) at 13-17 (5 hours 35 minutes) and costing £150. Then get to the other Turin station Torino Port Nuova (I don't know if you could walk it but they're both in central Turin). Get a train from there leaving at 14-25 arriving at Aosta at 16-35 for £30. Then get another train from there leaving at 17-11 arriving at Pre Saint Didier 17-58 for I think only £14. Finally get a bus or taxi the 5 Km to Courmayeur. I would suggest phoning Rail Europe to discuss it with them and see if they have a better way of doing it (phone number from the U.K. 08448 484064). You can also pay them over the phone with a credit/debit card if you're happier doing that than doing it over the internet. It would probably be easier (certainly a lot quicker) to hire a car in Turin and drive to Courmayeur (distance 150 Km time taken one hour 40 mins). Hiring a taxi to drive it would be very expensive - I had an automatic quote from one firm that wanted 346 euros! Rail Europe should be able to help with getting to St Moritz as well, because St Moritz has a train station. Courmayeur tourist office telephone number is (39) (0165)842060. It would be a good idea to phone them as well to discuss options. Best of luck, Ally |
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Far Queue,
I hope you have a great time, and I look forward to hearing about it when you get back :D Ally |
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