J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ranchero_1979

I think BB is describing Chamonix Express/Mountain Drop Offs etc. Drive you to and from droppoff location and help you with bags but at 1/10 of the price. I guess if you are paid in the region of 500 Euro an hr (approx 1MEuro a year) then removing the 30min wait each end would actually have a cost benefit. Shuttle bus for me this year then :-).

"Geneva to Meribel return is 640 euros equivalent to about £530. We've used Cool Bus for our last two holidays. You walk straight to their desk opposite arrivals at Geneva and then 5 minutes later you are on your way and then dropped off directly outside your accommodation. On the return leg, you are picked up at your accommodation and dropped off directly outside departures at the airport. The driver is skilled, is driving a vehicle on winter tyres and even helps you carry some of your luggage in and out of the airport and your accommodation!

And you don't have to worry about driving for at least 3 hours each way when you are likely to be tired or dealing with heavy traffic on unfamiliar roads or in bad weather."

Just read a telegraph report "Vanessa-Mae slowest in giant-slalom first run as she sits in 74th spot at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics".

Have to say for all the +ve's of an independent press they are frequently pretty ignorant on the topics they write. From photo she is clearly an accomplished skier, who has been skiing since she was 4. An article on the spirit of the Olympic Games and or the sheer athleticism and commitment that is required to compete at the top level of female skiing might have been more appropriate when written from a middle age bloke who I can assume has never had his skis on edge like in photo.

Still we invented Punch and Judy, just a shame that our politicians and press can't seem to frequently show little more imagination. No wonder Internationally we are largely associated with being an island nation predominantly full of miserable ignorant people eating chips (no fish left in sea).

Agree with ADMIN, forecasts on here are if anything are very pesimistic. 24hrs of solid snow in Chamonix and boot deep powder this morning. People who skied yesterday were reporting similar suggesting that the 50cm forecast by meteo France had happened. Reality is you cannot change the weather or the snow regardless once you have booked.
Temperature and wind give much better guidance on where I choose to ski on a daily basis. Lot of sense in doing a 7am bakery run to feel the conditions.
Tomorrow is set to be amazing onpiste conditions for many of us. Enjoy!

Yes bus is free regardless of pass. Train is only free if you get a card which hotel should give you or if you have residence. Otherwise is just few euro. Basically as long as you follow time table (Google Chamonix bus), then all is pretty easy and free.

Been passing in and out if there for last few years. Certainly Erbil is easy enough to get to and no visa required for EU passport holders if <15 days. Roads are decent enough but plenty of crazy drivers so would need to be careful. Not sure the hastle of trying to rent a car etc would be offset by the skiing which is better in Turkey which has the higher mountains.

You guys times it perfectly 2 days of the deep and then sunshine. Looking at vb on Thursday once things have had time to settle. Maybe pdc on Tuesday if avalanche risk has reduced in sun tomorrow.

Bus is free.

You only need Chamonix unlimited if you intend to use the Midi or Grand Montets top bin, Courmayeur and Zermatt. If not you would be better off getting standard Chamonix Pass which covers all the resorts. Given you require 6 days probably best one 5 day pass and a one day pass.