J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by factual

I've just seen this question, nearly a year too late for the poster. But I thought I'd post a little bit of info., in case anyone else has the notion of trying to get from Turin to the Northern Alps by bus or train. So this might inspire them to try it. It's probably just as easy as from Nice or Marseille, which can be given as airports for the northern Southern Alps resort Serre Chevalier. Given Les 2 Alpes & Alpe D'Huez aren't so far away from this by bus (however bus times make it hard to make these 2 resorts in 1 day), and then that Vanoise National Park, 3 Valleys (Val Thorens anyway) isn't a huge distance further, this way of thinking is the manes to accepting it can be possible.

This idea is based on arriving in Turin on Saturday, the day of most of the ski flights for European ski airports.
But, during the winter, the first leg of the journey would work on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday, and no other days in the week.

Take a Cavourses bus (may be a mini-bus) from Turin airport to Oulx. You have to book in advance at www.cavourese.it select English version if you need). It is the first of the 4 boxes on the home page you have to select, which is "Bus Charter - Low Cost" (Turin Airport to Oulx). It's 34 Euros. The other option to get to Oulx is more complex - the airport transfer bus from Turin Airport which stops at Porta Nuova station, Turin (note - this isn't the airport main transfer bus which goes to Turin central rail station). Check the times on the Turin airport website. Then take a train from Porta Nuova station in Turin going to Oulx train station.

The next leg is getting from Oulx to Briancon - the only way is by bus. The bus company is Autocars Resalp, here is the timetable page:

http://transports-autocars-excursion-voyages-scolaires.autocar-resalp.com/en/lignesbrian.htm


The next leg is Briancon to Grenoble, by train. You can buy the ticket just before you go at Briancon train station. They're regular enough. Usually the journey is made by changing at Gap, sometimes at Valence Ville. Ask for the journey which gets you there soonest - the tickets are the same price. The ticket officers speak English here. It's a long enough journey from Briancon to Grenoble if you're changing - 3 to 4 hours as far as I remember, there is likely to be waiting time in Gap. 3 to 4 hours would include the quicker waiting times, but it may be some times you have to add 30 minutes or so onto the journey if trains don't link up for you easily.

If you decide to stay overnight in Briancon, there is an early bus which goes to Grenoble run by the company V.F.D. (and I think then on to Chambery, if you've booked in advance with V.F.D.). The V.F.D. bus to Grenoble is quicker than the train there, unless you get one of the fast, but unusual, direct express trains to Grenoble. www.vfd.fr - there's an English version.

(For Staying in Briancon - Hotel de la Gare is a basic 1 star, the cheapest hotel in Briancon, and a clean, basic place you can trust with a nice and likeable bar - pizzeria restaurant (also had the most comfortable mattress - 2009 - I have ever slept on in any hotel of stars 1 to 5). Hotel de Paris is close also, a short walk away, similarly basic & reliable 2 star hotel, but more expensive, with a very good restaurant and charming, lovely little bar (you can eat and drink here if staying elsewhere).

After Grenoble, it's easy enough to get to Chambery rail station by train - frequent trains, the journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. (I think there's also the V.F.D. bus which goes to Chambery on the way to Geneva, but I think you have to book in advance, check their website).

From Chambery - it's up to you. Also, a possibility might be resort transfer bus services which go from Grenoble airport to the Northern Alps - I don't know about these - check the Grenoble airport site. The Grenoble airport bus leaves from Grenoble bus station, beside the train station, and takes about 50 minutes. But the times aren't so frequent at some points in the year - there may be a gap of 2 hours or more with no bus in the afternoon for example.

But if you have made it to Grenoble - probably one of the 2 best possibilities onwards is the Northern Alps ski resort bus transfer services from LYON AIRPOT. There is a direct bus from the Grenoble bus station next to the train station which goes to Lyon Airport. It goes throughout the day and it's quite frequent and takes only about 1 hour 25 minutes.

Or if there is no resort transfer bus from the airport - get into Lyon and take the train, for example to Moutiers, where you can get the resort bus (very, very likely to be after an overnight stay by this stage) which goes up to the main 3 Valleys resorts - Meribel, Courchevel etc.

I guess it's possible that someone can make it in 1 day actually from Turin to a Northern French Alps ski resort like the 3 Valleys by heading the way I've suggested through either Chambery / Chambery Airport or Lyon Airport / Lyon by train transfer. Planning to stay in Lyon though is usually not a delightful thing at all if you are on a lowish budget - hotel prices are generally quite high there, and if you go to the discount web travel agent sites like hotels.com & expedia or consolidators like Nextag.co.uk or travelsupermarket.co.uk, most of the cheaper hotels, like under £75 per night are not in the centre of Lyon. There may be a couple of central ones at £45 or so, though - best to try the consolidator sites in advance.

Nearly new skis for sale.
Excellent value.
184 cms. (for skiiers 5 ft. 11 in. - 6 ft. 2 in.)
Rossignol carver skis.

Lots of pictures.
Starting at 66.99 - great price in Ebay for this condition near Easter in the European ski season.
Unlikely to sell for much more than this - though if you really want them you can buy them directly ('Buy It Now')


Please have a look,
whether you are a skiier, beginning skiing (excellent value, hardly used), or a dealer.
Can be posted to arrive within 2 days from buying if you need them fast.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300303182369

MORE PICTURES: http://www.le-cochon-bleu.webs.com

Re: The earlier questions about an ARVA being necessary -

I've found the piste plan and information from the Serre Chevalier mountain company. The 2007 / 2008 resort information includes this part (find it on the main piste and lifts map, with lift times and other information):


Your Safety

Do you sometimes ski off-piste? Then you must carry an avalanche transceiver. Check regularly that your gear is functioning well with one of our 6 checkpoints.

If you have an avalanche transceiver, it is very important to know how to use it! Come and train yourself on the the Serre Chevalier ARVA Park located in Monetier-les-Bains (arrival of the Bachas chairlift / 10).


So - I guess there's a better option than having an old item serviced if you don't care so much about skiing off piste (that would be if the ARVA doesn't work). I've been told it costs a lot for a professional check and service.

Once more, I don't know about 2008-9, but this was not a new instruction for 2007-9, and I don't guess that it's going to be lifted since having been established, without it being mentioned on the main resort website. That website hasn't mentioned the rule this year, nor did it last year.

Wanderer's attitude looks like a typical one amongst those who just complain about Ryanair for normal things which happen all over the skies and airports to any airline, in a 'kick the cat' mode. It's as if complaining about a wretched day walking home in pouring rain and not Ryanair itself.

At least Wanderer kind of admits it at the start of the reply.

The general attitude is not appalling. I have seemed to find this in a few members of staff, but a few air hosts and check-in assistants having this doesn't mean the whole airline has an appalling attitude. I certainly haven't found that, and quite the opposite.

Wanderer gives away irrationality by claiming there is a real problem with dependability. Ryanair are away at the top of European airlines for dependability in nearly all areas. Wanderer chooses to shovel everyone's fears about flying onto one of the most dependable airlines, for no reason at all but to attack them.

Unless Wanderer is complaining about Ryanair not giving immediately a night in a hotel, transport there and food money or vouchers when there is a problem. I know that Easyjet often don't give a hotel room and food when passengers are delayed overnight.

It's unacceptable for an airline to do that. For an airline to first go into business they should be required to offer those things for delays as short as 7 hours, or 5 hours at night time, and no airline should be allowed to operate if they don't have those provisions to give.

An airline which doesn't give that is disgraceful, Wanderer is right if that's what was meant, but the government are much worse for not making it a legal necessity.

I guess it's next weekend when you're going.

Kitzbuehel Bergbahn is reporting just less than 50 percent of slopes open. This week has forecast for the Bergbahn around 26 cm of new snow, so hopefully this can go up to over 60 percent by the time I arrive in late December. 26 cm would be O.K., maybe a little better than average through a good winter, but there has been not much snow in the last few weeks before.

The kitzalps.com website shows that there are 3,440 snow cannons, though I suppose that that's throughout the Kitzbuehel Alpen area (7 ski regions in Tyrol and Salzburgerland).

Sometimes I have found Ryanair a little bit dodgy, but I choose to fly with them because the service is generally fine and it is at worst affordable flying, very often quite cheap and sometimes really cheap.

I was on a Ryanair flight from Bristol to Dublin this morning, which cost me 1 Euro each way, plus 10 Euros handling charge, 12 Euros in total. I have taken around 25 Ryanair flights within the last 15 months or so. I'm really happy. I would not have afforded British Airways flights, even though their prices have dropped a lot since 15 years ago.

Over a month ago both outgoing and return flights had time changes, to a couple of hours earlier. Sometimes it happens. On the plane I was talking about planning going skiing in Austria this winter with a lady who is also planning going skiing in Austria. Her Innsbruck flights had been changed for that holiday also, by Thomas Cook.

Many people experience things which aren't perfect regarding flying. I think Ryanair and Easyjet are just targets that people like to complain about. It is a silly thing. People don't complain about Jet2 etc., a little because they have much fewer flights than Ryanair with so many flights, and so many nationalities flying, nearly any airlines would make mistakes. But it's kind of a comedy discussion, making Ryanair a target. The service might not be as consistent as B.A. or Air France etc. but is usually O.K. or fine. It's not fair, both airlines' prices are often excellent, the service is usually at least O.K., very often good or very good.

I've paid more ofen 75 pounds each way than cheaper flights - but at short notice, to my destinations, even that Ryanair price is less than 2/3 of getting to the same destination 15 years ago, albeit having been with a tiny meal and a drink. Though Ryanair did destroy my nearly new trolley bag, its 3rd use, and refund a 2nd hand value of around half the new price!

How was skiing in Zell am See (and Kaprun?) in middle to late November, rustyinn?

Quite a few people were asking about accommodation in Serre Chevalier earlier. It's a place which is not chock full of hotels and guesthouses, for a renowned ski resort.

This year I'm booking in 2 resorts in Austria over the Christmas season, both are towns which are nearly taken up by guest accommodation places.

A really good idea for Serre Chevalier, to save money or just have private, convenient accommodation, usually with a bath and a balcony is to try studio appartment lettings (or 1 /2 bedroom appartment lettings).

This is information for those who want to go to Serre Chevalier independently, rather than with a tour company. It's certainly possible, and can be even cheaper than a good priced tour brochure holiday.

Transfer prices are around 30 Euros each way from Grenoble, less from Turin, 11 Euros more than Grenoble e/w from Chambery, and it is expensive from Geneva. Looking for 2009, it would cost more for a return transfer to S.C. from Geneva than my budget return flight. Prices for the bus from Marseille are quite good and makes this journey worth checking - it should be a nice experience - ideal if you have an extra night or so, to stay in Marseille.

You can scour The Web for owner's own places, though a solid place to look is Estate Agencies (Immobiliers in French).

Serre Chevalier is quite well represented in the national holiday letting chain: Urbania. The other main Immobilier specialising in holiday lets is Les Agneaux, with places in and around Monetier les bains.

www.urbania-vacances.fr/
in English also

http://www.les-agneaux.com/location/accueil.php
in French only
If you don't understand French, go to Google, type in the searchbar:
http://www.les-agneaux.com/index2.php and select Search, and when this entry comes up, select 'Translate this page'. On the translated page, select 'Locations' in the top - left menu.

Also, www.SkiHorizon.co.uk let studio properties in Serre Chevalier around the same price as Urbania, often Urbania properties.

I stayed for 2 weeks in 2008 with in an Urbania property, it was really cheap (by myself). Ensuite bathroom with bath, studio room with kitchennette including, 2 hobs, oven, microwave, coffee machine. How many hotels have those at 155 pounds per week, all included? I also stayed in an Agence Les Agneaux property for a week in Monetier, which had the same facilities, and also a dishwasher. This was around 200 pounds for a week (per studio, not per person, but the Monetier prices are increasing substantially all round this year.)

There are 3 things to be aware of (not really 'catches', it's great value and private and comfortable). You need to give a deposit of 2 or 3 hundred Euros per appartment when you arrive and collect the same notes you've left when you leave. You may need to bring your own bedding or pay a small bedding fee. Last year I packed a duvet cover, undersheet and pillowcases, which didn't take too much room in my bag (check size of bed). Finally, you need to spend 2 to 3 hours cleaning everything before you leave or pay an extra cleaning charge - it's up to you.

If you take a studio room, this is not a great lot of bother - take a sponge and a cloth and clean the bathroom in 25 minutes, mop all the floors of the studio in another 35 minutes or so. Then, it's just to clean the table tops, wash the dishes and the ovens, and fold up sheets etc.


For solo skiiers, this is excellent value also, as the basic 2 star hotels can often charge at least 60 pounds per night for a single room, or you'll have to pay the double rate in a cheaper place at around 75 pounds per night. For solos, Serre Chevalier outside Briancon doesn't cater well usually, many of the hotels being badly advertised also. And many are there to take package tourists, where there generally aren't options not to share a room with a companion. Briancon is better for solos in 2 and 3 star places - Hotel de Paris is around 60 Euros for a single ensuite, the Hotel de la Gare is very basic but O.K. and cheaper. There are a few other 2 stars in Briancon - the Mont Brison can be good value, but as a single person staying, you're not gauranteed getting an ensuite room. The Mont Prorel Auberge hotel is in the best location - prices are anyone's guess here - can be 50 pounds single or slightly less, can be over 80 pounds single at other times.