AS EVERY winter sports enthusiast knows, getting to the resort can be tricky,
especially if you travel by budget airline without a tour operator to
arrange transfers. Luckily, increased demand (32 per cent of British skiers
now travel independently) has led to better transport links, with airport
shuttles springing up across the Alps. Below is a flavour of what's on
offer.
FRANCE
Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez
Bens Bus has low-cost transfers from Grenoble (easyJet and Ryanair) to Les
Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez from £42.50 return; no surcharge for skis or
boards. Until April 18 the bus runs daily (surcharge Sunday-Friday) with
various stops in each resort. Journey time is about 1hr 45min.
www.bensbus.co.uk, www.les2alpes.com,
www.alpedhuez.com
Chamonix and Les Gets
Skihoppa offers shuttles from Geneva (easyJet, BA, Swiss, bmibaby, Jet2,
flybe, flyGlobespan) to resorts in the French Alps. Daily and hourly
shuttles from Geneva to Chamonix or Les Gets cost from £60 return and take
1hr 20min. Skihoppa also runs shuttles and private transfers from
Friedrichshafen (Ryanair) to Zürs, Lech and St Anton and Munich (easyJet,
BA, Lufthansa) to other Austrian resorts, including Kitzbühel.
www.skihoppa.com, www.chamonix.com,
www.lesgets.com
Courchevel and Méribel
Geneva is the closest airport, but you get closer by Eurostar to Moutiers and
taking a coach. Courchevel 1850 or Méribel centre costs £12.50 one way or
£25 return (children half price). Courchevel takes under an hour; Méribel is
40 minutes.
www.transavoie.com, www.eurostar.com,
www.courchevel.com, www.meribel.net
AUSTRIA
Kitzbühel
The Kitzbüheler Alpen Shuttle (or Andi's Taxis) runs from Salzburg (BA,
Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, flybe) to Kitzbühel for £30 one way based on two
travelling together. It runs on demand to your accommodation, is available
every day of the year and takes about an hour.
www.andis-taxi.com, www.kitzbuehel.com
SWITZERLAND
Arosa, Flims Laax, St Moritz
Train transfers are excellent in Switzerland but you can cuts costs in the
eastern part of the country by flying to Friedrichshafen (Ryanair) and
getting the Graubünden Express shuttle direct to your hotel in several
resorts. To Arosa and Flims Laax costs £49 one way, £89 return, and takes
about two hours; to St Moritz is £59 one way, £109 return and takes about
three hours. Group transfers can also be arranged.
www.graubuenden-express.com, www.arosa.ch,
www.laax.com, www.stmoritz.ch
ITALY
Val Gardena
Terravision coach transfers launched two seasons ago from northern Italian
airports served by budget airlines to the Val Gardena ski area in South
Tyrol. This season the company has coaches from Bergamo (Ryanair) with stops
at Verona (BA), Bolzano, Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Val Gardena.
Until April 13 there is one coach on Thursdays, two on Fridays, Sundays and
Mondays and three on Saturdays. The journey between Milan and Selva Val
Gardena is four hours; from Verona it is 2hr 45min. The cost is £17 one way,
£29 return, children under five free.
www.terravision.ey, www.ryanair.com,
www.valgardena.it, www.suedtirol.info/lowbudget
