EASY TRAVEL TO VAL D’ISÈRE
YSE holidays begin and end on Sundays, because however you’re travelling it is easier on a Sunday. The vast majority of visitors to ski resorts arrive and leave on Saturday, causing gridlock on roads and at airports, and although we can’t pretend that there is less likely to be heavy snow on a Sunday, there will be far less disruption with fewer aircraft in the air, shorter queues at airports and less traffic on the roads.
Also, the slopes are very empty on Saturdays whilst everyone else is on the road. You will be amazed how few people you see on the slopes on your final day!
We don’t provide flights with our holidays. However, the good news is that most of our guests can buy flights for less than the current cost of charter flights, and people from all over Britain are able to join us at Geneva Airport, not just those from the region served by Gatwick.
You can book flights with BA and easyJet, occasionally Swiss or Air France, and most fly to Geneva (details under Geneva Airport), where John Yates-Smith, resplendent in YSE yellow, will be waiting with directions to our coaches (details of our coach times can be found under YSE transfers).
Geneva is the obvious choice, and is a fairly civilised airport (on Sundays…). Lyon and Grenoble airports are about the same distance from Val d’Isère, but have far fewer flights from Britain. Chambéry is slightly closer, but has an appalling weather record. Even Turin is a possibility in the summer, though less so in winter.
TAXI TRANSFERS
It is possible to land in Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble or even snowy Chambéry, and take a taxi to Val d’Isère. On the whole we think that taxis based in Val d’Isère are less expensive and more reliable than airport cabs. They have driven for years on snow, they know our chalets, and for the return trip there is not the risk of their arriving late. Many of our guests use SnowDrone (click here) whose prices start at €340 for four people in a minibus. They also run shared transfers every day at €80 per person. We also find the first nine taxi firms pretty good on Val d’Isère’s list (click here).
We certainly wouldn’t recommend hiring a car. Trying to fit chains on a strange car in the middle of a blizzard will convince you to take a taxi next time.
PUBLIC BUSES
There are buses from all of the local airports to Val d’Isère, though they take rather longer and cost much more than the YSE coaches from Geneva. They also only stop at La Daille and the central bus station.
For Altibus from Geneva, click here
For Ben’s Bus from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble, click here
DRIVING OUT
Driving out to Val d’Isère from the UK is perfectly possible but is slow, expensive and very challenging for the final miles (see Arriving by Car).
TRAIN
We’re as keen as anyone on using trains instead of planes, but it is unfortunately rather slow (10-12 hours) and expensive (at least £400!), and involves crossing Paris from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon (about €60), then taking a taxi from Bourg St Maurice (a further €100). For buses from Bourg to Val d’Isère click here.
EES and ETIAS
The Entry/Exit System (ESS) that the EU were planning to bring in from November 2024 has been delayed, yet again. Some reports say it will come in during 2025 and others say it’s going to be introduced gradually. The ESS, when it does come in, will going to mean everyone submitting fingerprints and photos taken in special booths.
In May 2025 the EU’s new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is due to be introduced and we don’t yet know if this will be delayed as well. When ETIAS does come in we will need to apply for authorisation to enter the Schengen area with a UK passport. We will be required to give personal information and details about our first trip and pay a fee of €7. The ETIAS will be valid for three years but if the passport it’s in expires sooner a new ETIAS must be obtained for the new passport.
This link will take you to the official site regarding both EES and ETIAS (in English).
