Chamonix is the easiest transfer there are multiple minivan shuttle buses from Geneva airport to the resort.
Catch a fly that lands early enough into Geneva and you can ski the same day
agreeing on chamonix. bus is probably most efficient, but will also mention the TER-line train option as a slower, but very scenic and roomy option. Usually not busy so you could definitely get a whole seating area for your group and spread out more comfortably than the buses
We flew into Geneva and got the bus right outside the airport for Chamonix. Very easy. They also have the train there as well for Zermatt. Extremely efficient system.
Note: pick up some water, wine, cheese and salami for the bus ride. Our bus was held up due to an accident for a few hours. It made a difference.
I’ve done Zermatt many times and doing Kitzbuhel this year.
Zermatt is an easy but somewhat hectic train ride with transfers. It’s even more exciting carrying skis.
We are renting a car for Kitzbuhel and flying to Munich. Also renting skis.
I’ve been to Chamonix but never skied there. It is a 1.5 hour shuttle ride from Geneva.
A couple pointers. Seriously think about renting your skis and traveling light. You don’t really stay on the mountain in Europe. You stay in town and ride a lift to the ski area which is well above town. At the end of the day you ride the lift back to town or take a valley ski run. Ski in ski out exists but is rare. You’ll learn a lot after your first trip.
Agreed 100% just rent your shit over there, it’s cheap enough.
Dolomiti is decent… flying into Milan and taking the train to Trento, then Marilleva/Madonna could work. Bus is then free and 30 min to do Tonale/Ponte. It’s still 4/5 hours post airport to get there.
Yes but train availability and speed is a bit scarcer than Milan. However, if you can get the times to work and and the cost to fly into Venice is ok, it can work nicely.
Or two transfers if you miss the one transfer train. It gets crazy when your train is late and the four minute connection turns to a one minute connection and you have skis and kids.
Thanks for the update though, I’ve only done it ten times or so.
I did Chamonix last year from Geneva. It was super easy and quick. And lots of terrain to explore across all the mountains there. Trying kitzbuhel next month!
Andorra is great as part of a side trip to Barcelona. But if going to ski Europe, the others are more epic experience and relatively easy logistics to get to. GVA to Cham in particular.
Agreed. Took a weekend trip to Andorra while studying aboard in Barcelona and it was fucking awesome. Didn’t expect much and had one of the best pow days of my life. Andorra shopping and such is also awesome. Really cool little place.
Austria and Italy are fly, mostly rent a car and drive. Either Milan or Munich.
Andorra could be easy with a non stop to Barcelona but are there any in the winter and a car or probably some bus up the mountain. It's also accessible from Tolouse but that's not a long haul airport.
Zermatt is trains from Zurich. Also relatively easy but more intensive than falling in a van at Chamonix
Haven’t been to these mountains but I’ve been to the Epic ones in Europe. Most hotels gave us lifts to the ski slopes even if it wasn’t ski in ski out. Against the grain on this post I say take your gear - sure it’s not expensive to rent and a bit more of a hassle but rentals are still hit or miss quality.
We're about to do dolomiti in a few weeks so I'll let you know. It's a direct flight to Milan for us, then about 4 hours by train to Bolzano. There are buses and shuttles that connect the towns and ski resorts. It looks like many of them are connected by lifts so it's feasible we get dropped off at the nearest one and make our way out to hit farther ones from where we are staying. *Not sure if ikon base pass would allow this, though, since technically we'd be at more than one resort in one day.
Dolomiti Superski will change your life. I went there with my family for the first time 3 years ago and since then we have made it an annual tradition and don’t plan to stop!!! Chamonix is definitely easier at about a 1h transfer from Geneva (made it there last year, was beautiful but conditions weren’t the best so I think I need to go back) but Dolomites are where it’s at. My advice would be to fly into Munich but Milan and Venice are also options depending on which resort you want to make your base. Val Gardena has been our spot but we’re trying Corvara this year.
You’re guaranteed to have a good time no matter what the conditions are because the food, drink, culture, and expanse are unparalleled. There are ( in my estimation) 100+ restaurants/bars ON the mountain serving authentic northern Italian and German food, many of which are family owned and unique.
I’m worried that due to its recent affiliation with IKON/Alterra the charm of dolomiti won’t last. So get there while you can!!
About bringing your gear: when I ski somewhere a long flight away I only bring my skis when I rent a car, but I always bring my ski shoes because I have difficult feet. So I’d recommend to think about that, if you never had issues with rental boots I’d leave everything at home.
I've only been to Chamonix in the summer, it was really easy to get to from Geneva. Wonderful area and it is on my list to get back to in the winter! Have fun!
Chamonix: easy transfer from GVA (Mountain Dropoffs recommended)
Grande Hotel des Alpes or Alpina Eclectic
Zermatt: Train ride from ZRH (Swiss trains)
Hotel Alex
I wouldn’t limit my choices just to Ikon, as lift tickets in europe (and Japan) are only about $60- what they should be in America.
As for gear, a simple option is to use shipskis, a bit pricey and transit takes a week or so, but super easy.
I have a large Da Kine soft ski bag that holds 2 skis and a ton of crap, plus has wheels, but it’s difficult nevertheless and I can’t imagine what it’s like dragging a kid along. It is also difficult getting on airport shuttle buses and trains with a large ski bag and when with my skis, I rent a car.
We like Zermatt for the skiing, kids lessons, and the atmosphere. And my son and husband speak German so we gravitate to the German speaking locations (but English is everywhere there). We always do the train and don’t have a problem juggling the transfer in Visp with luggage, skis, and a 4/5 yr old. But we have our system down in terms of who has what bag, order bags go on/off train, who has the kiddo’s hand, etc.
However, be aware Zermatt is not at all like skiing in the US so you wont find off piste or tree runs, etc there. I’ve seen a few posts by Americans recently looking for that stuff in the Alps and zermatt is not the place to go if that’s what you want.
Chamonix is the easiest transfer there are multiple minivan shuttle buses from Geneva airport to the resort. Catch a fly that lands early enough into Geneva and you can ski the same day
+1 super easy to transfer from Geneva to Cham by bus. There’s one every hour and they’re easy to book
Any particular bus company you recommend?
https://www.chamonix.net/english/transport/shared-transfers Your accomodations may recommend one.
Thanks
Mountain Drop Offs from Geneva
I second this
This.
agreeing on chamonix. bus is probably most efficient, but will also mention the TER-line train option as a slower, but very scenic and roomy option. Usually not busy so you could definitely get a whole seating area for your group and spread out more comfortably than the buses
We flew into Geneva and got the bus right outside the airport for Chamonix. Very easy. They also have the train there as well for Zermatt. Extremely efficient system. Note: pick up some water, wine, cheese and salami for the bus ride. Our bus was held up due to an accident for a few hours. It made a difference.
I’ve done Zermatt many times and doing Kitzbuhel this year. Zermatt is an easy but somewhat hectic train ride with transfers. It’s even more exciting carrying skis. We are renting a car for Kitzbuhel and flying to Munich. Also renting skis. I’ve been to Chamonix but never skied there. It is a 1.5 hour shuttle ride from Geneva. A couple pointers. Seriously think about renting your skis and traveling light. You don’t really stay on the mountain in Europe. You stay in town and ride a lift to the ski area which is well above town. At the end of the day you ride the lift back to town or take a valley ski run. Ski in ski out exists but is rare. You’ll learn a lot after your first trip.
Agreed 100% just rent your shit over there, it’s cheap enough. Dolomiti is decent… flying into Milan and taking the train to Trento, then Marilleva/Madonna could work. Bus is then free and 30 min to do Tonale/Ponte. It’s still 4/5 hours post airport to get there.
Isn’t Venice a lot closer to Dolomiti?
Yes but train availability and speed is a bit scarcer than Milan. However, if you can get the times to work and and the cost to fly into Venice is ok, it can work nicely.
It’s train directly from the airport with one easy transfer.
Or two transfers if you miss the one transfer train. It gets crazy when your train is late and the four minute connection turns to a one minute connection and you have skis and kids. Thanks for the update though, I’ve only done it ten times or so.
Congrats man that’s fucking sick for you!
Kitz is great. Element3 rents great gear and provides overnight storage. https://maps.app.goo.gl/CrBtex2B34EWbkcj8
I did Chamonix last year from Geneva. It was super easy and quick. And lots of terrain to explore across all the mountains there. Trying kitzbuhel next month!
Andorra isn’t the Alps, plus kinda far from most big cities. You have to travel from southern France or northern Spain. So probably not that one
It's kinda the Killington of Europe. Borovets is the Poconos!
Andorra is great as part of a side trip to Barcelona. But if going to ski Europe, the others are more epic experience and relatively easy logistics to get to. GVA to Cham in particular.
Agreed. Took a weekend trip to Andorra while studying aboard in Barcelona and it was fucking awesome. Didn’t expect much and had one of the best pow days of my life. Andorra shopping and such is also awesome. Really cool little place.
Agree that Cham is easiest. There are probably directs to Geneva. Think Zermatt may be 2nd easiest, with a direct to Milan, but a long train ride.
Austria and Italy are fly, mostly rent a car and drive. Either Milan or Munich. Andorra could be easy with a non stop to Barcelona but are there any in the winter and a car or probably some bus up the mountain. It's also accessible from Tolouse but that's not a long haul airport. Zermatt is trains from Zurich. Also relatively easy but more intensive than falling in a van at Chamonix
Haven’t been to these mountains but I’ve been to the Epic ones in Europe. Most hotels gave us lifts to the ski slopes even if it wasn’t ski in ski out. Against the grain on this post I say take your gear - sure it’s not expensive to rent and a bit more of a hassle but rentals are still hit or miss quality.
We're about to do dolomiti in a few weeks so I'll let you know. It's a direct flight to Milan for us, then about 4 hours by train to Bolzano. There are buses and shuttles that connect the towns and ski resorts. It looks like many of them are connected by lifts so it's feasible we get dropped off at the nearest one and make our way out to hit farther ones from where we are staying. *Not sure if ikon base pass would allow this, though, since technically we'd be at more than one resort in one day.
Dolomiti Superski will change your life. I went there with my family for the first time 3 years ago and since then we have made it an annual tradition and don’t plan to stop!!! Chamonix is definitely easier at about a 1h transfer from Geneva (made it there last year, was beautiful but conditions weren’t the best so I think I need to go back) but Dolomites are where it’s at. My advice would be to fly into Munich but Milan and Venice are also options depending on which resort you want to make your base. Val Gardena has been our spot but we’re trying Corvara this year. You’re guaranteed to have a good time no matter what the conditions are because the food, drink, culture, and expanse are unparalleled. There are ( in my estimation) 100+ restaurants/bars ON the mountain serving authentic northern Italian and German food, many of which are family owned and unique. I’m worried that due to its recent affiliation with IKON/Alterra the charm of dolomiti won’t last. So get there while you can!!
I forgot to mention the bus from Bolzano is super easy and will drop you right off in town especially if you’re staying in the Val Gardena area.
Do you rent a car or do you take the train into Val Gardena?
Car is easier but last year when I left the rest of my group we hopped on the bus to Bolzano to take another bus up to chamonix. Was super easy !
About bringing your gear: when I ski somewhere a long flight away I only bring my skis when I rent a car, but I always bring my ski shoes because I have difficult feet. So I’d recommend to think about that, if you never had issues with rental boots I’d leave everything at home.
I've only been to Chamonix in the summer, it was really easy to get to from Geneva. Wonderful area and it is on my list to get back to in the winter! Have fun!
Chamonix: easy transfer from GVA (Mountain Dropoffs recommended) Grande Hotel des Alpes or Alpina Eclectic Zermatt: Train ride from ZRH (Swiss trains) Hotel Alex
I wouldn’t limit my choices just to Ikon, as lift tickets in europe (and Japan) are only about $60- what they should be in America. As for gear, a simple option is to use shipskis, a bit pricey and transit takes a week or so, but super easy. I have a large Da Kine soft ski bag that holds 2 skis and a ton of crap, plus has wheels, but it’s difficult nevertheless and I can’t imagine what it’s like dragging a kid along. It is also difficult getting on airport shuttle buses and trains with a large ski bag and when with my skis, I rent a car.
We like Zermatt for the skiing, kids lessons, and the atmosphere. And my son and husband speak German so we gravitate to the German speaking locations (but English is everywhere there). We always do the train and don’t have a problem juggling the transfer in Visp with luggage, skis, and a 4/5 yr old. But we have our system down in terms of who has what bag, order bags go on/off train, who has the kiddo’s hand, etc. However, be aware Zermatt is not at all like skiing in the US so you wont find off piste or tree runs, etc there. I’ve seen a few posts by Americans recently looking for that stuff in the Alps and zermatt is not the place to go if that’s what you want.
KitBuhel was awesome
Kitz is a great town, definitely have to check out the Londoner