Adam M

ok, booked more skiing for this year,

flying to Geneva and hirign a car to drive to verbier.

first of all, is it an easy drive? as I have never driven on the continent before (just hit 25 so can hire now), also is there a law which requires me to use snow chains, and if so, do I have to buy them/rent them etc?

would I be better off going train and taxi? as the car is only slightly more money.

plus how is the skiing in verbier?

chiark

I don't think Mossman's the best person to ask. He'd probably say it's downright dangerous...

Rum*? You around?

Adam M

maybe nick but he has skiied pretty much every resort in the world, so I figured he might have been in this position.

Mossman or not, I dont mind who helps out!

chiark

I've mailed this to Rum, who will hopefully alert John

dsmith

Chains....

Dont how much if any of this applies to Switzerland....

We've driven into the alps in France a couple of times. When you get to certain point (height/snow etc) the Gendarmes make everyone (bar 4WDs) change to chains. At best if you havent got chains you dont go any further, at worst I believe they can fine you for not having them.

From the Motours web-site (Skiing Self-Drive specialists)

"Snow chains must be carried in winter conditions on most roads in the French Alps. If not you will be held responsible if involved in incidents or delays. There are road signs showing where this applies and indicating convenient places to fit chains. Failure to be able to fit chains when requested may result in an on the spot fine. We have negotiated advantageous rates for our clients to either buy or hire snow chains from Polar Automotive. For more information or to order please call them directly on 01732 770347 and quote Motours. Remember to try and fit your snow chains before you travel - it’s far easier to practice in the daylight in good weather at home than wait for freezing conditions on a dark mountain to find they don’t fit properly! "

Deano

Dream Weaver

Moss will give you some leg, I mean ground breaking advice

worley

Was there 1st day of the season Nov 16th! Did exactly the same as you, Squeezy Jet to Geneva and then Hire car. If you have any doubts ring the hire car company, but most firms at Geneva Airport have snow tyres on the cars and chains in the boot.

Before setting off make sure you have a quick look at the chains for size and fitting as often they are not compatible with the vehicle. Normally it's quite obvious when they are required, but on occasion Gendarmes will pull you into a 'Gare de Chainage' in order to fit them before heading over a Col.

Best route is to follow the signs to France / Annemasse / Douane de Bardonnex / Tunnel de Mont Blanc aiming for Chamonix (80ish kms / 1 hour passing two toll booths 1.6 & 3.2 Euro). Straight through Cham towards Argentiere, then over the Two Cols to Martigny (Swiss) and follow the signs to Verbier. Verbier is approx 1 hour from Cham.

Skiing in Verbier is excellent, but very expensive as most top European resorts are!

Hope this helps

Nik

Mossman

You barstewards!!!!

Hmmm... Verbier!!!! NICE!!!! Expensive!!!!!

Mossman

PS Adam, will ring you m8!
PPS Shoulder feeling better!

gregh

I've done the trip from Geneva, dead easy, the drive thru Cham and over is much longer, goes highter and is thus more prone to snow. We went around the lake from the airport, around 1.5 hours max I think.

Regards,

Greg

Trout...

Skiing in Verbier is fabulous if you like steep, steep skiing.

Famous runs - Mont Fort - 30-35deg steepness - moguled one side, kept smooth the other side - fabulous.

Tortin - 1000m drop round 30-32deg steepness - fabulous in powder - scary with moguls. Also first 2m in off the path is a very scary drop - or you can go down the shute into it - which is around 40deg steepness.

Col de Gentianes - wow - 1000m drop - haute piste so it always says it is closed - but what skiing - huge bowl - many ridges to ski off if you are prepared to climb - powder all day after a good fall. Stairway to Heaven is the best run into it - killer climb in powder tho.

More relaxing three valleys style over in Savolyeres (sp) but you need to get the bus there. Great skiing if you don't like it so steep.

Verbier is crap for queues, abslutely great for nightlife tho - just be careful which club - some are killer money - some dead cheap. Always spent less money here than in France - always had a fabby time.

Trout

Fat Boy

Adam

I have a set of chains here which you would be welcome to have, but it's not really worth taking them with you as most hire companies will supply chains if you let them know in advance you are going up into the mountains, at an extra cost of course. Good advice above about checking them first to make sure they are the right ones.

In France they have laybys where you can stop to put them on at the start of the serious stuff ( ie on the french/swiss pass) and this is where you find the gendarmes waiting to make you put them on if conditions are bad. It's actually a motoring offence in France to drive above 2000m without snow chains in your car in winter even if there is no snow!

Having said all that about France, the drive to Verbier is easy enough, but the train system in Switzerland is excellent. You can usually check your baggage skis etc in for the rail journey and even get it delivered to your chalet. Once you're in Verbier you probably won't use the car all week so it's up to you really. The convenience of having the car versus your concerns over driving there.

John

[Edited by Fat Boy - 1/9/2003 11:25:13 AM]

Stephen Read

Gregh is correct. Everyone I know in Geneva takes the autoroute via Lausanne on the north side of Lake Geneva and then on past Montreux, Vevey before finding the signs to Verbier at the Martigny (pronounced Martini) turn off. It's 100 miles and the final drive up from Le Chable to Verbier village is a blast with about 20 excellent wide hairpins :-) Colin McRae used to hang out there quite a lot and once part owned a gym...

The easyCar A-class Mercs come with winter tyres, chains and ski racks. All hire cars will come with winter tyres btw.

You don't have to drive though as there are trains that leave from Geneva airport and you can change at Martigny and make it as far as Le Chable on a smaller train and then take a bus, or the bubble lift! up to Verbs. check out www.cff.ch

Snow conditions are great at the moment!

If you are quick you will just catch the sunset over Lac Des Vaux here===>

http://www.televerbier.ch/livepic/lac_full.jpg

[Edited by Stephen Read - 1/9/2003 3:45:21 PM]