Renting a car at Geneva International Airport or Taxi Transfer to Megeve, heart of the French Alps?
You decide!
It is important to note that when coming to ski in the Alps, all ski areas are close by. The possibility of having a means of transportation will allow you a large amount of flexibility in more ways than one. The ability to get to your destination area and back to the airport will be secondary.
I’m talking here of the possibility of going on day trips. We at www.SkiProsMegeve.com often do day trips and ski area tours in the French, Italian and Swiss Alps based from Megeve.
From Megeve you can easily find four ski areas in less than a 25 minute drive, (subject to weather and road conditions)! If you’re willing to push your daily drive to one hour you can ski in Italy and get to French ski areas that will give you access to Swiss Alps areas!
A nice little restaurant, at the end of the day, in each ski area you visit is not to be resisted and allows you to taste the local fare which can change due to the specificities of each region and valley!
Note: When renting your car insist that you take possession on the Swiss side "sector" of the Geneva Airport and NOT the French side! This is most important as the car that you hire will be equipped with: snow chains, a ski rack, and a Swiss motorway pass. This will save you a bunch of money in drop-off charges and tolls, ease of transporting skis and driving distance as the French side is much farther to get into and out of than the Swiss side.
Should you rent on the French side, all of the above is an extra!
Also, try and gas up when possible in Switzerland as it less expensive.
If you are flying in to ski the French Alps and Megeve you have the following possibilities. Chambery Airport, Geneva Airport and Grenoble Airport are all approximately one hour’s drive away. This makes Megeve a highly accessible ski destination, area even for a long weekend, from any airport in the UK. Leave the UK at 08:00 and you’re on the pistes by 12:00! Be aware that the above can vary depending upon traffic and weather conditions.
Driving: From Geneva you will go to the A40 motorway direction Mont Blanc/Chamonix and turn off at Sallanches and then follow the signs to Megeve.
Driving: In the event of bad weather:
If you drive from Grenoble and Chambery, direction A 41- E712, to Annecy/Geneva/La Roche sur Foron and get on the A40 direction Mont Blanc/Chamonix and turn off at Sallanches and about 17 kilometers direction Albertville, to Megeve.
Good weather alternative:
If you drive from Grenoble: A 41- E712 to the A 430 direction Albertville. Take the N212 at Albertville up the beautiful "Gorges de Arly" to Megeve. Please note however that this route can be closed due to rock and mud slides and traffic can be a problem!
© Mike Beaudet