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Travel to Chamonix France

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SMOOTHOPR8TR
Posts: 377 - Karma: 31

i have a january flight booked to geneva switzerland and will be travelling the 40 or so miles to Chamonix...im trying to determine if i should rent a car or ride the rails?

i have yet to secure any kind of accomodation in Chamonix yet for me and my buddy...any suggestions or pointers on making this trip into the ultimate adventure would be much appreciated.

i am potentially looking for an outfitter in Chamonix as well being it may be easier and cheaper to rent skis and poles in Chamonix as opposed to trying to get my equipment there from the states.

cheers in advance for the pointers or insight.

Jun 10 2010 3:40PM
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s_a_m
Posts: 916 - Karma: 58
ive never been to chamonix but i am living in switzerland at the moment and can tell you a little about the trains.  all the train schedules can be found here.... http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?  there is a train station near the airport and it should be around 3.00-3.30 hours to chamonix.  the trains in switzerland are reallly nice and easy to use.  hope that helped a little
Jun 10 2010 4:01PM
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SMOOTHOPR8TR
Posts: 377 - Karma: 31
ya much love...that definatley helps put some of the peices of the puzzle together. thanks!
Jun 10 2010 4:26PM
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Billiards.
Posts: 6853 - Karma: 816
Well funny thing, I am going to Chamonix next January as well. Itll be my second time. The first time I actually took a bus from Geneva to Cham and it was super easy. A friend who came to visit also did the same and you can find buses that take the trip quite frequently. I think we wen through these guys: http://www.alpybus.com/home

Also I would just bring your own ski equipment. I didn't rent in Chamonix and Im sure you could, but I would will be bringing my own gear when I go back next January. Are you guys gonna stay in hostels?
Jun 10 2010 4:27PM
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SMOOTHOPR8TR
Posts: 377 - Karma: 31

oh really? nice...where are you travelling from?

bus might do the ticket as well...i guess ill see what the cost is vs the train and decide based on comfort and budget.

i would def bring my own boots but the skis and poles ive found can be easier to get a nice set up at the mountain than pay for the extra baggage and lug them around. idk, i guess ill decide that based on my travel plans.

i have decided on accomodation yet...i doubt id be into the hostel thing but its possible. im not on a super tight budget so id rather have my own room and a nice breakfast included but im open to suggestions or opinions or any other insight.

how did you like the skiing in Chamonix? how about the partying? anything else of note that must be done while in the valley?

Jun 10 2010 4:42PM
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chad1080
Posts: 48 - Karma: 10
Chamonix is totally insane!  your mind will be blown by the sheer size of that place.  I would defintely take a bus from Geneva, its super easy, comfy, and pretty cheap.  I found the nightlife to be everything you would expect from a european mountain town full of Aussies and Swedes, super rowdy, late nights, lots of black out fun.  The drink prices can vary, I found a bar that had $2 shots every night until 11pm (including car bombs!).  Other places drinks were like $10 a pop.  You can buy wine suer cheap at the grocery store in town as well.  Dude, have fun, it is so epic there!
Jun 10 2010 4:58PM
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rostog
Posts: 202 - Karma: 16
Gonna be there for the season- see you out there!
Jun 10 2010 5:22PM
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Sofford
Posts: 114 - Karma: 120
cham is the bomb! you'll love it check out monkey on a wednesday night!!
Jun 10 2010 5:33PM
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larsson_87
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
Booking a transfer between Geneva and cham wont be a problem, a dozen transfer companies do that route.

Check out http://www.chamonix.net/english/transport/index.htm , got most of them listed there, costs about the same as the bus ~25 euro.
Unless it cost you a shit load extra to bring your own gear,will be cheaper to buy in the us than in cham, and renting ain't cheap either.

And don't forget to buy a season pass before November, will save you a few hundred euro.
Jun 10 2010 7:40PM
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Billiards.
Posts: 6853 - Karma: 816
Im traveling from Utah, might be coming from the east coast at the time though. I don't have too tight a budget, but the more I can save the better I figure, so Ill probably do the hostel thing.

As far as the skiing goes, its so fucking epic. Thats the best way to describe it. I am completely and totally in love with Chamonix, mostly the surrounding peaks. I dunno much about partying because I wasn't big on that when i went the first time. I dunno if theres much else to note.. other than its just basically the best place in the world that I have seen so far.
Jun 10 2010 8:56PM
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Simmo
Posts: 512 - Karma: 28
These guys are great http://www.chamexpress.com

You can hire decent kit all over cham, most of the shops have everything including touring skis, harnesses, climbing gear, crampons, transceivers.

Its not cheap though and neither is a guide for the day, which you will most likely need if you want to REALLY see chamonix at its best.
Jun 11 2010 3:28AM
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s_a_m
Posts: 916 - Karma: 58
i would call the airline and see what their rules are on ski bags.  when i flew into zurich last year they let me bring a 50 pound bag, a ski bag, and a boot bag for no extra cost.  if its like that for your flight i would definelty bring your own gear because of convienence and reliability.  i find the train in switzerland more comfrotable then the buses but they arent bad either
Jun 11 2010 11:23AM
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SMOOTHOPR8TR
Posts: 377 - Karma: 31

cheers everyone...thanks for all the great advice! i think im gettin more stoked by the post to finally check this frickin place off my map.

it sounds like im in for one hellava good time.

much love:)

Jun 11 2010 2:18PM
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Morginsfreeski
Posts: 129 - Karma: 10
Hey man, im from England but travel over to Switzerland 5 or 6 times a year to ski... I would say your best bet is to get a bus or train. The trains are always on time and pretty nice inside, Renting a car will cost you loads in comparison to a bus or train so you can save ur money for better things when you are on the mountain!!
Jun 13 2010 7:03PM
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Hubsta
Posts: 1279 - Karma: 156
The Swiss / French Bus systems are pretty good, so I'd say you'll easily get a bus up there and for a reasonable price. If your unsure have a browse on Cham's website if nothing, see if you can drop them an email. They'll point you in the right direction.
Jun 13 2010 8:18PM
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