 | Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Getting There Reviews | 1 - 10 of 15 |  |
 Station of Chamonix by Martinewezel
Not only to get there, but also to get around.
Each time we spent a week there, we parked our car in the garage and used it only once to make a day trip. (could have booked a bus journey at the Tourism Office though)
There is enough to see and to do in and around town. There are countless gondolas and lots of hiking trails.
The main train station is in the centre, close to the hotels.
This town is a dream! Leave a Comment Theme: Train
|
 A train departs for
Switzerland by travelfrosch
The entire line is scenic, but the most beautiful part is from the Swiss border to Martigny. In fact, it's even more scenic than some of the headline Swiss "scenic trains."
The train line is also very convenient getting from one part of the Chamonix area to the other. In addition to the Chamonix-Mont Blanc main station, all trains stop at Les Bossons and Les Praz, as well as many smaller stations on request. Trains in both directions run roughly every hour.
|
 | |  |
 A la gare d'Argentieres by mariev
To reach the town, you have to take a small, old fashioned, orange, and consisting in ONE (in low season) to three cars (in high season) train joining Saint-Gervais - Le Fayet to Martigny (Switzerland).
It's really a 'slow coach' stopping in every little station (even stopping on demand to pick exhausted mountaineers) but the scenery is so magnificent than it's quite impossible to complain about it. Leave a Comment
|
 train at chamonix station. by cachaseiro
i flew in to geneva airport in switzerland and then connected with train to chamonix via martigny in switzerland.
the train ride coming in to the chamonix valley is very scenic and a very good way to enter this nice little outdoor heaven. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
|
 by Manara
From Geneva (distance Km 88) you must take a train of the Geneva-Brig line, up to Martigny. There you must change train, which is very easy because you just need to cross the platform to get on the small, narrow gauge train (the Mont Blanc Express) to Chamonix. This last leg of the journey is very slow, taking 90 minutes, but it is also very scenic, and the train has panoramic windows, so relax and enjoy the view!
From Lyon (distance Km 220) the route is via Aix-les-Bains and Annecy, up to St. Gervais, where you must change to the little train of the Mont Blanc Express. This last leg of the journey takes 40 minutes.
From Torino the route is via Modane, Chambery and Aix-les-Bains. From that station on it is the same as described above. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 The Dru and the Montenvers
Hotel Nov 2002 by firechick
You can pay a lot to take a taxi or airport transfer van to Chamonix - or if time tables match, you can catch a bus from the airport.
But be aware - the bus only runs 3 times a day and frankly it used to be much cheaper ! Now it is only cheapest if you can get the round trip fare, rather than one way trips. In 2009 the fare is €33 one way or €55 round trip.
Sometimes Chamonix Express van transfer is cheaper (http://www.chamonixexpress.com ) so check them out as well. Most other airport transfer services charge €40 per trip each way. In any case, never take a private taxi unless you are rich - they are often over €100-€200. Note that many van transfer services will not operate in 'off season' or will charge incredibly high prices in 'off season' (ie not July or August in summer, and not ski season in winter).
To find the bus time tables, on the Geneva airport website (http://www.gva.ch), in English choose Arrivals -> Public Transportation -> Ski Resorts. The link is listed below. The Altibus SAT website also lists the timetables and fares. http://www.altibus.com . It stops at either the main SNCF train station (Chamonix Gare) or closer to the Aiguille du Midi lift station in Chamonix Sud.
The other option is to take the scenic train from the Geneva airport via Martigny, cross the border at Châtelard and take the Mont Blanc Express. This takes more than 3 times as long as a bus or van transfer, but is 10 times more scenic if the weather is nice :-) The trains run around once per hour in high season. http://www.sbb.ch Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 by sandysmith
Indeed the Mt Blanc Express from Martigny-Chamonix takes about 2 hours ...a slow narrow gauge train journey but wow the scenery across the MT Blanc range is stunning...and dare I say, the most scenic train journey I've encoutered so far!
In the winter we should have flown in to Geneva but it was fog bound (often happens) so we were diverted to Grenoble airport were we had a long wait for the coaches to bus us in. Theme: Other
|
 by Manara
The tunnel underwent major renovation a few years ago, after a terrible tragedy. A lorry, carrying inflamable goods (margarine) caught fire while in the tunnel, and the fire quickly involved all the other vehicles in the tunnel, killing many people.
After that, much has been done to improve safety, including the creation of many emergency exits and a continuous monitoring of possible problems.
For the sake of safety there are strict rules: vehicles must cross the tunnel at a steady speed, not faster than 70 km per hour but not slower than 50, moreover vehicles must keep a distance of at least 150 metres between each other. Estimating the distance is made easy by a system of coloured lights. On the sides of the tunnel there are blue lights at intervals of 150 metres, so if you can see two blue lights between you and the vehicle before you it means you are far enough.
The total length of the tunnel is 11.6 Km, so crossing it takes on average 12 minutes. How long it may take to queue is another matter. When I crossed there was virtually no queue on the way from Italy to France, but in the other direction it was much busier, and we had to wait for about one hour when we crossed back to Italy.
The toll is EUR 32.30 for a car, EUR 21.40 for a motorbike, EUR 42.70 for vans, campers, cars with caravans. The toll can be paid with credit card (VISA, EuroCard, American Express). Leave a Comment
|
| | |
I recommend using Alpy Bus (several other Chamonix transportation tips have their complete contact details). A group of 5 for transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix (drop-off about 100 meters from our door) cost EUR 26,50. Less if you have more people. The trip took just over 1 hr. and was no problem. You need to reserve seats, so call in advance. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
|
 a view from the train.. half
way there by call_me_rhiaLeave a Comment
|
 | 1 | 2 |  |
More Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Tips |
- Residence Maeva L'Aiguille
171 Place Edmond Desailloud, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Pierre & Vacances Residence Les Aiglons
166, Avenue de Courmayeur, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Hotel Prieure
149 allee du Recteur Payot, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Aiglons Hotel
270, avenue de Courmayeur, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - PV-Holidays Residences MGM La Ginabelle
29 passage du Grepon Place du Poilu, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Pointe Isabelle
165, avenue Michel Croz,, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Alpina
79 Avenue du Mont-Blanc, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Residence Maeva La Riviere
187 Promenade Marie Paradis (formerly Résidence Orion), Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Le Cantou
9 chemin Pierre Belle, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Mercure Chamonix Centre Hotel
39 Rue des Allobroges, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Pierre & Vacances Residence Le Chamois Blanc
247, avenue de Courmayeur, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Croix Blanche
81 rue Vallot BP 135, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - La Savoyarde
28 Route des Mossoux, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Mont Blanc
62 allee Majestic, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Hameau Albert Premier Hotel
Pierre Et Martine Carrier, 38 Route Du Bouchet, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
|
