EASY TRAVEL TO VAL D’ISÈRE

YSE holidays begin and end on Sundays, because however you’re travelling it is easier on a Sunday. The vast majority of visitors to ski resorts arrive and leave on Saturday, causing gridlock on roads and at airports, and although we can’t pretend that there is less likely to be heavy snow on a Sunday, there will be far less disruption with fewer aircraft in the air, shorter queues at airports and less traffic on the roads.

Also, the slopes are very empty on Saturdays whilst everyone else is on the road. You will be amazed how few people you see on the slopes on your final day!

We don’t provide flights with our holidays. However, the good news is that most of our guests can buy flights for less than the current cost of charter flights, and people from all over Britain are able to join us at Geneva Airport, not just those from the region served by Gatwick.

You can book flights with BA and easyJet, occasionally Swiss or Air France, and most fly to Geneva (details under Geneva Airport), where John Yates-Smith, resplendent in YSE yellow, will be waiting with directions to our coaches (details of our coach times can be found under YSE transfers).

Geneva is the obvious choice, and is a fairly civilised airport (on Sundays…). Lyon and Grenoble airports are about the same distance from Val d’Isère, but have far fewer flights from Britain. Chambéry is slightly closer, but has an appalling weather record. Even Turin is a possibility in the summer, though less so in winter.

Please note that the EU are planning to bring in their new Entry/Exit System (EES) from November 2024. This will change requirements for all UK passport holders visiting Schengen area which includes Switzerland and France. No exact date has been given and apparently there is no sign of anything happening at Geneva Airport yet. However we will all have to submit fingerprints and have our photos taken in special booths which will all take time. The digital record will be valid for 3 years. Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimate the EES checks will add 5 minutes to journey times. The Port of Dover will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets.

In 2025 the EU will introduce their new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and we will then need to apply for authorisation to enter the Schengen Area with a UK passport. We will need to give personal information and details about our trip and pay a fee of €7. We don’t yet know when in 2025 ETIAS will come in.

All this information can be found on this link. We will update this page if and when we have more information.

TAXI TRANSFERS

It is possible to land in Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble or even snowy Chambéry, and take a taxi to Val d’Isère. On the whole we think that taxis based in Val d’Isère are less expensive and more reliable than airport cabs. They have driven for years on snow, they know our chalets, and for the return trip there is not the risk of their arriving late. Many of our guests use SnowDrone (click here) whose prices start at €340 for four people in a minibus. They also run shared transfers every day at €80 per person. We also find the first nine taxi firms pretty good on Val d’Isère’s list (click here).

We certainly wouldn’t recommend hiring a car. Trying to fit chains on a strange car in the middle of a blizzard will convince you to take a taxi next time.

PUBLIC BUSES

There are buses from all of the local airports to Val d’Isère, though they take rather longer and cost much more than the YSE coaches from Geneva. They also only stop at La Daille and the central bus station.
For Altibus from Geneva, click here
For Ben’s Bus from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble, click here

DRIVING OUT

Driving out to Val d’Isère from the UK is perfectly possible but is slow, expensive and very challenging for the final miles (see Arriving by Car).

TRAIN

We’re as keen as anyone on using trains instead of planes, but it is unfortunately rather slow (10-12 hours) and expensive (at least £400!), and involves crossing Paris from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon (about €60), then taking a taxi from Bourg St Maurice (a further €100). For buses from Bourg to Val d’Isère click here.