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Chalet le Col Blog

Getting to La Plagne

By Air

La Plagne is located in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alps. The largest local airport is Geneva in Switzerland, which is about 200km / 125miles / 2 hours away by car.

Other airports that serve La Plagne are Lyon airport (195km / 2 hours), Grenoble airport (190km / 1 hour 45 mins) or Chambery (100km / 60 mins)

Geneva Airport to La Plagne

Geneva Airport is by far the most popular airport for British ski travellers arriving in the French Alps. Whilst it isn’t the nearest airport to La Plagne, there are a couple of reasons why it is the most popular option:

  • Regular flights options from a variety of UK airports
  • Cheap flight operators like EasyJet offer daily flights
  • Many private ski transfer companies operate between Geneva and La Plagne – plus other French ski resorts
  • Car rental options are typically cheaer than other airports
Car Hire

The easiest option is the rent a car. There are two car rental areas at Geneva airport, one on the French side and one on the Swiss side. Typically French rentals will be cheaper and more basic but a Swiss rental is recommended as it comes with the vignette for driving on Swiss motorways, winter tyres as standard and many other benefits. Prices vary depending on size of car, time of booking and how far in advance you book. I recommend rentalcars.com who search all of the providers to offer the best options.

The drive is pleasant and pretty easy, as it’s motorway most of the way and the roads are generally pretty quiet. You’ll need a credit or debit card handy as you pass through a couple of toll booths along the way, with the total cost being approx €30 each way.

Once in resort there is ample free public parking outside the apartment.

Directions

  • Leave the airport car rental car park (Swiss side) onto the main road (Rte de Pre-Bois) and turn left under the bridge onto Rte de Vernier. After about 200 yards, take a right turn onto the E62.
  • Then follow the A41 > A43/E70 > A430 >N90 through Annecy, Chambery, Albertville and Moutiers to Aime-la-Plagne.
  • Once in Aime (N90), follow the signs to Montalbert, taking the D990 > D220 > D88, the latter being the mountain road to the village.

Transfers

Private minibus transfers cost approximately €800 for a return transfer for 8 people in off-peak weeks.

Here are the top 5 La Plagne transfer companies as recommended by That’s La Plagne.

  1. Spitting Feathers – run by the lovely Tim and Anna from the Spitting Feathers English pub in Bellecôte. They have limited buses available, and they are very popular.
  2. JB Taxis – Run by Jean Benoit a true La Plagne local, born and bred. He runs a fantastic service and is often my go-to for taxis from La Plagne to the valley, as well as airport transfers.
  3. WhiteRides – Dan and the WR crew are super reliable and knowledgeable about the area so can get you up to speed on the resort and snow conditions.
  4. Mountain Rescue – Simon and the team run a smooth and reliable service, door to door.
  5. Cool Bus – run by Rob, a leader in championing electric and eco-friendly transfers. Rob and the team have just purchased more Electric Minibuses for their transfer fleet. Plus they are committed to being carbon neutral by 2025. Pretty incredible for a transfer company! Ask for an electric car or minibus.

If you’d like a cheaper coach option, have a look at Bens Bus, which offers La Plagne transfers. The cost is from £50 per person, each way but Bens Bus does have set departure times that you must book onto. So make sure your flight times fit with the coach times.

By Train

Yes, that’s right… you can take the train all the way. Start with a train to London followed by the Eurostar from St Pancras International (next to Kings Cross). On arrival in Paris Gare du Nord you’ll need to transfer to a second train from Gare du Lyon via the RER train on Ligne D (Sud) which takes about 25 minutes.

From Paris the ‘snow train’ to Bourg Saint Maurice will take 5 hours, and you should alight at Aime station. From here there are regular shuttle buses that will drop you off directly outside the apartment in Montalbert (note: don’t take the bus the La Plagne’s main villages as these don’t stop at Montalbert).

By Car

Most ski travelers from the UK don’t even consider driving to La Plagne – or other ski resorts. However, depending on where you are based in the UK, driving can be a good option – both financially but also in terms of how long it will take you to drive to the resort. It can also work out more environmentally friendly than other forms of ski resort travel.

Keeping to the Eurostar crossing and once on the French side of the tunnel you can expect the journey to La Plagne :

  • From Calais – La Plagne: 7-9 hours, direct dive via the auto-routes
  • Toll booths: 90€ / £78
  • Fuel: 1.5 tanks
  • EuroStar crossing £110 / 126€

    Get In Touch With Us Today

    Welcome to Chalet le Col, stunning mountain suites in the French Alps.

    [email protected] Les Choucas Residence, La Plagne Montalbert, 73210
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