Europe 2025/26

[Sbooker]

I've used trains when I took my kids and a friend each to Europe for skiing a few years ago. Six of us plus baggage so a car wasn't really suitable. It was fine. A pleasure even.
Paris to Bourg Saint Maurice needed a couple of changes. Bus up the hill to Tignes. Bus down the hill a week later and funicular up to Les Arcs. Train to Annecy. Bus to Cham. Bus to Milan to fly home. Easy.

 

[MarzNC]

Bus up the hill to Tignes. Bus down the hill a week later and funicular up to Les Arcs. Train to Annecy. Bus to Cham. Bus to Milan to fly home. Easy.

Did the gear and suitcases go under the bus? It's been a long time since I've taken a long distance bus in the USA.

 

[skiandgolfnut]

What are you giving up - a run or two on transfer days?

You would be shocked how much I fret over these one or two runs...Its a sickness of some kind.

 

[Tony Crocker]

What are you giving up - a run or two on transfer days?

You would be shocked how much I fret over these one or two runs...Its a sickness of some kind.

That's one of the downsides to not having the car rental; it can be much more than one or two runs. We usually fly out of Zurich or Geneva around 7AM, so no issues with having a full ski day on the last day if conditions warrant. I know Patrick has had to cut ski days short in South America to catch his bus. Maybe this is less of an issue in Europe, particularly with Swiss trains. But I suspect it's still a hassle to visit James-type areas using public transit.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Paris to Bourg Saint Maurice needed a couple of changes.

Isn't the big attraction during ski season that you can travel without changes between those two points on a TGV or was the fare differential with a non-TGV a dealbreaker?

 

[Patrick]

I know Patrick has had to cut ski days short in South America to catch his bus. Maybe this is less of an issue in Europe, particularly with Swiss trains.

I recall only leaving early to catch the bus from Esquel to Bariloche. I only didn’t miss the next as I was skied the next day.
If this was 2010: I was in the middle of 7 consecutives days (La Hoya 4, Catedral 2, Bayo 1)
In 2008, it was 5 days (La Hoya 2, Catedral 2, Bayo 1).

Swiss trains in Dec 2024: ended up leaving by train at 3pm due to connections and the desire to be pick up at the train station by my wife on her drive back from her visit to the hospital to see her mom.
Left in a rush after skiing la vallée Blanche on Mt Blanc to catch the train to be able family dinner near Lyon in March 2003. I can’t complain on that trip, while my wife was at her mom’s with our young kids/baby, I skied almost half the days: Jungfrau 4, Trois vallées 6 and Chamonix 3.

 

[Patrick]

Isn't the big attraction during ski season that you can travel without changes between those two points on a TGV or was the fare differential with a non-TGV a dealbreaker?

To Bourg St-Maurice (end of November SNCF schedule):
From Paris CDG airport : 2 connections.
From Paris Gare de Lyon : 1 connection
From Lyon Airport : 2 connections
From Lyon Part Dieu : 1 connection

I would say that flying into Lyon or Geneva might be much more convenient than Paris. I know, I landed in Brussels (now) and Amsterdam (last November) on my last 2 trips next to Lyon Airport.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I would say that flying into Lyon or Geneva might be much more convenient than Paris.

I'd love to use Lyon as a gateway; however, Montreal is the only airport in North America with nonstops there (Air Canada).

I've flown into secondary airports like Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Nice. Pleasant in theory but in addition to the PITA factor of changing planes and the increased likelihood of delayed baggage, there's also the possibility of the European partner airline charging the luggage fee on the return trip of an award flight unless you have gold FF status (as covered in the ski-air thread).

 

[ChrisC]

You would be shocked how much I fret over these one or two runs...Its a sickness of some kind.

I find that people waste so much time during the ski day that any additional travel time needs to be balanced against it.

My routine skiing with 6-10 guys in Europe:

• First on the mountain
• Espresso/Coffee break by 10:30 am
• Lunch - dessert can be added
• Apres-ski on the hill by 3-3:30 pm
• Inevitable occurrence of people skiing by each other or going to the wrong lift

It drives me somewhat insane! Smaller European mountains (Courmayeur, Andermatt, Engelberg, La Grave, etc.) are slightly better for this type of skiing since it's easier to regroup, etc. There is a core group who will ski, do another off-piste lap, refrain from day-drinks, and meet up with others later.

But I try to remember, it's a vacation - mellow out. Everyone has differing priorities. It's easier for me to ski with others at places I have been before since I have accomplished most ski goals.

 

[Tony Crocker]

It's easier for me to ski with others at places I have been before since I have accomplished most ski goals.

That's the way I see it. As mentioned in the Innsbruck thread, in surveying a new area I may not stop at all when it's a big place and I don't know if I'm getting a second ski day there on the trip. Many skiers would be horrified that during 4 ski days in the Dolomites, we stopped for a full lunch on one day in mellow Alpi di Suisi, a drink and snack in Val Gardena a second day and not at all on the other two. We made up for that at dinners though.

 

[ChrisC]

I've flown into secondary airports like Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Nice. Pleasant in theory but in addition to the PITA factor of changing planes and the increased likelihood of delayed baggage, there's also the possibility of the European partner airline charging the luggage fee on the return trip of an award flight unless you have gold FF status (as covered in the ski-air thread).

Generally, an Award Ticket puts you into the class with one free bag. I don't think I've had an issue with partner airlines like Lufthansa, Swiss, or British Airways trying to charge. I use United and American interchangeably based on price/schedule, so I don't consistently achieve status. However, now all airlines sell Business Class rather than offering upgrades, so status is worth about zero.

 

[Sbooker]

Did the gear and suitcases go under the bus? It's been a long time since I've taken a long distance bus in the USA.

Yes. Gear goes on the lower level of the bus.

 

[Sbooker]

Isn't the big attraction during ski season that you can travel without changes between those two points on a TGV or was the fare differential with a non-TGV a dealbreaker?

I believe a non stop train ride is possible. In fact I think I got one the first time I went to the Tarantaise. I wouldn't choose for stops to save a few bucks so it must have been the timing was not optimal.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I believe a non stop train ride is possible. In fact I think I got one the first time I went to the Tarantaise.

On the back end of that Japan trip, after two local trains, it was just one Shinkansen from Aomori (top of Honshu) to Tokyo. Now that Shinkansen goes into Hokkaido to Hakodate, cutting out one of the local trains I used in 2011. However, upon arriving in Tokyo I had to get that luggage onto a local Tokyo subway during evening rush hour to get to my hotel.

 

[Tony Crocker]

status is worth about zero.

My Delta status is worth two free checked bags, important for skiing the Alps when we are there for average 3 weeks.

 

[Patrick]

I'd love to use Lyon as a gateway; however, Montreal is the only airport in North America with nonstops there (Air Canada).

I didn’t take that into account, flying from Ottawa and are few direct oversea flights. London, Paris : yes. Lyon: no. We took the bus shuttle to Montreal to avoid leaving from Ottawa and getting the 5h layover in Montreal. It also doesn’t help when you book only 6 days prior. At that last minute, cheapest on the European continent were Paris, Amsterdam which we have visited multiple times and Brussels. We choose Brussels where we had never been.

 

[ChrisC]

Snow is coming to the Alps soon, but more importantly, it's going to snow in the valleys. And even the Dolomites with an Adriatic low!

My last couple of trips to the Alps have not treated ski resorts that sit below 1500-2000m well. Lots of green snowless valleys in March 2000, Jan/Feb 2024, Jan/Feb 2025, and April 2025 (expected).

 

[ChrisC]

Looks like Engelberg will have a decent ski base by December 1st for the winter. They got nuked with a 1 meter / 3.5 feet of snow!

Moisture hits super cold air and the first major mountains of the Alps --> Powder Day.

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View this content on Instagram

 

[ChrisC]

Some promising forecasts for the Alps.


WePowder

OpenSnow

 

[Sbooker]

My daughter has just finished her university course and is floating about just doing her part time hospitality work until next year.
I’ve just offered to send her to Val D’Isere for an all inclusive week with UCPA starting 29/11.

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Let’s see if she can break herself away from the boyfriend. She would be crazy not to do it given full time proper adult work for decades is just around the corner.