Travel, Links & Holiday Hints.
AIR
If flying hopefully the links below will help you to find a flight – the earlier you book the cheaper the flight tends to be. We meet you from your flight at Geneva Airport for a one hour transfer to La Clusaz. Saturday transfers are included in the price of your holiday – We ask you to book flights arriving and departing between the hours of 9am and 6pm. If you are travelling outside of these hours or on a different day please email for a ‘transfer supplement quote’.
ROAD
If driving it is around 8 hours from Calais (540 miles) or St Malo (660 miles) with motorway practically all the way. Motorway tolls are approx. 75 EUROS each way.
Snow chains are obligatory in the resort. The roads are cleared of snow early every day and no one has yet been ‘snowed in’!
Directions In Brief
From Calais – follow signs to Reims (A26) then Lyon (A26/A5) then Geneva (A39) then Chamonix (A40) then Les Aravis, La Clusaz. From St.Malo – N137 to Rennes then N136 (cuirclar) then N157 (E50) to Laval, E50 (A81) to Le Mans, E50 (A11) to Paris, N104 dir Evry, A6 dir Lyon (South), at Macon A4, E21, E62 to Geneva then A40 Chamonix, Mont Blanc - At Bonneville D12 dir La Clusaz. From Lyon – Off A41 at Annecy Nord, Thones, La Clusaz. From Geneva – A40 motorway to Bonneville, Les Aravis, La Clusaz.
For detailed directions from your home simply click on the “To Here” link below, enter your postcode and click “go”.
TRAIN
The nearest train station is Annecy – 40 minutes away. Tickets can be booked (in English) on the internet via SNCF.com
Some more useful links
Sea France ~ P&O Ferries ~ Euro Star ~ Euro Tunnel ~ Easy Jet ~ British Airways ~ Buzz Away ~ Fogg Insurance ~ La Clusaz ~ Full links page
BEFORE DEPARTING
If you are flying please let us know your flight numbers, arrival and departure times at least four weeks prior to departure or as soon as you have booked your flights. Also please bear in mind when booking your flights that rooms must be vacated by 10am and after this time the chalet then undergoes a major changeover so access to bathrooms etc. is not possible.
SKI PASSES
If you would like to have your ski passes waiting for you on arrival please complete the ski pass booking form and send it to: Chalet Le Panoramic, Route des Aravis, 74220 La Clusaz, France. We need all the information below at least one week before you arrive or ideally as soon as you book (your credit card is not debited until the day you arrive).
- Passport photo with full name and date of birth on the reverse.
- Whether you require a La Clusaz or Aravis ski pass The Aravis pass gives you access to the neighbouring resort of Le Grand Bornand - 10 minutes drive, where there are another 39 lifts. This costs 11 euros more than the La Clusaz pass. There is a regular free bus to this resort.
- Credit card number, expiry date, last three digits on the back of the card and the name on the card.
- Photocopy of passport if the child is under 5 (as they can have a free pass but still need a photo) or if an adult is over 60 as they can have a reduced price on their pass.
- Beginners also get a special price (La Clusaz pass only) if you have booked lessons every day with the Sno Academie for 2 hours each day - 100 euros for adults and 78 euros for children.
THINGS TO BRING WITH YOU
Please make sure to bring a passport photo (one per person) with you for your lift pass (if not pre-ordered).
Swimming costumes & towels – There are both indoor and outdoor pools in La Clusaz and a hot tub at the chalet so we recommend you bring along an extra towel if you will be partaking in water-sports! (robes are provided for the adults) N.B Towels and hairdryers are also provided in the bedrooms.
Duty Free – we have a duty free shelf behind the bar and it is customary for each guest to bring a bottle of their favourite spirit – this is then added to the bar shelf and all the guests then share the shelf! - all other drinks are included in the price of your holiday.
ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT
Please make sure that you exit arrivals via the Swiss (Geneva) exit and not the French exit. A member of the Snowlife team will be there to meet you holding up a card with your name on it. If there is no one there to meet you please wait at the bar, 30 yards on the right as it will hopefully be a matter of a few minutes wait, probably due to traffic.
LOST BAGGAGE – if you are unfortunate enough to lose your baggage please go through customs and inform our driver – you may re-enter the baggage reclaim area afterwards.
The transfer time to the chalet is approximately one hour and all going well a stop will be made at the ski shop on the way to the chalet.
‘CHALET LIFE’
- Breakfast 8.00am till 9.00am
- Afternoon Tea 4.45 pm till 5.30 pm
- Children’s Tea - around 6pm
- Canapés from 7.30pm with dinner at 8pm….
PAYMENT PROCEDURE IN THE RESORT
Ski lessons, ski hire and lift passes can all be paid for with cash or credit cards.
Child care in the chalet can only be paid for in cash.
SKI LESSONS
If you have not yet let us know your requirements (on our ski lesson form) please do so A.S.A.P as we work with a private ski school, the Sno Academie who get booked up very quickly. On receipt of the form we will do our very best to reserve your lessons, meeting places and requested times etc. and all will be confirmed on the evening you arrive.
CHILDREN
We have a video and DVD in the chalet with plenty of children’s videos There is a toy box in the chalet but please feel free to bring your children’s favourite few toys and if they are being looked after in the chalet by our nanny please bring a few extra!
CAR DRIVERS
Rooms will be available from 2pm. If you would like to arrive before this you are welcome to unload your luggage and wander off to purchase ski passes etc. If we know you are arriving early we will do our best to service your rooms first. Access to the chalet door is possible for unloading but must otherwise be kept clear at all times and safe parking is at the bottom of the driveway below the chalet.
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