Travelling to Morzine

How to Get to Morzine

If you're not taking a package holiday, where travel to your resort is already catered for, then you might want to consider how you're going to get from the UK to the Alps. Morzine is not so far way from the UK, and can be reached by car, train or aeroplane. With the advent of DIY travel and travel websites, it's easy to check public transport timetables in France, and there are plenty of companies offering transfer services from the airport to Morzine. Our guide gives you an idea of the options available, plus some tips on how to get your sporting equipment safely to Morzine.

Planes, Trains or Automobiles : Which is the easiest way to Morzine?

This really depends on personal choice, budget, phobias, hobbies (spotters!), and days of travel.

If you are travelling on Saturdays the Eurostar, whilst potentially being more expensive than charter or low-cost flying, gets you to within a tiny distance of the 3 Valleys and Tarentaise resorts with the minimum of fuss in around 7hrs.

Outside the weekends and without direct train links things are trickier and require the jury this end to investigate further before give you a definitive decision....

Flying, whilst seemingly less time moving between countries, involves much longer check-ins and greater potential for delays. This all counts towards stress, tiredness and length of time to get to your destination.

With flying you are much more likely to get a 'bargain' price, and if you want to arrive/depart on days other than the weekend is probably less hassle than negotiating the train.

Driving out from the UK by car is relatively inexpensive if you can share the journey with several friends. Bear in mind that the normal nine hour journey across France may take much longer if you chose to travel on a busy Saturday or encounter heavy snowfalls.

last updated 4-Jun-2008

Travelling between the Airport & Morzine

Geneva airport in Switzerland is the best and closest airport to use for Morzine at just over an hour away by motorway. Alternatives include Turin, Lyon (Satolas) and Chambery, each being 1˝, 2˝ and 1Ľ hours away respectively. It is also possible to fly into St. Etienne and Grenoble airports although these are not such good options for Morzine as they are a little too far away and transfer options are more limited and likely to be expensive.

To travel from these airports to resort you have the choice of scheduled bus, shared shuttle, hire car, taxi, tour operators, private helicopter transfer or train. However, it is always worth checking with your accommodation provider in Morzine first, to see if they make arrangements for you anyway or if they can as an 'optional extra'.

Buses:
From Geneva, you can book coach seats on-line with Altibus, a reliable coach operator that offers routes across the alps. In this area, SAT buses are the principal operator for the route. A timetable for buses departing Geneva Airport for all ski resorts, can be found here: Geneva Ski Resort Bus Timetable

From Lyon St. Exupéry Satobus no longer operates a route to Morzine and from Chambéry there is no regular route - as checked Feb 2007. If you fly into either one of these airports you will need to make alternative transfer arrangements.

Shared Shuttle:
There are a number of companies operating in and around Morzine that offer door-to-door minibus transfers from most airports in the region. With all of them you have the option of booking either a private transfer or a more economical "shared" one, where up to 8 people arriving around the same time travel to resort together. From Geneva, the cost one way is approximately €40 for a shared transfer. Booking in advance is definitely recommended as you cannot guarantee to just pick up a transfer at the airport. For a full list of all the airport transfer companies in Morzine, see our listings page.

Car hire:
Car hire can be arranged from each of the above airports and if there are several people travelling, it is not always an expensive option. It is however, worth checking in advance to see what parking facilities are available at your accommodation as it can be tricky to find a space in town at certain times of the season. Pre-booking of car hire is highly recommended if not obligatory. Try Holiday Autos for some of the best searches and rental prices, or for more information on driving in Morzine and getting here by road, take a look at our driving FAQ

Taxi:
For up to 4 people a taxi will cost approximately €150 from Geneva (or 300CHF if you get a taxi at the door). For more than 4 people the cost will obviously be higher for a larger vehicle but probably cheaper per person. Take a look at our Taxi listings and also enquire about "private" transfer prices from the airport shuttle companies .

Tour Operators:
Here there are two possibilities:
1. You can book a "Flight & Transfer Only" with a tour operator which they sell through their agents/web-sites/call-centres - therefore it is paid for in advance and you will appear on the transfer manifests. Or;
2. You can make your own flight arrangements and upon arrival at the airport catch up with a rep from one of the companies and book onto their coaches.

In both cases, as the reps are unlikely to know where you are staying (as you made your own accommodation arrangements), make sure you establish the return journey procedures; give them your flight details, get the resort office's contact number and call a couple of days ahead for transfer details/confirmation.

Option 2 is not guaranteed but is usually fine. Expect to pay €50 one-way for Geneva-Morzine and you will have to pay the two journeys seperately (as the return cannot be guaranteed till the end of the week).

See Tour Operators listings for contact details

Helicopter:
If you're feeling fancy or it's a special occasion then you can also get to resort by helicopter! Companies such as CMBH and Swift Copters can arrange helicopter transfers for up to 5 people (without much luggage). Take into consideration that in bad weather conditions the helicopter cannot fly and alternative transfer arrangements will be made. It must also arrive during daylight hours.

Train:
Although it is possible to come from/go to all the above airports by train, the journey usually involves at least one change and is a bit more bother than it's worth. Making your way by any of the above methods is preferable, but if trains are your thing, then times and prices can be found here. The nearest mainline station is St Gervais les Bains/Le Fayet and from there you would need to take the valley train up to resort.

last updated 21-Jan-2008

Getting your Sporting Equipment to Morzine

There are numerous options for getting your sports equipment to resort, be it flying, train or coach. Most travel companies have their own individual policy terms and conditions depending on the type of sporting equipment you are transporting. Here's a snap shot of the different transport options and a guide to their restrictions:

A review of airlines terms and conditions in relation to sports equipment baggage indicates that it is highly likely that you will be subjected to a standard charge for taking your sporting equipment on board. Leisure 'Equipment' that will require additional handling can include bikes, golf clubs, parachutes, mountaineering equipment or skis/snowboards. If you like your skis, it is imperative that you pack them in a ski or board bag for protection! Most airlines will still take your skis if they are not in a ski bag; just don’t be surprised at the condition they arrive in at the other end of your flight. A ski or snowboard bag can also be packed with soft items (ski trousers, jumpers etc) around your skis or board to give them added protection. Just be careful if the equipment is covered in storage wax.

If you choose to take a mountain biking holiday most holiday firms will collect you from the airport where the hours drive from the airport is included within your holiday price. However, should you choose to book your transfer independently most airport transfer companies will still permit you to take your mountain bike in the vehicle provided you give advance warning at the time of booking.

If you prefer the use of your own car you can drive down the autoroutes to Morzine. Check out Viamichelin for exact route information. The most convenient way to travel with skis is a roof "coffin" style box that will carry several pairs of skis/boards, boots and poles. A roof rack is also a handy alternative and can be rented from many ski shops. If using a roof rack, try to cover the bindings over to prevent them getting covered in grit and salt. Roof boxes and roof racks should be lockable and therefore fairly secure from thiefs.

If you choose to take a train all the way to your ski resort it may involve a couple of changes and cost slightly more than a cheap flight. Eurostar recommends using its registered luggage service for your bike if you’re travelling from London, Paris, Brussels or Lille and charges approximately Ł20 for carriage of your bike. If travelling by France's national rail system check here for further train and route timetables.

last updated 4-Jun-2008