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After North America and Japan getting all the fresh snow in the last couple of weeks, it now looks to be the Alps turn, with cold weather and snow heading in from Sunday. One stand out on the forecast currently is Alpe D’Huez and Les Deux Alpes suggesting upwards of 50cm of fresh snow on Sunday and Monday alone. Val Thorens over 40cm and Avoriaz over 30cm.
“The weather in the Alps will remain mostly fine for the rest of this week before it turns much more unsettled from the west on Sunday,” said the alpine weather expert, Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk “This much anticipated change in the weather is likely to bring significant snow to the north-western Alps (exactly where it is most needed) late on Sunday and on Monday.”
We’ll be watching carefully as the forecast evolves for later into next week and will keep the updates coming across our social media as to where is expecting the most snow.
What we know for definite is that demand for transfers throughout December and into January is still at the highest we have ever seen and we know they’ll be an increase in demand after the dump on Sunday! Click below to receive an instant quote for your ski transfers.
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Your time is valuable when you’re on holiday and there’s skiing to be done. No one wants to be wasting time on a transfer from the airport to the ski resort, especially when time isn’t on your side.
Here at Ski-Lifts, we ensure that your transfer is seamless, get an instant quote today and book a hassle-free transfer with Ski-Lifts, to one of these ski resorts with short transfer times.
Morzine, France
Morzine is one of the resorts across the Portes du Soleil ski area in France, which stretches up the France–Switzerland border. With 52 hotels and 41 bars and restaurants, there is no shortage of facilities. With that being said, Morzine still manages to pull off that genuine mountain village vibe. When it comes to the slopes, Morzine is a perfect ski resort for beginners and intermediate skiers, with plenty of gentle pistes.
Even if you’re not a dedicated skier, Morzine is one of those ski resorts where there is an abundance of other activities to fill up your holiday while everyone else is whizzing down the slopes. These adventurous activities include ice-diving in a lake, nature discovery tours, snowmobiling, tobogganing, snowshoeing and of course, shopping.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to Morzine (75 minutes, 76km)
Chamonix, France
Chamonix town in Chamonix Valley is bustling with life, thanks to the 9,000 permanent residents and plenty of tourists. While Chamonix could hardly be classed as a tranquil alpine retreat, the surrounding cliffs and tumbling glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif makes a stunning setting. The town’s old buildings have kept their authentic look and also now that Chamonix centre is traffic-free, it offers pleasant walkways, with cafés looking over the river Arve’s torrent and no shortage of quirky shops – galleries, bookshops and speciality food, along with classic souvenirs and the latest ski and snowboarding gadgets.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to Chamonix (65 minutes, 99km)
Verbier, Switzerland
Verbier is the main resort in the 4 Valleys, the largest Swiss ski area. Verbier’s success is due to a combination of a sunny, scenic location, brilliant terrain and a lively bar scene. Verbier has been a long-time favourite of the young and sporty clientele. The fact that Verbier is so easy to access from Geneva Airport has also helped with the popularity.
Thanks to the altitude of the ski area and the snowmaking, Verbier is a safe bet when you’re booking for early or late season. The resort itself sits at 1,500m, however, heights of more than 2,700m can be reached by a couple of gondola rides, which only take around 11 minutes altogether. At 2700m you can guarantee there will be abundant snowfall.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to Verbier (120 minutes, 160km)
Courmayeur, Italy
Much like Chamonix, located on the French side of Mont Blanc in Chamonix Valley, upmarket Courmayeur is one of the great ski and climbing towns in the Alps. The Italian side of Mont Blanc has a totally different weather pattern to that of the French side. In the winter Courmayeur gets much more sunshine than shady and chilly Chamonix. The centre of Courmayeur village is pedestrianised and lined with high-end boutiques, lively bars, quality restaurants and even antique and homeware shops. The main ski area is reached by cable car from the centre of the village. The top lift reaches a maximum height of 2,755m and the bottom of the slopes lay at 1,224m.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Turin Airport to Courmayeur (90 minutes, 150km)
St Anton, Austria
St Anton is, Arlberg is situated in the western part of the Austrian Tyrol region, the town has always been well known for its natural beauty, reliable snowfall and the excellent condition of the slopes. The large, networked lift system in St Anton includes the neighbouring resorts of St Christoph and Stuben and a St Anton ski pass also covers the resorts of Lech and Zurs. Although the town does lay low, luckily there’s a good range of skiing from 1200m to almost 3000m. The ground is grassy and below 2000m, so there’s no real need for a large snow base to make the runs skiable. However, well over a metre of snow is needed to cover the rocks above the treeline. Early on in the season, lower resorts are likely to have more runs open.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to St Anton (60 minutes, 100km)
Mayrhofen, Austria
Skiers and snowboarders have been hitting the slopes by Mayrhofen for more than a century and for the locals, providing hospitality, is a way of life. The Zillertal, where Mayrhofen lies, is also famous for being one of Austria’s most musical valleys – almost every member of local families can boast of being a member of a band. The musical theme extends to all the way to the mountain, where music can be heard across the slopes from every mountain hut. Mayrhofen boasts 136km of runs and 57 lifts, a reputation for consistent snowfall throughout the season and runs which sit between 1,650m and 2,500m. Mayrhofen is packed full of red runs and suits versed intermediates perfectly. For those experts, Mayrhofen is home to Austria’s steepest slope, the Harakiri.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Mayrhofen (60 minutes, 70km)
La Clusaz, France
La Clusaz is an authentic mountain village that boasts a rustic and Gallic charm. Due to the proximity to Geneva airport, La Clusaz attracts a tonne of weekend visitors. The local slopes are all below 2500m, so snow conditions can be unpredictable, however, there is a lot of snowmaking to make up for that. There are steep black runs and bumps, as well as decent off-piste when conditions allow. There are also challenging but wide blues, as well as gentle nursery slopes up to the mountain. La Clusaz is home to rustic huts throughout, and a few lively bars to keep you occupied.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to La Clusaz (90 minutes, 70km)
Solden, Austria
Solden is home to some challenging red pistes and exceptionally long top-to-bottom runs. For those who love the lively bar scene, Solden is the place for you. The ski area in Solden is not enormous. However, the runs go high and all sectors offer serious vertical and also some long runs. Snowmaking spans across 67% of the area, including all slopes on Giggijoch. Even in a generally poor season, you can usually count on coverage, even down to resort level.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Solden (70 minutes, 83km)
Kitzbuhel, Austria
This medieval silver-mining centre deserves its reputation as one of the most picturesque ski towns in the Alps. Old coaching inns which have now inevitably been converted into four- and five-star hotels compete for space in the medieval streets alongside expensive fashion boutiques and fancy cafés. The town stands at 800m and the top lift at 2,000m. For guaranteed snow, head to Kitzbuhel between the end of January and the majority of February. Although Kitzbuhel may look like one of the most expensive resorts in Europe, surprisingly prices fail to reach anywhere near the heights of Courchevel or Zermatt.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Kitzbuhel (80 minutes, 83km)
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck is a city, not a ski resort, right? Our answer to that is, take a look at the map. Innsbruck is a place surrounded by mountains. To the north lies the Nordkette. South-east of Innsbruck city centre is the Patscherkofl, while to the south you will find the east-west ridge of the Alps and the slopes of the Stubai Glacier. To be precise, there are nine ski areas surrounding the city, covered by the same lift pass. These ski areas offer a brilliant variety of terrain.
Ski-Lifts Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Innsbruck (15 minutes, 6km)
Book your ski transfer today
If you’re heading to one of these ski destinations with a short transfer time, don’t forget to book your airport to resort transfer with us here at Ski-Lifts! We offer transfers to over 200 resorts across Europe and America, whether you’re an individual, couple or a group – and booking online is hassle-free. Once your transfer has been organised, you’ll be able to start planning for your ski trip. It’s that simple! Get an instant quote today.
After the success of the 2021/2022 season, we are all very excited to return to our favourite European ski resorts! Our aim at Ski-Lifts is to make your ski experience as seamless as possible, so we have compiled a list of opening dates for European resorts that are open for Ski, Snowboard (and Transfer!) bookings.
Are you dreaming of heading to snowier climates this festive season? It’s time to turn those dreams into reality. Christmas Ski transfers to popular resorts during the busy season are already getting booked up, so, to make the decision easier, we’ve put together a list of our favourite resorts to spend this Christmas.
Courchevel, France
Just a 2 hour, 30-minute transfer from Geneva Airport, Courchevel is located at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski area, the Three Valleys. You’ll have access to 600km of pistes and over 70 lifts! The snow in Courchevel is usually some of the best in the whole of the Three Valleys, thanks to the local slopes facing north. There’s terrain to suit everyone from beginner to expert, making Courchevel a perfect family getaway for Christmas.
Wengen, Switzerland
If you’re looking for a truly festive Swiss break, then Wengen will delight you. The streets are decorated for Christmas and Christmas Eve. If you want to take in some local culture, join the local Swiss families and attend Midnight Mass, then get together afterwards to share homemade doughnuts and hot chocolate. Sharing a ski area with Grindelwald, Wengen sits on a sunny shelf and most of its slopes sit above its neighbour, under the north face of the Eiger. If you purchase a Jungfrau lift pass then you can ski in both resorts, as well as next-door Mürren.
Wengen is perfect for families, just a 2 hour, 30-minute transfer from Geneva Airport. The resort is virtually car-free and in the centre, there’s a snow-covered field that serves brilliantly as a nursery slope and a playground. The main way up the mountain is the cog railway, which gives any progressing children the chance to access the village from Lauterbrunnen down in the valley.
Megeve, France
Megève was originally created to give France its very own St Moritz. As the story goes, in 1914 the French set about transforming the original farming village into what it is today, a resort with expensive boutiques, fancy restaurants and hotels all lining the town square and the cobbled streets. The Swarovski Christmas tree in Megève is a must see!
If you’re looking for a lavish Christmas break, just an hour and twenty-minute transfer from Geneva, then Megève is the place for you. Altogether there are seven 5-star hotels, one 3-Michelin-star restaurant and four that have 1-Michelin-star. Megeve has its brilliant share of accommodation, including hotels, private rentals, residences, chalets, and guestrooms.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is Switzerland’s most famous resort. Approximately a 2hrs, 30 minute transfer from Geneva Airport – Think horse-drawn sleighs, glowing shop windows and chestnut and glühwein stalls, that’s exactly how Zermatt is at Christmas. The world’s most photogenic mountain, the Matterhorn ensures that Zermatt is loved by many and known all around the world, so it’s time to book your Christmas ski transfers ASAP!
If you’re worried about early-season snow at Christmas, well, you needn’t worry about Zermatt’s snow-sure slopes from late November. Its high-altitude top stations (all the way up to 3,820m), a modern and slick lift system and the fantastic mountain restaurants, ensure Zermatt is a cut above the rest. There are links to Cervinia over the Italian border from here, so you can even pop over for a pizza.
Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens is the highest resort in the huge Three Valleys ski area, Val Thorens is actually the highest resort in Europe. The high-altitude of Val Thorens slopes means that this resort is snow-sure from November onwards, so there’s no need to worry about snow cover over the Christmas period.
The terrain around Val Thorens suits everyone from beginner to expert, however, intermediates are those who Val Thorens suits the most. If you’re up for some long, cruising runs over the Christmas period, then head over to Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville.
he closest airport to Val Thorens is Chambery, but there are plenty of other nearby airports that the big airlines fly into. The journey from Geneva may take longer at 3hrs (than Chambery at 90 mins), but Geneva airport is preferred by some skiers for its relatively faster luggage processing and other facilities.
Kitzbuhel, Austria
This amazing alpine village is nestled in Tyrol, it’s a beautiful picture-perfect Austrian resort. From the 26th November, you’ll find a festive filled Christmas market with local handicraft stores, fir trees and plenty of konditorei (a cafe selling pastries). Spend your days skiing and enjoying pony rides and a petting zoo. Each evening from 6 pm, the central square is filled with singing from the local choirs. Transfers from Innsbuck to Kitzbuhel take around 1 hour and 30 minutes, you can also fly to Salzburg and Munich, which takes about 2 hours to Kitzbuhel.
As the nights draw in, thoughts are turning to fresh snow and blue bird days on the mountains…
I’m sure you are already thinking about where your next ski trip will be, but in which ski resorts is the snow forecast? We’ve put together a list of ski resorts across the world that are open or are opening very soon…
AUSTRIA – SNOW FORECAST Austria is one of the most famous and most popular skiing destinations in the world. The amount of ski resorts is vast and because of this, there is something to suit everyone. Obergurgl is due to open this weekend and Kitzbuhel has already opened some of its high altitude runs, with snow forecast looking positive. Consider recommending Glacier ski areas, both Hintertux and Solden ski resorts now have more than 30km of runs open, the most in Europe!
Transfers from Innsbruck Airport to Austrian resorts all take less than 2 hours!
SWITZERLAND – SNOW FORECAST Switzerland has an extensive history in Alpine sports, being one of the pioneer countries in the sport of skiing. Verbier announced it is opening its Lac Des Vaux slope and will continue to open more as due to good snow forecast, until the main season starts on December 3rd. Sass Fee, which has reported the best snow depth in the world and Zermatt, has over 15 miles of runs available.
Transfers from Geneva Airport to these Switzerland Resorts take between 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.
FRANCE – SNOW FORECAST France is one of the most popular destinations for a skiing holiday in the world, and rightly so. The range of destinations on offer caters for every standard, every type of skier there could possibly be, and every winter budget. Val Thorens delayed its opening date but with good snow cover on the tops, they have a revised opening date of November 26th which is the same as Tignes. Val d’Isere have announced its season start will be December 3rd with snowfall down to about 1500 metres.
Transfers from Geneva Airport to these French Resorts take between 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours.
ITALY – SNOW FORECAST There are three large, linked ski areas in Italy, so it is easy to get some serious amounts of skiing packed into your ski holiday. First of those ski areas is the Dolomiti Superski, which covers 1200km of pistes. Next up is the Milky Way ski area, the 400km of pistes connect multiple resorts. Finally, the Monta Rosa ski area. This ski area is often touted as one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. There are extensive off-piste runs to explore, as well as 180km of pistes. A few resorts have opened, Cervinia has had fresh snowfall and Val Senales is open with 4 miles of high-altitude terrain available.
Turin Airport to Cervinia transfer time is approx. 1 hour 30 minutes Geneva Airport to Cervinia transfer time is approx. 3 hours
USA/CANADA – SNOW FORECAST It’s great news for the North American ski slopes with a number of ski areas announcing early open dates due to good snowfall.
Vail calls itself ‘North America’s favourite ski resort’. That’s a grand, subjective statement we can’t confirm, but there is one thing we do know for sure: it’s America’s biggest ski resort. Vail’s got over 5,289 ski-able acres and 7 legendary back bowls spanning 7 miles. Free buses and heated walkways connect its four distinct base areas. Breckenridge is an American ski resort giving you access to 155 individual pistes and 32 ski lifts. Although the proportion of black runs available vs blue & green runs might appear intimidating to less experienced skiers, Breckenridge is actually an excellent resort for all levels of ability.
Denver Airport to Vail transfer time is approx. 2 hours 15 minutes Eagle Airport to Vail transfer time is approx. 1 hour
Denver Airport to Breckenridge transfer time is approx. 2 hours Eagle Airport to Breckenridge transfer time is approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
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