UKC

Heading out to Chamonix from Glasgow for the Conville alpine course next month. What's the best way of getting there?

In reply to aldo56: Easyjet to Geneva and then pick one of many Alpy bus's.

In reply to aldo56:

Fly to Geneva and pay excess baggage (or travel light) and get a transfer bus from the airport.

Drive, lots of kit room and useful to have a car out there if you want to go elsewhere. Make a road trip of it. Costs about £500 return for the car, including petrol, tolls and eurotunnel. Could make it cheaper using the ferry and back roads, but fill the car with people and it's not too bad.

National Express. Takes 24 hours from the SE, I imagine a while longer from Glasgow. Friends have done it and said it was horrible, and have been refused journeys due to too many bags. But it does only cost £99.

In reply to LJC:

By train - takes slightly longer but you end up with a day's sightseeing in Paris! We did this last year and found it a really good way of getting there fully rested, plus you can take as much kit as you can carry! Prices are broadly comparable to flying if you're going at busier periods - perhaps a bit more but it is generally a more pleasant experience!

From Glasgow, you could get the sleeper to London then hop on a Eurostar to be in Paris by mid-morning. Really good left luggage at Gare du Nord so you can have a nice day in Paris without your bags, then get the sleeper train to St-Gervais, change onto the local train to Chamonix and arrive (from memory) about 10am.

The website http://www.seat61.com is packed with practical info for a trip like this.

In reply to aldo56: Which one are you on Aldo? I'm heading over 12-14 from Edi

In reply to aldo56: 16th to the 18th mate, would have been handy!

In reply to d80f0u: Funny, never ever even considered the train, due to driving everywhere for climbing trips.