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Ski Resort Airport Transfers
Ski Resort Airport Transfers
We try to publish regular, useful articles for ski transfer seekers, ski holidaymakers and transfer operators. Please, see our latest publications below. We hope you will find the information in these articles useful:
When using Ski Transfer Finder you deal with transfer operators. Make sure you will not be disappointed by your transfer operator choice and service. We recommend you select your provider carefully and ask us some vital questions before you book. Below our top ten list of questions to ask before you book a transfer:
Make sure your chosen transfer provider has license and registrations to operate in your country of destination (and your country of arrival). For example, you might ski in Tignes, which is in France but you might fly into Geneva, which is in Switzerland. Transfer license is normally published on the transfer operator's website. If in doubt ask the provider.
Make sure you understand booking procedure, process for changes to your booking and cancellation policy.
Ask for contingency procedures in case of delays, cancellations of flights, traffic delays and missed flights back to your home country. How will your transfer operator deal with potential problems, delays and cancellations?
Ask for refund policy in case things go wrong - this is particularly important when you travel during peak holiday periods such as Christmas, New Years, Half Term or Easter holidays. Also read our advice on how to avoid airport transfer delays.
Double check transfer prices quoted - what is included, what is excluded, are there any potential extra cost such as fees for waiting for late flight?
Check how much luggage and ski equipment you are allowed to take on the transfer. Some transfer operators impose limits and charge extra if you go above the limits.
Ask for transfer operators contact details post booking - make sure you get a local office number and a driver mobile number so you don't rely on a Ski Transfer Finder call centre number or on email to get in touch on arrival and during your holiday.
Pay attention for transfer operator ratings, posted on our website. Customer’s feedback might help you to avoid possibility of negative experience.
Ask for quality and make of fleet vehicles and age of fleet.
Ask for the transfer operator track record. How long has operator been in business, how many transfers per season, how many delays, how many complaints etc.? Sometimes web forums help to get you some user experiences.
Transfer operators run a business and they want to make sure their customers have a positive experience. 99% of all transfers pass without any problems and in case of problems they tend to be solved satisfactory for both parties.
Enjoy your ski holiday.
Ski Transfer Finder Team
Plan and prepare in advance to avoid being affected by travel problems
During the week leading up to Christmas, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, thousands delayed, airports closed, Euro tunnel was closed for days and roads were blocked and congested. This severely hit the ski holiday traffic and also affected all airport transfer operators.
Given the extreme circumstances, even the best performing and must punctual ski transfer provider have experienced problems during this peak period. It is very difficult for transfer providers to absorb the impact of late and cancelled flights, never mind adverse road conditions and heavy road congestions.
Apparently on the 2nd January 2010 traffic jams in the French Alps were so bad that a transfer that would normally taking two to three hours took up to eight hours, leaving passengers stranded in ski resorts and airports for hours. Not even the best airport transfer operator can do anything about this.
Our advice to ski transfer seekers:
Travel arrangements can go wrong due to nobodies fault. Make sure you are prepared and take all necessary steps before your departure to avoid stress, disappointment and financial loss. Plan ahead - here are our tips.
Before booking your ski transfer:
Take out a travel insurance that includes travel cancellations and delays and does not exclude any reasons for cancellations.
Check Ski Transfer Finder Booking Conditions before you book. These provisions are published on our website or can be requested by email.
Only book with transfer operators that offer local help lines and driver mobile numbers so you have a number of channels to communicate should there be a problem with travel arrangements.
Check with Ski Transfer Finder before you book about their delay / cancellation contingencies.
Before departure / pick-up date:
If unsure, ask for earlier pick-up time on your return journey to make sure you are not affected by delays due to traffic jams.
Check your departure airport before you leave home and ski resort to find out about actual delays and closures. In case of problems contact your transfer operator to re-arrange pick-up times.
Email or call Ski Transfer Finder the day before departure to find out if there are any possible delays. Don't just wait until the scheduled pick-up time passes before you check for delays.
Inform your transfer operator in advance about any delays you might have. This helps transfer providers plan accordingly and reschedule where possible .
Get a number for your local (ski resort) taxi provider. You can find this out during your stay in the resort. It is better to have a couple of numbers, just in case you need them. Avoid last minute panic when things go wrong.
Charge your mobile phone before departure date, you never know how many emergency calls you will have to make.
It is very rare that transfers get delayed enough for you to miss your flight. However, things can get out of control during peak travel times. It is best to plan ahead and double check to avoid transfer panic. Better safe than sorry.
Enjoy your ski holiday.
Ski Transfer Finder Team
Benefits of ski transfers compared to cheap ski car rentals
What is the better option? Cheap ski car rentals or a ski transfer? Sometimes it is not all about price, it is as much about safety, convenience and service. We have compiled a list of ski transfer benefits compared to ski car rentals for you to consider. Find all key benefits listed below
Should you decide to book an airport transfer, Ski Transfer Finder will save you time looking for an airport transfers service to any ski resort. Check also our section on benefits of cheap ski car rentals.
BENEFITS OF SKI TRANSFER SERVICES
For groups of 4 people and more, depending on transfer destination, a ski transfer works out to be cheaper for a lot less hassle
Convenient door to door service from airport to ski resort
No wasting time queuing at the ski car rental desk especially on late flight arrivals
Stress free journey, no risk of getting lost or accidents
No need to familiarize yourself with traffic regulations in foreign countries
Ski racks, chains, additional insurances often attract additional fees, increasing car rental costs
It is common for cars to get snowed in ski resorts causing recovery costs
Another common problem is empty batteries due to the cold
Many resorts charge for parking which could add 50 – 100 euro cost to your ski trip
Planning ahead is the best thing you can do when organizing your independent ski holiday. Whether you decide on a ski transfer or a ski car rental, make sure you make the arrangements in advance.
Enjoy your ski holiday.
Ski Transfer Finder Team
If you are travelling single or in a very small group, please read the information below before you submit an airport transfer request on our system. Private transfers can be very expensive for small groups but you might be able to get a bus transfer, shared or shuttle service to your resort.
Airport Transfers for one person
A private airport transfer for one person is expensive and never a viable option unless you are super rich. If you are travelling single, you have to find a shared airport transfer, a scheduled transfer service or travel by public transport to get a good deal. Car hire is less expensive than an airport transfer but still a substantial cost for a person traveling on their own especially over longer holiday periods. Some ski transfer operators offer shared services or run shuttle buses between your chosen airport and ski resort. Please make sure you select 'shared' when submitting your airport transfer request form and don't be disappointed when quotes are high. It is expensive for operators to run a van for one person up and down the mountain.
Airport Transfers for very small groups
Private airport transfers for two or three people can still be expensive. As a general rule, private airport transfers are cheapest for a group of 8 people and get proportionally more expensive as the number of people travelling decreases. For example: A private return transfer from Geneva airport to Val D'isere can be as low as 70 - 100 euro per person for a group of 8 but as high has a 250 euro per person for a group of 2 or 3 people. Ask for a shared airport transfer when submitting a request to receive a lower quote.
Read our Transfer Know-How section on airport transfer types explained and understand airport transfers.
Enjoy your ski holiday.
Ski Transfer Finder Team