Tips from visit in Jan 07

We visited Auberge for 1st time in winter (had visited in August 2006 - beautiful!)

Flew Saturday morning Manchester to Chambery by www.Jet2.com - flight arrived 30 mins late ( despite warning by pilot that it was 50:50 whether we would land 1st time due to clouds in Chambery or have to refuel in Lyons!). Jet2.com checked-in baggage limit 18 kgs per person, but increased to 32 kgs on paying £15 for sports equipment supplement.

We had considered train or bus transfer, as we did not wish to have car hire cost or worry of driving up/down the mountain.

For www.altibus.com from airport to Bourg, a bus had left at 11am and next one was not until 2.30pm. Cost 40 euros each single / 70 euros each return. Too much!!

For train, you get a taxi from Chambery Airport to Chambery Railway Station - cost approx. 18 euros. The trains to Bourg take approx. 2 hours depending whether you take the faster train. We took the slower as it was only 22 euros return each (or 14.80 euros single) Note it was not cheaper on the web than at the ticket office on the day.) There appeared to be at least one train per hour to Bourg.  For timetable & prices go to  http://www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/fr/launch/home/

When you get to Bourg, you walk along to the far end of the platform (back in the direction of where the train has come from), walk up the steps & onto the walkway above the lines, go left to the funicular entrance. Funicular is every 20 minutes and takes 7 minutes to Arc 1600. A free shuttle bus meets each funicular and takes you to Arc 1950. Cost of single journey on Funicular 6 euros each (assuming you do not already hold a valid lift pass for that day.)

Alternative way up the mountain is www.autocars-martin.com which is the bus from Bourg railway station up to Arc1950. Go regularly on Saturday and Sunday 12.10 euros single, 24.20 euros return.

Therefore, in conclusion flying into Chambery and doing taxi to train, then train to Bourg, then funicular and shuttle is a painless and cheap transfer.

The big risk is that Chambery Airport is closed! (a friend of ours, who is also an owner in Auberge, had a 17 hour flight delay flying back from Chambery on December 23rd!)

Car hire - anyone who is thinking of hiring a car for part of the week, or to return to Grenoble Airport as we did on Thursday (NB Grenoble Airport is a pain to get to by public transport), www.cartrawler.com will hire you a car, via Europcar in Bourg and let you drop if off elsewhere. Cost 106 euros for 3 days (excluding snow chains). Allowed stocking up at Super U in Bourg! (Advised that if I want to buy a DVD player or de-humidifer, then grab them in Chambery or Albertville as considerably better value)

Restaurants - booked valentinos for Saturday night by email from the UK earlier in the week  valentino1950@orange.fr  They were turning others away, not surprising as food and service were up to usual high standards. Also ate at chez eux at Arc2000, which was good, did the 7pm sitting so were back on the cabriolet before it closed, not particularly cheaper than the 1950 restaurants.

Spirit 1950 ski school - remember you get an owners discount

Ski /boot hire - booked for Concept shop through www.snowrental.net you get 35% off on-line which is better than owners discount

Ski lift passes - book at least one month advance with  IMibord@intrawest.com otherwise you do not get owners discount.

Owners ski experience on Tuesdays - did lunch & afternoon red run ski - recommend as long you are a decent red skier (unfortunately on our day "ice skiing" was the order of the day).

Au tours de vins - excellent hostelry for wine and beer. Tim was joined by Richard for part of the week (sorry Richard we missed you as I decided to try hospital food in Bourg for 2 days - definitely not recommended!!). Also, were provided with cheese for one night by Jim (as in "JimJenny"), thanks for your company guys.

Next trip

We are now looking forward to visiting again 24th March to 31st March. This time we will again do Chambery Airport, taxi, train to Bourg but are flying in on the Friday 23rd and leaving the Sunday 1st April and have booked a hotel in Bourg for 23rd and 31st so we get 8 days skiing, 1st on the funicular!

& finally a big thank you to all those who posted advice and tips for us when we were planning the trip.

Phill & Sarah