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Book a Call Enquire OnlineBY - Tim Latimer , 2 June 2022 - VIEW ALL ARTICLES
It’s the start of your luxury ski holiday and you’ve arrived at your destination airport ready and rearing to get to the slopes, yet the thought of a long drive ahead may not be what you had in mind. Short transfer times are becoming more and more important among frequent skiers.
With a careful choice of resort, you can be up enjoying the fresh mountain air in no time and there are plenty of great resorts within a hop, skip and jump of an international airport. Take an early flight and you might even get some skiing in on the first day.
Perhaps you only have a few days to get your turns in and want to maximise your time on the slopes, or you are travelling with small children. By picking a ski resort with a short transfer you’ll avoid the trauma of a long 3-hour drive with tired children in the car, and most importantly make the most of your time off on your luxury ski holiday.
Geneva is the main airport hub serving many popular ski resorts across the northern and western Alps and is one of the easiest to reach with a huge choice of daily flights from all over Europe. Transfer times can vary hugely to the various ski resorts, however, so pick wisely.
When looking for a ski resort with a short transfer journey time, travelling via Innsbruck Airport is not to be overlooked. Being situated close to the ski resorts gives the advantage of short transfer times to reach resorts such as St. Anton and the Arlberg ski region.
So if you like to keep your journey short and sweet here are our top ski resorts with short transfer times.
1h 10m minutes from Innsbruck airport in Austria, St.Anton is easily one of the most accessible ski resorts in Europe, perfect for a weekend trip or short ski breaks. And being part of the linked Arlberg ski area with a great record for snow throughout the season, there is a huge choice of 305km of slopes to choose from.
A lively mountain village, St.Anton has it all, from its charming good looks, great choice of restaurants, superb facilities for children and families and who could forget its world-famous après. Families will love the swimming complex with a dedicated children’s pool and outdoors the 4km long floodlit toboggan run offers plenty of snowy mountain fun.
Later head to one of St. Anton’s famous ski bars for après, it’s an experience not to be missed!
>> See our Luxury Ski Chalets in St.Anton, Austria
One of the oldest and most famous ski resorts in France, Chamonix is unmistakable and one that often tops bucket lists. Characterised by towering peaks and glaciers, with the dramatic Mont Blanc scenery as a backdrop, it offers breathtaking scenery in every direction.
There are five ski areas spread across the valley, which complete Chamonix, offering plenty of variety. Whilst Les Grands Montets is more suited to experienced skiers seeking high-speed thrills, beginners are well catered for here too on the gentler slopes of Les Houches.
The bustling town doesn’t disappoint either. With a pedestrianised centre you might like to take a stroll before popping into a shop or two or simply soak up the atmosphere from a cosy café. Several surrounding charming satellite villages offer the perfect opportunity to explore too!
Located approximately 1h 15m drive from Geneva airport, Chamonix is much more than a ski resort, with a buzzing atmosphere all year round, there’s always something new to see and do here.
>> See our Luxury Ski Chalets in Chamonix, France
Located in the Haute Savoie region of the Alps, Les Gets was originally a 12th-century farming village, which today has retained much of its pretty alpine charm with chalet-style buildings, restaurants and quaint shops which line the town centre. A far cry from the more modern purpose-built resorts.
Les Gets is undeniably one of the best ski resorts in the Alps for families with a ‘’Plus Famille’’ status awarded by the French tourist board. It is located just over an hour from Geneva airport (approx. 1 hour 15 mins) meaning you’ll hit the slopes in no time.
Generally, it has quieter slopes than the larger resorts as well as fantastic facilities including excellent ski schools, an ice rink, cinema and there’s a local market each week which offers a great opportunity to try some local produce.
From Les Gets you can easily ski over to Morzine, but you’ll also have access to the vast Port du Soleil ski area if you feel like venturing further afield. Les Gets itself sits beneath the tree line where slopes run through beautiful pines – it doesn’t get much more picturesque. It’s no surprise that so many return year after year!
>> See our Luxury Ski Chalets in Les Gets, France
Morzine, located approximately 1h 20m from Geneva airport is a fantastic base from which to explore the Port du Soleil ski area offering a great range of slopes for beginners to the more experienced.
Like its neighbour Les Gets, it’s not short of alpine charm either and you could happily while away an afternoon with a glass of vin chaud in a stylish bar watching the world go by here.
Or if you ever get tired of skiing (we don’t know why you would) there are plenty of other activities on offer from ice diving, tobogganing, snowshoeing, ice skating, bowling, swimming and snowmobiling. Head up to Avoriaz and you will find the Aquariaz water park, which kids will love!
Written by
Tim has been immersed in the travel industry for over 20 years. Tim is the owner and founder of Firefly Collection, a luxury holiday accommodation booking agent.