Alps, ski resorts, travel

When planning a ski trip to the Tarentaise Valley, looking at a map provides a very clear answer about which airport is closer. Chambéry sits right on the edge of the mountains, practically touching the dual carriageway that leads directly up to Moûtiers. Lyon is situated twice as far away, out in the flatter regions to the west. If you base your entire booking decision on raw distance, the smaller regional airport wins effortlessly.

Booking flights for a Swiss ski trip forces a massive geographical decision right at the start of your planning. Switzerland is heavily divided by huge mountain ranges, meaning the airport you choose dictates whether you spend two hours in a comfortable transfer van or five hours staring at the back of a lorry on a cross-country motorway. Geneva dominates the western border, offering unparalleled access to the French-speaking Valais region. Zurich sits to the north, acting as the pristine gateway to the massive luxury resorts in the east.

Most British skiers instinctively default to Geneva when booking a trip to the Tarentaise valley. It has the name recognition, the massive flight schedule, and the reputation as the primary gateway to the French Alps. People rarely look at a map to realise that Lyon sits roughly the exact same distance away from the major ski areas. This oversight leads to thousands of people fighting for space in the exact same Swiss baggage hall every Saturday morning, while a perfectly good alternative goes largely ignored.

Getting to the Three Valleys usually comes down to a battle between geography and reliability. If you just look at a map, Chambéry seems like the obvious winner. It sits right on the edge of the Alps, practically touching the valley that leads up to Courchevel, Méribel, and Val Thorens. Geneva is further north, meaning a longer drive just to reach the mountains.

Booking flights for a French ski holiday usually forces a choice between two main aviation hubs. Geneva has the massive flight volume, but it comes with intense weekend terminal crowds and a slightly confusing border situation. Grenoble sits much closer to the southern resorts, offering a quieter terminal that only operates during the ski season, but it has far fewer flight options.