 Poster: A snowHead
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I found these guys today; they are new for 2023. They do private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport to many French alpine resorts.
www.alpinefleet.com
A shared return GVA – Val Thorens for example, is around €100. Plus, they will drop and collect you from a number of different locations within your resort.
So if www.altibus.com or www.bensbus.co.uk is not right for you, you could consider them.
Perhaps @admin might even arrange a discount code from them! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They’re a broker no?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| They’re a broker no? |
That's a good question — thanks. I think they are more an agency for transport operators:
https://alpinefleet.com/partners/
It's their first season, so I'm happy to be a guinea-pig, I have booked with them, and I'll let you know how I get on.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Poogle, Make sure you know who will actually transport you, and that they are operating legally. I don't know the current situation, but when we were transfer driving in 2019/20 there were lots of mainly Estonian/ Latvian / Lithuanian minibuses operating without required paperwork or insurance. When they got pulled by the Swiss or French police the vans got impounded and passengers were just abandoned.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Must have been Baltic, left out in the snow at the side of the road.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| RobinS wrote: |
| @Poogle, Make sure you know who will actually transport you, and that they are operating legally. I don't know the current situation, but when we were transfer driving in 2019/20 there were lots of mainly Estonian/ Latvian / Lithuanian minibuses operating without required paperwork or insurance. When they got pulled by the Swiss or French police the vans got impounded and passengers were just abandoned. |
Good advice. As you say, there seems to have been a big clamp-down, and that is perhaps one of the reasons why private transfer prices seem to have risen so much.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Must have been Baltic, left out in the snow at the side of the road. |
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@pam w, I saw what you did there ... 
@Poogle,
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there seems to have been a big clamp-down
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The Geneva taxi company has been working to secure all this stuff for years. Prices IMV have risen due to brexshit removing many uk drivers and covid just removing many seasonal staff.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yup, and fuel prices, and the shortage of new vans due to supply-chain shut-down raising lease prices. There were still lots of dodgy Eastern European van operations working last season, with false uk registered addresses and fancy websites - caveat emptor.
I see all Alpine Fleet require (at least in the first instance) to vet a new "partner" is a copy of a public liability insurance certificate, and the vehicle insurance certificate. This does not cover the reams of other licences, permits and fees required for both the vehicle and driver to operate legally cross-border and at the airport. Then it's made clear in the T&Cs that if the transfer goes wrong they're not liable. So good luck to them if they are kosher, but unless there is a secondary much more stringent vetting process, I wouldn't take the chance.
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@shep, yikes! Me neither!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just getting back on Alpine Fleet. I work for the company and we are similar to a tour operator that charters coaches and minibuses for the season. Very similar to Bens Bus. We manage all our passengers and our vehicles are from French coach and minibus companies who are from the local area ( Savoie or Haute Savoie ) . We have a desk at the Airport and a very experienced team of staff who have worked in Alpine Transfers for + 15 years. Every operator must have a transport licence, public liability insurance and a robust fleet insurance to start the process of working with us.
Hope that explains things a bit more clearly. Wish you all a great season.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Poogle wrote: |
| [ private transfer prices seem to have risen so much. |
Just done a quick "out of interest" quote for Geneva airport to Samoens... Euro 855 for 2, return (80km each way). Then on top of that there's flights, and airport parking, fuel to get to airport...
Good thing I'm driving from Shropshire. According to via Michelin driving both ways will cost Euro 574 for fuel and tolls, plus Euro220 for the channel tunnel.
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Just for information, using public transport in Switzerland, this Weekend's trip out to Verbier for our annual pre-season apartment check and setup cost us £272 per person. That's £89 return flight (front, speedy boarding, 1x seat + 1x cabin bag), £92 home<>LGW taxi (BMW 7 Series), £91 SBB Trains Geneva Airport <> Resort (Train+Télépherique+PostBus). All prices rounded-up.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We are very lucky in that we can travel to our accommodation in La Tzoumaz by public transport. Take the train straight out of the airport, change in Martigny (with time for a cheeky beer) then either collected by family from the station or cable car then post bus. More relaxing than driving and takes about the same amount of time. Kids love it....
The big wins are that it is way cheaper than a hire car (total trip including air fare & train fare was £150 each), no traffic worries when returning to the airport and no faffing about dropping the car off etc.
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FAQ
anyway which probably negated any financial gain
