Cheap flights to Geneva, Switzerland
When you think of winter sports, snowy valleys and soaring mountains, there are few places that rival the snowfields near Geneva. The city itself is a beautiful place for a stopover en route to world-class resorts in both France and Switzerland. Alpine powdery slopes are close by in Megève and the Grand Massif in France, while slightly further afield are the ever-popular pistes of Verbier and Zermatt, in Switzerland.
We offer cheap flights to Geneva from Belfast City, Birmingham and East Midlands Airport.
Find Geneva's best:
- Cashfree
Cashfree
Best cash-free resort:
La Plagne
The French resort of La Plagne (about 150km from Geneva) offers plenty of slopes to choose from. Divided up into six ski stations, your ski pass allows you to move freely between them, but best of all is the resort offers a “Pass Plagne” loyalty card that can be used in place of cash. No more coins dropping out on chair lifts or struggling through pockets on ski suits, this card can be used for reduced-priced shopping, eating out and a whole range of activities from mini golf and bowling to trampolining. The card works like a payphone card: you can buy it in fixed amounts and just top it up as and when.
Where: La Plagne, France, Tel: +33 (0)4 79 09 79 79.
Website: www.la-plagne.com- Spa
Spa
Best pampering:
Hotel Les Granges du Soleil
Aching, weary bodies are a side effect of hitting the slopes all day, so take yourself to one of the many spas on offer at La Plagne. A favourite place to stay – with the added bonus of being able to have a swim, sauna, steam room and then a hot stone massage – is the stylish Hotel Les Granges du Soleil in Plagne Soleil (one of the more attractive hamlets of La Plagne), which offers beautiful views as you destress, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows over the pistes.
Where: Hotel Les Granges du Soleil, Plagne Soleil, France, Tel: +33 (0)4 50 33 10 96.
Website: www.cgh-residences.com- Apres
Apres
Best for après ski:
Verbier
The off-piste paradise that is Verbier is the best place to head if you want to party and at the same time mingle with celebrities and even, on occasion, royalty. Start at the Pub Mont Fort (Chemin de la Tinte, tel: +41 (0)27 7714849, http://www.pubmontfort.com) and grab a post-ski snack and a hearty pint. With a fabulous terrace, it’s perfect for kicking back and enjoying a few of its infamous shots before staggering onto popular hotspot Le Rouge (37 Route de Ransou, tel: +41 (0)27 7718000, http://www.lerouge-verbier.com). A converted chalet, this is where the cool people come for its cutting-edge mix of style and great tunes from the resident DJ who keeps the music going till the wee hours. Flagging revellers can refuel and recharge in the brasserie style restaurant.
Where: Verbier, Valais, Switzerland is around a two-hour drive from Geneva. Tel: +41 (0)27 7753888
Best for those who fancy a flutter:
Casino Partouche, Crans-Montana
If you’re looking to hot up your night with a stake or two, then for sheer glamour and luxury look no further than the Casino Partouche in Crans-Montana. It looks like something out of a James Bond movie and is similarly filled with elegant and swish characters playing the many slot machines or taking their chances on the roulette and poker tables. Once you’ve won your millions you can dine in style at La Roulette Valaisanne, which offers gastronomic à la carte dining in a refined setting. If your winnings are less substantial you can always sip a cocktail or two at the appropriately named Jackpot Bar, and thrill-seekers should remember they can always swap the tables for the slopes the next day for a more winning formula!
Where: Casino Partouche.Allée K Mansfield 1, Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland. Tel. +41 (0)27 485 9040
Website: www.casinocransmontana.com
- Food
Food
Best for gastronomic food lovers:
Zermatt
At the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a seriously stylish and sophisticated ski haven, but aside from the skiing it also has a well-deserved reputation for sumptuous fine dining. Full of fur coats and facelifts, this is a swanky resort, with food to die for. Try the famous Elsie’s (16 Kirchplatz, tel: +41 (0)27 9672431, www.elsiebar.ch) for a cute Valais-style wooden chalet with jet-set clientele dining on oysters, snails and the house speciality, spaghetti with caviar, accompanied by champagne and followed by lethally strong Irish coffee. For high-end Heidi gourmandise, go to Chez Vrony (Findeln, tel: +41 (0)27 9672552, www.chezvrony.ch) and sit in teak lounge chairs on the deck-style terrace looking out on the Matterhorn itself. Expect gourmet Swiss food made to family recipes, with only organic ingredients, and served by waitresses in traditional Swiss costume. For cheaper eating there are also some 100 other restaurants offering all types of cuisine.
Where: Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland is around 3½ hours by train from Geneva. Tel: +41 (0)27 9668100
Website: http://www.zermatt.ch
- Resort
Resort
Best for powder:
Flainee
Whether snowboarding, skiing, toboganning, snow shoeing or any other variety of snow sport, Flaine is the place to head. Known as the ‘powder reserve’ of one of the largest ski areas in France, the Grand Massif, it has one of the best snow records in the French Alps and is the gateway to skiing, at a whopping 2,500m. Renowned for sunny pistes and beautiful views of the Mont Blanc, this is a real treat for all abilities.
Where: Flaine, Grand Massif, France is within an hour of Geneva. Tel: +33 450 908 001
Website:
Best for straight onto the slopes:
Courchevel
Two hours by car from Geneva is Courchevel in the Three Vallées, the largest ski domaine in the world and the perfect place for door-to-door skiing, as you can literally stick your skis on in the morning and head straight out onto a piste (ski slope). Interestingly, it’s one of the few resorts to offer lessons to toddlers as young as 18 months old (most ski resorts won’t take children under the age of three). The Savoyard ski station is pretty much guaranteed snow all winter as 80% of Courchevel is above 1,800m and you can even take part in night skiing if you don’t get enough of the white stuff during the day. The resort also boasts 60 restaurants, including several Michelin star-rated ones.
Where: Courchevel, Cedx, France. Courchevel Tourisme, Le Couer de Courchevel, Tel. + 33 (0) 479 080029
Website: www.courchevel.com
Best for the kids:
Crans-Montana
At the heart of the Valais, Crans-Montana is just two hours by car from Geneva and offers a stunning Alpine panorama, skiing at up to 3,000m (including a glacier) and some 140km of trails. The resort was also awarded a Families Welcome label for its plethora of fun activities. For baby skiers there are playground nursery slopes and ski kindergartens complete with ‘magic carpet’-style lifts, plus there are extensive crèche/nursery facilities for those simply too young to put the skis on just yet. After lessons and serious skiing, children can wear themselves out at Fun Park Bibi, where they can go snow-tubing and sledging or play on the slides and swings. There’s also a treasure hunt and a special adventure course in the Fun Forest to test balance and coordination as they make their way though the trees. Under-6s go free on all ski lifts, and there are many other discounts for youngsters and teens, making this the perfect place for the whole family.
Where: Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland. Crans-Montana Tourisme, Avenue de la Gare, Crans-Montana, Tel. +41 (0) 27 485 0404
Website: www.cransmontana.ch
Geneva (GVA)
Location
3 miles North of Geneva, a 10 minute journey.
Public transport:
Geneva Airport 0041 (0)227177111
www.gva.ch
A railway station is located just 300m from departures and arrivals - all trains stop at central Geneva - Cornavin.
Bus 10 leaves every ten minutes for central Geneva. Aero Ski Bus provides services from Geneva International Airport to many of the French ski stations.
Visitors can now purchase Geneva Transport Cards from a booth at the airport, allowing travel on the entire Unireso network.
Taxis are available for hire. Contact 0041 (0)223314133.
Tourist information
Tourist information can be found on the arrivals level and in
the transit area.
Check-in
Opens 2 hours prior to flight departure time. Desks close
promptly 40 minutes prior to departure.
European Emergency Number
Did you know 112 is the European emergency number? It is reachable from fixed and mobile phones, free of charge, everywhere in the EU.