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Getting Here
Tel: 00 33 (0) 450 813 543
Mobile: 00 33 (0) 676 834 808
e-mail:
info@sutochatel.co.uk |
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By Road & Sea:
The quickest route from the channel ports is to follow the motorways south
to Rheims, Troyes, Dijon, Dole and head for Geneva. At Geneva take the A40 to
Annemasse and follow the signs to Thonon-les-Bains and then Châtel. The journey time
is approximately 9 - 10 hours using the Autoroutes. Please remember that the
French Autoroutes are toll roads. If you are splitting your journey then look for accommodation between
Dijon and
Geneva, which is more than half-way but makes the second part of your
journey more pleasant. We recommend the French hotel group "Campanile"
(similar to a Travel Lodge in the UK) which have hotels on route. You can make a reservation or find further information on their website:
www.campanile.fr/
An alternative route
especially if time is on your side but money isn't, is to pass through
Dunkirk/Belgium/Luxembourg and through Metz. The advantage of this route
is that you can manage your journey to ensure you fill up in Luxembourg
where fuel is tax free. The other advantage is that rather than pay the
high French motorway tolls, you can miss this and either take a route
through Strasbourg/Basle or Besancon. The route through Basle is much
quicker but requires a vignette (40CHF) which is very good value for
money. The route through Besancon has recently been fraught with
roadworks and is much more cross country.
Useful Road & Sea links:
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By Rail:
The TGV goes as far as Thonon-les-Bains. Transfers to and from the resort can be
arranged with prior notice for an additional charge.
Alternatively, through
Switzerland their is a direct train from Geneva to Aigle. This train
takes about 2hrs and the transfer time from Aigle is about 30 minutes.
Useful Rail Links:
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By Aeroplane:
Most major airline companies have regular flights in and out of Geneva. Châtel's proximity
to Geneva means that the transfer rarely takes longer
than an hour and a half.
One of the most frequent questions I am
asked is regarding the French side of Geneva airport, and especially if
it is worth getting car rental from France or Switzerland. The main
point about the international borders at the airport is that anyone
arriving at Geneva airport from abroad will arrive on the Swiss side.
The only time you arrive at the airport on the French side is when you
have made a trip from France. However all passengers arriving at the
airport eventually come out in to the same arrivals hall in the Swiss
side.
Therefore, when hiring a car on the Swiss
side that is fine because you arrive at the same place where the Swiss
hire companies are, however to hire a car from a French agency, you need
to have pre booked the car. You then need to go up one level and pass
through the French customs as if you are departing on a flight. Passing
through customs this is where you show your contract/order booking form
for the car. I actually don't know what happens next as I have never
done this myself, but I imagine you will either be taken to Voltaire
Ferny or otherwise just taken to one of the Swiss car parks and given
the same car but having paid in euros rather than CHF.
Useful Air Links:
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