From Calais/Boulogne and Lyon Airport (SAINT EXUPÉRY) to Albertville
Coming from the channel ports of either Calais or Boulogne on the motorways (autoroutes), the route is very easy and well signposted. Immediately you come off the ferry, head for the A26 towards St. QUENTIN, REIMS (it will also be signposted Paris to start with, but our route avoids going anywhere near the dreaded peripherique). The A26 continues past TROYES and eventually becomes the A31 from where you need to head for DIJON, MACON and LYON.
As you approach Lyon, look out for signs for SAINT EXUPÉRY (Lyon Airport) and take these, therefore avoiding the centre of Lyon. From Lyon, follow all signs to CHAMBERY on the A43. From Chambery the A43 continues to ALBERTVILLE, where the motorway ends.
From Geneva Airport to Albertville
On leaving the airport, follow signs for FRANCE and ANNECY (In Switzerland green signs indicate motorway and blue indicate main roads - once in France it's the other way round!). These will take you to the border, near St. Julien.
In France, follow signs for Annecy which will take you off the motorway onto the N201. Once at Annecy, follow signs for ALBERTVILLE and the N508 (follow "Toutes Directions" or simply straight-on otherwise). These will take you through Annecy. Follow the main road, N508, to Albertville (approx 45mins from Annecy) past Lake Annecy. Before reaching Albertville, you will pass through a couple of small towns, including UGINE. At Ugine you will turn right onto the N212, direction Albertville.
From Albertville to Chalet Number One
From Albertville, follow signs to MOUTIERS and TARENTAISE. Once at Moutiers, follow signs to BOURG ST. MAURICE and TARENTAISE.
Once at Bourg St. Maurice, you are only 15 minutes from Chalet Number1! On entering Bourg, you will come to a mini-roundabout; take the first turning off this. Go straight over the traffic lights, past the train station on the right, and onto the next roundabout, where you follow signs to VAL D'ISERE, TIGNES. You will then come to another roundabout; once again, follow signs to Val D'Isere, Tignes and SAINTE FOY TARENTAISE.
The first village you come to is SEEZ, at the end of which is a fork in the road. Take the right hand fork, signposted, once agin, SAINTE FOY TARENTAISE, TIGNES, VAL D'ISERE. This road winds along through several little villages in the valley, then starts to climb. You will then come to SAINTE FOY TARENTAISE. There are a church, hotel and shops on the left hand side, before the road turns quite sharply right. Follow the road round this right bend and continue on for about 100 yards. The turning for our village is on the left hand side and is signposted, LA MAZURE, LE MIROIR and LA ROSIERE DE MONTVALEZAN. Follow this road up for about a mile without turning off. The first village you come to on this road is our village, La Masure. Drive straight through, (don't turn right at the "green") until you reach the last house, which will be on your right, next to the road. This is Chalet Number 1. If you get to the bridge, you've gone too far! (You can turn around at the bridge and then take the little sliproad in front of our house.) Chalet Number 1 is a tall house with a fairly flat roof; you will see the Chalet Number 1 sign and lots of stone steps up to the door to the far side.
Flights & Transport
There are numerous airlines flying into both Geneva and Lyon, with transfer time from either being approximately 2 hours 15 minutes: e.g. EasyJet or British Airways.
Chambery (1hr 30mins transfer) and Grenoble (2hr transfer) airports are alternatives. Flybe.com fly from Exeter, Southampton, Birmingham and Norwich to Chambery. jet2.com fly to both Chambery and Geneva from either Leeds or Manchester airports. For details of airlines flying into all these airports, you may find www.cheapflights.co.uk useful.
Ryan Air fly into Lyon Saint Etienne (2hrs 45 mins transfer).
You can get an instant quote and book your airport transfers on-line at www.alpinecab.com.
If you are hiring a car, there are numerous companies. Holiday Autos who will always beat a rival quote. The cost of hiring a car can be less per person than a private transfer from the airport, plus you then have the freedom to visit all the local resorts by day or night and are also able to seek out the best snow conditions, sheltered areas if windy, and restaurants and bars! Check for snow tyres and snow chains, a ski-rack may also be useful.
Regular coach services run from Geneva Airport (www.altibus.com) and Lyon St Exupery (Satobus Alpes) only, to Bourg Saint Maurice until approximately 6pm.
Alternatively phone direct on 00 41 227982000 for Geneva only, for English speaking operators. Bourg Saint Maurice is 15 minutes drive from Chalet Number One and we can pick up if required.
Cross channel services are available from P&O Stenaline, Sea France, Hoverspeed and the Channel Tunnel, with special rates for night-time crossings. Another ferry operator is Speedferries, who operate a low-cost service between Dover and Boulogne.
The Ski-Train and Eurostar service to Bourg St Maurice (15 mins transfer to Chalet Number One) are further travel options.