Skiing airports
It’s now incredibly simple to book a cheap skiing holiday. Most budget airlines offer ski deals during autumn and winter which will take you to Geneva, Munich, Grenoble, Turin, Friedrichshafen and various other airports. From there, you can catch an onward connection and make your way to some of the best slopes in the world.
Geneva International Airport, Switzerland
Geneva Airport is your best bet for resorts in the Swiss and French Alps including Chatel, Courchevel, Flaine, Chamonix, Verbiers and Villars, which all lie within three hours of the airport. EasyJet, bmibaby, flybe and flyglobespan all fly here. To get to the resorts, CFF trains run regularly, as does an Aeroskibus which for the most part requires a reservation. These can be made online prior to travel (www.alpski-bus.com) or at the airport. Minibuses, taxis and even limousines are also available for a faster transit to your chosen resort.
Chambery airport is another, smaller, airport in the French Alps region which serves mostly the same resorts, as well as Notre Dame de Bellecombe. Only flybe and Jet2 fly here.
Munich Airport, Germany
The city of Munich is close enough to nearby the ski resorts that tourists can stay in hotels in the city centre and make day trips out to the slopes. Munich should be your destination for German and Austrian resorts including Zugspitze, Kitzbuhel, Westendorf and Kaprun. EasyJet flies here and there are regular trains and buses to Zugspitze (the country’s highest mountain) and other resorts. Day trips are advertised locally in pubs, restaurants and sports shops, so planning your skiing trip around Munich might not require so much pre-planning – although booking in advance will guarantee you a place on the tours.
Grenoble-Isère Airport, France
Located at the foot of the Alps in the south-east of France, Grenoble airport will get you nearest to the skiing regions of Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Isère, including the resorts of Courchevel, Meribel, Megeve, Morzine and Montgenevre. Both easyJet and Ryanair fly here, and there are buses and taxis to transport you to your chosen resort.
Turin Caselle Airport, Italy
For the world-famous Italian ski resorts, including Sauze d’Ouix, Cormayeur, Cortina and Madonna di Campiglio, fly to Turin airport. Both easyJet and Ryanair fly here and there are regular trains that will take you to Ouix station, from where you can reach most of the resorts by bus or taxi.
Friedrichshafen Airport
Friedrichshafen airport will get you close to the famous ski resorts of St Moritz and Klosters, courtesy of Ryanair. From the airport, trains and taxis are available to all the major resorts in the area.
