chambery-airport-transfers

Chambery airport transfers

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:04:58 +0100

Situated on the edge of Chambery, Lac du Bourget is known as the Grey Lake. It is the longest and deepest lake within France.

The lake was formed during the end of the last ice age. It covers a total area of 44.5 square kilometres and runs in a narrow strip for 18km. On average the lake is around 85 metres deep but at certain points goes as deep as 145 metres. It is surrounded on either side by high steep mountain ranges but still has sandy and pebble beaches. In the summer the lake has many people practising water sports and swimming and the water temperature can reach a warm 26 degrees.

The main town on the lake is Aix-les-Bains and as well as being a thermal spa resort it is also a nautical resort. You can go sailing, rowing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, diving, wake boarding and water skiing from here. Lake Bourget is known for its wide variety of fish, there are 30 different species.

But you don't have to stick to the water, the area is great for walking, mountain biking and climbing. There are numerous cycling tracks around the lake and vineyards.

And Aix-Les-Bains has an 18 hole golf course as well as a zipline and tree top climb close by. You can paraglide in the area or go walking in the national park and reach panoramic view points.

There are Roman remains in Aix-les-Bains and an old Abbey, where the old Counts of the Savoie region are buried. The Abbey is built in a gothic style.

There are other pretty villages along the shoreline and the remains of a castle and a priory. Of course you cannot visit this region without tasting some of the many wines and there are four Michelin starred restaurants in the vicinity.

If you are flying into Chambery and have the time, visit the Lake before you get your airport transfer from this website.

Chambery Town

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:17:50 +0100

For most Chambery is just the name of the airport that is closest to the Three Valleys ski area and the Paradiski area. But it is actually a lovely town, steeped in history and surrounded by stunning scenery.

The town of Chambery developed around the Le Château des Ducs de Savoie, built back in 1232 by the Count of the Savoie region, when Chambery was the capital of the Savoie region and remained so until the sixteen century. The castle guarded the pass into Italy and still stands guard over the old town, with its narrow cobbled streets. At night the castle and other buildings are illuminated.

Chambery is easy to explore by foot as it is not particularly large and the old town is compact and all around the medieval quarter. There is Place Saint-Leger with coloured facades all around, many court yards and imposing mansions. There is the famous Fontaine Des Elephants and several museums worth a visit such as the Musée Savoisien for Savoyard history.

Chambery has a very unique culture and cuisine and still very much prides itself on its Savoyard heritage with the traditional Savoyard flag hanging everywhere. If tempted by one of the specialities try Raclette, a mass of melted, dripping cheese served with bread and often different cured meats or the filled and satisfying Tartiflette, a dish of potatoes, ham, cream, garlic and cheese.

Around Chambery is a nature lover's delight with mountains and fertile vineyards covering the slopes. Just a little beyond the town is the Bauges National Park abundant in Alpine flora and fauna. The next door town to Chambery is the popular spa resort town of Aix-Les-Bains, on the edge of the Lac du Bourget. This is France's largest natural lake. The spa town also offers thermal baths. Of course Chambery is seen as the main gate way point to some of the largest ski areas in the world with the Three Valleys ski area (Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens), being a short hour or so's drive away and the Paradiski area of La Plagne and Les Arcs being just a little further.

For more information on Chambery visit the official Chambery tourist website or for more information on getting a taxi from Chambery airport to one of the ski resorts, take a look at TheSkiBug website.

Chambery Airport - The Gateway to The French Alps

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:41:09 +0100

There are around 45 ski resorts within an hour's drive of Chambery airport, a further 60 or so within around an hour and a half and another 100 or so within a 2 to 3 hour drive. It is a small airport but ideally situated for anyone going for a skiing holiday in the French Alps.

It is situated just outside the town of Chambery in the town of Le Viviers du Lac just next to the Lac du Bourget (The Bourget Lake), the largest natural lake in France. There is easy access to the motorway heading towards the Three Valleys ski area (Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens), the Paradiski area (La Plagne and Les Arcs) and Tignes and Val d'Isere.

At least 11 regional airports in the UK offer charter flights into Chambery in the winter months including flyby, jet2.com, bmibaby and British Airways. There is just the one tarmac runway but in 2011 the airport served around a quarter of a million passengers during the ski season. It also serves passengers from Russia, Scandinavia and other European destinations as well as offering daily internal flights to Paris.

The airport is small and does get very crowded in the busy winter ski season as facilities are not the best and all passengers come through one door into the one large space where those arriving and those departing mingle, often in chaos. There is only one baggage reclaim belt and a small restaurant upstairs. However, the airport does offer free car parking for around 300 cars and an easy drop off and pick up system.

There are the usual tour company desks and reps around and also a kiosk for those looking to continue on their journey to their ski resort by coach. The Alti-bus leaves Chambery airport every couple of hours, dropping at various destinations like Moutiers, La Plagne and Bourg St Maurice.

Whilst most people just take the toll road from Chambery towards the Three Valleys ski area and further on, the back road, which runs parallel to the motorway is very scenic, winding its way through pretty little French villages and past vine yards and chateaux on the hillside.

There are many companies offering Chambery airport transfers during the ski season and these companies will meet you at the airport, transport you in comfort to your ski resort ad then take you back to the airport to catch your returning flight. Using an airport transport service such as TheSkiBug takes all the hassle out of getting to and from your ski holiday destination.