About St Gervais Les Bains
Saint Gervais les Bains is an old spa town with beautiful Baroque and fin de siécle architecture. It has many excellent restaurants and bars, but retains a more authentic feel that most ski towns. As part of the 4th biggest ski area in France, Saint Gervais should be a name that tumbles from the tongue of every serious skier. But because it is sandwiched between exclusive Megève and the Alps’ unofficial capital city of Chamonix, Saint Gervais can get overlooked; much to the satisfaction of those who have already discovered it. Outside of peak weeks the slopes are often dreamily empty and lift-accessed powder fields can be enjoyed long after those in nearby Chamonix have been thoroughly trounced.
Saint Gervais is also on the line of France’s highest rack-railway. The Tramway de Mont Blanc was originally intended to go all the way up to that eponymous summit. The First World War stopped the project at its present 2380m point – though physics would have intervened eventually anyway – and work was never resumed. But it still functions in both summer and winter and being ratcheted up steep, rock-walled passes in a wooden-seated fin de siècle train remains a most charming way to go skiing or explore the walks of Les Houches.
Saint Gervais is also on the line of France’s highest rack-railway. The Tramway de Mont Blanc was originally intended to go all the way up to that eponymous summit. The First World War stopped the project at its present 2380m point – though physics would have intervened eventually anyway – and work was never resumed. But it still functions in both summer and winter and being ratcheted up steep, rock-walled passes in a wooden-seated fin de siècle train remains a most charming way to go skiing or explore the walks of Les Houches.
The ski lift Le Bettex (which runs in both winter & summer seasons) is in the center of town and will whisks you into the heart of the 'Evasion Mont Blanc' ski & summer sport area. The 'Evasion Mont Blanc' area includes St Gervais and Megeve ski area, with around 300 km of pistes, plus 150 km of ski area in Les Contamines, which is a short drive away.
Getting to Saint Gervais
Saint Gervais les Bains is very easy to access:
1 hour drive from Geneva Airport;
15 minutes drive from the Autoroute Blanche;
10 minutes drive from the nearby TGV and train station of Saint Gervais-Le Fayet.
Travel from Geneva Airport
Private or Shared transfer - the best way from Geneva Airport is to use a private transfer minibus which will take you from the airport to the door, however this is expensive. A shared minibus transfer from Geneva airport is an alternative, and will be cheaper and will leave you at the train station nearby in Le Fayet from where you will need to get a bus or taxi to the accommodation (about 10mins drive). These transfer companies run both services, provide child seats as needed and speak English & French.
We recommend Mountain Drop Offs & Alplinks/Resort Rides for private & shared minibus transfers. www.mountaindropoffs.com and www.resortrides.com
Bus - the cheapest way is the Oui Bus/BlaBlaBus service which leaves from right outside the arrivals area at the airport and goes to St Gervais with only one change. The St Gervais Le Pont bus stop is only about 500m from the accommodation. www.ouibus.com
1 hour drive from Geneva Airport;
15 minutes drive from the Autoroute Blanche;
10 minutes drive from the nearby TGV and train station of Saint Gervais-Le Fayet.
Travel from Geneva Airport
Private or Shared transfer - the best way from Geneva Airport is to use a private transfer minibus which will take you from the airport to the door, however this is expensive. A shared minibus transfer from Geneva airport is an alternative, and will be cheaper and will leave you at the train station nearby in Le Fayet from where you will need to get a bus or taxi to the accommodation (about 10mins drive). These transfer companies run both services, provide child seats as needed and speak English & French.
We recommend Mountain Drop Offs & Alplinks/Resort Rides for private & shared minibus transfers. www.mountaindropoffs.com and www.resortrides.com
Bus - the cheapest way is the Oui Bus/BlaBlaBus service which leaves from right outside the arrivals area at the airport and goes to St Gervais with only one change. The St Gervais Le Pont bus stop is only about 500m from the accommodation. www.ouibus.com