Here is a collection of general resort knowledge compiled from our many years of living and working in the resort, of responding to your email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, listening to your feedback, plus translations of official resort literature. We have put this resource together to help you out when you are planning a trip to Verbier. Updating these Verbier FAQs is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!
There are many options, from driving to flying to catching a train. To help you decide which is best for you please read our How to Get Here section.
Where can I book flights from the UK?
The easiest way to find a flight to the Alps is to use our Flight Finder. With our search engine, you can search for flights to all the airports closest to your ski resort. You'll find a chpice of airlines, and of course, the best prices.
How do I get from the airport to Verbier?
Good transfer services exist at all the main airports for the Alps. A whole host of private companies offer minibus transfers (shared and private), or hiring a car is probably the quickest way to get to resort. Public transport using buses and trains are also available but can take a great deal longer to get to your destination. For more information on all these services, take a look at our Transfers from the Airport section.
How do I get from the airport to Verbier?
Geneva (CH) airport is the best served airport to use for Verbier at just over two hours away by motorway. Sion (CH) is the closest airport at 40 minutes drive away but has limited flights due to its small size. Turin (IT)is 2½ hours away. To travel from these airports you have the choice of scheduled bus, shared shuttle, hire car, taxi, tour operators, private helicopter transfer or train. You may want to check with whomever you booked your accommodation in Verbier with to see if they make transfer arrangements for you anyway or as an 'optional extra'.
Shared Shuttle: Airport Transfer Companies provide means to reserve shared minibuses which take you door-to-door to and from most ski resort destinations. Booking on-line is recommended. Costs around 50CHF one-way running ~every 3 hours on a Saturday.
Train: The trains are a great way to travel around the place and are notorious for their punctuality and reliability. There is a station at Geneva airport (far left as you come out of Arrivals) from which you can catch roughly two direct trains per hour or one non-direct (via Geneva centre or Lausanne) to Martigny. At Martigny change on to the Grand St. Bernard Express to Le Chable (bottom of the Verbier mountain) from where you can catch the Post bus to resort. Cost is around 55CHF one way and takes around 2½hours. The seemingly the simplest option for ticketing for an airport transfer is the Swiss Transfer Service, consisting of a return ticket from the Swiss border or one of Switzerland’s airports to your destination. The Transfer Ticket cannot be purchased in Switzerland and so must be purchased on-line and is slightly more expenive than booking the train directly for as short a journey as from Geneva.
Buses: From Geneva Gare Routiere provides a means for booking coaches on-line to Verbier. From Sion the airport bus operates a route to Verbier.
Car hire: Car hire can be arranged from each of the airports above and if there are several people travelling is not always an expensive option. Pre-booking is highly recommended if not obligatory. Try using Holiday Autos for the best searches and prices.
Taxi: A taxi for up to 4 people will cost approximately 650CHF if you get a taxi at the door from Geneva. For more than 4 people the cost will be higher for the vehicle and probably cheaper per person.
Tour Operators: Here there are two possibilities: 1. you can book a Flight & Transfer with an operator which they sell through their agents/web-sites/call-centres - therefore is paid for in advance and you will appear on the transfer manifests 2. you can make your own flight arrangements and upon arrival at the airport catch up with a rep from one of the companies and book onto their coaches. In both cases as the reps are unlikely to know where you are staying (they have no details as you made your own accommodation arrangements), make sure you establish the return journey procedures: give them the flight you are on, get the resort office's contact details and call on Thurday evening for transfer details/confirmation. Method 2. is not guaranteed but is ususally fine. Expect to pay €50 one-way for Geneva-Verbier and you will have to pay the two journeys seperately (as the return cannot be guaranteed till the end of the week). See Tour Operators listings for contact details
Helicopter: A helicopter transfer with (turn your volume down before clicking!) Air Glaciers for up to 5 people (without much luggage) can be arranged to Verbier. In bad weather conditions the helicopter cannot fly and it must arrive during daylight hours. Expect to pay around 1500CHF.
Yes, you can..... but it is not likely to be the best or cheapest option, as in every case you will need to change at least once. Your best bet is Eurostar
from London (Waterloo) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and then changing to an SNCF TGV train from the other side of Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Geneva or Annecy. Read more in...How to Get Here
How do you go about arranging a 'DIY' holiday?
This is a question that many of us ponder. A DIY holiday offers a fully flexible package to suit your needs. But a Tour Operator package is quick and easy, and often cheaper. You can read more about the pros and cons of each kind of holiday in our where to stay in Verbier section.
How should I pack my skis and/or snowboard?
If you like your skis and are travelling by air, it is imperative that you pack them in a ski or board bag for protection. Most airlines will still take your skis if they are not in a ski bag; just don’t be surprised at the condition they arrive in at the other end of your flight. A ski or snowboard bag can also be packed with soft items (ski trousers, jumpers etc) around your skis or board to give them added protection. Just be careful if the equipment is covered in storage wax. If driving to resort, the most convenient alternative is a roof "coffin" style box that will carry several pairs of skis/boards, boots and poles. A roof rack is also a handy alternative and can be retned from many ski shops. If using a roof rack, try to cover the bindings over to prevent them getting covered in grit and salt. Roof boxes and roof racks should be lockable and therefore fairly secure from thiefs.
How long does it take to drive to Verbier from the UK?
From Calais the journey takes from 7 to 10 hours depending on your speed. There is motorway or dual carriageway from Calais all the way to the foot of the Alps. The better route is via Reims and not via Paris; and then on past Troyes, Dijon and passing close to Geneva. Try using ViaMichelin to plan your route. Remember that it is a legal requirement in France to carry a warning triangle and spare bulbs, and that the Motorway speed limit depends on the weather. On Autoroutes the speed limit is 130km/hr (81mph) except during rain when it reduces to 110km/hr (68mph). Speeding fines are expensive and must be paid immediately to the traffic police. The roads around Lyon, Albertville and Moûtiers are often slow moving or at a standstill during the busy French holiday weekends. For more information, please look at our Driving to Resort pages.
Do I need a car in the resort?
Verbier has a free bus service which runs from 8a.m. to 7p.m. In the winter this is free with your valley lift-pass. Nonetheless, at busy periods (especially winter) things get very crowded.
Due to the spread of the resort a car is only necessary if you can't use the bus, you are away from the main area you want to ski or your accommodation is away from the bus routes. Remember when the weather is bad the going can be treacherous and you will need snow-tyres and/or chains. The other main deterrent is parking availability.
It is worth checking if you are travelling with a tour/chalet operator whether or not they offer a free minibus service to their clients thereby saving on the need for your own vehicle
What else should I know about driving in France?
When driving in France, it is important that you are aware of any road laws and restrictions that may differ from home. For starters, UK licence holders must be 18 years or older in order to drive a temporarily imported car on French roads. For everything you need to know about driving in France, take a look at our page on Driving to Resort
Do I need to carry chains in the car (often a paying optional extra in car-hire)?
Yes! During snowy weather, resorts restrict access to vehicles with snow-tyres or chains, and sometimes traffic police will not allow any vehicle on to the resort access road without chains being fitted. Chains can be bought at any of the garages in the area or can be requested as part of a car hire package (if you are taking a car locally). The colour-coded 'quick-fit' variety are usually the best option and make sure you buy the right dimensions for you tyres - one size does NOT fit all. Read more about Driving in the Alps.
Where can I park and how much does it cost?
There are plenty of free and metered parking spaces. Please see our Transport & Parking section for details of location and prices.
Can I Picnic at Any of the Mountain Restaurants?
Picnicking is forbidden, or ‘interdit’, in most mountain restaurants. You may get away with eating your own sandwich if you buy some chips and a drink to go with it – but don’t be surprised if it is frowned upon. However, there are plenty of great places to eat al fresco in the mountains - as long as you don't mind nestling down into the snow or perching on a slab of rock! For our recommendations, please read our page on Lunch Spots on the Mountain.
Which Mountain Restaurants Should I Try?
Lunch is a well-earned meal when you’re up the mountain all day! There are a range of restaurants to try from self-service snack bars to wooden chalets with roaring fires and waiter service. Please read our Verbier lunch Spots guide to find out which are our favourites.
When are the French School Holidays this year?
French and British school holidays often coincide, making ski resorts extremely busy for certain weeks of the year. If there is a period when you can take a holiday and avoid the school break you should hopefully find lift queues, restaurants and other attractions much more tranquil. French school holiday dates can be found in our Families & Kids section.
What Are the Different Ski Areas in Verbier Like?
Although Verbier consists of a number of smaller areas they are all well-linked and can be split up into 4 main ski areas: Verbier, La Tzoumaz/Savolyres, Bruson and Mont Fort/4 Valleys. Please go to Ski Areas in Verbier to read more about what you will find there.
What’s Verbier Like for Skiers/Snowboarders?
There really is something for everyone – you can find out all about ski areas, snow parks, cross-country skiing, handiski and more in our Skiing and Snowboarding in Verbier section. You will also find some information on avalanches and mountain safety, aswell as links to ski schools and ski rental shops.
Where can I get a copy of the Verbier piste maps?
Right here! Please click on Verbier Maps for all Verbierand the 4 Valleys maps, including piste maps. You can also pick up paper copies in resort at the Tourist Office, lift stations, hotel receptions and elsewhere.
Where Do I Go in Verbier For...Beginners/Bad Weather/Bumps/Off-Piste/etc?
It’s all very well having a piste map but without a bit of local knowledge you’ll never find the hidden gems that we all head straight for! If you’re looking for a quiet slope to practise your parallel turns, somewhere to escape from the bad weather, a great off-piste powder stash, or even just a nice spot for lunch be sure to check out our guide to Verbier Skiing.
Should I Hire or Buy My Skis/Snowboard?
For a beginner it is probably best to hire equipment; if you buy equipment straightaway you quickly outgrow it as your skiing level improves. The cost of hiring skis and boots for 6 days (adults) varies from around €90 - 110 for beginners, to around €110 - 150 for experts/top of the range equipment. Wait until you have done a few weeks’ skiing or boarding and make sure that this is a sport you will practice regularly, and then consider buying - for more advice see our pages on Buying your Skis/Snowboards & Boots. The cost of purchase will pay for itself over 4 or 5 weeks, so if you are doing a season or visit the mountains a few times a year then it is a good investment to have your own kit that you know you are comfortable with. There are a wide range of Ski Rental/Sports Shops in Verbier where you can hire and buy the latest kit.
Can I Cross-Country Ski in Verbier?
Cross-country skiing is a great alternative to regular alpine skiing if you fancy taking things a bit slower and enjoying the tranquility of the surroundings. It is still a great form of exercise though, as it is more energetic than it looks! You can find out all about the cross-country trails in Verbier on our Cross Country Skiing page.
Can I take my baby to a ski resort?
Yes, you can take your baby to a ski resort but be aware that sudden changes in temperature and altitude are not recommended. For help on in-resort childcare, equipment rental and helpful tips go to our Tips for Families in Verbier & the 4 Valleys.
At what age should my child start skiing?
Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For this age group skiing should remain a play activity, so don't expect a young child to ski all day - a couple of hours is ample. For more information on ski school and children please read our Children's Skiing section.
