Here 4 the Apres

Why should I fly through Geneva to get to Val Thorens?

As I mentioned in my previous blog post when deciding which airport to fly into for Val Thorens, I prefer to fly into Geneva because it is the closest international airport to Val Thorens to fly into directly from New York City (although I am a Delta flyer so I had to connect through CDG), it has the most buses leaving throughout the day (this matters if your flight is delayed), and there is an afternoon bus from Val Thorens to Geneva Airport so that you can get a couple ski runs in before you leave. Also if you decide to spend the night in Geneva before you leave, hotels are reasonably priced and they always gives you free transportation card on the Geneva trains. Doesn’t hurt that you can buy delicious Swiss chocolates on the way home!

How do I get to Val Thorens from Geneva Airport?

I go into details about the best ways to get to Val Thorens from Geneva airport on this post. Ben’s Bus and Altibus is the most common way to get to Val Thorens. But hiring a car is also an option, but be aware parking should be booked in advanced and it is expensive considering you will not need the car on the resort if you’re only planning to go out in Val Thorens at night.

Where to stay in Geneva?

I like to stay near the Geneva Central Railway Station, which is a quick 6 minute train ride from Geneva Airport with trains running every 10-15 minutes. I mostly do this because I don’t want to lug my 50 pound ski bag far, but still want to be able to eat some dinner in Geneva. Last time I stayed Hotel Montbrillant which was just across the street from the station. I didn’t realize it until after I got there, but the hotel even emailed me my free Geneva transit card, so I could have taken the train from the airport to the hotel for free. So check your email for this! You can also reach out to your hotel if you don’t see it. I know booking.com has a chat function and the accommodations are pretty good about responding pretty quickly. Other times I have stayed at Hotel Astoria, which is only slightly further away on the other side of the train station. Both options are clean but basic business type hotels.

What language do they speak in Geneva?

While French is the main language in Geneva, many people usually also speak English. I did go to eat at a Japanese ramen shop while we were there and our waitress spoke French, and better Japanese than English.

Is Geneva Safe?

I was in Geneva alone for two of my trips. I walked about 10 minutes to dinner at night and I felt safe. It could because I already live in a big city or maybe I’m just naive?

Any sites to see in Geneva?

I usually try to maximize my ski time during the winter, so I didn’t arrive into Geneva until the evening, so I only got to see the Geneva Water Fountain when I woke up early before my flight home.

Where did you go eat in Geneva?

I’m sure there are plenty of great Swiss food options and maybe fine dining options, but we just got off the mountain and were dying for Asian food. We ended up eating at authentic Japanese ramen at Yukiguni. Since there was a bit of a wait, we did some sake tastings at their sister cafe Yuki Cafe which is now permanently closed. Though, let me warn you, food is expensive in Geneva, more so than New York City, but at least hotels are cheaper!

Geneva Airport – Priority Pass Lounge

One of the other great benefits of flying out to Geneva is that it has an Air France lounge that is part of Priority Pass. If you have a premium credit card like Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum, Priority pass is included. Don’t forget to activate this benefit before you leave. And don’t forget to buy some Swiss chocolate at the airport before you leave! Its so creamy!