Hello Everyone,
FlixBus just cancelled my tickets for the direct route (3:45) from Milan to Chamonix France. They are only offering a similar route that will take 9:50. Unapologetic and will not divulge the reason. I will never recommend using them again.
Anyway, I need to get from Bellagio to Chamonix France on 9/14. Car rental will run about $1400 plus fuel. Has anyone used any private drivers in that area that might consider the route for us (two people)?
Thanks in advance.
Alan
Someone else recently posted about going to Annecy and said the Mt Blanc tunnel will be closed.
see:
"from the beginning of September to mid-December 2024"
https://www.tunnelmb.net/en-US/news/programmed-total-closures-to-traffic-april-august-2024-1
Good luck.
You can go in 6 to 8 hours by train with 4 transfers starting in Varenna.
Change trains at Milano Centrale, intermediate Swiss city (Brig, Visp, or Sion), Martigny, and Vallorcine. It will certainly cost you less than $1400. More like $200.
Mt. Balnc Tunnel will be closed from Sept 2 till December. This is almost certainly the reason for your re-routing. Scheduled for months this should have no surprise to Flix. Brad
If the tunnel closure is why the bus now takes 10 hrs, a car service does not look like a solution.
Going from Bellagio to Milan to fly to Geneva ( no direct flights) and then a taxi or public transit from Geneva to Chamonix, looks to be as long a travel day as the bus alternative flix offers.
You want the hangman to use the green rope or the blue one?
Thank you everyone for your replies.
Here are my options as of now:
6 am train from Varenna to Milan, Flixbus (skeptical) to Chamonix $310.00 13 hrs Into Chamonix at 7pm
6 am train from Varenna to Milan, train Milan to Geneva, bus Geneva to Chamonix $260.00 12 hrs Into Chamonix at 6pm
Driver (recommended by R Steves book). $950 4 hrs Into Chaomonx at 11am.
Car Rental $1400 8 hrs Into Chamonix at 4pm.
Most likely I'll go with the driver as it will cost about $650 more but gives us an entire day to enjoy in Chamonix. Plus, with all of the train/bus connections, I don't trust that each of them will be available when we arrive.
Driver (recommended by R Steves book). $950 4 hrs Into Chaomonx at 11am.
Car Rental $1400 8 hrs Into Chamonix at 4pm
I am puzzled at why you driving a rental car takes twice as long as a hired driver.
What am I missing?
The driver would pick us up in Bellagio and drive straight to Chamonix.
To rent a car, we'd need to get to Milan to pick up the car. It would take about 4 additional hours to put everything in place, plus we wouldn't be able to drop the car in Chamonix, which would add time to the end to get to the town.
They are two very difficult towns to negotiate to and from.
I live in a small seaside town in Massachusetts that isn't easy to get to either...that's one of the beautiful things about it. It doesn't appear on any highway exit signs. We're hidden.
Are you sure that the rental car can drive to Chamonix in 4 hours? Under ordinary circumstances it could be possible, but if the Chamonix tunnel is closed a detour is needed and I am afraid 6 hours look more likely.
Yes, Mont Blanc Tunnel will be closed. 4 hours ain't gonna happen.
https://www.tunnelmb.net/en-US/news/september-to-december-2023-reconstruction-of-the-tunnel-vault
Plus, with all of the train/bus connections, I don't trust that each of them will be available when we arrive.
To Chamonix is all train via Martigny (and looks like you will be going there anyway if you drive or take a driver), and if you don't trust train connections, I guess you've never been to Switzerland.
