Ouibus schedule question - limited schedule in Sept?

Posted by Irene (Phoenix, AZ) on 07/03/18 07:35 PM

Hi - we need to take a bus from Chamonix to Annecy on September 6. The Ouibus website lists a full range of times until September 2, and after that it only lists a 7 AM bus. There is no way we can be on a bus and packed with all our stuff at that time. I'm wondering if anyone knows if they only run one bus a day in September, or if perhaps they just haven't loaded the rest of the schedule yet.

If no other bus times, we will have to look into getting a driver, in which case I would greatly appreciate some leads. It's not a long ride. We checked the trains and the timing of over 3 hours is just too long for this trip.

Thanks in advance.

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

07/03/18 08:18 PM

16895 posts

While the 7 a.m. may be a "known quantity" year-round (also reflected on the train schedule while the other buses are not), I would say that the fall bus schedules are otherwise just not published yet past Sunday, Sept. 2. Buses in general don't encourage or require planning as far ahead. There are trains that take 2.5 hours (with a shorter connection time at St. Gervais), but they're at noon and later, as you probably saw.

Posted by Irene OP

Phoenix, AZ

07/03/18 10:41 PM

107 posts

Hi Laura,

Thanks for your reply. There is a bus at 11 AM most days and that would be perfect for us - but it's odd, most days the 11 AM is sold out already almost two months in advance. The other times are all open, so there is something about that time, almost like some group is booking these buses or something. The other times are way too late. Thanks, I will keep refreshing the Ouibus page.

Posted by Irene OP

Phoenix, AZ

07/03/18 11:59 PM

107 posts

I don't know how this got in the Spain forum. Is it possible to move it to France?

Posted by Priscilla

California 🦋

07/05/18 04:50 AM

5294 posts

Irene,

Note that the 11AM bus is not direct, and you'll need to transfer at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet.

Why not take the direct bus at 10:50AM?

Chamonix and Annecy are amazingly beautiful, enjoy!

edited to add...
Oops! I misread your post and thought your travel date was September 2nd.
I presume the bus schedules have not been loaded for your date.

We took the train from Chamonix to Annecy and it was not so bad. The reason it takes so long is because it's a TER train, not a high speed train. The scenery along the route is spectacular!