Leysin Chalet for Rent: Superbly renovated traditional Swiss mountain ski chalet - Property 56381

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Travel information - air: Air services to Geneva are excellent, especially from the UK. In addition to budget airlines (contact the property owners for details on low cost flight and car hire websites) it is worth checking fares on British Airways and Swiss - both airlines offer competitive rates on this route, frequently undercutting the no-frills operators. It can also be important to avoid peak-travel times (Friday evenings and Monday mornings can be particularly difficult) and flights can be very busy over the weekend, especially during the winter season. Geneva airport offers a wide range of car hire options (check to see whether your airline offers special car hire rates in addition to the specialist companies, also if arriving late, make sure your car hire desk will remain open) and the railway station in the airport offers direct connections via Geneva to Aigle, our nearest town, throughout the day (see below). At Aigle one changes onto the classic mountain cog railway for the 20min ascent to Leysin.

Travel information - rail: There are generous discounts available on the Swiss Railway system for frequent travelers and families (contact the owners for details on rail travel websites). Leysin has excellent rail connections to Geneva and directly through to Geneva Airport via Aigle; the service between Leysin and Aigle is a classic mountain cog railway which functions in most weather conditions. Services from Geneva Airport station start at 0630 each morning, with trains to Leysin every hour (via Aigle) through to 2130. On the return journey services run from 0530 through to 2130. Total journey time is around 1hr 50mins, with a quick transfer in Aigle. In Leysin there are 4 stops, with Leysin Village and Feydey offering connections to the free shuttle bus, which runs through the village (and stops outside the chalet) every hour. There are also three taxi services with minibus, for use outside the shuttle bus hours, from any Leysin station. A taxi from Aigle to Leysin is quite expensive (around SFr 75).

Travel information - road: The motorway system south of the North French channel ports is fast and efficient. From Geneva the motorway is excellent, bypassing Lausanne and Montreux, with superb views of Lake Geneva across to France. One leaves the motorway at Aigle, to follow the mountain road for around 18kms up to Leysin. Total distance from Geneva airport is 125kms, and journey time around 1hr 30mins. All roads are kept clear in winter, though in snow and ice conditions 4-wheel drive or chains are reasonably essential (and in some conditions compulsory) on the mountain roads. Please contact the owners for details of route-planning websites, which can make the journey to Leysin very straight-forward from any point in Europe. Motorway restaurants, including the ubiquitous Mövenpick chain, are well worth using in Switzerland, and are well-equipped with shops, mini-markets, clean toilets and in many cases, WiFi (either free or nominal charge). There are three large supermarket complexes on the route from Geneva.

Ski: An attractive Vaud Alps resort, Leysin is traditionally recommended for beginners and intermediates, with good off-piste for advanced skiers and an international snowboarding reputation – “one of the top resorts in Switzerland for snowboarders .... 50km area having virtually no drag-lifts” (British Ski Club guide). Annual Nescafé championships utilises the superb half pipe. 61km of pistes available (14km protected by snow-making equipment), with 14 lifts and 7km of cross country skiing. Skiing from 1330m-2200m is uncrowded, with several traditional family mountain restaurants. Leysin has Europe’s largest toboggan park, excellent multi-lingual Swiss Ski School, ice rink and well-stocked ski hire shops. Ski passes can include neighbouring Villars, Les Diablerets (year round glacier skiing @ 3000m), Gryon and Les Mosses (kids under 9 ski free!). For recommended personal ski guides, sports/activities info. and weather/snow stats. websites for Leysin and local resorts. - contact owners.

Guest Book: 'Fantastic place, very enjoyable time, wonderful views....', 'A glass of wine in the evening sunshine, accompanied by a symphony of cow bells...a memory of heaven to savour for a long time', '....had a fabulous holiday, lots of snow and brilliant sunshine....after just two lessons the children were able to ski from top to the bottom of the mountain...', '....ski runs very picturesque, good skiing, lovely, unpredictable, healthy, few days' break, many thanks...', '....peace, absolute peace...', '....our only problem was finding anyone who would talk in French! Everyone we met spoke fluent English - the local shop owners couldn't have been friendlier, and the restaurants were superb, varied and excellent value - we particularly liked La Fromagerie with imaginative local dishes, a fascinating cheese-making demonstration running throughout the evening (helped by our kids) and the village museum on the upper floors - magical!' '...local Classic cinema shows 1st run English films!'

Other Activities: squash, ice skating, tobogganing, curling, boules, mini-golf, bike park

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