The enduring nightmare of ski transfers – and why they are getting worse


One former transfer driver in Méribel, who wishes to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph: “Disasters do happen, especially with only one road in or out. But all the reputable companies work together, with hives on transfer days monitoring real-time traffic and alternative routes, flight delays and so on, so they tend to have knowledgeable drivers and are on top of things.”

Brexit, he says, has reduced the number of transfer companies and made sourcing drivers very difficult: “Transfer companies have a limited pool of drivers to choose from and are taking less skilled drivers from Eastern Europe and Bulgaria, which produces language and cultural differences in regards to road safety.”

Alison Roberts, a former bus driver, has operated Morzine and Back Transfers for 13 years. She had a number of 16-seater buses before Brexit, employing British coach drivers. “They would come over for four or five months and work on French seasonal contracts. But post-Brexit getting their visas has become too long-winded and expensive so I’ve sold my big buses and now just operate one small minibus which I drive myself.”

Roberts said accommodation in resorts has become hard to find and expensive, and that Switzerland also requires all staff to be paid Swiss rates when driving in Switzerland. Fuel has also doubled in price – her shared transfer price has risen from €25 per person to €48 per person, while private transfers, for up to eight passengers, are up from €200 to €300.

There is, and always has been, a black market for resort transfers, where seasonnaires undercut established and insured businesses by giving lifts to fund their skiing. But these are uninsured.

To combat the price rises, Ski-lifts.com is offering more shared transfers this season. “This is a great option for customers, offering door-to-door transfers at a lower price,” said Smith. “We have also introduced electric and hybrid ski transfers to provide our customers with more sustainable travel options. We want to help our customers get to and from their ski resort as safely and cost effectively as possible.” 

Steering away from popular French resorts might be another option for families sick of traffic – not only is traffic lighter in Italy and Spain, where half-term holidays don’t clash with the UK, but the transfers are cheaper.

“Door-to-door transfers, when you’re greeted at the airport, will always be the most popular and convenient,” said Ski Line’s Angus Kinloch. “We can organise this at a fraction of the cost of France, using local taxi firms in Italy, where there isn’t the sheer number of British skiers creating this need for British-speaking coach drivers.”



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