Dress in comfortable layers you can add or remove, wear shoes or boots with good grip for snowy pavements, and keep a warm jacket, hat and gloves in your hand luggage rather than in the hold. Airports and vehicles are warm, but the final steps from the car to a chalet can be icy, and a well-heated AirportsTransfers.ch vehicle makes it easy to adjust layers on the way.
- Base: Comfortable layers: T-shirt, light jumper, fleece
- Outer: Warm, packable jacket kept in hand luggage
- Footwear: Grippy, waterproof shoes or winter boots
- Accessories: Hat, gloves and sunglasses within reach
- Avoid: Ski boots on the plane and slippery soles
Why the journey needs its own outfit
A ski trip starts in a heated home, passes through a warm aircraft cabin and airport, and ends in a mountain village where it may be well below freezing. Dressing only for the destination leaves you overheating on the plane; dressing only for the flight leaves you shivering at the chalet door. Layers solve both problems.
Transfer times from Geneva Airport vary from about 1 h 10 to Megève (around 75 km) to roughly 2 h 45 to Val d'Isère (about 180 km), so you will spend a while in the vehicle. Being comfortable, rather than wrapped in full ski gear, makes that time far more pleasant.
Bear in mind that conditions change along the way. Geneva may be grey and mild while the resort is under fresh snow, or the valley may be foggy while the mountains bask in sunshine. Check the forecast for your destination, not just for the airport, the evening before you fly.
Layers that work from plane to chalet
Start with a breathable T-shirt or thin long-sleeved top, add a light jumper or fleece, and keep a warm jacket to put on last. A packable down or synthetic jacket is ideal because it squashes into a cabin bag and goes on in seconds when you step out of the car.
Comfortable trousers with some stretch suit a long day of sitting. Jeans are fine, but they are cold once wet, so if snow is forecast at your destination, soft outdoor trousers are a better choice. Children benefit from the same approach, with an extra layer handy because they feel the cold quickly on arrival.
- Breathable base layer
- Light jumper or fleece
- Packable warm jacket in your hand luggage
- Comfortable, quick-drying trousers
- Thick socks, plus a spare pair
Footwear for snowy drop-offs
Shoes are where many travellers go wrong. Smooth-soled trainers or smart leather shoes are lethal on packed snow and ice, and the last few metres from a vehicle to a chalet door, across a car park or up a sloping path can be the most treacherous part of the trip. Wear waterproof shoes or winter boots with good grip, ideally ones that are easy to slip off at security.
Never travel in ski boots. They are uncomfortable on a plane and in a car, and dangerous on hard airport floors. Carry them in a boot bag, and if your luggage allowance permits, take them as hand luggage so you can ski even if a checked bag is delayed.
If your accommodation is up a steep lane, ask your chauffeur to stop as close to the entrance as is safe. In car-free Zermatt, where road transfers end at Täsch, about 231 km and 2 h 35 from the airport, good footwear matters for the short walk to and from the shuttle train.
Keeping essentials within reach
Hats, gloves, a scarf or neck warmer and sunglasses take up very little room and make a big difference at altitude. Keep them in a jacket pocket or the top of your cabin bag so you can grab them as soon as you step out of the vehicle. Sunglasses are worth having to hand in the car too, as the glare from snow on a bright day can be intense.
Lip balm, sun cream and a bottle of water help with the dry air of planes and mountains. For children, a small bag with a spare layer, gloves and snacks avoids rummaging through suitcases at the roadside.
Think about the return journey too. On departure day, ski clothes are often damp and boots still drying. Pack them in a separate bag, wear your comfortable travel layers again and keep the warm jacket on top until you are in the vehicle. Your chauffeur will load the bags while you stay warm.
Finally, plan for the unexpected. If a flight is delayed or a road is slowed by snow, you may spend longer in transit than planned. A spare pair of socks, an extra layer and a snack mean a long day stays comfortable rather than miserable.
Travelling comfortably with a private transfer
Book with AirportsTransfers.ch and you see a fixed price per vehicle before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign, follows your flight and waits if it is delayed, and the vehicle is warm and ready. Child seats are available on request and skis should be declared at booking so there is room for them.
For advice on your route or timing, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
