Location of Première Summer Holidays in Sainte Foy Including the Surrounding Area
Airport or Train Station
We can organise a transfer for you from any local French airport (Lyon or Grenoble) Or have you collected from the local train station. Bourg St Maurice station is the nearest, however, we can arrange transfers from further afield.
Travelling by public transport?
Remember, there are no direct public bus services to Sainte Foy during the summer months. To avoid hassle and save time, the best way to travel is by train, to Bourg Saint Maurice, just 25 minutes from resort.
Car Hire?
Suggested hire car companies : Europcar (who also have an office in Bourg Saint Maurice), Hertz, Holiday Autos
When Driving to Sainte Foy
Please do not confuse Sainte Foy Tarentaise (Chef Lieu), which is a village, with Sainte Foy resort which is known as Bonconseil. The village is 2km before the main turnoff to the resort which is clearly marked. It is then a further 4km up to the resort itself.
French Motorways
All French motorways operate on a toll system; find out more
Self Drive or Fly & Drive
After the snow melts in the spring, the local cols around us open up (check before you depart as opening times vary depending on the conditions) - including Col Petit St Bernard and Col de l'Iseran. You can plan your route differently to the winter and make plans accordingly.
Driving from the UK
The drive time is 9 -10 hours on average from the coast and under 1000km / 630miles. You can choose to use the French motorways which are tolled, or take the longer scenic Route National (with some great stops along the way).
Eurotunnel's Channel Tunnel Shuttle service allows you to put your car on the train at Folkestone and arrive at Calais from where you can drive on to Sainte Foy.
Ferries
DFDS(formerly Norfolk Line) operate between Dover and Dunkerque and the average crossing time is 1 hour 45 minutes. P&O Ferries run between Dover and Calais and take 1 hour 30 minutes on average.
Suggested Map routes: Boulogne, Calais, Dunkerque
Nearest Airports
During the summer months the best served airport is Geneva, followed by Lyon (both airports have a 2:30 - 3:00 transfer time by road to Sainte Foy or longer by train).
Airlines that have flights into Geneva from the UK
- Easyjet = Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Southend, Manchester, Newcastle.
- Aer Lingus = Cork, Dublin
- BA = London Heathrow
Airlines that have flights into Lyon from the UK
- Easyjet = Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Southend
- BA = Edinburgh
Self Drive from Geneva Airport. When you leave the airport, follow signs to France via a short section of Swiss motorway. To drive on Swiss motorways, you need to have a sticker on your car (vignette). If you are hiring a car, check whether it has one of these before setting off. The Swiss use green signs for motorways while the French use blue signs for motorways. Having crossed the border into France you have two options: French motorway (blue) or 'D' roads (routes departementales) via Annecy: View the motorway route (via Chambéry - Albertville - Moutiers - Bourg Sainte Maurice - Séez - Sainte Foy village - Sainte Foy resort View the Annecy route (via Annecy Sud - Lake Annecy - Ugine - Albertville - Moutiers - Bourg Saint Maurice - Sainte Foy Village - Sainte Foy Resort Time-wise, there isn't much between the two routes, the motorway route costs more due to tolls During busy periods (school holidays etc), the motorway is often the best route as it gets less congested. The Annecy route is much prettier and affords a scenic stop on the lake Both routes bring you to Albertville where the motorway finishes.
From Albertville continue on the Route National to Moutiers, Aime and through Bourg Saint Maurice ( train station on your right is a good landmark). Continue straight over a roundabout (next to Le Tonneau), then at the next roundabout (McDonald's) take the last exit to Séez. Pass through Séez, then take the right fork following signs to Val-d'Isére / Sainte-FoyTarentaise / Tignes / D902 / Villaroger) (15km). Pass through Sainte Foy Tarentaise (the village) and continue to La Thuile. Turn left at La Thuile there is a well marked sign) up to Sainte Foy resort (4km).
By Train from Geneva Airport to Bourg-Saint-Maurice via Chambéry (approx 4 to 5 hours depending on connections). The train station is below the airport and is clearly signed within the arrival terminal, once here you can purchase a ticket from Geneva Airport Train Station to Geneva Station. We highly recommend that you pre-book your train from Geneva Station to Bourg-Saint Maurice.
By Train from Lyon Airport: Rail Europe - Lyon Airport to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, changing at Chambéry (approx 4 to 5 hours).
Nearest Train Station to Sainte Foy
Bourg St Maurice is just 20 minutes away from Sainte Foy. It is the last stop on the line in the Tarentaise Valley and is well serviced from main routes (UK, Paris, etc). We offer a transfer service from the train station.
In summer, the trains running from London to Bourg St Maurice are overnight sleeper trains with an early morning arrival, so you can be ready for a full day of holiday activity and fun. You can book a transfer with us to get to resort or there is a taxi service from the station.
Trains from London, St Pancras to Bourg St Maurice
Using Rail Europe you will need to take 2 trains with 2 separate train operators, Eurostar and Corail Lunéa.
- Journey time: Around 12-14 hours in total
- Eurostar trains run frequently from London St Pancras to Paris Nord
- Once you have arrived at Paris Nord, you will need to make your way to Paris Austerlitz for the next leg of your train journey to Bourg St Maurice
- You should always allow at least 1 hour between the Eurostar arriving at the Gare du Nord and your connecting train at Paris Austerlitz
