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Ben’s Blog | News From Ben’s Bus
EES Scheme for Non-EU Residents
The European Union (EU) is in the process of implementing a scheme called the EES which will affect how non-EU passport holders travel to most EU countries. The EES was scheduled to start on the 10th November 2024, but has now been delayed indefinitely. When it comes into effect, it will impact any non-EU citizens travelling to any airport which Ben’s Bus operates from during the 2024 / 2025 ski season. Passengers should prepare for potentially longer queues at Passport Control.
WHAT IS THE EES?
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is a system for digitally registering travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries when they first cross an EU external border. It is being introduced to allow stricter controls of movement into the Schengen area.
As reported in this BBC article and quoting EU Commissioner Johansson, the rules will mean “we will know if people stay too long” and “will make it harder for criminals, terrorists or Russian spies to use fake passports“.
HOW WILL THE EES AFFECT ME?
If you hold an EU passport, you won’t be affected. If not, the first time you enter the EU, you will be asked to register your biometric data (such as fingerprints and / or a photo). This will be done in special EES kiosks when you arrive.
Authorities are anticipating it will take an extra 1 minute to process each passenger. Although most airports have invested in extra staff and technology, you will probably experience longer queue times when you arrive at your airport. You should consider this when selecting a bus time on our website.
Your data will be held for 3 years. EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports, so it should be a quicker, smoother process the next time you enter the EU.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE FOR THIS?
You do not need to apply for the EES and there is not much you can do in advance. As reported in this Europe Street News article, Frontex, the EU border agency, may develop a mobile app where travellers could pre-register some of their details. However, this would not replace the need to register biometric data at the physical border.
As mentioned above, you should consider the potential for longer queues at Passport Control. You should select a later Ben’s Bus if you think, once you enter your flight arrival time, our first bus time listed is too tight for you. Most of our routes have many buses operating each day. For instance, our Geneva Airport to Val Thorens service has up to 11 services a day, so you wouldn’t have to wait long until the next bus.
It is obviously impossible for us to say how long you should allow, as this would depend on many factors. Such factors could include where you are sitting on the plane, how many people are in your group, how many bags you have to pick up, how busy the airport is and whether you’ve already travelled to the EU and registered your biometric data.
You can read about how we manage late-arriving customers here.
We recommend upgrading to Ben’s Bus Plus in case you need to edit your booking. For instance you may decide, after booking, that you actually want to take a later bus. You get free changes with Ben’s Bus Plus.
FURTHER INFORMATION
We would also advise checking your own governments’ website for precise information and advice. For the UK, this can be found here.
Another scheme the EU is planning on implementing in the first half of 2025 is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This will take the form of a paid-for travel authorisation, which will be required for citizens of non-EU countries that do not need a visa to enter the EU.
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Transfers to European Gay Ski Week 2025
Posted 18th August 2024
EUROPEAN GAY SKI WEEK VAL THORENS TRANSFERS FROM €54pp
The European Gay Ski Week is returning for 2025. The Number 1 ski event for the LGBTQI+ community runs from the 22nd – 29th March 2025. Ben’s Bus is the only shared transfer provider running from 3 different airports.
The EGSW is located in Val Thorens, part of the famous les 3 vallees ski area in France. The resort offers fantastic skiing and even better apres-ski, complemented by the brilliant activities and events laid on by the organisers.
Extra buses are available from Geneva Airport to Val Thorens, with 11 running up to the resort on the 22nd March. We also have transfers from Grenoble Airport to Val Thorens and Lyon Airport to Val Thorens. Return transfers cost from €107pp.
Our shuttle buses stop at the main bus station and the UCPA centre. Visit our Val Thorens Airport Transfer page to view maps of the resort. We’re used to running large numbers of transfers for festivals, so you can feel confident booking an airport transfer with us. In December 2024, we operate about 50 buses from Les Deux Alpes for the RISE music festival.
We transport our customers in large coaches, which is the most environmentally friendly way of getting from the airport up to the resort. However, this year we’ve gone a step further and created a unique initiative to make all our airport transfers carbon neutral. No other shared ski transfer company does this – as far as we know.
GENEVA AIRPORT TO THE EUROPEAN GAY SKI WEEK VAL THORENS
Geneva Airport is the closest airport to Val Thorens at only 155km away. This means the journey takes about 3 hours. A Single cost €55.50pp, but we have some great discounts for groups. View the route from Geneva Airport to the EGSW in Val Thorens.
GRENOBLE AIRPORT TO THE EUROPEAN GAY SKI WEEK VAL THORENS
Grenoble Airport is 187km away and a lot of the journey is on motorways. If there is no traffic, the journey takes just over 3 hours. A Single costs £52pp. View the route from Grenoble Airport to the EGSW in Val Thorens.
LYON AIRPORT TO THE EUROPEAN GAY SKI WEEK VAL THORENS
Lyon Airport is the furthest airport, at 199km away. The journey usually takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. A Single costs £52pp. View the route from Lyon Airport to the EGSW in Val Thorens.
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WINTER SKI TRANSFERS FOR 2024 / 25 NOW ON SALE!
Posted 14th August 2024
ALL AIRPORT SKI TRANSFERS NOW ON SALE
We’ve still got a few more weeks of summer, but at Ben’s Bus we’re always looking to when we can get back up the mountain. All our transfers for the 2024 / 2025 winter season are now on sale.
Many of you will have already booked your ski holiday. If you’ve booked your flights and accommodation, the next thing you need to sort out are your ski transfers. Many of our services sell out as we are the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way of getting from most airports to most ski resorts.
OUR NEW CARBON OFFSETTING SCHEME
If you need to fly to your resort, by travelling on a shared transfer you’ll already be significantly reducing your carbon emissions.
We’re delighted to announce that this year, all our transfers will be fully carbon neutral. You can help further by following a few useful tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint when flying.
2024 / 2025 WINTER SKI SEASON – AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Select a Ski Resort below to see how we can get you from your airport to your destination, or scroll down for more information.
We can also help you get to La Tania, Peisey and Les Coches (from Aime) La Rosiere, Villard Reculas and Auris en Oisans.
Our transfers from Grenoble Airport are currently only on sale up until the 29th March 2025. Our April 2025 transfers will go on sale around late November. Find out more on our Easter and Spring Transfer Buses Page.
Transfers for the RISE festival in Les Deux Alpes will run between the 7 – 14 December. For all other resorts, our Saturday-only service starts on the 14th December. The resorts we service are listed on our Lyon Airport page. Our transfers are now on sale and you can get a quote or book online!
Ski transfers from Geneva Airport operate on Saturdays and Sundays. For our most popular routes, such as Geneva to Val Thorens, Geneva to Tignes and Geneva to Val d’Isere, we have up to 11 buses per Saturday.
If you are heading to Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes, we will have a bus connecting with every single scheduled flight, any day of the week, throughout the season. Our services to other resorts such as Tignes and Val Thorens, will run on week-ends all the way through season .
WHAT REFUND GUARANTEES ARE THERE?
We know that you need the peace of mind of receiving a refund should you need to cancel. Flexibility to change your booking for free is another key requirement for many holidaymakers. That’s why we recommend upgrading to Ben’s Bus Plus. This allows you to book with confidence.
To keep up to date with all our news, follow us on facebook.
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Ben’s Bus Goes Carbon Neutral!
Posted 14th June 2024
CARBON NEUTRAL AIRPORT SKI TRANSFERS
We’re delighted to announce Ben’s Bus Airport Ski Transfers are now Carbon Neutral! That’s right folks, if you travel on any of our transfers, you will now have your carbon footprint offset via our new new environmental scheme.
As a responsible company who’s always cared about climate change, we’ve found a way for our monetary contributions to make a real difference. We’ll be donating a large sum at the end of the season to SolarAid.
Shared transfers are already the most environmentally friendly way to get to your ski resort. Since you’ll be on a large vehicle with lots of other passengers, you’ll all be sharing your carbon emissions. However, we’ve gone a step further and will now, at the end of the season, calculate our total carbon emissions. We’ll then convert that to money and donate it to the award-winning SolarAid. Their initiatives in Africa not only reduce CO2, but make a real difference to people’s lives.
REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT EVEN FURTHER
Did you know you could go even further in reducing the pollution in our beautiful mountains? All you need to do is make a few small gestures when you travel to our ski resorts and collectively we can save tons of CO2.
We’ve written a guide with some top tips on how to get your carbon footprint even lower, including cunning ways to reduce your luggage weight on the plane.
As far as we know, we’re the first shared transfer company to go carbon neutral. So now, whether your on a bus from Geneva to Val Thorens or Grenoble to Tignes, you can travel in the confidence that the impact you’re having on global warming is as low as it can be.
Our Geneva Airport Ski Transfers and our Lyon Airport ski transfers are now on sale. We hope to get our Grenoble Airport ski transfers on sale by the end of July 2024. Sign up to our mailing list below to be notified as soon as we’re live and to hear about any early bird discounts we may offer.
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Thank You to Our Customers and Bus Companies
Posted 8th May 2024
BEN’S BUS SAYS ‘MERCI & AU REVOIR’ TO THE 2023 / 24 SKI SEASON
We’ve now run our last bus of the 2023 / 2024 ski season and it’s been another great year. This was our 18th season running airport buses to the ski resorts and we’d like to thank you all for your custom over the years.
A huge thank you must go out to our amazing reps and managers, our bus company partners and their office teams for ensuring our customers had the best possible experience.
And of course to the unsung heroes – the drivers. Waking up at crazy hours to drive up and down mountain roads, in sometimes treacherous conditions, to get people safely to their ski holiday destinations and home again.
We’re already planning for the 2024 / 2025 season and are working hard to ensure we have even more buses for you all. We’ll also be trying to keep our prices as low as possible, despite ever-increasing costs. We’re hoping that we will only have to increase our prices by a very small margin this year.
Our transfers from Geneva and Lyon Airports should go on sale in early June 2024, whilst our Grenoble Airport transfers will go on sale around early August 2024. Sign up to our mailing list using the form below to be alerted as soon as we are live.
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New Youth Football Team Sponsored by Bens Bus
Posted 11th February 2023
BEN’S BUS ANNOUNCES NEW YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM SPONSORSHIP
We’re delighted to have just received this photo of the Under 11 youth football club we sponsor. Wessex Giants play in the south Somerset youth league and are doing great! We’re so pleased that our money has bought them new kits and assistance to fund training programs. Good luck for the season boys and stay active!
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Travel Restrictions Ease & Snow Arrives in France
Posted 19th September 2021
COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS EASE AS SNOW HITS THE ALPS
It’s as if the Snow Gods heard the announcement that double-jabbed Brits will face less stringent travel restrictions. There’s no longer a need to take expensive tests and both France and Switzerland have moved to the Green List. The news was greeted with jubilation by the ski industry and skiers alike.
24 hours later – the snow starts falling in most of the resorts we cover. It’s a good omen!
VAL THORENS
Of course, the highest ski resort in Europe picked up some snow. Our transfers to Val Thorens run regularly from Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon Airports
ALPE D’HUEZ (and LES 2 ALPES)
Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes also received their first snowfall of the Autumn. Travel there from Grenoble and Lyon Airport.
VAL D’ISERE (AND TIGNES)
Val d’Isere and Tignes have an excellent snow record.
LA PLAGNE
La Plagne is linked toLes Arcs via the Paradiski Express lift
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Ski Holiday Flights | How to Reduce CO2 Emissions
Updated 8th May 2024
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT WHEN FLYING TO YOUR SKI HOLIDAY
After a summer of extreme floods, heatwaves and wildfires, the issue of Climate Change has never felt so real. Sustainability has become an important part of all our lives. Many travellers are now asking “How can I reduce my carbon footprint and still fly to my ski holiday?”
Carbon offsetting initiatives such as easyJet’s sustainability scheme are helpful, but they don’t eliminate the CO2 emitted when flying. However, done right and over a certain distance, flying is not actually as bad as some people think. Trains and cars still use energy and electricity is not yet 100% green. The extra emissions caused by congestion if everyone were to stop taking planes needs to be considered.
TOP TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR CO2 EMISSIONS WHEN FLYING
1. TAKE DIRECT FLIGHTS
A large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions on short flights are used on take-off. There’s a huge selection of direct flights to airports such as Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon, so it’s hard to justify stop-over flights via places like Amsterdam or Munich.
If you can’t find a flight that suits your budget / time, Skyscanner has a great function where you can click “Add Nearby Airports”. You could also fly into one airport and out of another if the times / prices suit you better.
2. USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO GET TO THE AIRPORT
For some people, driving to the airport cannot be helped. Electric cars are great, but remember that not all electricity is green yet and your car still contributes to congestion. Consider getting a taxi to the bus / train station if you have bags / children in tow.
Most UK airports do have good public transport access. Find out how to get to your UK airport by bus or by train. It can also be cheaper when you factor in airport parking and it’s a nicer way to arrive, since you’re usually dropped right outside Departures.
3. USE SHARED TRANSFERS TO GET UP TO YOUR SKI RESORT
Most of the big resorts like Tignes, Val Thorens and Val d’Isere have at least one shared transfer service, public bus or train service. See a list of which ski resorts we cover.
Just one Ben’s Bus can potentially replace 15-20 private transfers / hire cars on the road. On the busy weeks for ski resorts, the congestion on the access roads can sometimes result in total gridlock. This slow moving traffic caused by so many vehicles considerably increases the CO2 emissions / person.
4. HIRE SKIS IN RESORT
Ski hire shops have come a long way in recent years. Prices are very reasonable and probably comparable with the extra cost of bringing your skis / board on a plane. That extra weight adds a lot of CO2 onto your carbon footprint.
Most shops have a large range of modern equipment and some even deliver to your accommodation. You don’t need to lug your gear to and from the airport and wait at the oversized luggage. Visit our discounted ski hire page to get a quote.
5. PACK LIGHT
Every extra kilo in your bag means more CO2 going into the atmosphere. This article by Fly Aware explains how if everyone on a Heathrow to Frankfurt flight took 1kg less in their luggage, in 1 year they would have collectively saved 60 tonnes of Co2!! You’ll also put less strain on your body, so you’ll arrive fresher and fitter to enjoy your ski holiday.
Set yourself a challenge this year to see which of our top tips you can use and how many kilos you can shed:
– DON’T OVERPACK. Give more thought to what goes in your bags. Do you really need all those clothes? Potential Saving = 3kg
– LAPTOPS and chargers don’t make for a relaxing holiday. Maybe your phone can do everything? Potential Saving = 2.5kg
– LIGHTWEIGHT SKI GEAR. For instance, Merino wool thermals are very light and effective. Potential Saving = 1kg
– TOWELS & LINEN. Check if your accommodation could provide or rent towels and sheets. Potential Saving = 1kg
– TOILETRIES such as shower gel and shampoo could be bought in resort and shared. Potential Saving = 0.5kg
– CO-ORDINATE with your friends so you don’t bring 4 sets of hairdryers / speakers. Potential Saving = 0.5kg
– DUTY FREE. Check if your arrival airport offers a pick up service. Potential Saving = 1kg
– LOSE WEIGHT. Easier said than done! Potential Saving = ????kg
For those who aren’t regular skiers, or just trying it for the first time, you could rent your ski clothes in resort. This would also save you a lot of money.
6. CHOOSE A RESORT IN EUROPE
The US and Japan are inviting, exciting destinations if you’re lucky enough to afford it. Perhaps those long-haul flights could be used for a longer trip though? You could include skiing in a 3 week holiday to that country? The ICAO has developed a flight CO2 calculator. Below is a list of how much CO2 is produced for a Round trip flight from London, in economy class.
Tokyo, Japan = 774kg of CO2
Denver, Colorado, United States = 764kg of CO2
Geneva, Switzerland = 200kg of CO2
As a comparison, driving to Geneva, Switzerland = 171kg of CO2 (according to the CO2 myclimate website). This is based on a 2,000km round trip from London to Geneva in a mid-range petrol car with 4 of you in the car. This is interestingly not that much less than flying! Put a roof box on the car and it adds between 10-25% to your fuel bill, so flying becomes a carbon-efficient way of getting to the resort.
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Ski Season 2021/22 Airport Transfers
Posted 19th January 2021
CAN I GO SKIING NEXT YEAR?
The 2020/21 season was just a tad frustrating for skiers and boarders, as nearly all ski holidays were cancelled. So many of you are now asking…. will ski resorts open in 2022?
All European ski resorts will almost certainly open for the 2021 / 2022 season. High vaccination and low hospitalisation rates have brought confidence back to the ski holiday industry. However, many Tour Operators are no longer running the traditional catered chalet holiday, partly due to Brexit. Instead, self-catered accommodation seems increasingly popular.
Scroll to the bottom of this post to read about our extra Christmas Holiday weekday services.
2021 / 2022 WINTER SKI SEASON – AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Select a Ski Resort below to see how we can get you from your airport to your destination, or scroll down for more information.
Our transfer buses can also help you get to La Tania, Peisey and Les Coches (from Aime) La Rosiere, Villard Reculas and Auris en Oisans. Our transfers from Grenoble Airport are currently only on sale up until the 26th March 2021, which is when the airlines change to their summer schedule. We will be running buses in April 2022. You can find out more on our Easter and Spring Transfer Buses Page.
Apart from our special transfers for the RISE festival, our Saturday-only service starts on the 8th January 2022. We generally have only a mid-morning service, although in March we also have a late afternoon bus. The resorts we service are listed on our Lyon Airport page. Our transfers are now on sale and you can get a quote or book online!
Our ski transfers from Geneva Airport run on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season. We also have some weekday buses over the Christmas and New Year weeks (scroll down for more details). For our most popular routes, such as Geneva to Val Thorens, Geneva to Tignes and Geneva to Val d’Isere, we have up to 8 buses per Saturday.
If you are heading to Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes, we will have a bus connecting with every single scheduled flight, any day of the week, throughout the season. Our services to other resorts such as Tignes and Val Thorens, will run on week-ends all the way through season .
2021/22 SKI SEASON TRANSFER PRICES
We’ve frozen nearly all our prices for the 2nd year running. That means you’ll pay the same this season as you would have done in the 2019/20 season. You can see our fares on our Prices Page. A Return costs about £90pp for resorts like Val Thorens, Tignes, Val d’Isere, Les Arcs, La Plagne and Meribel and just over £50pp for Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes. We still have discounts for groups and children. Sign up to our Mailing List at the bottom of this page and like us on facebook to get access to any promo codes.
WHAT REFUND GUARANTEES ARE THERE?
We know that you need the peace of mind of receiving a refund should you need to cancel. Flexibility to change your booking for free is another key requirement for many holidaymakers. That’s why we recommend upgrading to our new product, Ben’s Bus Plus. This allows you to book with confidence.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS WEEKS
This year, Christmas Day and New Years Day falls on a Saturday, the traditional changeover day in ski resorts. A lot of airlines don’t actually fly on Christmas Day. The resorts know this and a lot of accommodation providers will change their holiday packages to a Sunday – Sunday in December, reverting back to a Saturday – Saturday in early January 2022. We’re running some extra buses from Grenoble and Geneva over the festive period.
If you are planning a trip between Grenoble Airport and either Les Deux Alpes or Alpe d’Huez, we connect with every single scheduled flight. So whatever day you fly in or out, we will have a bus for you.
PLEASE NOTE: The information below does not apply to our Lyon Airport routes, which start on the 8th January 2022.
Saturday 18th December : Frequent service, in both directions, on all our routes.
Sunday 19th December : Frequent service, in both directions, on all our routes.
Saturday 25th December : No Service except from Grenoble Airport < > Les 2 Alpes and Alpe d’Huez
Sunday 26th December : Frequent service, in both directions, on all our routes.
Monday 27th December : Late morning and early evening service from Geneva Airport
Tuesday 28th December : Late morning and early evening service from Geneva Airport
Saturday 1st January 2020 : Frequent service, in both directions, on all our routes.
Sunday 2nd January 2020 : Frequent service, in both directions, on all our routes.
Monday 3rd January 2020 : 3 services from most resorts to Geneva Airport
To keep up to date with all our news, follow us on facebook.
Read our latest blog post for some top tips on how you can reduce your carbon footprint if you are flying to your ski holiday.
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Skiing in The Time of Brexit
Posted 6th December 2020
HOW WILL BREXIT AFFECT ME IF I WANT TO GO SKIING IN FRANCE?
Thinking about skiing in France in the 2021 / 2022 season but worried about what paperwork you will need? There have been a few changes due to Brexit, so it’s understandable if you’re confused. We’ve been keeping a close eye on things and have summarised what we’ve learnt below.
Our blog post about entry requirements for Switzerland and France is also quite useful.
Our page dedicated to Coronavirus and Safety explains what you can do to help everyone stay safe whilst on our ski transfer buses and on holiday.
Read about our Refund Policy and how upgrading to Ben’s Bus Plus gives you the peace of mind everyone is looking for.
WHICH AIRPORT ARE YOU FLYING INTO?
If you are flying into Grenoble Airport or Lyon Airport, and skiing in France, then you only need to worry about what France asks of you. You’ll either need to be fully vaccinated or have a negative test. Regardless of where you are coming from, you will need to fill in the Declaration sur l’honneur form.
If you are flying into Geneva Airport, then you also need to consider what the Swiss ask of you. If you are fully vaccinated and have tickets booked to transit straight to France, you should be ok. All the ski resorts we cover are in regions in France so you need to ensure your comply with the French rules. You will need to fill in an entry form before landing at Geneva Airport.
I AM BRITISH AND COMING IN FROM THE UK
Brexit hasn’t had much impact on Brits holidaying in France. However, since the UK’s departure from the EU, British nationals are required to have at least 6 months validity on their passport. Use the Government’s passport validity tool to be sure. Ensure you have adequate health insurance and/or check your E111 is still valid. You can find more up to date info, including about Covid-19 on the UK FCO page for France or the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The Ambassador’s website has regular updates with the latest news.
The information above is intended as a guide only. Ben’s Bus cannot be held responsible for inaccurate or out of date information. To be certain of the current laws, guidelines and entry requirements, you should visit the official Government websites. This page was last updated on the 26th Nov 2021.
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