Ski holidays in resorts near Chambery airport. Chalets, hotels and apartments.
Chambery Airport (CMF) is a small airport near the French Alps that is only open during the winter months to cater for the higher number of visitors. Despite its limited facilities, Chambery is the closest airport to the Tarentaise Valley with the quickest transfer times to some of the best ski resorts in France. Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d'Isere are within 2 hours of Chambery Airport.
Construction of the airport began in 1934, but it wasn't until 1960 when the first commercial flights took off. Ahead of the Olympics, in 1990 the airport was expanded to include a longer runway, aircraft parking bays and a larger car park. In the years following the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, more money was invested into the airport to operate increased capacity in the winter for skiers and snowboarders. By 2008 Chambery Airport was transporting 270, 000 passengers a year. British Airways, Titan Airways and TUI fly from the UK to Chambery.
This small airport lies between the city of Chambery and Aix-les-Bain in the Savoy region of France, close to the French-Italian border. Make sure that you bag the window seat and have your camera phone ready for landing as Chambery Airport is surrounded by mountains and right next to the shores of Lac du Bourget.
There is only one small terminal at Chambery Airport. The arrival and departure areas share the same facilities in the open hall. On a good day, travelling through Chambery can be a speedy process with the runway and terminal building just a few metres apart. Unfortunately, bad wintery weather can cause flight disruptions, and the airport can quickly become congested. This can be especially bad at peak travelling times like Christmas and New Year when snow is frequently forecast. When this does happen, there are plenty of holiday reps based at the airport to assist with any issues. Chambery Airport will invest €10 million to improve the airport’s infrastructure to relieve bottleneck during winter weekends.
Passengers have access to basic services at Chambery Airport. There are a few eateries and shops in the terminal hall which are accessible to people arriving and departing. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. For medical assistance, visit the main information desk located in the middle of the terminal.
Shopping is limited at Chambery Airport. There is a gift shop in the departure hall selling souvenirs, gifts and sweets, and a Duty-Free shop after security in the boarding hall.
There are several options at Chambery Airport to grab some food before your flight. Head to the first floor of the terminal for a large sit-down restaurant bar selling a selection of hot and cold food. Alternatively, for a quick snack, there are small take away shops in the departure hall and boarding hall selling sandwiches, pastries, crisps and soft drinks.
Chambery offers a dedicated VIP arrival and departure lounge.
Most of our ski holiday packages include transfers from Chambery Airport already, but if yours doesn’t, a few companies offer transfers independently. Always prebook your transfer from Chambery Airport and check with the operator where you need to meet them.
For quick travel to your ski resort or local city, taxis are available from the taxi stand outside the airport exit.
Several major international brands operate from Chambery Airport, including Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise and Avis. You can prebook car hire and pick up the car from the offices in the car park. There is a petrol station just outside of the airport for your convenience.
There is no train station at Chambery Airport. Travel by train to ski resorts isn’t easy in France so we recommend booking a coach transfer or taxi.
Scheduled shuttles operate from the airport to nearby ski resorts. Book online or at the Mobi’Savoie counter in the airport.
Chambery Airport is a small, bustling international airport in the Savoy region of France. The airport is located between the city of Chambery and Aix-les-Bain, near the France-Italian border. Part of its appeal is the relatively short transfer times to the bigger linked ski areas – most ski resorts are within 2hr30-3hrs drive. It’s airport code is CMF but it’s also known as Chambéry Aix-les-Bains Airport or Chambery-Savoie Mont Blanc airport.
Over 200 ski resorts are within three hours of Chambery Airport. Popular resorts within two hours of Chambery Airport include Alpe d'Huez, Courchevel, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Gets, Meribel, Morzine, Tignes, Val d'Isere and Val Thorens.
British Airways, Titan Airways and TUI offer flights in winter from the UK to Chambery. Flights are generally chartered by a tour operator and part of a ski holiday package.
Direct flights to Chambery are available from most major and regional UK airports including all London Gatwick, London City, London Stansted, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter and Manchester.
Chambery is a smaller airport but does have a duty-free shop, gift shop, some snack bars and a restaurant (L’Influence) . Take a look at the Chambery airport map and get a better feel for where you’re going.
Most of our ski packages to Les Arcs will include transfers from Chambery Airport. Les Arcs is around 130km (2hr-2h30min approx.) from the airport. Alternatively, there are many bus companies that provide transfers from Chambery Airport to Les Arcs as there is no direct train.
The best way to get from Chambery Airport to Alpe d’Huez is to book a ski package that includes transfers to resort. Alternatively, there are many bus companies that provide transfers from Chambery Airport to Alpe d’Huez as there is no direct train. Alpe d’Huez is 130km from Chambery airport, and you’re looking at a transfer time of around 2hrs depending on traffic and weather conditions.
The easiest way to get to Val Thorens is to book a ski package with transfers included. Alternatively, there are many bus companies that provide transfers from Chambery Airport to Val Thorens as there is no direct train. Val Thorens is about 122km from Chambery airport and you can get there in as little as 1hr 45mins on a clear run. Do bear in mind it can take coaches longer to get to higher resorts due to the mountain roads.
Resort | Country | Distance (km) | Est. time (hr) | Chalets | Hotels | Apartments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Les Gets | France | 75 | 1.2 | £420 | £1482 | £292 |
Brides Les Bains | France | 92 | 1.3 | £685 | £428 | |
Valloire | France | 100 | 1.45 | £911 | £283 | |
Alpe d'Huez | France | 130 | 2 | £785 | £549 | £332 |
La Plagne | France | 110 | 2 | £677 | £437 | £340 |
Meribel & Mottaret | France | 98 | 2 | £445 | £976 | £354 |
Morzine | France | 140 | 2 | £349 | £712 | £856 |
Valmorel | France | 98 | 2.15 | £3070 | £639 | £361 |
Courchevel | France | 109 | 2.3 | £435 | £884 | |
La Tania | France | 102 | 2.3 | £995 | £921 | £690 |
Les Arcs | France | 160 | 2.3 | £585 | £657 | £354 |
Les Deux Alpes | France | 130 | 2.3 | £540 | £624 | £383 |
Tignes | France | 142 | 2.3 | £805 | £776 | £390 |
Val d'Isere | France | 143 | 2.3 | £679 | £878 | £401 |
Val Thorens | France | 125 | 2.3 | £577 | £544 | £347 |
La Rosiere | France | 130 | 2.45 | £624 | £291 | |
Les Menuires | France | 110 | 2.5 | £1199 | £784 | £330 |