Private transfer from Lyon Airport to Courchevel

How much does a taxi from Lyon Airport to Courchevel cost?

The minimum cost of a taxi trip from Lyon Airport to Courchevel is 450 – 650 €, depending on the type of car, amount of luggage, time of day, day of the week and waiting time in a traffic jam. The driver will tell you the final amount only at the end of the trip. Therefore, it is better to find out in advance what exactly affects the price of the trip.

* The stated rates apply to passenger cars (sedans). For minibuses (van), the rates are significantly higher.

Taxi or private transfer from Lyon Airport to Courchevel: which is better?

Many tourists believe that a taxi from Lyon Airport to Courchevel is clearly inferior to a private transfer. A taxi is more expensive, the number of types and classes of cars is significantly smaller, and the level of comfort is quite low. The only advantage of a taxi is the opportunity to arrive at the airport and immediately get into a taxi, without advance booking (however, there are not enough cars in the high season).

Disadvantages of the official taxi from Lyon Airport to Courchevel:

1. A taxi from Lyon Airport to Courchevel is considered one of the most expensive types of transport. The cost of the trip usually starts from 450 € for a passenger car and from 650 € for a minivan (for 6 - 8 people). In the high tourist season, the final cost may be even higher. For example, a private transfer costs from 300 EUR for an economy-class sedan and from 420 EUR for a van with a capacity of 8 passengers.
2. One of the obvious disadvantages of a taxi is that you will only be able to find out the final price at the end of the trip, when you are delivered to the hotel. Since the cost depends on the distance, time of day, traffic jams, ski equipment, number of suitcases and other factors, you can only approximately assume its amount.
3. Unlike a private transfer, you cannot choose the class or model of a taxi car. Usually, the passenger gets into the first available car that arrives at the taxi stand.
4. The condition and cleanliness of the cars may not be the most pleasant. Especially in the high season, taxi drivers do not have time to wash the car often.
5. For foreign tourists, the language barrier can also become an inconvenience. Not all taxi drivers speak English (mostly they speak their own language).
6. Taxi drivers usually wait for passengers inside the car, at the official parking area near the terminal, and do not meet them with a sign in the arrivals area. Therefore, you have to look for the car and carry the suitcases yourself.
7. Families with small children should take into account that child seats are far from available in all taxis. It is even more difficult to choose a seat for a specific age and height of the child.
8. If you arrive in a large group (for example 6-10 people) or you have a lot of suitcases, finding a suitable large car can take a lot of time. Basically, taxis are small passenger cars, while vans and minivans are used much less often and are quickly taken in the high season.

Advantages of the official taxi:

One of the undeniable advantages of a taxi is the possibility of taking it immediately upon arrival, without advance booking. It is enough to exit the airport terminal and get into the car at the taxi stand near the exit.

However, this possibility does not always exist. In the high season, there are often long queues of tourists and a small number of cars at the taxi stand. Waiting for a taxi can take 30–40 minutes or even longer.

Taxi or private transfer (main differences):

Let us summarize and compare the main advantages and disadvantages of a taxi and a private transfer from Lyon Airport to Courchevel. It is clear to the naked eye that a transfer is a more comfortable and affordable service, unlike a taxi.

1) How to meet the driver at the airport or at the hotel

Meeting the driver at the airport:

The driver will wait for you in the arrivals area of Lyon Airport with a sign on which your first or last name is indicated (or the version that you specified when booking the transfer). There are often many tourists at the airport (especially in the high season), and some of them are also met by drivers with signs — so sometimes it can be difficult to find the right one. To make the meeting with the driver easier, our operator will send you his name and contact details in advance.

The driver will help you with your luggage and accompany you to the car in the parking lot. When booking a transfer, we ask you to indicate the flight number — this is necessary so that the driver can monitor possible delays and adjust to the actual arrival time. As a rule, if the flight is delayed by no more than 1 hour, the same driver who was assigned will meet you. If you arrive 2-3 hours later than the planned time, we will select another car for you, as by this time your driver may already have another transfer starting. In any case, our operators and driver are always in touch and adjust the transfer depending on flight changes.

The cost of the transfer already includes 1 hour of waiting at the airport after the estimated flight landing time. If after arrival you are delayed for more than 1 hour, further waiting time is paid additionally — approximately 60-90 euros per hour, depending on the class of the car (the operator will inform you of the exact cost when booking the transfer). If you need to stop at a shop, restaurant or meeting on the way, this waiting time is also paid separately.

Meeting the driver at the hotel or apartment:

If you are traveling back from the hotel to the airport or to another city, the driver will meet you at the reception with a sign and help with the suitcases. Some hotels and apartments do not have parking (especially in the city center) — in this case, the driver waits for passengers in the car and drives up to the doors immediately before boarding, stopping for only a couple of minutes. The transfer price includes 15-20 minutes of waiting at the hotel from the agreed departure time. Further payment of 60-90 euros per hour will also be required.

2) What you need to know about luggage when booking a transfer

Please pay close attention to the luggage information when booking a transfer from Lyon Airport to Courchevel. Describe to our operator in as much detail as possible how many suitcases you have, what size they are and whether they are soft or hard. Whether you will have mountain skis and snowboards with you, and the length of their bags. Also describe all hand luggage in detail — one small bag will take up almost no space, but 5-10 such bags can already significantly affect the situation. If you are traveling with a pet, be sure to let us know so that we can take into account the size of its carrier and select a driver who is not allergic to this type of animal.

It is important for us to know the exact parameters of your luggage in advance so that we can select a car in which there is enough space both for you and for all your belongings. Otherwise, some suitcases may simply not fit, and they will have to be carried in your hands, or it will be necessary to order a second car with an additional payment — and two small cars in total always cost more than one large van.

Standard suitcase sizes:

Suitcase sizes can be differentiated by height, width and depth (these parameters should be reported to our operator). Suitcases are usually divided into several categories depending on size: S, M, L and XL. They may differ slightly between manufacturers, but the following sizes are most common:

• Size S (small suitcase): height 48-53 cm, width 32-35 cm, depth 20-23 cm.
• Size M (medium suitcase): height 58-63 cm, width 39-42 cm, depth 23-26 cm.
• Size L (large suitcase): height 65-70 cm, width 47-50 cm, depth 26-29 cm.
• Size XL (very large suitcase): height 74-80 cm, width 51-54 cm, depth 30-32 cm.

Hand luggage and other belongings:

In addition to suitcases, passengers often take bags, backpacks, packages, sports equipment (mountain skis, snowboards, boots, helmets, poles), children’s toys, musical instruments, carriers with dogs or cats, wheelchairs and much more. All this must also be indicated when booking the transfer, because sometimes such things take up even more space than the suitcases themselves. Unfortunately, tourists have repeatedly arrived with luggage that was much larger than originally stated. Because of this, they had to take a second car, and when our cars were occupied, clients ordered a taxi to the location specifically to transport several suitcases — it turned out very expensive.

Travel advice about luggage:

It is not always easy to understand what size a suitcase is, or which category to put a large suitcase into — L or already XL. The same applies to bags and backpacks. It is especially not easy to deal with ski or snowboard bags, some of which are very long and have a rigid frame (it is especially difficult to place them in the car and they take up a lot of space). In such cases, it is better to send our operator a photo of all suitcases, bags and bags together - this way we will be able to calculate their actual total volume and select a car with a suitable trunk.

3) Traveling with children: child seats and what you need to know

If you are traveling with small children, be sure to warn our operator about this when booking the transfer. Each child must travel in their own separate seat — holding them in your arms is strictly prohibited. If the child is shorter than 1.5 m, according to European traffic rules, they must be provided with an appropriate child car seat.

If you order a car for four passengers, indicate that this is a transfer specifically for 4 adults. If in fact 4 adults plus a small child are traveling — then you will have to order a second car or change it to a van. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens.

What types of child seats are there:

Below is a table with types of child seats. It will be useful to you when preparing for the transfer.

4) How to choose the right car for the transfer?

Choosing the right car is perhaps one of the most important points when preparing for a trip. It determines how comfortably you will arrive, whether there will be enough seats for all passengers and whether all your luggage will fit. Usually, when choosing a car, attention is paid to two parameters: the capacity of the car and its class.

Vehicle capacity:

Different types of cars are available for transfers from Lyon Airport to Courchevel: sedans, SUVs, vans and buses.

Small passenger cars are suitable for 1-4 passengers with a moderate amount of luggage (usually 1-2 large suitcases and 1-2 small ones, plus bags). These include Volkswagen Jetta, Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia and similar models.

Large sedans and SUVs. Four passengers can fit comfortably in them. The interior is more spacious, and more things will fit in the trunk (two-three large suitcases plus hand luggage). These are Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Kodiaq and similar models.

Vans and minivans are designed for 5-8 passengers (although they are often also taken by 1-2 people — simply for the extra space). Such cars are often ordered specifically because of the large number of suitcases and bags. At the same time, their trunks are different: the most spacious is the Renault Trafic Extralong (up to 8 XL suitcases plus hand luggage), and the Volkswagen Caravelle Extralong has a similar volume. Versions with a short or simply long body have less luggage space. Mercedes vans have more compact trunks, even the Extralong version. The Mercedes V-Class accommodates up to 7 passengers, and in some configurations — 4-6: the seats are more comfortable, but there are fewer of them. Renault Trafic and Volkswagen Caravelle take up to 8 passengers plus a ninth seat — the driver’s.

Buses are needed for large groups — 10, 14, 20, 40 and even 50 people. For example, Mercedes Sprinter or Scania. But a large bus cannot reach every hotel: sometimes only smaller cars can drive through the narrow old streets of the center of Courchevel or along the winding mountain road, so instead of one bus, 2-4 vans are used.

Car class:

The second parameter when choosing a car for the transfer is the car class. For many passengers, it becomes the main one.

Economy class — the most affordable transfer option. These include small cars of inexpensive brands. They are suitable for those who do not care so much about making an impression — as they say, "as long as you get there." These are Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. However, sometimes when ordering Economy, a higher-class car arrives — if your transfer coincides in time with another booking.

Comfort class — this is already a more spacious interior, better sound insulation and higher-quality materials and equipment. These include: Volkswagen Passat, Tesla Model S, Toyota Camry, as well as Renault Trafic and Volkswagen Caravelle vans.

Business class is chosen by passengers who value status and comfort, as well as those who are simply accustomed to good cars. For them — Mercedes E-Class and Mercedes Vito vans.

Premium class — the most comfortable and spacious cars. The best finishing materials, space, technical equipment and smooth ride. Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7, Audi A8 sedans, as well as Mercedes V-Class vans (in different interior layout options).

Tell our operator about your preferences, and we will select the optimal car for your transfer from Lyon Airport to Courchevel. It is better to book the car in advance — then there is a greater chance of getting the desired class and size at the best price.

5) What is the best way to get from Lyon Airport to Courchevel: train, bus, car rental, private transfer or helicopter?

Above on this page we have already discussed the difference between a transfer and a taxi when traveling from Lyon Airport to Courchevel. But it is better to know how to get there by other types of transport: train, bus, car rental or helicopter. Let us briefly consider their features — in general, they are similar for most European cities.

Train or transfer:

The train is certainly a convenient way to travel. Usually it is 5-8 times cheaper than a transfer. Traffic jams are not a problem for it, because it travels on its own tracks. But first you need to get from the airport to the train by tram or bus. And most importantly — the train will never take you directly to the hotel door, wherever it is: from the station you will still have to change to another type of transport. In the mountains, it is very rare for a train to get close to a ski resort; usually 40-60 km of winding mountain roads remain. In addition, the train has a strict schedule. For example, you will not be able to leave by train at night, even if you need to get to the airport earlier for your flight.

Bus or transfer:

The bus is a popular option for many tourists, including those traveling from Lyon Airport to Courchevel. First of all, this is due to the low price — it is approximately the same as the train. But price is probably the only advantage of the bus over a private transfer.

The bus will also not take you directly from the airport to the hotel — you will have to change to another bus, and at the end also walk with your suitcases. In traffic jams, the bus travels almost as long as a car ordered for the transfer. And since the bus makes many stops and visits different cities along the way, the journey often takes twice as long as the transfer. And you are unlikely to be able to get on the bus immediately after getting off the plane. Buses run on schedule, which means you can wait at the stop for 10 minutes or even 2 whole hours — depending on the schedule.

Helicopter or transfer:

Flying by helicopter from Lyon Airport to Courchevel is elegant, fast and comfortable. But, firstly, the price is usually noticeably higher than a transfer. Secondly, most often it is not possible to fly directly to the hotel (far from all hotels have their own helipad) — you will have to land at the nearest one, and then take a transfer to the hotel. Thirdly, the flight may be canceled due to bad weather, and in the mountains this happens very often.

Rental or private transfer:

Renting a car and driving to Courchevel yourself seems like a cheap and convenient option. But in reality, everything turns out more expensive than it seems at first glance. Renting a car makes almost no sense if you are going to spend your entire vacation in Courchevel and do not plan trips to neighboring cities or ski resorts. In addition to the rental itself, you will have to pay for parking, insurance, gasoline and toll roads. In the end, it will cost at least the price of two transfers (there and back). There will also be the hassle of parking and processing the car, plus you will have to drive on unfamiliar snowy roads and stand in traffic jams in the middle of the tourist season, independently putting chains on the wheels in the middle of the road. And after the vacation, you can receive serious fines for violating traffic rules. No one is insured against this when driving in unfamiliar cities.

Let us compare the ways to get to Courchevel:

Look at the table below to understand which type of transport is suitable specifically for you for the trip from Lyon Airport to Courchevel.