Private chauffeur, taxi, shared shuttle or hire car: how to choose

I am a private chauffeur, so I have an interest in this comparison. Better to say so at once, and try to be honest anyway: depending on the case, three of these four options are better than mine.

The shared shuttle

This is the cheapest option, and it makes sense in one specific case: travelling alone or as a couple, with reasonable luggage and no pressure on time.

What it asks in return: accepting fixed departures, intermediate stops, and waiting for the last passenger in the group. A direct hour and a quarter can become two and a half if your chalet is served at the end of the round.

The hire car

This gives you the greatest freedom once you are there, and it is a real argument if you intend to move every day, dine in another valley or follow the snow from one ski area to the next.

What it involves: driving after a flight, often at night or early in the morning. Checking that the car is properly equipped for winter, which is not automatic. Buying the Swiss vignette if you use Swiss motorways. And parking in Megeve in February, which is not always straightforward.

The taxi

Available on arrival without booking, which is useful. Over a long distance such as Geneva to Megeve, the fare is generally discovered at the end of the journey, and the rank can be slow on a Saturday in high season.

The private chauffeur

The price is for the whole vehicle, not per person, and it is confirmed before departure. The driver tracks the flight, absorbs the delay, and takes you to the exact address. No intermediate stops, no waiting for a group.

What it does not do: it is not the cheapest option for one person travelling alone, and it does not leave you with a car for the week.

What actually decides it

The number of passengers. This is the main factor. A per-vehicle price divides; a per-person price multiplies. From four people the gap narrows sharply.

The equipment. Skis, snowboards, child seats, pushchairs: what fits easily in a van fits badly elsewhere.

The arrival time. A flight landing at eleven at night is not the same problem as a midday one.

What you will do once there. If you stay in the resort, a car sits parked all week.

A word on prices

I am not giving comparative figures here, for a simple reason: they change with the season, the number of passengers and the time of day, and a fixed comparison would be wrong three months later.

Our rates are quoted before booking, per vehicle, with no luggage supplement and no night surcharge. Ask for your exact date and compare for yourself.