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If you’re trying to squeeze every last drop out of the European ski season, there are a number of excellent high-altitude resorts that are guaranteed snow-sure right up until very late in the season. Keep your eyes peeled for a last minute ski deal and it's not hard to snatch a weekend break without the risk of wasting your money on poor conditions. Geneva is just 90 minutes from the UK by air, and the best high-altitude resorts are within an easy drive of the city. If you book one of the convenient Geneva airport transfers, all the resorts below can be reached within an hour and an hour and a half. Avoriaz With something for skiers of all levels, including some challenging off-piste action and black runs for the adrenaline junkies, Avoriaz boasts the highest snowfall in the French Alps – with an average of 7.5 metres annually at resort level. With fabulous views of Lake Geneva and the Jura Mountains and plenty of snow on its own 70km of pistes, it also offers easy access to the rest of the Portes du Soleil region. Many of the pistes have great coverage right up to the middle and end of April - especially the les Hauts Forts area, which doesn't catch much sun in winter. Fast Facts Resort altitude – 1800m Piste altitude – to 2275m Transfer time – 1.5 hours Chamonix Taking just an hour to reach on the Geneva Airport transfers, popular Chamonix offers the highest altitude skiing in such close proximity, at Argentière. With pistes sitting at up to 3000 metres and a picturesque cable-car ride to get there, it's a favourite resort for experts - with spine-chilling vertical black runs (including a 1300m one) and plenty of hairy off-piste terrain to tackle on the majestic Grand Montets. If you're not quite up to the challenge of that mighty mountain, Le Tour, just up the valley, offers some easier runs with the same snow-sureness. Fast Facts Resort altitude – 1035m Piste Altitude – to 3000m Transfer time – 1 hour Flaine Thriving in its own microclimate, Flaine is renowned as the most snow-sure resort in the Haute-Savoie region. While even at resort level the volume of snow is impressive, it lies beneath the shadow of the Grandes Platières (one of the highest points on Mont Blanc), affording it some 15 metres of annual snowfall. Because the resort sits within a 'bowl', it is quite shaded, which is great news for late season skiers as conditions are preserved until very late into the season. A perfect resort for intermediates and beginners, there's still more than enough to keep the more skilled skiers happy as well - although if you want to go off-piste it's imperative you take a guide who is familiar with the ins and outs of the unpredictable terrain. Fast Facts Resort Altitude – 1600m Piste Altitude – to 2480m Transfer time – 1.15 hours La Clusaz One of the lesser-known late season resorts, La Clusaz is another you can reach in just one hour after your flight lands if you book one of the Geneva Airport transfers to get you there. The resort receives huge amounts of snow due to its location in the Aravis Mountains on the north-western fringe of the Alps, and in fact it's often at the top of the list in terms of seasonal snowfall and reliability. While the lower regions can sometimes be a washout, the north-facing La Balme, at 2480m, offers excellent conditions late in the season. The resort is most popular with beginners and intermediates skiers, but adventurous experts can find lots to love off-piste, and ski touring often carries on well into June on the higher altitudes of La Balme. Fast Facts Resort Altitude – 1100m Piste Altitude – to 2470 Transfer time – 1 hour Les Contamines Due to its proximity to Mont Blanc, Les Contamines not only enjoys abundant snowfall, but its geography also ensures conditions remain preserved for longer than many other resorts. While not as high as some of the others mentioned, with a superb lift system in place its pistes are all quite lofty (between 1700m-2400m), so it definitely deserves its place on this list in terms of late season ski opportunities. Ideally suited to intermediate skiers, the lifts also provide access to a host of challenging off-piste action for anyone looking for a little adventure. Fast Facts Altitude – 1160m Piste Altitude – to 2485 Transfer time – 1.15 hours A late season ski holiday near Geneva is within easy reach. No more excuses – start booking that last minute holiday now! Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for affordable Geneva Airport transfers, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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