Travel challenge - UK to Briancon by air/train/bus

[Westy]

As part of a logistically challenging holiday plan, I need to arrange for Ben, my daughter and her boyfriend to join us in the Briancon area in late August. I have looked at flying them to Lyon or Turin, and then hiring a car. This is feasible, but the cost of hire car as the driver will only be 21 is expensive. I've looked at trains on the Rail Europe website, but these seem to take a long time for the final leg and look to be expensive.

Having got thoroughly confused with the various options last night, I wondered if anyone had any advice on the best options. One requirement is that we will need a second vehicle for the week that they are with us, so a hire car is a must. Either they need to get one at the airport, or we hire one when we pick them up from wherever. We'd prefer that to be somewhere near Briancon, to avoid wasting a day driving to and from an airport.

Any ideas very gratefully received! Thanks.

[Dave or Scout]

There's a train that runs from Lyon to Embrum/Briancon. Not too complicated to get and doesn't take that long.

[charliew87]

Scout's suggestion seems best!
Guessing having them drive out is out of the question? With 4 people in the car it worked out fairly cheap for us last year. Will they have boats etc?

[Westy]

Thanks guys. I got some good advice from UKRGB, which is to fly to Turin, get a bus from the airport to the train station, and then a train to Oulx. This is about 30 mins drive from Briancon, so I can pick them up there. Turin is nearer to Briancon than Lyon (my other option), so should be quicker once landed. Bus and train according to the chap who gave the advice is only a few Euros each way; the Europe Rail website quoted extortionate prices, hence my reticence. I can hire a car in Briancon as the second vehicle, which means no young driver supplement.

We didn't really want them having to drive all the way, as it's a long slog and a fair chunk out of the few days that they will be there.

Anyway, I think I have a plan. Thanks for the advice.

[mally]

I had to come back to the UK from Briancon in a hurry last year, got the overnight train from Briancon to Paris, then Eurostar. Very straightforward, and less fuss than air, about the same cost.