Guy Little: Owner of Chairlift.eu Airport Transfers

We caught up with Guy to find out more about what brought him here and to see what top tips he can share with you, our readers..

Hi Guy, tell us a little bit about your business, how long have you been running it for and what's your role?

I run Chairlift.eu, an airport transfer company based in Allemont. The view from our balcony is the whole Grande Rousses range, incorporating Alpe d'Huez and several other fringing resorts. We've been running this business for 4 years, having previously run a road cycling chalet in this area. There is a busy summer season here with road cycling taking centre stage from May until September. I own and run the company and do a bit of everything, from web development, to van washing to accounts, scheduling and driving. The classic small business "Jack of all trades..."

How many vehicles/drivers do you have?

We run a small but growing fleet of 3 vehicles and 3 drivers, year round.

What were you doing before this?

Before running the chalet and more recently the transfer business, I was living and working in London as a risk manager for 2 investment banks and latterly the (in)famous Enron ahead of its dramatic collapse in 2001!

What brought you to Alpe d'Huez - work / pleasure or both?

Initially, pleasure, for cycling and ski holidays. It's such a great place to be all year round. We pop back to England to visit family once or twice a year and the rest of the time we're here and open for business.

You must have some interesting tales to tell about going up and down the 21 bends.. do a lot of people get car sick?

I do have a few, some of which aren't suitable for general consumption! It's a road we ride on the bike all summer and drive all year round in the Chairlift vehicles. It's a real sun trap, facing south and it's spectacular. The "mer de nuage" filling the valley is a sight to behold, especially in winter, with the backdrop of the entire Ecrins range. Car sickness? Yes, I'm afraid that does happen. Usually children, who are focused on an iPad rather than looking out of the window! Sick bags at the ready...

What are your future plans for the business?

We'd like to keep steadily growing, continuing to focus on providing a safe, professional and personable service.

If someone was coming here for the first time, what would you suggest they absolutely must do or see in resort?

In the winter, I'd say they really should try the Sarenne black run - it's unique. In summer, riding the 21 bends (up or down!) is an iconic experience. Year round, a pleasure flight out of the Altiport is stunning - just tell your pilot what you want to see and they'll happily oblige - it's breathtaking and the runway sees you roll downhill and off a cliff just to get airborne...

What's your favourite piste or off-piste area & top tip to go skiing?

I am doing more and more cross country skiing these days and the trails over and around the lakes above Alpe d'Huez are fabulous. It's all above 2000m too so it's pretty physical, but staggeringly beautiful and tranquil.

Where are we most likely to find you for après-ski?!

These days, as age and fatherhood take their toll, I'm more likely to be drinking a hot lemon tea from a flask than dancing on the tables after I've taken my skis off!

Skiing or snowboarding? What's your preference & why?

Skiing, but a fresh powder day on the snowboard is hard to beat. Any activity that gets you out the door and onto the snow is good by me.

Your personal favourite place for lunch or dinner?

The pizzas at the Pinocchio (opposite the open air ice rink) are excellent and the Cafe l'Agua by the open air pool in Alpe d'Huez is surprisingly good all day long too. Slightly off the beaten track, the rustic La Cordee in St Christophe is a hidden gem where there is almost no choice in the menu, but everything they bring out is delicious. It's a bar, a shop, a restaurant, a hotel, a meeting place and a mountain guide's meeting room all at the same time.

Where will we find the best coffee or beer?

Coffee? I think you need to go across the border to Italy! Beer? Steif's Belgian beer bar in Vaujany.

What has been your best ever day in Alpe d'Huez and why?

Seeing my 4 year old daughter skiing (at speed!) with a smile on her face was a good day, up there with the best powder days.

What's your favourite thing to do in resort when not skiing or snowboarding?

Riding my bike. On the road or mountain bike, this area is stunning. There's so much to do.... The via feratta are great here too, especially at St Christophe and Vaujany.

What do you do in the summer?

We run transfers all year round and when the sun is shining, we're out on the bike or hiking.

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A big thanks to Guy for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to us. Find out more about Chairlift.eu and how to book your transfers with them.