J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by mikeskifrance

?I would love any help or suggestions about the Christmas break I am trying to plan. I am looking for a skiing break on a budget, with 2 children (8 and 12 yrs), somewhere in France. Any suggestions for the best place to go? We have never tried skiing before! Is it best to book learn to ski packages before or while there? Also I would like other activities to be available - skating and so on.
Any advice greatly appreciated !??

Hi Babyrose,
I know that you have already decided for the higher altitude ski areas?however it would be in your best interest to review your decision if it is based on snow conditions. Keep in mind that almost all areas now have a snowmaking system that is quite sufficient to insure a very good snow cover in the event of a lack of natural snow. You should not be surprised that the ski resorts now a days will always make snow no matter what altitude and all season long at that.

I would like to suggest Megeve as a resort that you should try for you and your family. Megeve is a short 1 hour drive from the Geneva International Airport. The ski area is perfect for a young family that is just beginning to discover skiing for the first time. Megeve is designed and caters for the intermediate skier with plenty to do in the afternoons for family from the shopping to the restaurants and skating rink to the Olympic swimming pool? so your two children will have a great time.

As a ski instructor that has worked in the Alps for many years you will find English speaking instruction for you and your family available on the internet.

Megeve at Christmas is wonderful as it is a ski resort that is ?cut in the trees? ? there are trees everywhere (unlike the lunar landscape of most other ski areas above tree line). The town center of Megeve is a friendly cobbled area with a very old church at its center. The town has horse drawn sleighs that will take you from one area to another. The people are most friendly and children are especially welcome.

My suggestion is to reserve quickly as there are still places available however by September it will be too late.

Look at the Megeve page on J2ski? plenty of information for you there.

Megeve Mike
www.SkiProsMegeve.com

How to get to Megeve ....but dont tell anyone!
You will be amazed by the diversity of geographical and climatic change within a very narrow confine as in the distance between Geneva International Airport and the Megeve-Chamonix-Mont Blanc triangle. It is often a choice of mine to have clients visit Courmayeur and Cervinia all in the Italian Alps, all in less than a 2 hour drive from Megeve.

Megeve is well known by few and is a jealously guarded secret among those that frequent its ski slopes; Michelin Guide rated restaurants, high-end shopping stores, Casino and quaint narrow cobbled streets. The village is dominated by the traditional church belfry, and a square all in a pedestrian friendly atmosphere. Horse drawn sleighs carry tourists all over during the peak periods adding a festive and memorable experience for young and old.

The ski area is laid out to almost always have the summit of Mt Blanc in view when skiing Megeve ski runs. The runs are cut through the trees a very welcome change to most ski areas in the Alps that are above ?tree line?, adding a touch of green to this Haute Savoyard village! Great skiing for all levels with a particularly pleasing predominance of upper intermediate skiing terrain.

The "Espace Mont Blanc" domain is a whopping 445 Km and with over 111 lifts make Megeve and partner ski areas (la Giettaz, Saint Gervais, Saint Nicolas de Veroce, Combloux, les Contamines Montjoie and Cordon) in the top 6 longest ski able areas in France.

I often bring my clients on a beautiful day to see and ski what I think is the best vantage point to view the French Alps and the Mont Blanc:

The most scenic views of Mont Blanc the highest mountain in Europe are visible from the top of the "Epaule" chairlift of the Megeve Ski Area. At the top of this chair lift you will want to turn immediately left to stay on the piste, a right turn will take you immediately off piste! You should be a good intermediate skier to do this run, in several places it is quite narrow and in whiteout conditions not advised at all. However on a brilliant sunny day you will want to look around you and capture a visual picture that even the best of cameras could ever capture ...the whole of the French Alps in all their beauty right before your eyes! After taking it all in, its time to ski all the way down to Chatrix, the longest of runs in the domain.
But dont tell anyone how nice it is !

If you are flying in to ski the French Alps and Megeve you have the following possibilities. Chambery Airport, Geneva Airport and Grenoble Airport are all approximately one hour?s drive away. This makes Megeve a highly accessible ski destination, area even for a long weekend, from any airport in the UK. Leave the UK at 08:00 and you are on the pistes by 12:00 noon. Be aware that the above can vary depending upon traffic and weather conditions.

Driving: From Geneva you will go to the A40 direction Mont Blanc/Chamonix and turn off at Sallanches and about 17 kilometers direction Albertville, to Megeve.

Driving: In the event of bad weather: If you drive from Grenoble and Chambery, direction A 41- E712, to Annecy/Geneva/La Roche sur Foron and get on the A40 direction Mont Blanc/Chamonix and turn off at Sallanches and about 17 kilometers direction Albertville, to Megeve.

Good weather alternative: If you drive from Grenoble: A 41- E712 to the A 430 direction Albertville. Take the N212 at Albertville up the beautiful Gorges de Arly to Megeve. Please note however that this route can be closed due to rock and mud slides and traffic can be a problem!

Mike Beaudet a Colorado native lives in France with his wife and twin boys Tom and Lucas. Known as Megeve Mike, he is the founder of Ski Pros Megeve. Megeve is located in French Alps, at the foot of Mt. Blanc, a 1 hour drive from Geneva International Airport.

There is rarely a problem skiing in France in December. Most ski areas have very good snowmaking equipment and can insure that they have snow. I'm not a guy that bets on things but as an instructor that has taught in the French Alps full time I can say that there is about a 1 in 7 chance of having a starting season that is not good for the lower elevation ski areas. Note however that many higher elevation areas had a very bad start last season (05-06)..very little snow! Areas that are lower had a great season example where I teach...Megeve had a super season and a great start all due to a "micro climate" that is typical to Megeve and linked to its proximity to the Mont Blanc.

Have no worries try Megeve there are many super high level intermediate runs and the big secret is that there are great B and B's for people to stay at. A casino and inexpensive places to eat on the hill at lunch time.

It's true that the drinking and party scene is a little limited but on the other had there are plenty of things to do and all in a place that has the majority of its runs cut in the trees....so that if the weather is bad at least you can ski....where as in the higher elevations i.e. ski areas that are above tree line it's a "white out".

Xmas in Megeve is like a fairy tail and the atmosphere is like when you were a kid! Horse drawn sleighs and all.

Take a look at the review on Megeve on this site, all you need to know.

Bet on Megeve. Hands down go to Megeve.

Posted by: Megeve Mike