Les Carroz

Les Carroz: reviews

• skiclub.co.uk visitor (29 January 2010)

  We had our very first ski holiday during the Feb Half term in 2007, as a package holiday, in Les Carroz. The whole holiday was fantastic, from the accommodation, the village and ESF lessons. We were so pleased we went back the following year and again had a wonderful holiday. As beginners we found this resort ideal, however, our sons who are much more advanced than my wife and I, found plenty of challenging slopes. Last year we tried the US for a ski holiday, it did not compare to Les Carroz, so we are going back to Les Carroz again this Feb. Our kids were in separate groups for the lessons, but they were always well looked after. Would recommend the MGM accommodation, very comfortable apartments, with excellent facilities and close to the centre.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (06 December 2009)

  Stayed in Les Carroz Feb 2009 and am surprised to read the reviews here slating the ESF. I can only speak from my experience and thought the instructor was very good (and the admin staff in the office were very helpful to). I have been involved with skiing for 27 years and have used ESF many times. When instructors are required they are always my first port of call and actually already booked lessons in January with them (Morillon ESF) for my son's snowboarding.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (02 December 2008)

  We own an apartment in Les Carroz and would highly recommend Nouvelle Dimension. Our experiences with ESF over many years has been almost always poor. Nouvelle Dimension meets close to the bottom of the telecabine so the kids don't have to carry skis too far. They have much smaller classes, the teachers actually teach (rather than chatting to their mates, ski-ing backwards, and generally ignoring the kids like the ESF guys do), and everyone seems to speak English. Website is Nouvelledimension.com.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• George Gebbett (23 May 2008)

  Contrary to other feedback on the ESF in Les Carroz, I had a very positive experience. If you ever have a lesson there you should ask for Yann Mathurin - you will be pleasantly surprised.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (16 March 2008)

  Just returned from a weeks skiing holiday staying at the MGM apartments Les Fermes du Soleil. Excellent apartments with indoor pool and sauna.

  There were 16 in total in our group and we had a superb time, the weather was warm and sunny, the slopes suffered a bit in the afternoon and the red run down to the resort was hard going as it became slushy.

  I would strongly advise readers to avoid the ESF ski school in Les Carroz, we have skied in previous resorts during the last 4 years and have been very pleased with ESF but have found the experience very different this time. We booked a private instructor for 5 children aged 9-13 and although we had arranged with the instructor to meet at the top of the telecabine at the end of the lesson he left them down the mountain telling them goodbye your lesson has finished. Luckily they had the sense to get into the telecabine and meet us at the arranged place. The children complained that the instructor stopped 4 times during the lesson to chat with other ESF instructors he met on route. The instructor also arrived 20mins late for the lesson and this was the case with other lessons members of our party booked., also lessons finished 20 mins earlier than should have done. When we complained at the office the ESF director was rude and arrogant and was not interested.
  

  Our group also had a 5 and 6 year old in the ESF jardin de neige. At the beginning of the week the 6 year old girl was found in the road by one of our party and at the end of the week the instructor did not return her to where agreed and her mother found her standing at the bus stop in town. There is an alternative ski school in the resort and I wish we had taken notice of previous reader feedback and booked this school.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (28 February 2008)

  We stayed in Les Carroz from 10th to 17th February 2008. Lots of snow and sunny weather every day. For ski/boot hire I'd recommend JMlocation - helpful and English speaking. Les Carroz is a large friendly village with mostly self-catering accommodation and some nice little shops. There are a range of restaurants but we had to book a couple of days ahead for a party of 5. No other nightlife in evidence so party animals may like to go elsewhere but there are some nice bars, like Marlows.
  

  There is a regular ski bus to the telecabin which is fast and there were no queues to speak of.
  

  As it was our first visit we just bought the 'Massif' liftpass which includes just a part of Flaine. There was plenty of skiing on this pass and we especially liked the Samoens area. Although it was half term it wasn't too busy and few queues for lifts.
  
  Overall we loved the variety of the slopes and the fantastic scenery and would go back to discover Flaine as well.
  

  Les Carroz is in the process of updating its lift system. Whereas most lifts were comfortable and fast, a few were antique and slow.
  
  N.B.There were a couple of slopes where a few more barriers would have been appreciated!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (20 January 2008)

  We visited Les Carroz for the day on 18 January, 2008, as we live in Geneva.

  First the positive points. We rented equipment from JM Locations-great service, terrific equipment (the boots were the most comfortable I have ever rented) and Monsieur Vinas and his wife were extremely helpful. Lots of snow, and the runs are well looked after, although there were some rocks coming through the snow near the telecabine. The recently added telecabine is very comfortable and fast.

  I would suggest that anyone with young children avoid the ESF in Les Carroz and use the other ski schools instead.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (23 October 2007)

  Organised a trip for approx. 30 people over the New Year staying at the MGM property. Great location and convenient to walk to the restaurants and bars.

  Initially the weather was too mild, particularly for the village nursery slopes, but with a dump of snow the situation improved. Best skiing was higher up in Flaine, however the fireworks and village atmosphere at Les Carroz was great for New Year celebrations.

  Not a rowdy resort but compact and leading on to the a fine ski network with Samoens and Flaine. Very convenient if you are driving, due to its proximity from Calais. It is located near Geneva, which is approximately 540 miles from Calais rather than 600 plus for the trois vallees.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (17 October 2007)

  Stayed in the Grand Massif ski area at Les Carroz in half-term Feb 2007, just before the decent snow finally arrived. Options were limited by the snow cover, with the one open resort run crowded and heavy going - the lift down was a much better option. Conditions up at Flaine were better, but to ski over to there meant going through a couple of bottle necks where the lift queues could take at least 30 minutes. So most days we drove up to Flaine, where there were huge queues - everyone else was also heading there looking for snow. The whole area lift system is inadequate for the numbers, having many ancient and slow lifts that need upgrading, including some key ones - yet they still charge top dollar for it. All-in-all thoroughly disappointing, it's not in the same league as Espace Killy/La Plagne/3 Valleys.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (22 August 2007)

  Spent Feb half-term there with family and friends. Snow wasn't great but we managed. Main problem was getting down at end of the day. There are only 2 runs down to the village, one red and one blue. There is only snowmaking on the steep, very crowded (and mogully in the afternoon) red, and not on the blue, which I don't understand. They need to sort that out. Took the gondola down most days, much safer!! Gondola is at the top end of the village, so using ski buses is essential, no ski-in, ski-out here!

  Pleasant village centre but overrun in high season. Buses, restaurants (needed to book 2 nights in advance for a group of 10) and slopes very crowded, though even so only waited a max of 20 mins at any lift. Very few handy places to grab lunch without a trudge, some well placed eaterys didn't even open at lunchtime (is no one keen to make money). Recommend the hotel restaurant at bottom of upper nursery slope. It's handy, has a nice terrace and good, reasonably priced food. We had a rolling midday reservation which took the stress out completely!

  Negatives are those above, positives are access to much larger ski area (snow conditions permitting), great and easy access from Geneva, and relatively low prices for eating out.

  For us the negatives outweighed the positives and we won't be going back.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Veronica Squires (10 April 2007)

  We had a family holiday very recently in March 2007. Yes Les Carroz is low but we were lucky - it snowed every day. There were no crowds, very few snowboarders and the two children aged 6 and 3 years had a wonderful time. The instruction by Nouvelle Dimension was first rate and the children very well catered for. There is a large enclosed picnic area at the top of the telecabine should you wish to take your own lunch and avoid the rather pricey restaurant. The pistes were perfect and the off piste through trees just incredible. With travel from Geneva just over an hour it is the sort of place you could make a late decision on after checking the snow reports. A memorable holiday.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (13 January 2007)

  I had a wonderful time in Les Carroz over Christmas. Skiing wasn't fantastic because there was no snow, however the pisteurs did a good job with the artificial snow. We were unable to ski to Flaine as only a few runs in Carroz were open and some in Flaine. The other surrounding resorts (that make up the grand massif) weren't open at all. The only way to get to Flaine was to drive (luckily we had a car) or catch the bus which they charged you for (a bit mean I thought because they normally put them on free of charge). Due to the limited number of runs that were open you could only buy your lift pass one day at a time, so queues in the morning were a bit irksome! but there was a reduced rate as not many runs open. The village of Les Carroz was your typical charming alpine village. Great for families, lots of activities on, great food. Would love to go back sometime and ski the whole grand massif area.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• jim mc alister (18 December 2004)

  A gem of a resort close to Geneva typical french family resort with genuinely friendly people. May lack snow @ times but flaine is just 10 kms up the road ,with so much to do within an hours drive Who cares?Going for my 5th visit in March with 3 children aged 11 8 & 3

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Pam Burrows (23 November 2004)

  Improves every time we go. Wonderful scenery, very french and friendly village. The new gondola will speed access to the slopes. Pleasant for non-skiers. We also love it in the summer as there are many activities and places to visit within easy access.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Robert Hughes (18 September 2004)

  As you say as lot of investiment over last 3 years. Very good ski buses link all parts of East and West Carroz with Skilift.( So steep walk should be deleted from your comment) Ski Gondala Curently under renewel will be completed by Decemeber 15 this year - Which will improve resort considerably. Friendly - The skiing links to Flaine and other resotsd have been improved - Nice ordinary french village so you dont have to pay the earth for a cup of coffee. We liked it so much we have bought one the MGM appartments.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• dr robert kf hughes (17 September 2003)

  Les Carroz has improved much recently - Free ski buses now run between most of the resrts self catering accomadation and the ski lifts - in addition free ski buses to Flaine. Also site of Alps Hot a ir Ballon trip. Good for ski nordic cross county ski , snow shoe walking and i am dtold dog sledging. For more variety and higher skiing if snow poor only 20min from Flaine by car but make sure you have snow chains. Definitely a much nicer ordinary french ski resort than many. With mid priced range cafes & restaurants. There has been a large new development for self catering appts in Les Carroz centre and a lot of development to improve services last year they told us that the currently out door pool will be covered and developed by 2005. We are returning this Feburary 2004. So will let you know. Hotel Arbaron ecellent 3star french family hotel in center 1/2 board "demi-pension" well worth it.. We are going self catering this year in a new MGM built development.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Martin Nicholas (02 May 2002)

  We have spent a week in Les Carroz the last 2 years, both in January. Its very French, and has a low key family feel to it. The resort bus service is efficient, timetabled and free, but still stops 200m below the gondala out of the resort. Pistes are immaculately cared for, with good skiing on a thin covering even this January, signing and marking good. New lifts mean that its possible to get to, and back from Flaine in 40 mins (Quicker than the bus!). The Igloo restaurant, our firm favourite, above Morillon has a 4 man magic carpet lift accessing it, and its much busier with a bigger terrace now. You may have to book to be sure. Nightlife remains quiet and there are no outstanding restaurants. We stayed in an English owned and run Chalet - Cyclamen, 3 mins from the centre with capacity for up to 16, jacuzzi & sauna. Available direct from the owner 00 33 450 90 3063. Good food and fine wine celler. I'm telling you all this because after 4 years in the Grand Massif we are moving on! (I'll tell you where next year!)

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.

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