Megeve

Megeve: reviews

• Ewan Deas (28 January 2010)

  Spent another fabulous holiday in Megeve courtesy of Simon Butler, the company i have been skiing with for years. The resort is in my opinion wonderful - fantastic scenery, huge varied ski area, great food and drink. Certainly it is expensive, but no more so than any other alpine resort in my experience. One particular pleasure for me is the variety of excellent mountain eating. I'd like to particularly recommend: on Rochebrune side, the Radaz and the Forestiere; on Mont D'Arbois, the Alpage at Communailles, the Boitet at the side of the Bettex run, and the Princesse restaurant. In the Jaillet ski area we used to love the Refuge de Christomet but now had enough of the lousy service and food quality there after several attempts to give it another chance. Next time we're there we will try the Bachais which looks promising.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Xavier Adam (10 January 2010)

  Good skiing. The town not pumping partywise. Shops good. Pricing is not cheap, but par the course of a swanky Alps resort. Skiing flatish as the bottom, but better up top. A pretty town and quite Swiss/Russian focused. The shopping is the highlight; followed by the skiing in this and linked valleys. Also went over in summer 2008, a lift was open, and was very enjoyable hiking at 2000 metres. No key tips, apart from head over and have a look. Think twee and pretty, rather than party and crazy.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (10 March 2009)

  Have been to Megeve many times and always with Simon Butler Skiing. They have taught everyone in the family to ski over the years (excellent tuition included in price of holiday) and never fail to make our holiday a great one. Their Soleil d'Or chalet hotel may not be as plush as some in Megeve but the casual atmosphere, rustic charm and welcoming staff make it home from home. Plenty of good hearty food too. Although low resort altitude means snow can be poor in warm late season, most of the runs being on grass pastureland means it doesn't need much to keep the runs open and even in the worst seasons there's always snow to be had somewhere. The skiing is excellent with a good range of runs for everyone and a lift and bus system that does what it should - just avoid the French school holidays and you'll be fine. Great place to ski, relax and enjoy good mountain food and the transfer from Geneva nice and short. Only downside is the absence of what some might see as enough affordable après ski (not much at all) and the prices generally (many restaurants expensive and beware the prices in the Jazz Bar). Fantastic place to start skiing and unless your looking for the noisy après ski of many mainstream resorts, you can't go wrong.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (22 February 2009)

  Just back from a week in Megeve with my family. The snow conditions were among the best I have experienced anywhere and the weather was good - a great week's skiing - BUT -apart from a nice wee place in Combloux the prices for eating out ranged from expensive to eye watering. The mountainside places will charge 3.5 or 4 Euros for a coffee or Coke and you can easily cough up 30 Euros plus per head for lunch. Pricey if you have teenage kids to feed. The town is not much cheaper. We counted 9 Prada jacket wearers in the pizza restaurant on Friday night - 'nuff said! I'd still recommend the skiing. It is nice (and pretty easy) to try the different sectors each day

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Ben Craven (27 January 2009)

  I have just returned from four days in Megeve. The resort is absolutely lovely and the skiing is fab. However, the prices in resort are very expensive at the moment. In restaurants in the town the wine was very expensive and prices in many of the mountain bars are astronomical. Although we got a package which included a spa treatment and ski passes for the first day which meant that the price was okay, the cost of drinks and food in the hotel was just silly, for example we could not get a bottle of wine below 60 euros.

  Despite the very poor exchange rate I think that venues in the resort have raised prices quite considerably since the last time I was there (March 2007). Also I went with my husband and another couple to the Jazz club. Despite the resort being very quiet we were told it was busy going in and that we would have to wait. We waited outside for 10 minutes in the freezing cold and when I asked if we could wait just inside the doorway was told no! The attitude of the door man was extremely superior and as we are all in our 30's we decided life was too short to be messed about and left and went on to another bar instead. Although I have really enjoyed my stay in Megeve in the past (07 and 06) I would definitely not go back again.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (21 February 2007)

  Spent a week in Megeve in early February 2007, so there was not a lot of snow and many of the pistes were closed which was a shame. Those that were open were well groomed and the skiing was great. The town is very pretty as is the whole ski area and we look forward to returning when there is more snow(?). We travelled with Simon Butler and stayed at the Hotel Antoine. The deal included 2 hours of lessons each day plus full board which represented excellent value for money. I would recommend it to skiers of all levels as tuition is geared to individual needs and the groups are small and very friendly. Highspots of the holiday.......the people, the food (word has it that the chef trained with Gordon Ramsey) and the jazz club (actually it's not actually a jazz club but a good live music venue) Beware it is very expensive though!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (26 December 2006)

  Well worth a few days, taking in Les Contamines as well. Very pretty town but perhaps a little too Boutique. Excellent small jazz club Cinq Rues. Hotel Grange d'Arly is worth the stay. Hostess Christine places a premium on service and quality control. Hotel food claims to be wholly fresh and seems to live up to it. A minutes walk to the centre of town. Savoie ambience everywhere in town, and charming over xmas, but snow very light and few runs open by Xmas 2006. Les Contamines had plentiful snow but icy lower down. Megeve would be delightful with good snow.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Aji Buchanan (13 June 2006)

  Megève has to be one of the best kept secrets around and I would highly recommend a trip there during the coming season for all the family. Megève is about 1 hrs drive from Geneva International Airport. The skiing is super and caters for all levels from beginner to expert, and even in bad weather you can still ski as there are the trees all around. This place is like a fairy tale, full of Alpine charm, and is a pleasure to ski. The slopes are perfect and extremely well pisted, the people are friendly - even if you can’t speak the language, and the food is out of this world and not very expensive as long as you don’t get into any of the wines...do as I do (just buy a glass)! Not only are the lift prices cheap, but there are hardly any lift queues except at Christmas and in the February Holidays. I worked in Geneva last winter and spent almost every weekend in Megeve. During this time, I had the chance of meeting an Independent Instructor, through the Internet, and I booked private lessons with "Megeve Mike". (He responded immediately to my enquires, and confirmed my tuition on the spot which was a pleasant surprise). An American and fully certified French ski instructor, who has since made my skiing experience a pleasure. I was in an "intermediate rut" as he called it and he got me out of it - now I fly down the mountains. We skied all over the domain which is huge and all within view of the Mt. Blanc at all times. From Megeve you can ski to St.Gervais, Combloux, Betex, St. Nicolas and my favourite The Epaule piste to Chatrix. There are extremely good little restaurants where one can stop in for lunch and get out for less than 15 Euros. If you get a chance take the tour of Praz Sur Arley...its only 10 minutes by car and another huge skiing domain. The restaurants are very inexpensive in this little town and so close to Megeve that it is worth the car trip at the end of the day. I now fly into Geneva and book my flights far in advance to get cheap flights in and then rent a car (on the Swiss side always) to get to Megeve. When the weather is very sunny and towards the end of the season in Megeve, I scheduled a day trip with my Instructor to Courmayeur, Italy through the Mt. Blanc Tunnel....it's only an hour away from Megeve, on the way back you can stop off in great little Italian places to eat and at a more than fair price. There is also the possibility to “heli-ski” in Cervinia, which is only 2 hours drive from Megeve and where there is an endless variety of pistes in the station and in the area. Try it you won’t be disappointed....but don't tell anyone! Just a final note: I have just started to make my reservations for lodging and ski instruction for 2006/2007 and cannot believe that it is already hard to find for certain times – so book now.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Alison Anderson (04 February 2006)

  Have just returned from wonderful 5 day break in Megeve, with super snow and glorious sunshine throughout. We normally head to the 3 Valleys so was pleasantly surprised with the vast ski area - we covered all 3 mountains and it was never crowded (end Jan perhaps less people). Can warmly recommend Chez Ernestine on the way from Mt Arbois via Mt Joly towards St Gervais. An amazing steak, with superb views of Mt Blanc straight ahead. I would say Megeve is best for intermediates and we had a day blasting down Argentiere's black runs and off piste to have a bit more challenge - but there is plenty for all levels in Megeve with good off piste from Mt Joly, and the popular Cote 2000. One of our group also went for 15 minute flight in 3 seater aircraft - only 30 euros which seemed pretty reasonable. Good choice of restaurants in the very pretty village, especially the raclette. The horses and carts were well plied with business and it is altogether a more "alpine village" feel than the custom-built resorts. Would definately go again, car useful as there is not much "ski to door" although excellent ski bus.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Lucie Smallwood (13 January 2004)

  Megeve is a picturesque resort surrounded by an impressive mountain backdrop . The skiing here is superb with a great choice of runs and the ski schools are excellent. There is English speaking tution available and the friendly tutors make classes an enjoyable and worthwile investment. However, Megeve is a very expensive resort, with some bars in the town centre charging up to 15 Euros for a bottled beer. This limits apres ski to a choice of a few reasonably priced restaurants or small cafe bars. Megeve is not a resort for those on a budget or who like a lively atmosphere.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• David Upton (06 February 2003)

  Combloux(France) - 3km from Megeve with cheaper prices but access onto Evasion ski area. Short transfer from Geneva. Comblouxs' ski area is well worth trying as it doesn't get as busy as Megeve but has some good runs. I stayed at the 2* Hotel Caprice des Neiges I would recomend it. Owners very helpfull, food good and a short ride to "la princesse" lift in the Hotel minibus.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Peter Kennedy (12 February 2002)

  I think the nearby resorts to Megeve may deserve a little more attention. The linked area of Val D'arly, which comprises Praz-sur-Arly, Notre Dame de Bellecombe and the smaller Flumet, offers a surprisingly wide range of staggeringly picturesque skiing, and a brilliant 3-hour circuit between the three which includes a traverse along a mountain ridge with the best views anywhere of Mont Blanc. Notre Dame have invested over the last 2 years in expanding the area linking to Praz, giving some great skiing up around 2,000m. Praz is a fairly soulless place to stay, but Notre Dame is a delightful ski village, and Flumet a really charming ancient place with some cheap and spacious accommodation up the mountain, although the through-traffic is admitteldy a bit of a pain. These resorts are extremely "French", and english-language ski school would probably be a problem. However, for a family travelling independently with a car, you can have a really good-value holiday here.

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

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