Ski Chalets and Skiing in Les Gets Blog - Chalets 1066

Les Gets in the summer is the place to relax and unwind whilst savouring the mountain views over a long coffee in the mountain top restaurants. There is plenty for everyone from the coffee lovers who enjoy walking from café to café on the mountain tops to the adrenalin junkie paragliders.

Don't forget the mountains in Les Gets in the summer months are awash with beauty. Savour the mountain air whilst walking between mountain cafes. Hastings itself is a 20 minute walk up to Les Pleney where you can enjoy coffee and cake overlooking the mountains towards Morzine, from there walk further up Les Chavannes, even all the way to the top,  passing various cafes and restaurants along the route!

Many families enjoy some time by the Les Gets  swimming lake - fully life-guarded and swimming pool regulated  but set in a beautiful  natural spring lake. There is a children's area and plenty of grass for those keen to catch the sun. Ice-creams on-hand! The lake area at Les Gets is a lively family magnet - and next door is the tree top adventure climbing course - adventurous lads and dads get ready to be challenged by ropes and other climbing challenges  -several courses so  there is a course suitable for all ages!

For the even  more adventurous there is cycling, (take the lifts up to the top and come down via a series of graded routes as with skiing - however fast you like!) And for the total adrenalin junkies Les Gets hosts some of the most spectacular paragliding routes in the whole of the Alps: enjoy a tandem ride from the top of Mount Chery and be amazed by the strange combination of peacefulness and sheer fear paragliding produces!

These pictures were taken only yesterday in Avoriaz by Jeff and Laurie, this was their last day before returning to the UK, the lifts in Les Gets closed on Sunday yet in Avoriaz, their view was that the snow was almost as good as it was in January. Some are saying that the lifts could have stayed open longer this season.

Today it is snowing heavily in Les Gets - Sue is due to leave on Saturday - let's hope she can get to the airport!

They say that the Easter snow is poor - and you have to trek higher to do any skiing;  well not so for us - we had a late start and saw the bright sun rising over the Chavannes mountain. We then took the regular Navette bus down into les Gets, bought a one day pass (adults at 20euros) and we were soon away skiing! Firstly up the Chavannes Express up to the top of the Chavannes area and then down to the Chavannes area several times. When we got braver we took the Violete run down to "the bowl" where the pistes were that little bit quieter and "off-Beat"!

After lunch in the cheapest eating place at the Chavannes - the Yeti (named after the black run round here); a lunch of Chips and hot-dogs (hot-dogs  at 4 euros, chips at 4 euros) we decided to do some long runs.

By long runs I mean taking the button lift (or the chair lift) up to the top of the Chavannes Mountain and then skiing all the way down to the village of Les Gets; through various separate pistes, and finally arriving at the town of Les Ges. This must be a good 20 minute ski run - exhilarating, exciting and very thrilling. We loved it. Sun, snow and a long ski. What more could you want.

A typical holiday day for me at Chalet 1066 has started off with warm bread being delivered straight to the door. After we would get ready and walk to the bus stop which takes us down to the town, where we then get off and walk to the slopes. We will then get onto either the bubble lift or the chairlift which takes us up to where all the slopes are. Les Ges is a very comfortable place to ski especially if you are a beginner you can start off on the green slopes and then gradually onto the blue and then if you're feeling confident enough you can attempt the red. There are also the black runs but they are very difficult and are more for the advanced skiers and snowboarders!

As you are skiing down there are some beautiful views of the Alps and the town if you get close enough. It is definitely a memorable and thrilling experience to have had. I can recommend the 421 for kebab and chips at 7.5euros. The whole holiday has been awesome.

Ashley,  aged 12.

Quite frankly not having been able to afford skiing lessons over here as well as everything else (we learnt - well had had a few sessions - at Xscape MK) we kitted out, took the bus into Les Ges (there is a free bus which circles the town every 30 minutes) (as well as a train which circles the village too!), and took the "Bubble lift" up to the Chavannes area.

At the Chavannes area there is the colourful hustle and bustle of a bristling skiing site; and to start with we took to the nursery slopes. Yep nursery slope! No-one minds and a small lift carries you 100 yards or so and you gently ski down - trying out the basics. Actually we found this just the right way to start off and quickly reminded ourselves of what we had learnt at Xscape MK. Happy with our snow-plough turns we took to the blue slopes and we were away. Yep there were a few falls (make sure you wear a helmet), but there were lots of laughs; and within this first day we seemed able to improve to be reasonably fluent skiers and we really began to enjoy the amazing scenery and sense the buzz, the adrenalin and the excitement of our new found sport.

Lunch in the Alpine lodge (a restaurant / café) was great - friendly and pleasant. And this turns out to be the sort of place that a parent can sit and watch children skiing up and down for many happy hours!

Really enjoying les Ges today - and to get back to Chalets 1066 we could take the "Bubble lift" into les Ges and then the bus - OR if we were feeling brave, we could ski back to the road and walk just the last 200 yards! Wow.

We arrived on an early easy-jet plane which left Luton at 7.25am. Luton to Geneva. A nice flight, efficient and pleasant took us to Geneva and then the strangely titled company Skiidy Gonzales took us up to Les Ges. Actually Skiddy Gonzales runs a series of small, up-to-date mini-busses which continually run from Morzine / Les Ges to Geneva and back; driven by young, sensible, and highly educated young people in their 20s. A great welcome actually - and they will help with questions etc.

Anyway - we arrived at Chalet 1066 by 9.30am and settled in. We spent the rest of the day in the town itself; at Jordan's - arranging and fitting ourselves out with ski boots, poles and skis. Jordan's were very helpful and were happy to leave us to pay at the end! They trusted me! If you want to save time arrange for ski-mobile to come to your accommodation to kit you out.

Costs - Basic Ski hire (including poles and boots) comes to about 70 eurios for a week; (not bad really) and then of course we went to buy ski passes. I looked at passes for a week but decided we might want to do a few days skiing and then have a day or two off - especially as we were all pretty well beginners and skiing can take its toll on the energy levels. We bought  "three day passes" for c50 euros for an adult.

Kitted out and ready to ski - we then went to bed!

Just to mention - Chalet 1066 accommodation - fantastic. Check it out. We are staying in Bayeux  - one their flats. Well I say flat - it's huge! And a view right over to Mont Chery which is just picture-postcard.

It has been snowing most of the day today, in Les Gets. The temperature felt the coldest for two months - so cold I had to wear a balaclava underneath my helmet for the first time this ski season - and this is Easter Sunday! The piste was excellent on all but the very lowest slopes in Les Gets. It is looking like we are set for an excellent end to the season.

I am learning to ski and an now qualify myself as " not too bad " and so love to show off my colours ( you know .... i did a black run today ... Chamosiere or even the Yeti etc )
Truth be told, I am still much more comfortable on blues and the occasional reds. One of those red is La Tulipe, fabulous views over Mont Blanc and Dents du Midi at the top with great photo opportunities, scary scary beginning and then a magnificent wide piste ( we are talking very wide here ), the Wetzet in the middle ( restaurant and pipi room )

The Ranfoilly chair lift is closed at the moment so no views but the silver lining is that if you take the Mouille aux chats and go right, the narrow path will take you to Sauternelles, which is nice, but if you continue straight on will also take you to La Tulipe and you practically have the piste to yourself ( Wetzet included )

Another secret known to all "Les Gets Skiers " is the Freestyle nursery slope under the Chavannes express chairlift, 2 turns and several bumps ... great fun !

And last but not least there is a nursery slope for would be snowboarding jumpers, you need to take the Left Tire Fesses ( button lift ) at the Griffin near the red bubble, down the first part of the slope to where it crosses Bruyere then take a right past the trees ... the slope is parallel to the slope next to the button lift but past the trees and rejoins the main Bruyere piste so you can get back to the button lift

More secret pistes ? let us know !

It has been snowing all day today in Les Gets - it looks like we are set for an excellent end of season.

Before todays 'dump' we were having beautiful crisp snow in the mornings. By late afternoon piles of powder. Very little ice. Pleasant skiing conditions with many excellent slopes right through until the end of the day.

We are now confident of good piste conditions to the end of the ski season.

Every Summer our visitors ask for an indoor swimming pool - Morzine now has just opened a new indoor pool complex, this includes:

• a 25m fitness pool
• a 125 square meter learners pool
• a 50 square meter baby pool
• a hydro fitness area, with saunas and steam rooms
• bars and restaurant

Organised for 24th to 28 March, with an excellent line up, this is a series of free concerts. Each morning, those who register, will receive a SMS/text  message with thelocation of the concerts for the day - you usually ski to the location. Set to be an excellent event.

The Les Gets Ski Lift Company (SAGETS) is offering 20% discount on Les Gets/Morzine ski passes for this ski season, as from 31st March.

The minimum number of passes that must be bought is 4 and they must be bought on line at www.skipass-lesgets.com . You can select Chalets1066 and the ski passes will then be delivered to your chalet/apartment for when you arrive.

If you prefer the Portes du Soleil ski passes, Les Gets are offering 15% discount.

We still have some fantastic deals to fill up for last minute bookings:-

Chalet Intime - 6 Bedrooms, accommodates up to 11, close to the Center of Les Gets and also the Ski Lifts. Available Dates and prices for the WHOLE CHALET including 20% discount:

• 4th to 10th March - €2851
• 17th to 24h March - €1447
• 24th to 31st March - €1339
• 7th to 14th April - €2025

For more information use voucher code Special20 when booking on-line.

Chalet Le Raccard - 4 Bedrooms, very large new kitchen, spacious living area, children's play room, parking.  Deals for the WHOLE CHALET with 20% discount:

• 10th to 17th March - €1435
• 17th to 24th March - €1180
• 24th to 31st March - €1092
• 31st March to 7th April - € 1848

For more information use voucher code Special20 when booking on-line.

The 'Bubbles' on the Mont Chery ski lift were full, evening of 14th Feb - with a special Valentines Dinner - see the link:-

http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-13h/leur-saint-valentin-un-diner-dans-une-telecabine-de-mont-chery-6991829.html

The 'Big Mountain Battle', which is being held in Les Gets, featured on French TV:

http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-we/quand-le-ski-devient-un-sport-d-equipe-et-course-d-orientation-6958107.html

From the powder hounds:
Gizzie and I went along the Nabor Road today and I found this enormous stick. It was -14 degrees out; the humans all put extra layers of clothes on, but we didn't mind it and even enjoyed rolling around in the white stuff.

These pictures were taken a few days ago, two were taken from close to the top of the Chavannes Express lift, looking down and one from close to the bottom of the Les Folliets lift - a little later. There was a band of mist which was moving up and down - mid afternoon it was very misty as you skid down, later on the mist moved up and it was clear below and misty above.

This picture was taken on Thursday - a hot air baloon landed just outside Duc du Savoie - quite amaizing:

Yesterday we went skiing in the afternoon, it was snowing heavily and the slopes looked excellent. When we were walking up the Chavannes Road when, a Frenchman came out of his Chalet for a chat - he was saying how bad the weather was and assumed we were coming back from skiing.  He was amazed when we said that we were just on our way out - but then we explained we are English!

The slopes were fantastic, around a 4 inch covering of powder on all the slopes - it was a little cloudy at some points- but there were no queues in the restaurants or at the lifts - even better. We came back by the ski back route to Chalet Hastings where there were tracks from only three skiers before in the day - wonderful!

Chalets1066 have some amazing last-minute offers for ski holidays in Les Gets, full details are on the 'deals' page of the web site. With the snow being so very good, everywhere is starting to sell out. Chalets1066 simply want to fill up.

For details go to: http://www.chalets1066.com/special-offers.html

After weeks of sunny skies and snowdrifts that white stuff is coming down from the skies again. 35 more cm last night...how much deeper can it get? We already work hard, struggling through the snow, chasing the odd marmotte.

Will we ever catch one?

The season has been running for just over four weeks and we are getting excellent customer feedback. This is a testament to the hard work the team put in before before the start of the season but also to the ongoing management of the operations in Les Gets - which is down to Morven - and to her outstanding team. Customer Testimonials can be seen at:-

http://www.chalets1066.com/general/testimonials.html

We have worked with the Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard magazine and Ski-Mobile to develop a competition to win a free ski holiday with Chalets1066 this ski season. The winner has the choice of either a week in our fully catered chalet for up to 4 people, or a week in our self catered four bedroom apartment Bayeux, which can accommodate up to 9-10. The prize includes ski passes and ski/boot hire . The closing date for entries is end January. For details and to enter go to:

http://www.metrosnow.co.uk/ski_competitions/win-a-ski-holiday-to-les-gets/