Les Gets - Any advice

yankinlk

Heading there this year at the end of the month. Gang of us going so should be good fun. Anyone have any advice on the place form past experience?

1. Recommend a Ski Hire place... closet to the slopes preferred.

2. Kids and Ski School - anyone used them? Is it morning only do you know?

3. Apres Ski - any good spots - whats the best night...

4. morzine & portes du soleil - we are going for 4 days - do we need both passes - is it worth it?

Thanks in advance...

Fattes

I would take the Portes du soleil pass, much better terrain and more variety, some nice resorts on it, Avories, Chatel, Champery etc.

Will be out on the Porte Du Soleil the week of the the 20th so will let you know what conditions are like but its not great anywhere right now. Never stayed in Les Gets so cant help with much else. Apres ski is French so nothing manic but if you are in a group you will have plenty of fun. Definitely ski Avoriez the swiss wall is worth a visit!

olaola

Went to Morzine about two years ago - we thought Les Gets was the nicest part of the resort. Fab wide runs, in the sun too! Not sure if you'd get to Avoriaz if you were in Les Gets for 4 days, Morzine might keep you busy. It's a bit of a schelp to get over there, and tbh, it's uug-lyyy. You'll probably find yourself staying around Les Gets and the side of Morzine the brings you down to Les Gets.

Sorry I can't be more help on the other requests!

If you have time, this place is NUTS! Worth a trip, some nice skiing around it too: http://www.vieuxchalet.com/

cormee

olaola wrote: »

It's a bit of a schelp to get over there, and tbh, it's uug-lyyy.

Jesus! Don't ever go to Val Thorens so! I always thought Avoriaz was one of the better, more sympathetic to the local environment, purpose-built resorts. Each to their own I suppose

OP - The ski area in Les Gets is split in two by the village, the main area which connects to Morzine is the bigger, busier, and more popular part, but definitely check out the other side, there are no crowds or queues and some really nice runs including some amazing reds that look over Les Gets. You should definitely visit that side, it would take you a half day or more to cover it.

Bambaata

Im heading to Morzine on Sunday for the week. Cant wait!! It seems snow fall isn't great this year from what ive read but im sure we'll find somewhere decent seeing as we have full Port du Soleil passes. I'll let you know how we get on but im only a 2nd time skier so might not be able to give best advice on the slopes!

cormee

Bambaata wrote: »

Im heading to Morzine on Sunday for the week. Cant wait!! It seems snow fall isn't great this year from what ive read but im sure we'll find somewhere decent seeing as we have full Port du Soleil passes. I'll let you know how we get on but im only a 2nd time skier so might not be able to give best advice on the slopes!

Morzine has had some big dumps in the last three weeks (I still have notifications set up on my phone for Morzine, from a few years back) not sure if they've been melting, or what, though. Check out Crepu, nice bar.

Bambaata

Thanks for the info. As a matter of interest what app do you use?

Sorry for slightly off topic chat OP but i promise i'll give some first hand experiences next week for you

Ive a friend who lives in Morzine so hoping she has some advice too.

cormee

Bambaata wrote: »

Thanks for the info. As a matter of interest what app do you use?

Sorry for slightly off topic chat OP but i promise i'll give some first hand experiences next week for you

Ive a friend who lives in Morzine so hoping she has some advice too.

It's creatively titled "Ski & Snow Report"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skireport

You set up favourites and then you can set up notifications when snowfall is greater than an amount you specify.

Not sure if it's available for iOS.

Bambaata

Ah yeah i have that one, i just thought there might be some other one that people generally use.

Fattes

Morzine has had some big dumps in the last three weeks (I still have notifications set up on my phone for Morzine, from a few years back) not sure if they've been melting, or what, though. Check out Crepu, nice bar.

The problem is the temps are way above freezing everywhere right now even at 3,00 meters its above freezing, pistes are fine but they soften up in the afternoon especially below about 1,500 Meters

But there is cold weather on the way for the end of this week apparently!

olaola

Bambaata wrote: »

Ah yeah i have that one, i just thought there might be some other one that people generally use.

I have updates from www.snow-forecast.com set up for certain resorts. It will email you when it has snowed.

olaola

cormee wrote: »

some really nice runs including some amazing reds that look over Les Gets. You should definitely visit that side, it would take you a half day or more to cover it.

I thought these reds were some of the nicest I've ever skied - good steep gradient but really wide, so you can do some fabulous carving turns!

Just be aware of the lifts in general in the Morzine area, they're quite 'agricultural' and while well manned, the embarkation & disembarkation can be quite a shock!

Fattes

olaola wrote: »

Just be aware of the lifts in general in the Morzine area, they're quite 'agricultural'

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:

Thats just France in general as they buy them 2nd hand from the Austrians and Swiss!!! HA HA

olaola

Fattes wrote: »

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:

Thats just France in general as they buy them 2nd hand from the Austrians and Swiss!!! HA HA

They're bordering on dangerous tbh! Time for a serious replacement program. See my post about some experiences we had on them in the winter resort report thread - incl the retention bar breaking while sitting in the chair lift. If that had been a child - they could have slid off!

Fattes

olaola Not to go to far off topic but it is an issue in a lot of French resorts even Chamonix with its 380 Euro lift pass has a very dated lift infrastructure (So much so there is a 5 year update plan for some of them) Shame really but thats life! Were I am now has a Gondola that rotates 360 degrees as you go up!! You have to love the Swiss ha ha

coley

Hi Yankinlk,

1 - We've used http://doorstepskis.com/ based in Morzine, you can book your kit ahead of time and they'll deliver and fit at your chalet. If there is a problem with any of the kit they will normally sort it fairly quickly.

2 - Our little one is too small yet for Ski-school, don't know if its morning only - it seems to be mainly morning, to get best out of snow and kids.

3 - Apres Ski isn't mad in Les Gets - plenty of places to choose from depending on your taste. Bar Bush, Big Foots (used to be JCs), Igloo, Bar Bowling.

4 - plenty of runs on the porte du soleil pass - http://en.portesdusoleil.com/ski-area-map.html

I'll be there in a week....can't wait.
Oh and conditions seem to be improving, cold the coming week. But as Fattes says temps are too high.

-Coley.

Fattes

We are in the pot du soleil from the 18th for a week

yankinlk

Wow. Didn't expect that many replies - thanks so much. Sending this thread to the gang to read as well....

Fattes

yankinlk wrote: »

Wow. Didn't expect that many replies - thanks so much. Sending this thread to the gang to read as well....

Just remove all the crap lift references first ha ha HSE a great trip

Bambaata

cormee wrote: »

Morzine has had some big dumps in the last three weeks (I still have notifications set up on my phone for Morzine, from a few years back) not sure if they've been melting, or what, though. Check out Crepu, nice bar.

Crepu is indeed a nice bar, as is Cafe Chaud.

Had a great week. Morzine is a really nice town. We arrived to find muck, grass and little snow at town level but fine up the slopes. Port du soleil is such a massive area that we never had issues with lack of now. There was also 2 nights snow during the week. It helped for certain days but i found it tough going the immediate days after. I'm only 1.5 weeks skiing so not at a very good level and found the moguls (or whatever they are called) very hard going! They didn't seem to groom much in the resort whereas when i was in meribel last year it seemed a lot more grooming went on overnight. I suppose if you are any use this wouldnt be a major issue.

On the last night (Saturday) we got an ice hockey match in which was great value at €12. Its a really nice town and not as expensive as i was expecting.

Fattes

In the Porte du solleil now chucking snow!' Forecast for the next few days is snow! Badly needed to be honest but plenty on the way

coley

Just back from Les Gets
That dump of snow, week before last helped a lot.
Had snow during the week - Thurs and Fri night(largest dump).
Had some fog during the week - depended on height you were at, but we were out every day.
And of course day we were leaving Sat, had that big dump of snow Fri night, -10, and clear skys!!! every chair full on the ski-lifts.
On the Fri we did a bit of a circuit and skied into Switzerland and back, tough going with some mogul fields on a few of the slopes. But the "chocolat chaud avec rum" helped

-Coley.

yankinlk

Thanks for all the help everyone. We are packed and ready to go - will return a trip report when I get back.

BTW if anyone needs to share transfer - one of our group is travelling from Geneva to Les Gets on Friday on his own, would be great to share costs.

coley

yankinlk wrote: »

Thanks for all the help everyone. We are packed and ready to go - will return a trip report when I get back.

BTW if anyone needs to share transfer - one of our group is travelling from Geneva to Les Gets on Friday on his own, would be great to share costs.

How did you and your group get on?
-Coley.

yankinlk

yankinlk wrote: »

Heading there this year at the end of the month. Gang of us going so should be good fun. Anyone have any advice on the place form past experience?

1. Recommend a Ski Hire place... closet to the slopes preferred.

2. Kids and Ski School - anyone used them? Is it morning only do you know?

3. Apres Ski - any good spots - whats the best night...

4. morzine & portes du soleil - we are going for 4 days - do we need both passes - is it worth it?

Thanks in advance...

Ok at the very least I will answer my own questions.

1. We stayed in the Hotel Regina (no place finer) and it was really nice. Center of town, on the main street, directly next door to a very nice Ski Hire shop. We were one block (200 yards) away from the main Ski Ticket Office and Gondola as well as a 6 man chair to the top. I like to hire my gear as close to the slopes as possible, but this was only a short walk and not uphill so no major hassle. The hotel had a place to store Skis, but so did the shop, and it was easier to use.

The hotel was fancy, aimed more at couples than families, and the food served was high quality (maybe more than we needed) as was the early breakfast. There was an excellent chill out area in the bar and hotel lobby as well as a Sauna (a must after skiing i think).

2. I had a kid needing ski school, and arriving on Thursday meant i missed the start of ski school (Sundays for a week) so I had to stump up for private lessons for my 8 yr old. It was worth it, he progressed quickly in the mornings and got to ski with me in the afternoon, much improved each day. I used both ski schools (the blue one across from the gondola in town) and the red one (the main one next to the gondola). Be sure to try both if you are pricing, if you are doing a group or joining a class i think it makes little difference. Both were excellent.

3. We did more eating then drinking (or at least i did) but there was a good atmosphere about the place. Apres Ski next to the main Gondola close to the main ski school was pretty lively, but nothing like what you see in Austria. Lots of variety about the place for food, just walk around, big groups need reservations. I did not try the Cheese wheel - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette - it was a bit gross looking for me, but very popular.

4. We only did the one pass, and it was enough for us, I think it was portes du soleil. Any longer of a stay tho and u might need more.

Our group loved it, and would deffo go back again.