 Poster: A snowHead
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A couple logistical questions regarding buying food for the Christmas holiday. We’re going to La Clusaz, arriving on Sat. Dec. 22, driving from the Geneva airport.
Can anyone recommend where to stock up on groceries? My experience is that you can end up paying a lot more in the resort, so if anyone can recommend where to stop en route, that’d be great. Would prices be lower in Switzerland or France. I’m thinking with lower taxes and the nice exchange rate, Switzerland may be the answer.
What are the shops’ holiday opening schedules? Here in Germany, everything will shut down at 20.00 on Saturday, possibly open for a while on Monday and then shut down again until Thursday. So conceivably you have to get all your shopping done on Saturday to last you until Thursday. Will it be the same in France, or are they a bit more liberal about the opening hours.
Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ami in berlin, I'm sure David Murdoch will know better but as I recall there's a big Migros near the motorway at Annemasse. Migros is reputedly the cheapest supermarket in Switzerland, but it's dry under its articles of association so you wouldn't be able to get the liquid food there  In Switzerland, which has pretty strict opening hours, I would expect the shops to be open until 4pm on Christmas Eve and until 4 or 5 on the 22nd - France I would say is bound to have longer hours and may even have shops open on the Sunday in resort
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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ami in berlin, I know that there are fewer people crossing from CH into FR to shop these days - because of the exchange rate. I'm not sure how big a difference it really makes. There is indeed a big Migros at Annemasse (FR) - just off the Motorway.
We tend to do our non-cash & carry shopping in the Carrefour in Sallanches although that would involve you in a small detour I think. Not sure of opening hours but I'd plan for the worst.
THere are probably supermarkets in Bonneville, but I don't know them. I'd go to the Annemasse one. It's most obvious.
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Hi
I live in La Clusaz and would advise buying your groceries either in Intermarche in Vilards sur Thones (10mins from La Clusaz), Champion or Lidl in Thones (15 mins), Champion in Bonneville (30 mins) or the big Auchan on the outskirts of Annecy (30mins). The supermarkets in the town are o.k for bits and pieces but expensive for a big shop!
They will all be open until late on the 24th and super U, casino and huit a huit will all be open on xmas day anyway, as the resort just functions normally on xmas day. Busses run, shops, restaurants open, ski instructors skiing etc.
It is definitely not cheaper to buy your stuff in Switzerland, plus you stand the chance on paying tax on it all when you cross the border to France.
Have you heard about the BIG xmas celebrations in La Clusaz this xmas - they should be FAB.
ENJOY, ENJOY!!!!! 
www.gravite.co.uk
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thank you for the help. It's good to find out I was wrong about thinking Switzerland might be cheaper. Also reassuring to hear all the shops won't just shut down for half a week like they do in Berlin (it's really annoying, let me tell you).
Living in Germany, home of the discount supermarkets (Lidl, Aldi, Netto, Plus, Penny are all German creations), I despise them. Terrible selection and poor quality. And working in the produce market consulting sector, I can also tell you they are not as cheap as you think. For own brands yes, but like for like they are often more expenisve than the hypermarkets and traditional retailers. This is all a long way of saying that a Lidl is the last thing I'm looking for.
So, I'm looking for a quality supermarket on the road to La Clusaz from Geneva.
graviteski, yes, I've heard a bit about the Christmas festival and we're really looking foreward to it. It looks like there's snow in the forecast for next week, too, so fingers crossed. Any reccomendations or insider tips for La Clusaz?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Quality supermarket.... France? I think you have the wrong country.
I would avoid Auchan at Annecy unless you like traffic jams and stick to something like Champion (Carrefour subsidary) in Thones having first bought wine at Lidl where they are much cheaper than Champion. If you buy biscuits stick to LU or Maman brand as the homebrand stuff is full of transfats even if they look the same.
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Annecy does have a habit of getting jammed at 12.00, 2.00 (lunchtime rush) and 5ish. Lunchtimes and end of the working day. But after having experienced rush hour in the UK (M25 - arghhh) it's a drop in the ocean!
Auchan is v good for fish and veg - all fresh - and the cheese section is huge.
There is a big Carrefour in Annecy too, plus a big Migros on the outskirts of Annemasse - although I haven't shopped there before.
If you like fresh cheeses - just stop by one of the many farms with signs - selling Tomme or reblechon, they are v good direct from the farmer. Plus there is a market on Monday Morning in La Clusaz, Wednesday morning in le Grand Bornand (10 mins from La Clusaz) and Thones on Satuday. Lovely spit roast chickens and saucission!!!
There are stacks of lovely restaurants and bars in la Clusaz. Our favs our Chalet du lac (at Lac du Confin) - it would make a fab Xmas eve or xmas day venue. The Foly at Confin is also good and in town there is Ugo, L'outa and la Scerie for a special occassion. The best bars are the Paccaly, Bachal, Bar du Vin and Saltos. Best slopeside restaurants are the Telemark (on Etale), L'Aiguille de relay (Aiguille) Les Praz and Le Berchail - but there are loads of other places too.
The best ski areas are without doubt Etale and Balme - especially if you get good powder! But Le Grand Bornand is good for a couple of days exploring - especially the Maroly area - good off-piste, nice reds and long motorway blues. The best restaurant is one tucked away on the route to Joyere from la Rosay - La Ferme something or other - I can't remember the name!!!
I hope this helps - have a great time - fingers crossed for the snow this weekend.
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ami in berlin,
just to be clear, Migros is on the French side of the border (oddly). If you just take the Annemasse exit off the autoroute (that you'll be on from the airport) it's dead easy to get to and only 2 mins out of your way (it's beside the Autoroute).
And Migros is Swiss quality. Can't be expensive or none of the locals would frequent it - Annemasse not particularly wealthy, well not many bits of it anyway.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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2 minutes off the motorway sounds easy. I assume 'Swiss Quality' means it's good? Thanks.
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I know this is an old thread now, but it almost answers my questions, so I thought it best to continue it rather than start again. We're off to the village over NY and will need groceries on the way, the supermarkets in Thones listed above seem ideal, but having looked on their websites I cannot ascertain if the opening hours over Xmas will be different from those displayed; is anyone able to shed any light? We'll be passing through on 27th Dec.
TIA
Billy
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@billyc847, i would expect that Saturday hours are as normal. Only Xmas day and NY day likely to vary.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @billyc847, i would expect that Saturday hours are as normal. Only Xmas day and NY day likely to vary. |
Many thanks, that would seem reasonable. So, now all I need is snow!!!! Cheers for your help and prompt reply. Happy Xmas.
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Currently in the UK but we live nearby. We'll be calling into the Villard sur Thone Intermarche later this week when we are back. It's our favorite local supermarket, excellent meat counter. Fuel is cheap too. Good for wine. Only ten minutes out of your way if heading GVA to La Clusaz. We'll check out Xmas opening times for you and let you know as they usually have a poster on the door.
Alternatively, there is a big Carrefour just off the autoroute at Bonneville, easiest to access by ignoring the signs at J16 for La Clusaz and taking the next exit just after and you'll see it to the right of your route just after the first roundabout. It has a fresh fish counter instead of a fresh meat one but otherwise not a lot to choose between the two.
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You know it makes sense.
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I couldn't ask for anymore, that is fantastic. We've just been planning what food we'll be bringing with us, and talking of the journey, as well as playing family ski on the Wii, so your kind offer has added to the high levels of excitement already being experienced! 
Looking forward to hearing from again
Billy
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Just to confirm, Intermarche at Villard sur Thones is open all day Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th. It doesn't close for lunch - sacre bleu !
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks gvj, have a happy xmas and a merry new year!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@billyc847, no worries - we've all got fingers crossed that the snow forecast for Boxing Day turns up. Have a great holiday.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Have no fear, there's so many fingers crossed around here we are all howling with cramp! And with our combined efforts, surely it's got to snow, hasn't it? 
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