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Megeve Advice

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi All, thinking of going to Mont Blanc this year - 6 of us. Have never done the Megeve side, so that is the Plan. Megéve accommodation is sorted and as it stands, half of us will drive down (Eurotunnel), the rest will fly.

Any preference on airport? at the moment those flying are thinking either Geneva or Lyon, depending on which has the cheapest flights/best flight times. Any gotchas flying into either airport? I did go to Tignes via Geneva several years ago, but it was a coach transfer, at night and frankly I slept through most of it and woke up at the hotel (which at the time I took as a result!)

We are thinking of early March - slightly concerned that Megéve is a little low in altitude - what is the snow coverage like at the beginning of March? Especially down to La Princesse?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It would be best to avoid the first week of March - French school holidays. The second week would be ideal. Snow should be OK but the usual caveats apply and it wouldn't be the right destination for you if downloading in the Princesse gondola rather than skiing down would be a disaster. Geneva airport is closer, and there are busses to Megeve. Though it's a very easy drive, if you have some parking available.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
If flying into Geneva, hire car from Swiss side
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@YetiManMark, definitely Geneva airport. Much closer and better connected to Megeve than Lyon is.
Certainly not essential, but I found having a car in Megeve handy. For example, to drive up to Les Contamines for a day.
As above, 2nd week of March quieter than 1st week.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
In March almost anywhere you have to be prepared for the risk of snow turning to slush in the afternoon. But you should be fine skiing to Princesse mid-station possibly with a sticky last 100m. Of course it could be super, but there is no way of knowing at this range.

Flying via Geneva best, easy self-drive or there are buses (BlaBlaBus) and minibus transport (Alpybus) if anyone is arriving separately.

Fingers crossed for you!
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Princesse. You can ski to mid station and downlad. Thats what we had to do most of this season. But only needs a few inches of snow to open as its all grass underneath.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
You can never tell with snow coverage. I've been to Megeve Feb half term and end March/beginning April in the same year and had much better snow on the second trip than the first.
I've been 2nd/3rd week of March for the past 5 or 6 years, and I think I might have skied to the bottom of Princesse once? It was nothing to write home about, downloading is probably preferable! But we've always been able to get to the mid station.
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Thanks, the reason for the question about Princesse is we are looking at some chalets which are literally on the green run down, very close to the bottom - so thinking it would be nice to ski out the door and down to the gondola on the way up, and then ski straight to the chalet on the way down. Doesn't matter if it is a little bit slushy, as that bit is just transportation - but not the end of the world if not possible as it looks easily walkable to the gondola in boots. Looking at the dates they have available it would be w/c 8th March, or mid Jan (they only came back with the Jan dates after I posted this thread). We don't have any kids in the group this year so can be flexible on dates. I'm guessing mid Jan should be fine/preferable (usual caveats apply). Waiting for confirmation on their availability.
Yes the chalets have parking and we would have my 4x4 and a hire car.

Half tempted to do a day in Courmayeur just because I want to drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel (which I am sure would be far far duller than it sounds). Must look into Contamines though as I have heard a few people mention that now.
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Quote:

I want to drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel (which I am sure would be far far duller than it sounds).

Yes, it's dull, slow and very expensive. Les Contamines well worth a visit though.
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YetiManMark wrote:
Thanks, the reason for the question about Princesse is we are looking at some chalets which are literally on the green run down, very close to the bottom - so thinking it would be nice to ski out the door and down to the gondola on the way up, and then ski straight to the chalet on the way down. Doesn't matter if it is a little bit slushy, as that bit is just transportation - but not the end of the world if not possible as it looks easily walkable to the gondola in boots. Looking at the dates they have available it would be w/c 8th March, or mid Jan (they only came back with the Jan dates after I posted this thread). We don't have any kids in the group this year so can be flexible on dates. I'm guessing mid Jan should be fine/preferable (usual caveats apply). Waiting for confirmation on their availability.
Yes the chalets have parking and we would have my 4x4 and a hire car.

Half tempted to do a day in Courmayeur just because I want to drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel (which I am sure would be far far duller than it sounds). Must look into Contamines though as I have heard a few people mention that now.


Courmayeur will be am hour and a bit away, the tunnel description is apt, but there is a certain novelty to it (and I've driven it over 150 times).
Contamines is 45 min (30 if you realy push). Best get there early as the base lifts suffer from queing, but once you are up the hill everyone dissapears. From 2 of the top lifts you can look over into Megeve so that can be quite special as you are based there.
I'd go with Jan over March. Snow can be thin, but anything white is skiable, while March with daytime temps being higher you need a bit more snow to make things work.....but you do have a lot more terrace time
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@YetiManMark, the bottom of princess being closed & being able to ski to those chalets are 2 different things
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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.
@YetiManMark, Lads weekend was in Megeve in January. Had a good apartment slopeside near the Rochebrune gondola (about 3 mins walk down the side of the piste). Rochebrune had good snow cover right to the gondola station but some of the pistes at the other end of town were patchy in cover.
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So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
The pistes on the "sunny side" of the valley are not super reliable for snow cover.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@YetiManMark, As regards the village itself; it is fairly quiet. Some nice bars and restaurants and depending on where you go it can be pricey for a beer and a meal. Bar Tabac St. Paul was the best price for a beer that we found.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@YetiManMark,

If you do go through the tunnel to Courmayer then you can get up onto the Courmayer Ski slopes without driving into the Courmayer village.
Just as you come throught the tunnel there is a cable car (Val Veny I think) with parking that gets you up onto the Courmayer slopes without the Kerfuffle of trying to find parking in Courmayer town.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Quote:

As regards the village itself; it is fairly quiet.

But if you want to buy an extraordinarily expensive pair of trousers you'll be spoilt for choice....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
pam w wrote:
Quote:

As regards the village itself; it is fairly quiet.

But if you want to buy an extraordinarily expensive pair of trousers you'll be spoilt for choice....


Oh aye Laughing Laughing
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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?
pam w wrote:
Quote:

As regards the village itself; it is fairly quiet.

But if you want to buy an extraordinarily expensive pair of trousers you'll be spoilt for choice....


I have seen this mentioned in a few places, also expensive underwear (?) - fortunately we are planning to go there to ski, not to buy new cegs Happy

Although one of the guys is talking about buying new skis and a jacket - may need to stop elsewhere en route!
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@YetiManMark, If you're driving, there's a Decathlon and Au Vieux Campeur just down the road - you'll be able to buy just about any ski and outdoor gear imaginable there.
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Quote:

Although one of the guys is talking about buying new skis and a jacket - may need to stop elsewhere en route!

Definitely! Try Au Vieux Campeur in Sallanches, or there used to be a Decathlon between Sallanches and Saint Gervais
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It's decathlons global HQ & design centre, great place for quality low price ski gear
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Jonny996 wrote:
It's decathlons global HQ & design centre, great place for quality low price ski gear


Thanks, that's good to know. I was actually thinking of buying some new skis myself (My '06 Rossignol RPM's are getting on a bit now and in any case I have left them in the apartment in Bulgaria). I was thinking of getting some from my local Decathlon - so presumably I would be better off waiting and getting some from this place for a better price/bigger range?

Is it this one? https://goo.gl/maps/hQFom77myhtMXGtX9

And this one? https://goo.gl/maps/bpSQqCUndy5FSE1c8
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Yes that’s them. For the decathlon, you can order online before you go & pick up when there , making sure in stock
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There are two decathlon nearby, one in cluses and one in passy literally a minute off the stv Gervais exit, it's a horrible place, last year we went there five for six times and spent money each time Very Happy Very Happy .
The food in their little cafe is very good too
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Jonny996 wrote:
It's decathlons global HQ & design centre, great place for quality low price ski gear

Interesting. My wife had a private lesson in February, and her instructor turned out to be a lady moonlighting at weekends from her day job. She was a former World Championship racer who said she was now the "test pilot" in a team developing new skis. I wonder if that was where.

(Though I dont know where the other French ski brands are based, possibly they are all around there).
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I think Dynastar is.
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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.
Thanks @pam w, interesting.

Google seems to suggest Dynastar still manufactures in Sallanches and has its R&D in Chamonix. But it is part of the Rossignol group based elsewhere so one wonders how much development is shared (and how much manufacturing overseas).

And as a small addition to my French vocabulary, I discovered "rossignol" means nightingale. Another little piece of gratitude to Snowheads.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@j b, Salomon are in Annecy as well as a few small manufacturers like Dynamic and Dénériaz.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
If I remember correctly, I think the video reviews on the decathlon site are filmed at the EMB.
Also I hope the irony of discussing Decathlon On a Megève thread isn’t lost on anyone
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Every Little Helps.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Just resurrecting this thread....

With Covid not (so much of) an issue this time, we are now back to planning our trip to Megeve - well, actually St Gervais, We have booked a couple of AirBnB's in Bettex.

14 people in total.
12 of us driving down in convoy (3 cars) and two flying and hiring a car in Geneva.

Anyone have any thoughts on driving/any Gotchas?

We know about the new rules on winter tyres/Chains. I have winter tyres (and chains) the other 2 cars have chains. We have all got the CritAir certificates. We also have the new UK stickers, rather than the GB ones, and know about the bulb kit & triangle for each car and HiVis for each person.

Is there anything specific on things like motorway tolls? Can we pay these on a credit card/with cash? Been a few years since last driving in France when you could, but knowing places like the dartford tunnel in UK and some of the toll roads we went through in Italy are on-line/phone only, was wondering if any of the French toll roads are moving this way?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Geneva car rental prices are extremely inflated this year - I would make sure they check the price as you may well be in for a surprise
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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?
barracuda wrote:
Geneva car rental prices are extremely inflated this year - I would make sure they check the price as you may well be in for a surprise


Thanks, will warn the one hiring the car.
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YetiManMark wrote:



We know about the new rules on winter tyres/Chains. I have winter tyres (and chains) the other 2 cars have chains. We have all got the CritAir certificates. We also have the new UK stickers, rather than the GB ones, and know about the bulb kit & triangle for each car and HiVis for each person.



+ breathalyser x 2 for each car
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
DCG wrote:
YetiManMark wrote:



We know about the new rules on winter tyres/Chains. I have winter tyres (and chains) the other 2 cars have chains. We have all got the CritAir certificates. We also have the new UK stickers, rather than the GB ones, and know about the bulb kit & triangle for each car and HiVis for each person.



+ breathalyser x 2 for each car


Ah yes, forgot about that!
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@YetiManMark, your other question - all the toll booths take cards, just make sure you use whichever has least foreign exchange loading. They usually need pushing into a slot rather than waving in front of a symbol, but don't require entering a PIN if under the contactless limit (which it always will be on the standard routes from the UK).
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DCG wrote:


+ breathalyser x 2 for each car


I thought that requirement had been done away with (but really wouldn't like to put money on it) Puzzled
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
j b wrote:
@YetiManMark, your other question - all the toll booths take cards, just make sure you use whichever has least foreign exchange loading. They usually need pushing into a slot rather than waving in front of a symbol, but don't require entering a PIN if under the contactless limit (which it always will be on the standard routes from the UK).


Thanks, yes - most of us have Halifax Clarity cards for that very reason (no fees and excellent exchange rates) - As I use mine only when abroad, it normally has zero balance at the start of the holiday, so I tend to put a few hundred pounds on it before I go, and then use it to withdraw cash at an ATM with no fees Happy
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johnnyboy wrote:
DCG wrote:


+ breathalyser x 2 for each car


I thought that requirement had been done away with (but really wouldn't like to put money on it) Puzzled


Just ordered 6 for a fiver on eBay Happy not worth the risk at that price!
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Make sure your hi-vis are in the car not the boot. Breathalyser requirement isn't enforced. Carry all car docs' and copies (v5/MOT/insurance) and have breakdown cover.
Traveling in convoy isn't as easy as it sounds. Having pre-arranged stops in case you get separated helps and pin drop on WhatsApp is useful as well. Toll tag are great but not worth it unless all 3 cars have them. Toll booths are the easiest place to get split up.
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