Megeve advice.

A snowHead

I’m off the Megeve next weekend and just getting my head round the piste map.

I’m staying centrally, equidistant between the lifts on either side of the valley.

Am I correct in saying on the Rochebrune and Mt D’arbois mountains the only way back to the centre of town is by downlift on the Chamois lift?

A snowHead

@hedley, there are the free buses as well. From the Le Jaillet lift that is the best way unless you are based that side.

Off the bottom of Mont d'Arbois it is moot which would be quickest, the buses run every 20 minutes but the Rocharbois lift is a cable car which can have quite long waits and you still have to take Chamois. The same bus will bring you back all the way from Cote 2000 as well if you don't want to negotiate all the lifts back to Rochebrune.

Does that help? A lot depends on exactly where you are based, you may need to check the Megeve website for the free bus (navette) routes and timetables.

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@hedley, having stayed in Chalet D’Antoine, we found easiest was to catch the free buses. The stop is a couple of minutes downhill walk, with buses both ways, to Rochebrune and Jaillet. Depends how busy the buses and lift queues are next week, peak season. Also usually caught buses back from those same lift bases, rather than download on Chamois.

If snow is decent condition down low, I have skied all way down to just above town centre, on a fairly easy path. Interesting but not necessarily quickest overall.

Out of interest, do you know who is running Chalet D’Antoine this season? Independent direct booking or through an operator?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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We used to play "first to spot the mink coat" driving through Megeve and one of us always bagged one, even just driving through on the main drag.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@pam w, yes, that wouldn't be too challenging a game. Although you would have to distinguish some of the lapdogs worn as accessories.

@hedley, for where you are the bus back from Mont d'Arbois doesn't work unless you changed in the town centre which is likely to be slow. In that case the Rochearbois lift to Rochebrune would be the way. But if you have a direct bus to Jaillet then you have access to the Combloux sector should you want as well.

The Rochebrune-Cote 2000 sector keeps its snow well and has some good skiing, best at the Cote 2000 end. The Megeve side of Mont d'Arbois is a bit low and west facing so you are better skiing up top, especially down near the Princesse gondola and around St Nicholas. If the weather is clear, taking the Jaillet gondola and skiing over to La Giettaz gives you fantastic views.

As people say, prices need checking in advance. We went to one place where a croque monsieur cost 27 euros (to be fair, it was seasoned with truffle; no choice in that).

After all it is free

I'd reserve an hour or 2 one night for the community heated pool/spa. The spa part is mostly outdoors so you have that wonderful feeling of cold head/warm body...https://lepalaismegeve.com/en/pm/equipement/megeve/balneoforme/2802145-34/

(provided covid hasn't closed it)

Otherwise, watch the long Lanchettes drag lift. It's a thigh burner, and if you, for some reason, would happen to come off in an awkward spot, you might be subject to some ridicule by others in your party. At least that's what I've heard...

(apparently it's slated for replacement with a chairlift, don't think/know if that's happened yet...and, for better or worse, you'll probably have to take that to get back from the Cote 2000 area, which has some of the most challenging skiing in the station and great views.)

Restaurants pricey for sure and small although the food is good. We booked tables for our group up front for Le Vieux and Comptoir D'Alice and not disappointed. The Spaggiari pizza bar is a decent cheap option. No complaints about the skiiing but overall I'm not sure I'd go back to Megeve, it's a bit showy for my taste but I can see why people like it

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I've hardly skied in Megeve (just one pre-Christmas when we had visitors who hadn't realised the lifts in Saisies wouldn't have opened...). But driven through, masses of times. It's remarkably unremarkable from the road, but walking there once, in summer, the path took us past some seriously beautiful, understated, chalets - not the sort of thing the tour operators offer! I also read in a French magazine about beautiful old traditional wooden building from impoverished eastern European locations being "repurposed" to Megeve.

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@Pasigal, yes Lanchettes is a unavoidable pain if you want to ski back from from Cote 2000. That's why I mentioned the possibility of catching the bus back from the car park at the bottom to the Mont d'Arbois gondola. There is currently a notice displayed as per regulations to state that planning permission has been granted for a chairlift, so I assume construction will start in the spring.

They still seem to attract a few who choose it for the glamour, maybe helped by having its own airport for air-taxi transfers (like Courcheval and St Moritz).

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

The Jaillet sector that goes into the Portes du Mont Blanc is for me the best of the area - massively quieter, really pretty and with some lovely runs spanning absolute beginner through to pretty steep.

At the top of the Pertuis chair there's a nice little cabin that does decent chips and drinks at reasonable prices, otherwise there's some decent piste side options along the Gentiane blue at Cuchet which aren't expensive by mountain standards.

I'd give the 7 nains run a miss if skiing back down to the base at Jaillet, it's a bit of a weird one.

The main sectors on the other side of town get a fair bit busier, although there are some nice runs. Chez Marie is a decent stop for some food or drinks - that's at the bottom of the Mont Joux lifts and has a great terrace. The view from the little hut at the top of the Princesse lift is excellent, and that's a decent place for a snack too.

A snowHead

Evasion Mont Blanc might not have glaciers, but it's as pretty as anywhere you could hope to ski and has some lovely slopes - hope you enjoy it!

A snowHead

We've stayed at les cimes (Ski Royale) a couple of times, not far from d'Antoine, always walked with our skis, i figured if we had to walk to the locker to walk back to the bus stop that would be a pain. We always got funny looks though, as if we were lowering the well heeled, well cobbled tone...

We stopped in the Hotel Le Fer À Cheval for a G&T or two, its nuts expensive but a lovely way to enjoy spending money.

Also after a detailed and concerted search, Café 2 La Poste does a great beef fondue for not that much. Also SPAGGIARI has great pizzas but is rammed on a rainy lunchtime.

Enjoy Megeve, its a lovely spot with great runs, and doesnt try to pretend to be anything other than it is. I hope COVID and time havent changed its charm =0)

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If you feel like slumming it, you could pop up to Praz sur Arly, go up the big chairlift and over to Notre Dame de Bellecombe. Different lift pass though.

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Thanks for the replies everyone.

Nice to have some hints for reasonably priced on mountain fare too although I guess given the last two years I’m happy just to be skiing again at any cost:)

Im getting the feeling the consensus seems to be that if the the bus stop is close to the accommodation then bus up to Rochabois or across Jaillet maybe the best option rather than lockers at the base of Chamois lift ?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Bar Tabac was good for apres and evening beers. Frequented by instructors and lifties plus we persuaded them to put the footie on Eh oh!

Help!!

Megeve advice.

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