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Grand Bornand - a few questions

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi all

We are heading to Grand Bornand just after Christmas for a week with the family - this will be our first proper snow holiday. I’ve got a few questions

Stopover - we’re driving over and would like some suggestions for a decent stopover hotel around 1.5 - 2 Hrs from Grand Bornand, preferably with indoor pool for the kids after being in the car all day.

Resort itself - any tips on nice bars / restaurants/ things to do on New Years Eve with the family

Thanks in advance


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 29-11-22 23:07; edited 1 time in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Make the kids poo outside! Toofy Grin
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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?
Haha -‘whoops !
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
Corrected now..
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
We went to Chinaillon for 3 years with the kids (you'll spend most of your skiing time there!) - just up higher than Grand B. We always stopped at the Novotel in Macon, but their pool is outdoor (sorry).

There is a green run that goes down to Chinaillon called Serpentine. About half way down there's a lovely little wooden restaurant - they did the best hot chocs with cream and crepes. It's small though so choose your time to stop wisely.

Ref GB restaurants I don't know - try TripAdvisor? And for NY Eve activities I'd check their website or drop an email to tourist information.
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Having been to LGB probably a dozen times I'm confident you'll have a great time.

As mentioned you'll probably spend most time skiing around the Chinaillon area as it's higher and where most of the lifts end up.
Can't recommend any stop-overs with pools - we tended to break our journey 3 hours in around Troyes.

Restaurants - I would 100% recommend Restaurant "Le Chamois" which is at the base of the Gettiers lift in Chinaillon - we went back twice last year including Christmas Day.
Restaurant Boheme is a favourite in Bornand itself - right in the main square - kind of small so worth booking ahead.
Also La Croix St Maurice which is on the same square is good too.
In Chinaillon itself I'd suggest Restaurant Le Dérapage - a bit more fancy maybe but very good food.

There are plenty of others there - a lot of them have very Savoyard menus so heavy on the cheese fondues.

Most of the mountain restaurants are pretty good - special mention to the Chalet Maroly though - try the Quichiflette.

If you want non skiing things to do then La Clusaz is 15 mins drive away and has an ice rink and a great indoor/outdoor swimming pool too.

Due to a combination of kids dissertation deadlines and impending mock exams we won't be there this season unfortunately - I still check out the web cams on a regular basis though.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'd like to second 'Le Chamois' restaurant in Chinaillon. We went there in our last year of going to that area (and it was our nearest restaurant!) and I was gutted we'd not been sooner. The 'hot stone' was fantastic.

Forgot to say, while we stay in the Macon area on the way down, we do stay in Troyes overnight on the way back. If you're not going in key school holidays, you could push on further a bit to Reims.
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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!
The famous Val Moret, SE of Troyes, has an indoor pool.
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Holiday Inn at Le Toison D’Or in Dijon is a decent hotel, pool (might be outdoor) and attached to a leisure / shopping centre so a few entertainment options?
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You’ll have a great time- we’ve stayed there a dozen times since our kids were small-(they’re all grown up now)- lots to do, and you’ve got La Clusaz to explore- frequent free ski buses there- we love the Terres Rouges on the mountain and the new one by main gondola- spent Xmas there last year- we’re due there week before Xmas but getting concerned about the snow!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@laurendan We go twice a year to LGB (back again for the week after Christmas this year too Blush ), as far as family resorts go, I think it's perfect. Both Chinaillion and LGB have a real villagey feel. You can forget mad apres parties but there's still plenty of bars and restaurants for you and you family to enjoy together.

As someone mentioned earlier, the restaurant La Colombière des Neiges next to the kids snow park on Serpentine does amazing hot chocolate, waffles and even a Yeti burger if you are really hungry! A special mention for their hot rum-banana shot. It's an acquired taste, I love them though Very Happy

Les Cimes also in Chinaillion is small but has a wonderful atmosphere and is a great place to go for a drink and some bar food.
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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.
Whats the website for LGB? this doesn't appear to work for me?

https://en.legrandbornand.com/
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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
@MazDave, Can't believe your kids are at that stage now!
@kitenski, Think it's a temporary blip - that's the right site.

@laurendan, Are you staying in Le Grand Bornand itself or Le Chinaillon? Plenty of choice for bars and restaurants on and off the slopes - can't think of a bad one so enjoy exploring them! There is bound to be something going on for all the family to enjoy on New Years Eve - they're very geared up for families. Keep an eye on the website when it's back up and running properly.
It's a lovely place to ski.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@loatie, Tell me about it... Next year we'll have a graduation ceremony for one in St Andrews and the younger one starting Uni in Northampton - on the upside it should free up the ski season a bit for us - hope you're all well.
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