 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
I am new to the forum and this is my first time booking a resort vacation so I have so many questions. I have booked flights and a self catered apartment in Les Gets for the Xmas period (23/12-30/12). I realise it's a risky choice as it's not certain to have snow at that time of the year, but I wanted to go somewhere that is family friendly and the transfer time to the resort is minimal as the little one gets car sick very easily.
First question, is there a transfer company that you would recommend? I am between Skiidy Gonzales and ski-lifts as they seemed to be the least expensive. Even for those though its ~360euros for shared transfer, for a return journey for 3. Is that a normal price for the time period?
Will there be anything open on Sunday/Christmas eve? We will arrive late on Saturday and I worry we might end up having nothing to eat on the next day.
When should I book ski passes, equipment and ski lessons? Should I wait until I know the weather conditions? I worry that everything might be booked if I leave it too late, particularly for the ski lessons. Can I book and cancel in case there is no snow?
Is there anything else I need to book in advance?
Thank you!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you have already booked flights and accommodation I would definitely book lessons. It's a busy time, and ski instructors are expert at finding the best conditions, whatever the weather. But if it's your first ever time skiing and there are no lessons, it's a bit of a disaster.
Christmas doesn't make much difference to what goes on in a ski resort. Slopes and lifts will be open at the usual time for the time of year. Shops will tend to close earlier on Christmas Eve but lots will be open as usual on Christmas Day. The big meal for restaurants and families is Christmas Eve and if you want to "eat out" you'd be advised to book. Les Gets is a big, busy, resort. There might well be a facility to have key supplies delivered to your apartment.
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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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If you have already booked flights and accommodation I would definitely book lessons. It's a busy time, and ski instructors are expert at finding the best conditions, whatever the weather. But if it's your first ever time skiing and there are no lessons, it's a bit of a disaster.
Christmas doesn't make much difference to what goes on in a ski resort. Slopes and lifts will be open at the usual time for the time of year. Shops will tend to close earlier on Christmas Eve but lots will be open as usual on Christmas Day. The big meal for restaurants and families is Christmas Eve and if you want to "eat out" you'd be advised to book. Les Gets is a big, busy, resort. There might well be a facility to have key supplies delivered to your apartment.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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And welcome to Snowheads. 
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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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Can't advise on transfers to Les Gets but someone who can will be along in a minute.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thank you! We will definitely need lessons as my partner and daughter are complete beginners. If anyone has any recommendations for lessons, particularly good for a 4yo who is not very patient to learn new things, would be very much appreciated!
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| pam w wrote: |
| Can't advise on transfers to Les Gets but someone who can will be along in a minute. |
Go Massif. Used them lots, they are great, and Les G is only down the road, so I'm sure it's in their area of operation.
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We found Ski Ecole 360 good for lessons for our grandchildren. English speaking. Office is run by an English woman. They are the ski school which Ski Famille use.
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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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Forgot to mention that lift passes used to be available at a discount from them.
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@amaliapapa01, another welcome to Snowheads. Skiddy Gonzales are extremely reliable so I would recommend them. We flew to GVA around the 17 December last year and used Skiddy for the transfer to Les Gets and although quite a few flights were cancelled Skiddy had a guy at the airport who was brilliant and made up new groups to fill the minibuses, so we weren’t left hanging around for too long.
The supermarket in the town will be open on Sunday but you may be starting your lessons at 9 or 9.30. I think it will be open from 8 and you will certainly be able to find a boulangerie open early.
We always used 360, the ski school that Timc mentions for our grandchildren. If you are hiring equipment the hire shops are conveniently located near smothering ski school meeting places.
We had a chalet in Les Gets for 19 years and spent many happy Christmases there, so I am sure you will have a great time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Skiidy are super reliable and have been using them for years. "least expensive" transfers are usually so for a reason and can end up hanging around in GVA much longer than you'd prefer (especially with a little one in tow).
ESF in LG is great. Our son went at 4 into Piou piou and there is great wrap-around care if you need it in the nursery in the village. Various options up to and including (from memory) 0800-1700 if you want it. Our son didn't want to ski am and pm the first year but loved skiing in the morning and playing in the nursery in the afternoon for a bit and gave us a little bit of flexibility to ski ourselves.
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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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Thank you all for your replies. It's been very helpful!
I found a private transfer through the agency that rents our apartment that is 150 euros more than the shared ones. Do you think it is worth it?
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If you can afford it then yes
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You know it makes sense.
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@orange, well it's not like I wouldn't feel it 
But if it makes my life a lot easier then I guess I can cope.
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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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@amaliapapa01, if your little one gets car sick easy it'll be easier for you to ask driver to stop for a bit, or slow down, if you are not sharing the transfer. The driver will be reluctant to slow down but won't want vomit all over his car either. I'd drug the child, personally, if they are regularly sick; it's so miserable for everybody.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Charliegolf, GoMassif don’t run to Les Gets do they (clue in the name?)
@amaliapapa01, I’d just want to know who’s providing the private transfer? Sounds like a local taxi. Skiddy are well regarded and well resourced …
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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€60 each way is about standard for a shared transfer. Skiidy do privates too. Suspect they’ll already be booked but Taxi Morzine only do private transfers, are super reliable and have a car (as well as minibuses) that might be a wee bit cheaper if there’s 3 of you. Very highly recommended - Jo’s English but has been in Morzine for years and years.
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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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@under a new name, it's a company called MorzineLink. If anyone knows them let me know 
@andy from embsay, Taxi Morzine is indeed fully booked for the dates!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Welcome to SH!
There are few French resorts prettier than Les Gets when there's snow in the town - so fingers crossed for you.
Have you thought about hiring a car? This will allow you to do a big shop on your way to resort but, more importantly, will give you the flexibility to drive to Morzine and use the Parc des Dereches indoor pool if you fancy a break from skiing. I note you have a little one - the main square in Morzine is lovely at Christmas with lots of activities, an ice rink, market stalls etc. Les Gets also has plenty on offer for children and families at that time of year.
And if the snow is not particularly great you can head to Lac Montriond for a stroll around the lake and a vin chaud at the Hotel du Lac.
As other have said, I would definitely book lessons as well as restaurants if you fancy treating yourselves on some nights.
Plenty of us can give you recommendations on places to eat, ski runs, things to do etc - just ask.
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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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I've done many trips to Morzine and always used one of Ski-Lifts, Getawayvans, or Skiddy Gonzales and never had an issue with any of them. For all 3 it's turn left out of baggage reclaim, walk about 10m and find the appropreate little pop-up desk for your chosen transfer company to 'resport in'. For shared private transfers I think the longest wait I've had was 20min to 30min, while normally there isn't even time to grab a cup of tea from the place next to the pop-up desks (who actually do a very good cup of tea). Waiting can be a bit of a scrum with all the Geneva airport forcing all the companies into the same little area but the above companies are usually clear on where to wait/where they will come looking for you.
The final things on transfers is you said "the little one". Depending how little certainly Ski-Lifts have I think 2 child car seats assigned to each minibus - but they can get swapped around if one has more than 2 children to transfer. I've never booked a child transfer but would assume you either have to enter ages or click to request a child seat. Either way drop them a line a few days before your trip to remind them of your flight time/destination and that you have an X year-old and need a child seat and you shouldn't have any issues/need the extra hassle of flying your car seat out and back. And while I've never booked a child transfer I have shared many a transfer bus with familes and the above have never had an issue making emergency stops for car sickness/toilet stops.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@franga, Thank you!
I have thought about hiring a car and the apartment we are staying has parking space but to be honest I am scared driving in snowy conditions as I've never done it before. I also have a terrifying experience driving on a zero visibility road in Austria during New Year's 
Are the roads usually easy to drive?
I think I am leaning towards booking a private transfer for our way to Les Gets and a shared one for our return.
Yes please about recommendations regarding where to eat and what to do! I need to make this a great experience for daughter and husband so they want to do it again haha
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@amaliapapa01, the drive to Les Gets is about as easy as it gets tbh - the highest point is 1150m and that’s in town. The road from Taninges is the Route des Grandes Alpes so is kept clear - obviously there are the occasional day when it’s horrible but unless you’re driving up there late at night, then a car hired from the Swiss side at Geneva should be absolutely fine.
Having said that, car hire is now pretty spendy and will be anything from £60-100 a day so compared with a transfer it’s often not cheaper unless you’re on a short break. And there’s a regular bus to/from Morzine (€1.50 each way, I think) if you did want a day out.
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I generally have driven to the Alps and have no problem with snowy roads (am a whizz with snow chains!) but I agree with @andy from embsay. Picking up a hired car when you arrive does add to the hassle quite a bit (I've done it lots of times but still always find it a bit stressful, and often very slow, as is taking the damn thing back) I think for this holiday the priority is to make it easy on yourself.
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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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Thank you @pam w, and @andy from embsay! I agree hiring a car to get to Les Gets would probably be too stressful for a first timer like me, especially given that we are arriving in the evening and it's going to be dark outside. I'll leave it for once I am an expert.
So I booked our transfer and I also booked ski lessons with 360!
When should I start making restaurant reservations? Should I start now or will they consider me crazy? 
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For Christmas Eve they probably wouldn't consider you crazy!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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On the other hand Christmas Eve is likely to be very expensive. Unless you are eating out every night, maybe choose another evening which will be quieter and cheaper.
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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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@amaliapapa01, friends booked their xmas day lunch a few weeks ago …
xmas eve is when the French celebrate so restaurants will be eye-wateringly expensive and might well have a limited traditional menu: oysters, foie gras & baked salmon. And very, very busy.
Xmas day +/- back to normal.
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Other thing with a private transfer is you can collect a shop on the way - we have done that a few times on the way to LG with Skiddy Gonzales, did a click and collect for Taninges, only takes 5 mins and they were happy to stop. Might make your Xmas eve a bit easier if you can get there, with food, have dinner and chill out. Restaurants are mad on Xmas eve but as said before it's back to normal on Xmas day and usually v quite skiing as well.
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You know it makes sense.
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@orange, That's a good idea! Thanks!
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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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I am looking at restaurant options and I was wondering, are there restaurants that do early dinner? Most of them seem to accept bookings after 7pm. Are they closed between 3-7pm or is it they just don't do bookings at that time?
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Poster: A snowHead
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@amaliapapa01, especially in high season French restaurants will typically do 2 sittings e.g. 1900 and 2100/2130.
Many “proper” restaurants will close between 1500 and 1900 although you will find places serving all day (tend to be bistrot/bar food)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hello welcome to snowheads
Les gets is very hit and miss weather it can be brilliant at Christmas and then get a warm ish week and then the snow is rubbish. Or it can be rubbish for Christmas and new year but January can be great.
Personally we use ski lifts never had a problem.
Ski schools- ether tim and the guys at Les Gets Snowsports or Sally and co at the snow institute both talk English.
Hire skis worth looking around but we’ve settled on Vermont sports they have a shop in the village and up at the chavannes which is quite handy when you have forgotten your lipsalve you can replace it without the hassle of going home.
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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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For transfers we used Ibex Transfers last year to Morzine and I've just booked with them again. They only do private transfers but to Morzine it was €200 each way. Top notch service and I would highly recommend.
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FAQ
