 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone. I am new to Snowheads, and was wondering if I could get some advice on ski resorts near Geneva.
Firstly I am hoping to go skiing this Sunday, and was wondering if anyone could suggest a resort close to Geneva that will have a substancial ski area open (and good snow). So far I only know that Argentiere is definitely open, but was hoping of something a little closer.
Secondly, this is my second winter living near Geneva (St Genis) and last year I got a fair amount of skiing done, but we mainly went to Chamonix area, Jura, or Les Gets/Avoriaz. This year I was hoping to get to some new resorts in the area, does anyone have any suggestions of ones in this area that I might enjoy?
Thanks in advance for any help, and I hope I have put this in the correct sub-forum.
Cheers,
Gareth
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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brunny, tbh, Grands Montets is probably your quickest as I don't think the Jura resorts will be running. Grand Massif maybe? Aravis?
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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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Les Diablerets, Leysin, Villars-sur-Ollons/Bretaye are all easy to get to via road or rail
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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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brunny, you could try Megeve/Combloux, Les Contamines, Le Grand Bornand, the Espace diamant (Praz sur Arly would be your closest access point) and no doubts lots of others, on the French side. But this Sunday there won't be a huge amount open. Les Saisies will be partly open, but I don't know how much - their website lessaisies.com might have more information.
If it's open, I think I'd head for Les Contamines this Sunday.
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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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Verbier has been open for 3 weeks. Chamonix for one. No others will have the range that they do this time of year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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brunny, Les carroz and the rest of the grand massif has limited opening this weekend (04/05) Euro 10 a day ticket
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snow_muncher, yeah, but can you get there in 60 minutes from central Geneve?
Critical point from the OP, "Argentiere is definitely open, but was hoping of something a little closer" 
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under a new name, some of the places listed by other posters are infact further away.
I was merely listing some of the Swiss ski areas which are within driving distance from Geneva.
I was also pointing out that they can be reached very easily via public transport.
The OP didn't state they only wanted areas which are open now. Besides, by the time the resorts I've suggested are open, the OP might be a bored of France !
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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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snow_muncher, possibly!
(I consider further/closer to be better reflected by travel time than geographical distance... )
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under a new name, I was thinking time-distance wise, as opposed to geographical distance.
There are other factors I had in mind, such as 'quality' of travel link: i.e. resorts served by both rail links and road have much better accessability (roads can get closed much more easily than the rail links, so you can still get to/from the resort even if road has been closed); the Swiss are much more competent at keeping mountain roads open than the French. France is a bit more hit-or-miss - seems to take them alot longer to clear roads during/after heavy snow falls.
Therefore, although it may take 2hours (2hours 20 rail) to get to Les Diablerets/Villars/Leysin, you know that's what its' going to take.
The OP has the entire winter to sample the various offerings on hand, and it would seem a shame if they limit themselves to those places 1-2hrs from Geneva.
I would encourage the OP to visit as many areas as possible, and travel a bit further away too. If you're willing to do a 3hr journey then number and (perhaps more importantly) character of ski areas really opens up (e.g. Bernese Oberland - admittedly it does really mean an overnight trip rather than a day trip).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Verbier is easy for a weekend.
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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 the suggestions. I think that for this Sunday I will be going to Grands Montet. But I look forward to going to other places over the coming months. I am esp going to try and do some overnight trips (as the one day ones are never at all relaxing if you have to drive).
I am hoping after Christmas to try some of Switzerland, as last year we went to mainly the French resorts.
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snow_muncher, all good points, I was only trying to answer the question that had been asked... 
Perennial question(s), why don't resorts advertise their opening dates more obviously?? Why do they often have such crap websites???
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You know it makes sense.
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La Faucille and Crozet are only 15 mins from St Genis. Not a lot of runs or vertical but close enough for a laugh in a free afternoon.
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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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brunny, Are you in St Genis near the Meyrin boarder crossing and spitting distance of the telecabine at Crozet?
I lived in Gex and Versonnex for 4 years ( a long time ago ) and worked in Ferney-Voltaire. We used to ski at any and every given opportunity. I think Les Carroz is the closest in terms of getting your skis wet ( excluding the Jura of course ). We used to drive through Les Carroz and park by the chair lift that crosses the road where you could also buy lift passes.
You have so much choice and I am very jealous - have fun there 
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Poster: A snowHead
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We're at Le Grand Bornand (Chinaillon) this weekend. 60% of the area open. 70cms in village 110cms up top plus ski testing of this years kit if you wish. Easy 1 hour drive from Geneva. Check the website and webcams for yourself and remember you dont need miles and miles for one day, just great snow!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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So last sunday we ended up going to Les Contamines (a friend had been to Argentiere the day before, and said wasn't too great). Contamines was great, there was a fair bit open (more than Argentiere) and we managed to get some good off piste. Will definitely go back when it is fully open.
Not sure where to go this weekend, after all the rain I am not sure how good the snow is at different resorts. Let me know if you know any that have lots of snow this weekend.
CP I am just across the boarder and very near Crozet. It is very nice being so near the slopes (eps after living in Manchester normally).
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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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Hey, Santa Caterina is a good spot and should have good snow at this time of year. You can get good weekend packages that include hotel, ski pass and ski hire for £194.
You can check it out here - http://www.activitybreaks.com/product/4348/alta-valtellina-ski-break-3-hotel-in-santa-caterina-with-ski-pass-and-ski-hire/
hope I was some help!
Allan
Ski Specialist
www.ActivityBreaks.com
| brunny wrote: |
So last sunday we ended up going to Les Contamines (a friend had been to Argentiere the day before, and said wasn't too great). Contamines was great, there was a fair bit open (more than Argentiere) and we managed to get some good off piste. Will definitely go back when it is fully open.
Not sure where to go this weekend, after all the rain I am not sure how good the snow is at different resorts. Let me know if you know any that have lots of snow this weekend.
CP I am just across the boarder and very near Crozet. It is very nice being so near the slopes (eps after living in Manchester normally). |
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm sure it's a great place, but it's a heck of a long way from Geneva... or did this post end up on the wrong thread by mistake?
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| Quote: |
So last sunday we ended up going to Les Contamines (a friend had been to Argentiere the day before, and said wasn't too great). Contamines was great, there was a fair bit open (more than Argentiere) and we managed to get some good off piste.
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brunny, a ha! It's really nice to be proved right. Contamines is a good place to know about - I have a friend with a place in Chamonix and they sometimes head over there when snow in Chamonix is poor.  When everything is open it's got quite a bit of skiing, though some of the runs on the Belleville side are a bit samey.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
So last sunday we ended up going to Les Contamines (a friend had been to Argentiere the day before, and said wasn't too great). Contamines was great, there was a fair bit open (more than Argentiere) and we managed to get some good off piste.
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brunny, a ha! It's really nice to be proved right. Contamines is a good place to know about - I have a friend with a place in Chamonix and they sometimes head over there when snow in Chamonix is poor. When everything is open it's got quite a bit of skiing, though some of the runs on the Belleville side are a bit samey. |
pam w I have to agree that it was very nice, with lots open, and a nice restaurant on the top of the first bobble (tartiflette mmm). There was also so few people there, which is a nice change.
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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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Next time you go, try the much smaller restaurant called "Roselette", half way down the drag lift of the same name. The upstairs is especially cosy on a cold and windy day. If it's a nice sunny one you can sit outside and enjoy the discomfort experienced by some skiers faced with the suddenly rather steep pitch of the red "Nant Rouge" piste, just above the restaurant.
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We weren't given much option of food this time, as I think it was the only place open. But next time when everything is open I will give it a try. Does it get very busy on the weekend when it is fully open?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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brunny, Avoriaz is open and has a ski demo running all weekend.
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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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Portes du Soleil is open, about an hour and half from Geneva, fairly easy drive.
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| sah wrote: |
I'm sure it's a great place, but it's a heck of a long way from Geneva... or did this post end up on the wrong thread by mistake? |
Aplologies! I have no idea how this ended up here! I am sure some of the other snow heads will help you out....
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You know it makes sense.
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FlyingStantoni and ikeysolomon how is the snow condition over there? Has it all been rained away?
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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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| Quote: |
Does it get very busy on the weekend when it is fully open?
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No, not normally. Saturdays are quiet and there's been a special offer on the lift pass on Saturdays in the past - don't know whether they'll still be doing it this year. we've not been there in the peak times but generally it's not too bad at all. When the Veleray area is open, that will probably be your favourite bit - and from the top up there you get a great view down over Megeve.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| pam w wrote: |
| Next time you go, try the much smaller restaurant called "Roselette", half way down the drag lift of the same name. The upstairs is especially cosy on a cold and windy day. If it's a nice sunny one you can sit outside and enjoy the discomfort experienced by some skiers faced with the suddenly rather steep pitch of the red "Nant Rouge" piste, just above the restaurant. |
The Nant Rouge is the other side of the central spine (i.e the path of the bubble lift) from the Roselette, is it not?
Edit: just looked at the map: I think you must be thinking of the "Gentianes" run. It is a nice restaurant though, as is La Ruelle, over the back of the col.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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laundryman, yes, thanks. It's not the Nant Rouge - should have looked at a piste map before posting that.  The red run is called Frédzé. Confusingly, there are two lifts called Roselette - one is a chair, the other (the one alongside which the Roselette resto is) is a drag with a slightly odd traffic light thingy at the bottom. You ski down a very short slope to the button, grab it and go. So if you set off down the slope too soon there's no button and nowhere to go. So you wait at the top till the light goes green, then slide gently down.
LC is a nice place. I don't know the bottom area at all - I only went down there once when forced to visit the Lost Property office. The best skiing is all up the top and the runs right down to the bottom are not much cop - especially the red road which runs down to the Gorge gondola. I only did it once, just to see - it was narrow (it's a road), icy (it's quite low down) and steep. There were warnings at the top about it. I shan't bother again - there were a bunch of three very large, and very wobbly, guys in front of me, and with the state of the piste and the quite alarming drop offs, I was too wary to try overtaking them.
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FAQ
and arrived at Geneva Airport minus a 2 swiss franc coin to put in a luggage trolly. 
