Les Gets, France

Les Gets France

There’s still time to squeeze in a little more of the ski season.  We love Les Gets in France! If you’re looking for great uncrowded slopes, family friendly atmosphere and amazing views, this is your ski resort!
Les Gets is a town located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, an easy drive from Geneva. It’s also just one of the ski areas that make up the Portes du Soleil slopes.

Why to go:  Great skiing!  It’s the perfect spot for a mix of abilities.  The mountains aren’t the highest in the Alps but still provide plenty of black run options for the experienced skiers.  Beginner and intermediate skiers will love the long, smooth runs that still offer a feeling of accomplishment.  It’s a family-friendly town that caters to children and opportunities for instruction abound.

When to go:  The ideal season for this village is winter.  Ski season generally starts towards the end of November (weekends only and limited runs).  Lifts open full-time for the season around mid-December and stay open until mid-April.  Of course, the timing is dependent on the snow conditions so could vary a bit.  Also, the lifts close around 5pm since there are no lights on the trails – so you won’t find night skiing here.  Once the sun goes down, it’s time for après-ski fun.

Where to go:  Les Gets is an easy place to ski for the week, a weekend or even just a day.  Once you find parking (the hardest part!), you head over to the central ticket purchase area and the slopes are accessed right from there.  If staying overnight, there are lots of options for slope-side accommodations.  Between Les Gets and its neighboring area of La Morzine (to which you have access with your lift ticket), there are around 50 lifts across several distinct ski areas.

What to eat and/or drink:  Restaurant options are plentiful in this ski town.  You can choose to eat in the village or there are lots of great ski-up spots scattered around the slopes perfect for taking the chill out, grabbing a bite to eat or drink and admiring the beautiful alpine views from the warm side of the window.  The local dishes are traditional savoyard cuisine including tartiflette, a dish of potatoes “au gratin” with reblochon cheese and lardons.

What to see/do:  The main reason to visit is for the skiing.  But, even non-skiers or those who want to take a break from skiing, will have a choice of other activities.  In the winter, in addition to downhill skiing/snowboarding, you can also go sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, paragliding and bowling.  Or you can enjoy being pampered at a spa or go to a movie.  The summertime activities include downhill mountain-biking events and golf.

You can check out the conditions real-time via the town’s webcams – http://en.lesgets.com/tools/webcams.html