courmayeur or megeve

Old Aug 17th, 2005, 04:32 PM
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courmayeur or megeve

Where to ski in February with 2 children (all intermediate skiiers). Arriving in Geneva with 1 week of travel.
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Old Aug 17th, 2005, 05:25 PM
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www.ifyouski.com and www.goski.com should provide some info that would help you compare the two.
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Old Aug 18th, 2005, 06:34 AM
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It just impossible to respond to this question. There are so many ski resorts from 50 minutes (Chamonix) to a few hours (Zermatt, Verbier) to 4 or more hours (Klosters) from Geneva airport.

It depends on what you want: what is the most important: ski slopes (Chamonix, Zermatt, Verbier, Portes du Soleil), village life, alpine charm (Zermatt, Verbier, Klosters, Megeve), cheap accommodation (avoid Swiss resorts and Megeve, Courmayeur will be cheaper)

Beware, Courmayeur is an ugly town with no charm.
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Old Aug 18th, 2005, 06:44 AM
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Zermatt would be my fav. option: for huge ski slopes terrain, accomodation, breathtaking views, great food, great village atmosphere (cars are banned from the village. Not cheap as a resort, but worth it.

In one week, you will need to ski everyday all day to cover the entire resort. And the on-slope chalet for lunches are the greatest!!
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Old Aug 20th, 2005, 05:01 PM
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I guess good intermediate slopes with a charming village to relax in with good food would be my choice. That is why I've been leaning to France, although it seems tough to find a place in Megeve for a 4 day, Sunday to Thursday stay. Sounds like I should check out Zermatt. Any mid-priced hotel recommendations?
Thanks!
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Old Aug 24th, 2005, 10:43 AM
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I think that you will love Zermatt.

A few choices: Walliserhoff which is central, not that expensive but can be noisy coz on the main road (although there are no cars you may have to listen to the few brits going home at 3 am singing and shouting).

My favourite: Hotel Romantik Hotel Julen. Central but quiet, the rooms are gorgeous (read the description in fodors under hotel. Lots and lots of wood.

Hotel Sonne looks nice and charming. Never stayed in though.

I think the Alpine Residence of the Mirabeau has been redone and has a great spa center. Deco and atmosphere is supposed to be brilliant, done in mineral and neutral warm colors (grey, beige,etc...) I can't find any pictures or a descent website.

Avoid peak vacations period, Zermatt is just prohibitive.

For all your questions, check the very well done site of Zermatt tourism board: www.zermatt.ch



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Old Aug 24th, 2005, 11:02 PM
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"courmayeur is an ugly town with no charm"...Suppose that radial works at Zermatt tourism office...
Courmayeur is at the foot of the Mont Blanc and this south versant of the
Mont Blanc is really extraordinary to see.
The ski complex is nice, and on 2 versants : north and south and so you can ski morning on the south and afternoon on the north to have a good snow all day...

The town itself is very very charming without all that new constructions which are often seen in other stations : Courmayeur has known a less
important development than other stations and it's for that that the ski
complex is certainly less important, but I think this is a nice "price" to pay for a nice environment...
There are a lot of very nice shops and "cafés" to take pastries and hot
chocolat for kids or a drink for the adults before the dinner.

In one word, Courmayeur is more a small mountain village with ski complex than
an artificial ski complex with a new
town.
Erik.
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Old Aug 25th, 2005, 06:14 AM
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If you would like to ski at the exit of the Tunel du Mont Blanc, one of the busiest north-south road link in Europe) I guess it is.
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Old Aug 25th, 2005, 06:43 AM
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Radial, I think you have never been in Courmayeur...
The ski complex is at 1800 m high why town is at 1224 m...So you are really far from roads,...and skiing in front of
the Mont Blanc is really a must...as
nice than skiing in front of the Cervin(or matterhorn)in Zermatt or Cervinia Breuil.
Differences are only on the stations...
Courmayeur is less turistic in the sense of it's more an estival, alipinistic station and so nightlife,
and what some people are looking beside skiing is less developped than in the other cited stations...
But saying Courmayeur is not charming demonstrate
an "ignorance" about this town and all the small villages around(Dolonne, La Saxe, Entrèves, Villair,...)...
Erik.
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Old Aug 25th, 2005, 07:10 AM
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Erik,

I take your point about me never having stayed in the other villages around Courmayeur. You are indeed correct.

As to the ski domain, it is certainly quite big and enjoyable, although Les Grands Montets in Chamonix would be more challenging. Please remember that my initial comment about Courmayeur was not with respect to the ski slopes but the town itself.

But I am sorry to say again that Courmayeur is not a charming alpine village and is, in my book, lying to close to a major road, heavy .

That being said, I certainly do not see people who would enjoy Courmayeur with any contempt whatsoever. But I would advise a prospective ski traveller that there other more charming apline villages such as Zermatt, Klosters, Megeve, or even smaller resort, less trendy and cheapoer, such as La Clusaz or Samoenz.
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Old Aug 25th, 2005, 07:36 AM
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To end what was not for me a polemic but a way to give some informations :
If you take a road map of Colorado and
look to Durango it's easy to think Durango is on a highway...In fact Highway pass not in the city...and Durango has a very peacfull and charming main street...

Same way for Courmayeur...Highway is #
3/4 miles from main street which is
not allowed to traffic...So it's for that the town is charming with a very peacefull and well conserved "downtown"
which is not changed for decades...

I've passed all my summer and winter holidays there from age of 8 till 28...
Now, I travel more in US(Southwest, Dude
ranch, NY,...) : 3 to 5 times a year
and in Europa because I'm no more allowed for physical reasons to ski or to climb-in an alpinistic way...

But my parents, and my brother-sister continue to go to Courmayeur and are not disappointed with it...
Erik.
I think for a family with small childrens some "classic" french stations (like Courchevel or Les Arcs) are more practical because they would have a "viilage des enfants : a village of children" with all organised for them during the day...
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