Gstaad v. Megeve
 

Friends of ours back in the U.S. emailed us asking which resort would be better for them...but since we've never been to either :-( ...we're tossing this out to Fodorite experts...

They are an American couple, mid 40s, who want to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in a pretty, European mountain resort. They are intermediate level skiers (as they put it, "lazy intermediate"--they ski for fresh air and pleasure, not for sporting/athletic reasons). They want to spend a week in just one resort, probably skiing only 2 or 3 days, the rest of the time just relaxing, enjoying the atmosphere, eating good food, sitting in cafes, maybe doing a spa day together, taking a sleighride. They want to stay put in one resort, rather than doing day trips to other places.

They are considering a couple of hotels--Les Fermes de Marie in Megeve and Hotel Bellevue in Gstaad. Both are highly recommended, from what I've read. Timetable is late Feb/early March

Advice? I think they'd do well at either resort, but looking for insights from people who have done one or (preferably) both.

Thanks!

Well, your friends have certainly done their homework, BTilke!

Those are 2 of the best hotels in 2 of the best resorts in the Alps for leisurely skiers. They should be aware though that both resorts could be largely snow-free as they're both quite low (though skiing will almost definitely be possible).

I would probably give the slight edge to the Bellevue in Gstaad as it's located within walking distance of the shops/restaurants, so your friends won't have to rent a car or rely extensively on cabs.

While I've been to both resorts many times, I haven't skied at either (though have seen the slopes at Mont-d'Arbois in Megeve and they looked great). Both towns are good for just hanging out - definitely NOT recommended for diehard skiers. I prefer Gstaad's setting in a wide valley to the more constricted location of Megeve - but the latter makes up for it by awesome views of the Mont-Blanc range as soon as you take the cable car up.

I did stay at the Bellevue years ago before it was renovated and it definitely had potential - saw writeups of it recently and it now looks VERY nice. Same for les Fermes de Marie. I can give you some recommendations for either resort (restaurants, excursions etc.) once you tell me which one they choose.

Hope this helps,
Andre

I haven't been to Megeve, but can add some thoughts on Gstaad.

The nearby glacier Les Diablerets is absolutely snow reliable and offers gorgeous views. It is included in the ski pass, but might be crowded if skiing is bad at low elevations.

Also, if your friends go later in winter, maybe late Feb/early March, a day trip to Montreux is a must: the rail journey itself is great, and some flowers should be in bloom on the lake promenade.

Ingo

Thanks, Andre and Ingo. I will pass on the info. Both choices sound pretty tempting to me!
I would like to get to Gstaad myself, maybe next winter. This year, most of our winter trips will be to Baden-Baden.

Don't know if this is still any use to you BTilke, but I have been going to Megeve for about 15 years, nearly always in February, and only on one occasion was there not enough snow in Megeve (we took a short drive to Chamonix to ski that year). As you can imagine, since I have been there so often, I love it there. Skiing is great; fine for all levels, lots of runs, lifts. They spend a lot on keeping all lifts up-to-date. There are some great restaurants on the piste, and the town is lovely. There is an altiport, where you can take sight-seeing tours in a small plane (definitely recommended). If you don't ski all day, Fermes de Marie is great, since it has a spa too. We like their other hotel, since it's right in the village, walking distance to lifts; this is the Lodge Park.
My mother doesn't ski at all, and she loves the place too.
Beware that school holidays in much of Europe are the week starting February 21; this is when all of Belgium, and most of Germany and Holland, take their skiing break.

Thanks, Tulip! I will pass the info on, although I think they've decided to go with Gstaad (partially for name recognition factor--this is only their second trip to Europe and they've heard about Gstaad for years but hadn't heard of Megeve until recently).
We may have to consider a summer trip to Annecy and the Megeve area ourselves this year--it sounds like a great place to spend time relaxing in the fresh air and hiking with the dog (if we're still in Belgium; if we move to the UK as planned, I guess we'll spend our summer vacation somewhere in the UK).

That's what I like about Megeve; it's a well-kept secret! Shouldn't talk too much about it on this forum. Even in high season, crowds are not too bad, and if we're lucky it takes us 8 hours to drive there from Antwerp. The Rothschild family made Megeve their winter home, and there are still restaurants and a hotel that are owned by them. Don't know what it's like in summer; I have been meaning to do that.

Gstaad has the fabulous palace hotel. Megève is a school trip destination. I feel it's as if you're comparing Courchevel 1850 to some snow covered hill in Bulgaria.

Have you been there m kingdom?

You won't be able to eat at Ferme de mon Père in Megève with a school trip.

Tulips, M Kingdom's just showing off, in a juvenile way. I've read enough of his/her posts to realize M Kingdom specializes in catty, pissy remarks that add little if anything to the topic under discussion. We hope to spend some time in Megeve soon...I've been to the Swiss and Austrian Alps, but never the French.

I like to offer short yet informative posts. Gstaad, St Moritz, Courchevel are the traditional "luxury ski" destination, megeve is much much cheaper and is a different style of place. I have no need to show off, and who too?

While I've only been to those places in summer, I found little difference between Gstaad and Megeve in terms of "class" or "cost". I thought if anything Megeve might have been a little more "upperclass" for whatever that's worth. We stopped in Courcheval for lunch and thought it seemed more typical middle class ski area (and really dead in summer) -- sure didn't have the classy look of either Gstaad or Megeve. Maybe in ski season, it's different.

m_kingdom is all wrong on this.

While Courchevel has far better skiing, it's a purpose-built resort with little to no character, whereas Megève is a pretty traditional village. Both resorts are favourites of the rich Parisians, with Megève attracting an older, somewhat more sedate crowd (though there's definitely nightlife) and "Courche" getting the diehard skiers.

It's sort of like Gstaad vs. Zermatt in Switzerland.

Hope this helps,
Andre

hike; Le Ferme de mon Pere is the most amazing restaurant I have ever been to. It has 3 Michelin stars, but is exactly what it says; a farm. There are glass floors where you can see the cows standing underneath the farm. And the food is out of this world.

I spent some time exploring the www.megeve.com web site and it's now become our first choice of summer holiday destinations if we aren't spending the holidays at "home" in the UK.