Are you ready to ski? Flights are now out for the whole season!

Are you ready to ski?  Flights are now out for the whole season! I hope you're enjoying the last few balmy days of summer because winter really is just around the corner and it's promising to be a great one.  Flights have now been released from Easyjet and the like for the whole season so you can now book for March and April in the picturesque and beautiful resort of Megeve.    Keeping prices low for school holidays!   Easter is late this year and flights are not cheap but we've kept our accommodation prices low for school holiday weeks and as a little extra, we'd like to offer £50/person off our catered chalets for w/c 7th April!  Prices start at just £550/person in our catered chalet/hotel Sylvana and Rond Point. We are also offering £200/person off for the week of New Year in our superior chalet Les Clochettes and £100/person off for w/c 17th Feb (half term) in all our catered chalets. There's also short breaks available for all holiday periods and if flights are looking too expensive, have you thought about driving?  It's an easy 550 mile drive from Calais on motorways all the way except the last 20 mins.  Very straightforward.  Don't miss this great opportunity to get the kids skiing this hols!   See our special offers! Introducing our new apartment Le Chamois!   As it's name suggests, this could not be a more central apartment in Megeve.  It is metres from the Christmas tree in the central square, 50m from the Chamois lift so straight up for ski school etc. and right in the thick of it for all the Megeve charm, cobbled streets, horse drawn caleches and of course wonderful bars and restaurants.  Yet, this apartment is at the back of the building so is quiet.  It is ideal for a romantic getaway having one double bedroom as well as a comfortable sitting room/dining area with balcony and well equipped kitchenette.  However, it could also suit a family of four, who don't mind being a little cozy, as there are also bunk beds in an alcove off the main corridor.  Short breaks and ski weekends are available as well as week's.  Click here for more details!   Welcome back Chalet Centrale! It's taken a while to secure the Chalet Centrale for this season but we're delighted to announce that we are signing the leases as we speak and will have this popular centrally located chalet back for the season.  Sleeping 4 people in a double and a twin bedded room with a comfortable sitting/dining room and separate kitchen.  It is nice and spacious and only a couple of minutes walk to the central square and ski lift.  The supermarket is just round the corner although don't forget, we offer semi-catered option (delivered dinner and breakfast) at most of our self-catered properties if you don't feel like cooking!  This property also has private parking and a large garden, perfect for snowball fights! Book Now or Check Availability We hope to be able to welcome you to Megeve again next season!  Please do give us a call on 01603 477471 or drop us an email if we can help you in any way. Best wishes, Debbie, Sarah, Rachel, Elizabeth & John   Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram Google Plus Pinterest

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Grab a cuppa, sit down and treat yourself to a quick read of our latest news and offers below. You won't regret it and you might save yourself some money.

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Dear reader Grab a cuppa, sit down and treat yourself to a quick read of our latest news and offers below. You won't regret it and you might save yourself some money.   Book now and save money... So we're guessing that booking your next skiing holiday isn't at the top of your list of jobs to do right now. How about if we told you that a five minute phone call before the end of June could save you money on your next ski trip, that would change things wouldn't it? Well it's true. So what are you waiting for? As is the case this time every year, we are due to review our prices for season 2019 which may mean an increase on some of our deals. However right now and through until the end of this month, you can still book at season 2018 brochure prices in our catered chalets and self-catered apartments with just £150 deposit per person. There really is no better time to book your holiday to Megeve than now!

Book Now Back by popular demand - Le Sporting apartments We're thrilled to announce that we have not two but three of the gorgeous Le Sporting Apartments back on our books for season 2019 These self-catered ski apartments are extremely spacious with two en-suite bedrooms (twin or double beds) with large balconies and a huge open plan, sitting room, dining room and kitchen again with balcony, beautifully furnished to a high standard using wood and natural materials. The apartments have stunning views through the huge floor to ceiling windows towards Mont Blanc, Rochebrune and Megeve respectively. The Rochebrune is situated on the fourth floor, Mont Blanc 2 on the second floor and Megeve on the first floor.  There is a lift so no need to worry about tired legs! We also offer our semi-catered option in these chalets for those who don't want to cook but still want their own privacy.  Meals delivered to your door, just pop them in the oven! The Le Sporting apartments were extremely popular last season so don't delay in booking if you're interested or want a choice of dates/apartments... NB - for those re booking, the Mont Blanc 2 is the same layout as the apartment we had last year but is 2 floors lower down.   Book Now Exclusive use of Les Clochettes Thinking of skiing with all your family or a large group of friends? Why not come to our superior catered chalet Les Clochettes and have it all to yourselves! Sounds indulgent but exclusive use is a fantastic way to create memories or mark a special occasion in your own private space with staff to look after you! With five twin/double ensuite bedrooms, all with balconies and two with jacuzzi baths we can cater for ten people in the main chalet. If there's more in your party, we can also cater for a further four or six by adding the apartment above Our superior catered ski chalet Les Clochettes is in an ideal quiet location for those that want to enjoy the peace of the mountains but still only a few minutes stroll down to the centre of Megeve to enjoy the picturesque cobbled streets, bars and boutiques.  Just 150m from the Rochebrune cable car it's very close to the slopes.  But the real joy is the chalet.  Beautifully proportioned with a large, spacious sitting room, looking out onto the Rochebrune mountain, you can enjoy a delicious aperetif and canapes from the comfort of the leather armchairs, or perhaps from the sunny veranda whilst discussing your day on the slopes.  Soothe any aches and pains away in our new sauna and then relax over a four course dinner with appellation controllee wine prepared by your own professional live in chef and served by your knowledgeable host who are there to ensure your comfort.  Then hit the hay and collapse into soft, deep beds made with crisp linen to wake well rested for the day ahead on the slopes.  A hearty cooked breakfast will set you up for the day. Don't forget we offer short breaks as well as full weeks in all our properties.  Ideal for a quick getaway!   Book Now As always, we're here to help if you have any questions at all - We're all passionate about Megeve and keen to share our knowledge of the resort. It was an incredible season last year and we're very much looking forward to more of the same for season 2019. Hope to hear from you soon, Elizabeth, Debbie, Rachel, Sarah & John xx

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Last ski

We've just had a marvellous last morning's skiing on Rochebrune.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the snow was freshly groomed and softening up and the pistes were empty.  I've washed most of the ski gear.  Now I have to finish cleaning the apartment before we leave tomorrow morning.  This evening we are having a barbecue with the staff.

In the crevasse

Yesterday we skied on Mont D'Arbois and although the sun was out there was a chilly wind.  Max and Heidi Stallard took us for lunch at the Gouet to say thank you for providing the flat for their honeymoon, which was very nice.  Poor Violene and Guillaume were rushed off their feet as there were only four of them, two in the kitchen and two serving and they decided to close yesterday as they had no staff for today.

Our Vallee Blanche trip with the staff was a huge success and great fun, in spite of it being Friday 13th.  We walked down the arrrete and skied the first pitches in sunshine and then we hit cloud and it even started snowing.  Our guides were Alex Perrinet and his friend, Thierry.  They are very good and make it an adventure.  We skied down and through a crevasse,  Alex pointing out the three holes which we had to avoid.  We also skied down the frozen river, which was a bit like doing the ski cross and with about the same amount of carnage.  It was a great day and a big thank you to the staff, who have had to cope with the odd crisis (don't mention the ski bus crashing into the Rond Point on Christmas Eve).

Stanford staff 2018 at top of Aiguille du Midi

See you all next year!

Spring

All our family has now left.  Elizabeth and the children were the last to go on Tuesday.  Most went Sunday but Baylys and Smiths left on Monday.  However, we have Max Stallard and his wife who got married on Saturday and here on honeymoon.   Max was a chalet boy at the Sylvana 18 years ago.      His brother, Tom, was a chalet boy 2 years earlier.  John went to school with their father, so we've known them forever.

There is still lots of snow and it snowed Tuesday morning, though the sun came out in the afternoon.
But spring is on its way at last.  I saw a marmot on the Pylons piste underneath the Mont D'Arbois lift yesterday.  I don't know where its burrow was.

The primroses are now going mad on the banks in town, though I haven't seen any cowslips yet.  The snowdrops and mountain crocuses have just appeared on the Calvaire near the Rond Point where the snow has melted.  Everything is about a month behind.  Most of the lifts close this weekend though some have closed already, like the Princess.  But I think Cote 2000 is staying open for a week or two for the locals.

Today we skied at Les Contamines for a change of scene.  It was terribly windy, to the extent that it was difficult to schuss.  How they kept the lifts open I don't know.  We came down early as it was unpleasant, and the top bubble was closed for some time.

Tomorrow we are hoping to ski the Vallée Blanche with the staff.  

Lizzie's birthday

Yesterday was Lizzie's birthday, 13 years old.  We got up and looked at the rain.  I got dressed in skiwear about three times, and kept changing may mind about skiing.  The girls went up and said there was new snow so John and I ventured out and it stopped raining.  We had a brilliant morning.  We skied the off piste at Lanchettes a couple of times and then went over to Cote and skied there, though the visibility was not so good as it was snowing  slightly.  So we had lunch at the Radaz and then skied some more off piste afterwards.  It just goes to show that you should get out, whatever the weather.
Today was brilliant sunshine.  We had planned a Valley Blanche trip with the grand children, but Alex Perinet advised that there was too much snow for children, and an avalanche risk of 4-5 so it was cancelled.  Never mind.  We found some untracked spring snow off the Epaule ridge and down to Communailles which was great fun.  Lunch was at the Alpage where we baked in the sunshine.   

sunshine and snow

Monday was a lovely day, and the world and his wife were skiing.  We don't do queues, but we had little option.  By the time we had got everyone organised we managed to hit the lifts at about the same time as the ski schools.  Sadly, the Princess lift closed at the end of the day, we are told for economic reasons.  It is such a shame as those runs are in great condition.  Anyway, the grandchildren did the luge, which Elizabeth said was very scary.  The staff did it twice!  By the end of the day most people had gone home and the pistes were deserted again.

Mr & Mrs snowman and easter bunny

Yesterday we skied Rochebrune which was good in the morning but the snow got sticky in the afternoon.  But then it is April.  At the Rochford lift Mr and Mrs Snowman have presided for some time, but over the Easter weekend they bred an Easter bunny.   His sparkly ears are very alluring.  There was a huge party of us having lunch at the Telepherique restaurant, over 30, which was good, apart from the fact that their pizza oven had broken down.
Today we woke up to brilliant sunshine so we donned minimal clothes.  Which was fine until about midday when the clouds started to come in.  We had lunch at the Gouet and got there just in time to bag enough tables for twelve of us, which was just as well as the weather deteriorated.  By the time we had finished lunch it was a case of racing home as fast as possible.  I was wearing my new, lightweight,  10 euro decathlon jacket, and was expecting to be sodden by the time we got to the top of the Croix de Christ chair.  But not only was it snowing at the top but my jacket was waterproof.  So apart from having damp trousers and snow clogging my sunglasses, I survived.  By the time we got to Henry Sports the sun had come out.  Most bizarre.  

April Fools' Day

We woke up to it dumping snow so we put on our ponchos and headed for the first lift. Sadly it then stopped snowing. We skied down the red Princess and got in the same cabin as Neville, Gordon and his and Carol's sons, Kit and Simon.  Tomorrow they are all off for an adventure with a mountain guide for five days in Courmayeur, sleeping in a hut and skinning up to find untracked snow.  If only one were younger and fitter!

With John at top of Mont Rosset field

They went off and we waited for Alison, Matt, Jackie and Seb and then took them down the Monrosset field, which was lovely, but we had to step over a small stream at the bottom.  After that, we skied left off the Monrosset chair down untracked snow to Bettex, then up and over to the Communailles field.  Nothing had been skied too much, and though it was a little lumpy in places the fresh snow was perfect.

Crossing the stream

Finally we skied, in a blizzard, down to Planellet.  The top field was perfect, the bottom a little heavier, but fun.   And we all managed to catch the bus.  The kids loved it, in spite of one or two tumbles, and Seb declared that he thought he was getting better at the off-piste.  This afternoon the sun came out but John and I came home to pack, as we are off to the Sylvana for our family and friends' holiday, 15 adults and 14 kids.  I think I shall need a holiday after that.

Seb in a tree well