St. Gervais ski resort

There has been a long and bitter rivalry between ski resorts in Europe for almost 200 years. In fact, I have no trouble imagining a couple of Gallic Neanderthals turning their noses up at the slopes outside their neighbours caves several thousand years ago. However, one can only really go on the recommendations of people who have already been.

I did exactly that, and now I aim to perpetuate that same recommendation. It’s called St-Gervais. I got a great deal through a company called Alpine Elements, who do all manner of ski holidays and seem to know their stuff. The last trip I had they kitted me out, put me up and got me on the slopes with the minimum of fuss and expense.

The resort itself is spectacular. St-Gervais has been a popular spa resort attracting both local and foreign tourists since 1806 and today is popular with families wanting a cheaper alternative to Megeve or Chamonix. The main ski area of St-Gervais has 79 lifts on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois, and is linked with that of Megeve. It has a terrain park with a half-pipe and is accessed by a fast, 20-person gondola from the edge of the resort to Le Bettex.

The second stage goes up to St-Gervais 1850. This is a popular and often-crowded entrance to Megeve’s pistes. Skiing on the Mont Blanc side of St-Gervais is served by the Tramway, a mountain railway that climbs slowly to the Col de Voza at 1,653m, where it links to the skiing above Les Houches.

In terms of skiing however, St-Gervais is unsurpassed. It has three nursery-slope lifts and two kindergartens; The ESF at St-Gervais and St Nicholas, and the ESI at Le Bettex, all offer standard lessons, as well as cross-country, slalom and telemark. The two local mountain-guiding companies are Compagnie des Guides de St-Gervais and Guides des Cimes, and both can organize heli-skiing.

So, if skiing holidays are your thing I would definitely recommend this place. We have been before and had one of the best holidays of our entire lives. Hopefully this Christmas will be the same.

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