Skiing: Geneva
As you may remember I mentioned a few weeks ago in my new Friday round up series that myself and my other half were planning our first Skiing holiday together. Like I said before, we have both been Skiing (him a rather impressive 8 times, me just the once) but this is something we have never explored together as a couple, and so here we are in one of the best ski resorts in the country enjoying a full week of sports and relaxing. (Sorry that there is no Friday round up post this week, life in the snow has been a little hectic, expect business as usual next week).
Before coming here I will admit I was a complete novice when it came to planning Skiing holidays, but now I am quietly confident that this trip has gone really well. Our hotel is really nice and the resort itself is just amazing! I have detailed lots of things about our hotel in this post, so do please read on to find out the goss!
I left most of our main day to day itinerary to my boyfriend (crazy I know) and he booked all our lessons (so far we have had three each, he also had a beginners lesson in snow boarding). I have put prices of all the lessons in this post & where you need to go to take them. So read on below to find out EVERYTHING about our wonderful trip so far, and I will update you with any bits I have missed when we are back in a few days.
Before coming here I will admit I was a complete novice when it came to planning Skiing holidays, but now I am quietly confident that this trip has gone really well. Our hotel is really nice and the resort itself is just amazing! I have detailed lots of things about our hotel in this post, so do please read on to find out the goss!
I left most of our main day to day itinerary to my boyfriend (crazy I know) and he booked all our lessons (so far we have had three each, he also had a beginners lesson in snow boarding). I have put prices of all the lessons in this post & where you need to go to take them. So read on below to find out EVERYTHING about our wonderful trip so far, and I will update you with any bits I have missed when we are back in a few days.
The Flights
So I am kicking things off with the flights. As our trip was very last minute, we obviously didn't get best pick of any flights to Geneva, we usually go for the budget option when flying short haul, and as Geneva is a very short 55 minutes from London Gatwick we don't really mind too much what airline we end up flying with. We have chosen our flights this time with EasyJet as this was the first airline that came up on our search and they have really cheap seats at the moment (for most destinations in January), so we grabbed a bargain price of just £30.49 each on the way there and just £17.49 each return flights. The total of £156.94 for the week I thought was very reasonable and it meant we had more money in the budget to stay at an amazing luxury hotel.
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| Photo Credit: Routesonline |
Accommodation
I was put in charge of choosing the accommodation for our trip, It was the most exciting part of the planning for me because I think it is common knowledge
now to you all that I do love a luxury hotel and I love then even more in a wintery setting! The type of accommodation I really wanted us to stay in for this trip was something along the lines of a Log Cabin or a little cosy Chalet, but from looking around there wasn't much options about because we left it so late. I started my initial search looking up 'the best Ski resorts in Geneva', and one Ski resort in particular came up top of my search and that was 'Chamonix', I know a few people who have been to this Ski Resort who have all said fantastic things about it, and from what I have read on the internet it is the most liveliest which is exactly what we were after. So I began my hotel search in Chamonix.
now to you all that I do love a luxury hotel and I love then even more in a wintery setting! The type of accommodation I really wanted us to stay in for this trip was something along the lines of a Log Cabin or a little cosy Chalet, but from looking around there wasn't much options about because we left it so late. I started my initial search looking up 'the best Ski resorts in Geneva', and one Ski resort in particular came up top of my search and that was 'Chamonix', I know a few people who have been to this Ski Resort who have all said fantastic things about it, and from what I have read on the internet it is the most liveliest which is exactly what we were after. So I began my hotel search in Chamonix.
We opted to stay in the 5 star luxury 'Le Hameau Albert 1er' located in Chamonix Mont-Blanc, this hotel has some of the best reviews I have found on the famous 'Trip Advisor' website.
It is a fairly small hotel and has just 35 rooms, so we were very fortunate to have snapped up the last double room on our dates. The inside of this place is divine, the rooms are so modern and cosy, exactly as I imagined a hotel in a winter wonderland would look. The hotel offers a free ski shuttle service to the slopes as well, so we won't have to worry about arranging our own transport during our trip, (the hotel is also a 5 minute walk from the Chamonix SNCF train station). The property is divided into two building and also has 2 chalets on site (unfortunately both booked up on our dates, but they are both equally as gorgeous as each other).
The hotel has some fantastic facilities on offer to its guests. If you want to take a day out from skiing you could always pamper yourself in their spa and wellness centre or spend a day in their either one of their pools. Rooms come with free slippers and a robe, and you also get fresh towels provided daily. They offer both indoor &outdoor (if you are feeling brave). There is free Wi-Fi throughout the property as well, for your convenience.
It is a fairly small hotel and has just 35 rooms, so we were very fortunate to have snapped up the last double room on our dates. The inside of this place is divine, the rooms are so modern and cosy, exactly as I imagined a hotel in a winter wonderland would look. The hotel offers a free ski shuttle service to the slopes as well, so we won't have to worry about arranging our own transport during our trip, (the hotel is also a 5 minute walk from the Chamonix SNCF train station). The property is divided into two building and also has 2 chalets on site (unfortunately both booked up on our dates, but they are both equally as gorgeous as each other).
The hotel has some fantastic facilities on offer to its guests. If you want to take a day out from skiing you could always pamper yourself in their spa and wellness centre or spend a day in their either one of their pools. Rooms come with free slippers and a robe, and you also get fresh towels provided daily. They offer both indoor &outdoor (if you are feeling brave). There is free Wi-Fi throughout the property as well, for your convenience.
Dinner here is a real treat, it has a fantastic gastronomic restaurant on site which serves traditional cuisine, or a more unique restaurant serving traditional Savoyard specialities, I think we will be spoilt for choice here, especially as they also have their own wine cellar and a bar! We have been very lucky to have dined her a few evenings this week and I can tell you now the food is just out of this world, the chef even introduced himself to us and of course complements were given all round.
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| Photo Credits: 'Kaluma Travel','chamonix', 'chamonix.net' |
Chamonix- The Ski Resort
When we are not chilling in our hotel we are here amidst all the action. If you have stayed in a ski resort (or even if you haven't, but just visited for the skiing), you will most probably have quickly learnt that they can be quite built up, I have no problem in admitting I sometimes get a bit lost, and need a map to help me find my way round. There are quite a number of big chain hotels on these sites, as well as restaurants/ bars and other places for activities so it can feel very crowded at times. The slopes also get busy, especially the beginner & children areas where most people hang out with their families or in their social groups.
In the Chamonix resort there are 10 ski areas spread out which cater for different levels of skiers from the complete novice to the more advanced, there really is something for everyone. The areas are listed below on the map, The green indicates areas suited to the beginners, Red is more advance & Black is practically off piste, for the very very experienced skier (stear clear of these, if you are a novice beginner or if you are skiing with young children, they can be extremely dangerous & the slopes steep) .
Unfortunately we haven't had time on this trip to visit every single area, as the resort is just so vast. We have mainly stuck the green area and spent most of our time having lesson here.
If you are someone who believes variety is the spice of life, this place is excellent because it doesn't just cater for skiers, there are loads of winter activities you can participate in including the more popular snow boarding (which you can also book lessons for- at any level), ice skating. You can also para glide, go sledding, ice climbing, mountaineering and more here. For the full list and to get an idea of prices visit Chamonix's official ski resort website here.
Ski School/Ski Lessons:
I have been Skiing once before prior to this trip, back in 2014. I visited the French Alps region and to be quite truthful the resort I stayed in with close friends of mine, put me off skiing for a long time. It wasn't half as luxurious as the hotel or our resort I have visited this time- but no two places are the same. Anyways to cut a long story short, I only ever had one lesson in 2014 and didn't feel confident enough to go off on my own.
This time round however, we have had 3 lessons booked with Aloha Ski School, which is located in Chamonix. We have an amazing instructor, he has been brilliant with me so far. He understands that I am a nervous skier and has been so encouraging, he speaks fantastic English (as they all do) and is such an expert, very trustworthy. He is also very child friendly which is always so reassuring. You can clearly see he enjoys teaching and that skiing is one of his passions.
Aloha Ski School are an extremely professional company, and one of the best location wise as they are based right in the centre of Chamonix (most of the others we looked at are not as near to the centre/require transport out). All their details & how to book can be found here or on their official website.
Private lessons run at different times in the day and for different periods, they are very flexible. You have the option of full day lessons from 9am till 5pm (1-2 people 360 euros, or 3-6 people 390 euros), Half day lessons, from 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm (220 euros or 250 euros), 3 hour lessons (180 euros or 220 euros) or shorter lessons (120 euros or 145 euros).
We have been opting for the shorter lessons each day, because we are not early risers firstly, and most importantly we are here to enjoy our holiday alongside the skiing. The 2 hour lessons which start at 12pm and finish at 2pm, have been perfect for us so far, but there's great options to suit everyone's schedules.
Apres Ski/Nightlife:
For those not familiar with the culture of skiing, it is not just about the act of skiing or snow boarding, which entices people to book ski trips abroad, a massive part of the trip is also about the nightlife/ social activities &drinking which is also known as apres ski, (unless it is a family holiday with children of course, then it usually all about the skiing). This is largely the reason people tend to go on skiing holidays in groups because it can be quite a sociable event (if you want to make it one). There are lots of bars and a few clubs in Chamonix which are put here for this exact reason! Nightlife is very big in these snowy places, (maybe because its so cold, alcohol seems to be a good thing to warm you up, who knows?)
Eating out:
If you are a foodie, like myself you will always look forward eating out, especially on holiday. It is after all the ultimate time to indulge. If you come to Chamonix you will be spoilt for choice when choosing a restaurant to dine in or a bar to drink at, as everyone knows Skiing is all about the Apres Ski life. Here are a few nice spots we have been lucky enough to try out since visiting:
1. Pointe Isabelle Bar &Bistro- Chamonix Mont- Blanc
This modern traditional bistro (which is also a hotel too), is a firm favourite amongst skiers staying and skiing in the area. We came here for a lazy lunch on our first day hitting the slopes, and ended up coming back here for dinner a few days later as we loved it so much. The restaurant is open daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner and closes relatively late as they do have a nice bar here too. The menu can be found here, they serve a really great variety of food here we had on our first visit A lovely home made Burger and some fries which was so yummy and very reasonably priced too (as seen in photo below) and on our second visit which was for dinner we had a lovely Charcuterie platter and cheese to start (as seen in photo below), it featured lovely cuts of Italian meats and some of the best French cheeses including my favourite Brie it went so well with their lovely wine which was recommended to us by our friendly and helpful waitress. For our mains we opted for the Beef Filet served with more fries and a side salad, and another gorgeous bottle of crisp white wine to accompany our dishes. This meal in this restaurant has definitely been one of our favourites so far.
For more info or to book a room with the hotel please visit their official website.
2. Le Panoramic
Now before I tell you all about this little restaurant/cafe I will say if you are someone that doesn't do heights give this one a miss it is called Le Panoramic for a reason, and that reason is it is located at the top of the summit of Brévent you will need to get a cable car/gondola to reach this place, but once you get here you will forget about the journey and bask in the incredible Mont-Blanc views. This restaurant is open daily from 11.45am until 4pm so I would say it is really more just a cafe lunch spot. The restaurant has been going since 1948 and is a really popular spot for skiers taking a break from the slopes. The views are incredible especially in fine weather, the restaurant has two lovely terraces you can sit at and enjoy a glass of fizz with a lovely meal. The serve some lovely savoury and sweet dishes here including pasta's a selection of grilled meats, warm or cold salads and fish. When we visited here after a hectic day of skiing for a drink we were pleasantly surprised at just how well this place is maintained. Although on that fleeting visit we didn't eat, we have made a pact to come back here for lunch before we leave in two days time.
Chamonix- Valley (and the rest of our trip)
When we are not chilling in our hotel we are here amidst all the action. If you have stayed in a ski resort (or even if you haven't, but just visited for the skiing), you will most probably have quickly learnt that they can be quite built up, I have no problem in admitting I sometimes get a bit lost, and need a map to help me find my way round. There are quite a number of big chain hotels on these sites, as well as restaurants/ bars and other places for activities so it can feel very crowded at times. The slopes also get busy, especially the beginner & children areas where most people hang out with their families or in their social groups.
In the Chamonix resort there are 10 ski areas spread out which cater for different levels of skiers from the complete novice to the more advanced, there really is something for everyone. The areas are listed below on the map, The green indicates areas suited to the beginners, Red is more advance & Black is practically off piste, for the very very experienced skier (stear clear of these, if you are a novice beginner or if you are skiing with young children, they can be extremely dangerous & the slopes steep) .
 |
| Photo Credit: official website 'chamonix.com' |
If you are someone who believes variety is the spice of life, this place is excellent because it doesn't just cater for skiers, there are loads of winter activities you can participate in including the more popular snow boarding (which you can also book lessons for- at any level), ice skating. You can also para glide, go sledding, ice climbing, mountaineering and more here. For the full list and to get an idea of prices visit Chamonix's official ski resort website here.
Ski School/Ski Lessons:
I have been Skiing once before prior to this trip, back in 2014. I visited the French Alps region and to be quite truthful the resort I stayed in with close friends of mine, put me off skiing for a long time. It wasn't half as luxurious as the hotel or our resort I have visited this time- but no two places are the same. Anyways to cut a long story short, I only ever had one lesson in 2014 and didn't feel confident enough to go off on my own.
This time round however, we have had 3 lessons booked with Aloha Ski School, which is located in Chamonix. We have an amazing instructor, he has been brilliant with me so far. He understands that I am a nervous skier and has been so encouraging, he speaks fantastic English (as they all do) and is such an expert, very trustworthy. He is also very child friendly which is always so reassuring. You can clearly see he enjoys teaching and that skiing is one of his passions.
Aloha Ski School are an extremely professional company, and one of the best location wise as they are based right in the centre of Chamonix (most of the others we looked at are not as near to the centre/require transport out). All their details & how to book can be found here or on their official website.
Private lessons run at different times in the day and for different periods, they are very flexible. You have the option of full day lessons from 9am till 5pm (1-2 people 360 euros, or 3-6 people 390 euros), Half day lessons, from 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm (220 euros or 250 euros), 3 hour lessons (180 euros or 220 euros) or shorter lessons (120 euros or 145 euros).
We have been opting for the shorter lessons each day, because we are not early risers firstly, and most importantly we are here to enjoy our holiday alongside the skiing. The 2 hour lessons which start at 12pm and finish at 2pm, have been perfect for us so far, but there's great options to suit everyone's schedules.
Apres Ski/Nightlife:
For those not familiar with the culture of skiing, it is not just about the act of skiing or snow boarding, which entices people to book ski trips abroad, a massive part of the trip is also about the nightlife/ social activities &drinking which is also known as apres ski, (unless it is a family holiday with children of course, then it usually all about the skiing). This is largely the reason people tend to go on skiing holidays in groups because it can be quite a sociable event (if you want to make it one). There are lots of bars and a few clubs in Chamonix which are put here for this exact reason! Nightlife is very big in these snowy places, (maybe because its so cold, alcohol seems to be a good thing to warm you up, who knows?)
Eating out:
If you are a foodie, like myself you will always look forward eating out, especially on holiday. It is after all the ultimate time to indulge. If you come to Chamonix you will be spoilt for choice when choosing a restaurant to dine in or a bar to drink at, as everyone knows Skiing is all about the Apres Ski life. Here are a few nice spots we have been lucky enough to try out since visiting:
1. Pointe Isabelle Bar &Bistro- Chamonix Mont- Blanc
This modern traditional bistro (which is also a hotel too), is a firm favourite amongst skiers staying and skiing in the area. We came here for a lazy lunch on our first day hitting the slopes, and ended up coming back here for dinner a few days later as we loved it so much. The restaurant is open daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner and closes relatively late as they do have a nice bar here too. The menu can be found here, they serve a really great variety of food here we had on our first visit A lovely home made Burger and some fries which was so yummy and very reasonably priced too (as seen in photo below) and on our second visit which was for dinner we had a lovely Charcuterie platter and cheese to start (as seen in photo below), it featured lovely cuts of Italian meats and some of the best French cheeses including my favourite Brie it went so well with their lovely wine which was recommended to us by our friendly and helpful waitress. For our mains we opted for the Beef Filet served with more fries and a side salad, and another gorgeous bottle of crisp white wine to accompany our dishes. This meal in this restaurant has definitely been one of our favourites so far.
For more info or to book a room with the hotel please visit their official website.
2. Le Panoramic
Now before I tell you all about this little restaurant/cafe I will say if you are someone that doesn't do heights give this one a miss it is called Le Panoramic for a reason, and that reason is it is located at the top of the summit of Brévent you will need to get a cable car/gondola to reach this place, but once you get here you will forget about the journey and bask in the incredible Mont-Blanc views. This restaurant is open daily from 11.45am until 4pm so I would say it is really more just a cafe lunch spot. The restaurant has been going since 1948 and is a really popular spot for skiers taking a break from the slopes. The views are incredible especially in fine weather, the restaurant has two lovely terraces you can sit at and enjoy a glass of fizz with a lovely meal. The serve some lovely savoury and sweet dishes here including pasta's a selection of grilled meats, warm or cold salads and fish. When we visited here after a hectic day of skiing for a drink we were pleasantly surprised at just how well this place is maintained. Although on that fleeting visit we didn't eat, we have made a pact to come back here for lunch before we leave in two days time.
Chamonix- Valley (and the rest of our trip)
Chamonix- Valley is the main area where our hotel is located. In a few days time we are planning to take a day out from skiing (and relaxing in the spa), to really get to know our little town. Most of our exploration will be done on foot, as we wont be hiring transport on this trip, (we go home on Sunday so don't really see the point). So for now I will sign off from this post, I hope you have enjoyed reading what I have been getting up to so far, and look out for the rest of my adventure in the next few weeks.
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