
The nearest places to drive to are the ones around Geneva – they take about 8 hours (with one break). Place like the Grand Massif and Portes du Soleil are a good bet, as are Megeve, St Gervais and Chamonix.
Staying in the valley-bottom towns is always a possibility if the resorts themselves are booked up. A 15 minute drive up the mountain isn’t the best way to start and end your day, but beats not skiing at all!
Check out the websites of some of the resorts (just google the place names, followed by office de tourism) and give them a phone - they may still know of stuff available.
Finally, check out a decent map and look for some of the less well known resorts and check them out – if the big travel companies don’t go there, there’s more chance of them having some room. I’m thinking of places like Praz de Lys, Samoens, Morillon, Notre-dame-de Bellcombe, St Jeand’Aulps, Praz sur Arly. There’s loads of them! We get tunnel-vision with our ski resorts in UK – there’s loads most people don’t even know about. The majority will have decent skiing, particularly at the moment.
Good luck – tough being saddled with a teacher - I know how you feel.