Ok, tell me all about the Portes du Soleil please

We've done it all independently as we want to go for an odd number of days (neither of us can sort out a full week off work).

So, Easyjet flights from Bristol to Geneva - early on the way out and late on the way back, so we can ski on the travel days; then car hire from Geneva to Chatel and an apartment booked via ownersdirect.co.uk.

It probably won't work out any cheaper doing it this way - and ski carriage with Easyjet is a hefty £50 - but it means we get exactly what we want without any annoying package airport transfer delays.

If we had longer, I'd have considered driving to the Alps again - we have done this before and the travel time is hardly any longer once you take away all the airport hassle you get these days.

The swiss wall is veeery scary !

Chatel is a great place fot intermediate skiers, I have been skiing there for 8 years and never tire of the place. There are some great Blue runs and not too challanging red runs in Super Chatel which is the tele cabin out of the village. You can go from there to Chalet Neuf which has a Fantastic resturant The salads are magic. Morclan is a little bit difficult in places but worth a visit over to Torgon. The runs back to Chatel are great crusing not too taxing.
If you want a little more difficult then at the top of the valley free bus from Chatel is Pre la Jour, two lifts to access the Plane Dranse! both 6 man, the skiing here is a combination of blue / red good eating places at the top of Pierre Longue lift. It is from here you can go over the top to Avoriaz more adventure, the skiing from here is infinite, Morzine, Super mozine, over into Switzerland, always allow plenty of time for the return journey bearing in mind that if late in the day the Piste can be a little lumpy. In the middle of these two areas in the Linga piste, gets a little icey but a good connecting point to Pre la jour, note the blue off the top is a nightmare, use the red its wide and a good eating place half way down on right., At night the tunnel and Avalanch bars are worth a visit. We have just booked a catered chalet with Alpine Quest fully catered for 500€/week each alpinequests@yahoo.co.uk

Skied in PdeS for last few years on regular weekend trip with group of girlfriends. To escape the crowds, Mont Chery (above Les Gets) makes a lovely day out - and the restaurant at the bottom of the slopes at the back of the mountain is fabulous for a long and boozy lunch. (Boozier than planned, when the owner gives you a free toffee vodka before you leave!)

skitotty1 wrote:Skied in PdeS for last few years on regular weekend trip with group of girlfriends. To escape the crowds, Mont Chery (above Les Gets) makes a lovely day out - and the restaurant at the bottom of the slopes at the back of the mountain is fabulous for a long and boozy lunch. (Boozier than planned, when the owner gives you a free toffee vodka before you leave!)

That sounds like our sort of ski holiday! Thanks for the other info here too... getting very excited and have even been in the gym in readiness.