By Mike Beaudet

How to get to Megeve …but don’t tell anyone!

Megeve is well known by few and is a jealously guarded secret among those that frequent its ski slopes; Michelin Guide rated restaurants, high-end shopping stores, Casino and quaint narrow cobbled streets. The village is dominated the traditional church belfry, by a square all in a pedestrian friendly atmosphere. Horse drawn sleighs carry tourists all over during the peak periods adding a festive and memorable experience for young and old.

The ski area is laid out to almost always have the summit of Mt Blanc in view when skiing Megeve ski runs. The runs are cut through the trees a very welcome change to most ski areas in the Alps that are above “tree line”, adding a touch of green to this Haute Savoyard village! Great skiing for all levels with a particularly pleasing predominance of upper intermediate skiing terrain.

The “Espace Mont Blanc” domain is a whopping 445 Km and with over 111 lifts make Megeve and partner ski areas (la Giettaz, Saint Gervais, Saint Nicolas de Veroce, Combloux, les Contamines Montjoie and Cordon) in the top 6 longest ski able areas in France.

I often bring my clients on a beautiful day to see and ski what I think is the best vantage point to view the French Alps and the Mont Blanc:

The most scenic views of Mont Blanc the highest mountain in Europe are visible from the top of the “Epaule” chairlift of the Megeve Ski Area. At the top of this chair lift you will want to turn immediately left to stay on the piste, a right turn will take you immediately off piste! You should be a good intermediate skier to do this run, in several places it is quite narrow and in whiteout conditions not advised at all. However on a brilliant sunny day you will want to look around you and capture a visual picture that even the best of cameras could ever capture….the whole of the French Alps in all their beauty right before your eyes! After taking it all in, its time to ski all the way down to Chatrix, the longest of runs in the domain.

….But don’t tell anyone how nice it is !

If you are flying in to ski the French Alps and Megeve you have the following possibilities. Chambery Airport, Geneva Airport and Grenoble Airport are all approximately one hour’s drive away. This makes Megeve a highly accessible ski destination, area even for a long weekend, from any airport in the UK. Leave the UK at 08:00 and you’re on the pistes by 12:00 noon. Be aware that the above can vary depending upon traffic and weather conditions.

Driving: From Geneva you will go to the A40 direction Mont Blanc/Chamonix and turn off at Sallanches and about 17 kilometers direction Albertville, to Megeve.

Driving: In the event of bad weather:

If you drive from Grenoble and Chambery, direction A 41- E712, to Annecy/Geneva/La Roche sur Foron and get on the A40 direction Mont Blanc/Chamonix and turn off at Sallanches and about 17 kilometers direction Albertville, to Megeve.

Good weather alternative:

If you drive from Grenoble: A 41- E712 to the A 430 direction Albertville. Take the N212 at Albertville up the beautiful “Gorges de Arly” to Megeve. Please note however that this route can be closed due to rock and mud slides and traffic can be a problem!

Copyright © 2006 Megeve Mike - All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Mike Beaudet also known as “Megeve Mike” is the founder of Ski Pros Megeve. Megeve is located in French Alps, at the foot of Mt. Blanc, a 1 hour drive from Geneva International Airport. Day ski tours, private and small group ski lessons for skiing enthusiasts of all levels and ages are available in the French Alps, Italian Alps and Europe.

Mike has an extensive background in skiing, teaching group and private ski lessons. Mikes credentials include Full Certification in Professional Ski Instructors of America-RM, the prestigious French Government “Ecole National de Ski et d’Alpinisme” in Chamonix as a Moniteur de Ski Diplome and a member of the first PSIA National Academy held at Mount. Hood Timberline, Oregon. Mike has over 30 years of ski teaching and coaching experience in the US and in France and has taught in all the major ski areas in France and America. Visit his Websites, http://www.SkiProsMegeve.com Contact Mike personally at: http://www.geocities.com/mikeskifrance/. “Better Skiing Starts Here”

Copyright © 2006 Megeve Mike - All Rights Reserved Worldwide.