Chatel
Chatel is a well-kept secret nestling on the French/Swiss border, unspoiled by commercialism it has remained true to it's Savoyarde farming village charm. In other words, there are plenty of attractive, rustic looking chalets and hotels, which ooze Gallic charm and cost relatively little to stay in.
Chatel boasts many traditional French restaurants, numerous bars many with live music and sun terraces, a wide variety of shops offering all your holiday needs, specialty souvenir shops and of course plenty of well equipped ski and alpine sports shops all within walking distance of the chalet.
For those with a plentiful supply of energy there is a traditional bowling alley in the village, an outdoor ice-skating rink at Lac Vonnes, horse-drawn carriage rides, dog-sledding and snow-shoe excursions. At Pre-la-Joux there is a 650m 'bobluge' run and also the 'Fantasticable', for a perfectly safe sensation of flying, then just over the boarder in Switzerland hot springs to relax aching muscles.
Chatel and the Portes Du Soleil has a fantastic snow record. Their location between Mont Blanc and Lac Geneva creates an environment which means that the area tends to get significant snowfall from the start of December through to when the lifts close in late April.
Walking distance from the resort centre are lifts up to the local forested slopes around Super-Chatel, which are ideal for cruising and generally building confidence. A super-efficient free bus service links the different sectors of what is a sprawling resort with the various lifts at each end.
Further out-of-town are the more exciting Linga sector and the powder bowls above Pre-la-Joux. Here you can find some of the quietest, yet most challenging slopes in the entire Portes du Soleil, and one or two chairlifts away and you're in Les Lindarets, a fantastic lunch stop, before moving above the trees to explore the open terrain above Avoriaz, Champéry and Champoussin.
For the freestylers out there, well-maintained parks and pipes abound across the Portes du Soleil, but the main ones of interest are located in Super-Chatel, Champery and Avoriaz.
In all it has over 400 miles of ski slopes, well-served by 208 ski-lifts all accessible using a single, inclusive card. Cross Country Skiing is also well catered for and popular in the Portes du Soleil.
Chatel is a very international resort where English is spoken extensively. It is particularly popular with groups and families because of the variety of types and level of skiing on offer and the easy way you can meet for lunch and/or afternoon drinks even when not skiing together.