TO VISIT for professionals in the Vallée Blanche . The village of Les Houches is the most suitable for a family vacation . You and your children will have plenty of entertainment at your disposal : mountain bikes , snowboarding , dog sledding , hiking and , of course , skiing . In addition to outdoor activities , this ski resort also offers an extensive cultural program . The Mer de Glace glacier has a grotto hosting wax and ice sculptures every year .
Restaurants and Hotels
The entirely renovated five-star « Hôtel Mont-Blanc » boasts an elegant and cosy setting in the heart of Chamonix . The 100-year-old establishment is situated on a calm street in the city centre . Built in 1840 , the five-star « Grand Hôtel des Alpes » has been one of the most charming hotels throughout Chamonix ’ s history . Located in the town centre , close to the Aiguille du Midi , the red train to La Mer de Glace and the cable car leading to the Brévent , the hotel is accessible to the region ’ s most unforgettable locations .
Whichever restaurant you choose to dine at ( there are hundreds to choose from ) Chamonix is famous for its Savoyard cuisine which is quite rich ( in fat and in calories ). But after a day of outdoor activities , a rich meal is just what you need ! The most popular dish in this region is tartiflette , a potato casserole with bacon and onions under melted Reblochon cheese .
Monaco is 450 km away from Chamonix . You can get there by car in 4 hours or by train in 10 hours . You can also reach the resort by helicopter .
More information : https :// www . chamonix . net
MEGÈVE
This old Savoyard village has become one of the best ski resorts in the world thanks to the Rothschild family . After the war , Baroness Rothschild made sure it could compete with Switzerland ’ s St . Moritz , and she did so brilliantly . By the way , some of the descendants of the billionaire dynasty still live here to this day .
Megève has the exclusive atmosphere of an ancient town with its mediaeval houses , Main Square , old church and a bell tower . This town is also referred to as the 21st district of Paris . This is the style icon that gave light to the film « Dangerous Liaisons » starring Jeanne Moreau and Gérard Philipe . If you are more interested in slopes than in the town ’ s history , the Megève resort is specially designed for quiet and comfortable skiing among its snow-covered fir trees . However , you will also find more difficult tracks here : the Emile Allais descent for example . The total length of the routes is 445 kilometres , with 45 green , 64 blue , 80 red and 34 black colour coded slopes . Just above Megève , there are 325 tracks and a total of 41 lifts . Just like any other luxury resort , Megève has a ski school for beginners and for snowboarders , and kindergartens for children .
In addition , the resort offers a variety of entertainment : casino , bowling , a sports centre with a swimming pool and tennis courts , discos , nightclubs , bars , and restaurants to meet any budget . The resort is equipped with its own airfield , giving you an opportunity to rise over the Mont Blanc and see it from a bird ’ s eye view . We also recommend that you visit the thermal park of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains with its hot mineral springs .
During these uncertain times , Megève is offering all holiday bookers a special guarantee , which includes a full refund in case the pandemic causes cancellations . According to their website , « With Megève [ R ] assure , Megève and its partners guarantee that your booking will
© HelloMonaco
Hello Monaco Winter 2020 – 2021 / 55 www . hellomonaco . com