Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10 questions
We
hope
you'll find most of the answers to your questions on the website, but if there
is anything we have not covered than please do contact
us. We'll be happy to help.
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Why
haven't I heard of St Gervais or Les Contamines before?
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Are snow tyres recommended?
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What
type of skier/boarder is the terrain suitable for?
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Is good snow
guaranteed?
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I would
like to book. What do I do?
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Do I need insurance?
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How much do ski
lessons cost?
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How much do
lift passes cost?
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How do I get there?
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What
essentials do I need to bring?
1.
Why haven't I heard of St Gervais or Les Contamines before?
This is a good question and now we live here,
we too can't believe it's not better known. But the fact is, unlike the high
profile resorts of the 3 valleys, Val d'Isere and Chamonix, St Gervais and Les
Contamines have not
been marketed to the Brits with the same aggression. And instead of being
dominated by large tour operators, they have maintained their mostly French
clientele.
As a result you'll be staying in traditional
alpine surroundings, full of French character. You'll be enjoying all 450 kms of piste
without feeling crowded and hassled by other skiers. And you'll be riding the
lifts with an absolute minimum of queuing.
Of course, the high profile resorts have some
great attributes, but in some ways have now become the victims of their own
success, suffering from long lift queues, busy pistes, crowded transport systems
and a sometimes overwhelming number of British skiers.
But if you 'buck the trend' and come to St
Gervais and Les Contamines you'll find great skiing, almost no crowds and a real sense of being
abroad. And afterwards, just like us, you'll be wishing you'd found this area much sooner.
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2.
Are snow tyres recommended?
If you hire a car from Swiss side of Geneva
airport then it will come equipped
with snow tyres and a set of chains. If you self-drive then a set of chains are
a nice 'insurance' policy. If it snows heavily you will need them, but most of
the time the roads are reasonably clear of snow. For those staying at the studio
apartment in St Nicholas snow chains may be more important. It's a fairly steep
and winding road up to the village.
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3. What type of skier/boarder is the terrain suitable for?
Absolutely everyone. The Evasion ski area is enormous and
now provides 450 km of piste, of all grades. You'll never be bored and will always find a run that
suits you.
Beginners are well catered for with
some excellent nursery slopes at St Gervais and Les Contamines. These are easy to get to and
close to the cafes for those all important refreshments.
Expert skiers will have all sorts of fun on the steeper
reds and blacks, or exploring the off-piste through the trees and open powder
fields. There are also lots of options for ski-touring and back-country
excursions too.
Snowboarders of all levels will have a great time
here. There's a never-ending supply of good freeriding, and year after year St
Gervais builds and maintains one of the region's best fun parks, including a well groomed half
pipe.
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4. Is good snow guaranteed?
You can never guarantee what the weather will do, but on
the whole you should get good snow conditions from late December through to
mid April. The high altitude and close proximity to Mont Blanc are all in our
favour, and an investment in artificial snow making helps to keep the lower runs open late into the season.
January tends to be cold and crisp with snow fall
likely. February sees the start of sunnier days and by March you'll be basking in
a deck chair at lunchtime. By April you'll be enjoying long days on the
mountain, with lifts staying open until 5:30pm. And there's a reasonable chance
you'll be treated to some powder snow too. Over the years we've noticed that
April has a habit of providing some very short, sharp storms that drop a foot or
two of fresh snow and then clear to leave a clear blue sky. Perfect!
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5. I would like to book. What do I do?
If you wish to book then simply call or
email us so that we can confirm availability and prices with you and answer any
questions you may have. By booking you agree to the Terms
and Conditions.
Tel:
+ 33 (0)4 50 93 82 23
email: info@mountain-refresh.com
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6. Do I need
insurance?
It's always advisable to take out a
travel insurance policy to cover you against 3rd party liability, theft,
accidents, cancellation, personal liability and illness etc. And if you plan to ski then it
really is essential to have specific ski cover, as even the most simple injury can incur some very significant
costs. Policies that cover your complete needs can be bought from companies such
as Columbus
or for a small price about 1 E per day cover can be bought with your lift pass. You should also bring a completed E111
card.
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7. How much
do ski lessons cost?
The cost of lessons varies depending on
how many you book, whether you are in a group or having private lessons.
As
an indication it costs 87E for 6 lessons of 2h30 in a group. For a full price
list of lessons click
here
to view the St Gervais ski school website.
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8. How much do lift passes cost?
1 day pass costs 31.50 E for adults and 25 E for children.
6 day passes costs 151 E for adults and 121 E for
children.
In the winter there are several lift passes available,
including the Evasion Mont Blanc pass, providing access to all the lifts in the
St Gervais, Les Contamines,
Megeve and Combloux ski areas.
There's also a selection of lower cost
passes for people over 60, beginners, families, or those simply wanting to ski
in a specific area, such as St Gervais or Les Contamines.
With so many ski pass options we'll be happy to advise you on which
passes would suit you best. Call us for more information or click
here
to view all the pass prices on the St Gervais website ski pass page.
In the summer months you should budget for somewhere
between 3 and 7 Euros per ride.
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9. How do I get there?
Getting to St Gervais and Les Contamines is very easy, and there are lots
of options for travel. Please see the Travel
section of this website. Alternatively you can email or call us to discuss your
travel options further.
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10. What essentials do I need to bring?
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-
.
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E111 card.
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(i.e. driving licence, MOT and insurance certificates,
car registration document). Check your vehicle insurance covers you for
driving in Europe. You may wish to take out additional motor
breakdown insurance.
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Bring some warm clothes even in summer if you are considering going to high
altitudes. Sunscreen and sunglasses are necessary whatever the time of year.
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Bath
Towels.
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