Les Gets

Les Gets sits on a wooded col in the Haute-Savoie, at the French end of the vast Portes du Soleil, one of the largest ski areas in the world, which spreads across the border into Switzerland and links a dozen resorts on a single pass. Despite that scale, Les Gets has kept the feel of a traditional village, with a working church, a mechanical-music museum and a friendly, family-first atmosphere that sets it apart from the higher, purpose-built resorts.

The skiing is welcoming rather than extreme, with tree-lined pistes and gentle terrain that suit families and improving skiers, and quick access across the linked domain towards neighbouring Morzine and Avoriaz. That approachability is a large part of the resort’s appeal and its loyal following.

Winter runs from December to April, with the holiday weeks the busiest. Summer is a strong second season, and Les Gets has become one of the best-known mountain-biking destinations in the Alps, with a lift-served bike park and a web of trails drawing riders through the warmer months, alongside hiking, golf and lake swimming under long alpine daylight.

Les Gets favours the traditional chalet, in keeping with the village around it. For families and groups who want space and easy reach of both the pistes and the village, chalet rentals in Les Gets range from the slopes to the heart of the resort.