Combloux, France

Dave Gilbert from FRANCE writes:

Just arrived back from Combloux.
All in this area has had brilliant forecasts for about 40 cm snow over a day or so. It arrived as rain - heavy rain.
It washed away the snow from our chalet and I admit I did not go to the highest points, but with temperatures at the 1,250 meter point of plus 6 - 8, I cannot see how it could have been snowing up there either.
The child care places do not speak English, no matter what they say in the ads, and they left my son alone to cry, despite admitting that they thought it was because he didn't understand what they were saying. Also he was violently sick three hours after being at the child care centre. Very poor service.
Very pretty area and the chalet prices were very fair.
Sadly the usual French problem for me, nobody wishes to be helpful and when skiing is not possible then it's 25 Euros to sit down, sir Yes, you can have just a coffee, but you must sit near the toilet.
My wife and I cut our losses and drove home after two days. Because of the heavy constant rain and the fact that we were unable to find reliable childcare, we never even put our skis on!!!!! It's never been that bad before.
I've been three times to the French alps; disappointing every time. That cannot be plain bad luck. I'll never go again and will stick to Andorra. At least there they make snow, you can sit in the finest place if you only want a coffee and they don't sneer at you when you ask if you can help them settle your child in because they don't seem capable themselves.

2008-01-07