Snowsure: 4.5
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Chatel is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Chatel Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
January 23, 2009
Garry from
France
Garry from
France
Chatel is a great resort and one of my best investments when I bought a chalet there 24 years ago. However, my one big gripe is that there is virtually no service from the lift operators other than switching the lift on, thereafter the lift operator watches whilst chairs smash into the back of peoples legs or their great speciality of looking idly on at snow encrusted chairs (of which there have been many days this year) so that by the time you reach the top of the mountain you're wet through having sat in a pile of snow for 10 minutes. It would really make a major difference to the quality of the experience at Chatel if they could provide a little bit of service.
January 13, 2009
Paul from
United Kingdom
Paul from
United Kingdom
We stayed in Chatel for new year 2008/9, at the ClubHotel Soldanelles (Rocketski Hotel). We had heard mixed reviews of the hotel before we departed but found the hotel to be clean and tidy, the staff excellent and the food very good and very plentiful. The only word of caution here is that there were no school parties in the hotel when we stayed but there were programmed to be 100 school kids the following week - I suspect the experience would be very different for those unlucky enough to be sharing the hotel with that many children. Chatel itself is a nice little resort, if quiet. We skied in Super Chatel the first day which is OK (apart from too many drag lifts) to get those skiing legs back. Threreafter we took the ski bus up the valley to Linga where the skiing was much better and gave access to a much greater area. A tip here is to arrive early and leave early - no later than 3.30PM to avoid very large queues for the bus back which on our first day took over an hour to get home - madness. Food on the mountain is very expensive (not helped by current exchange rates) but it was too cold to contemplate picnics.
All in all, Chatel is a great resort and with good snow conditions gives access to a massive area. We will definitely go back.
December 06, 2008
Darren & Alpinebreaks.com from
France
Darren & Alpinebreaks.com from
France
The season has started early with the lifts opened at Pre Le Joux already and pretty much the whole Portes du Soleil opening as of next weekend. The snow forecasts from any website for this region have not been accurate at all - the last 48hrs has seen at least 50cm of snow in Chatel village alone!
See you soon, Darren
December 05, 2008
Lin & Pip Willcocks from
France
Lin & Pip Willcocks from
France
Update on the snow at Chatel - started falling 2 weeks ago and there's loads of the beautiful white stuff now. Pre La Joux lifts opened last weekend (30/11) and will open again this weekend, ahead of schedule. Open full time from 13th Dec - and the slopes are so quiet. This is the time to ski at Chatel.
Over the last 30 years we've skied Stateside and Europe and Chatel is by far our favourite - beautiful village, reasonable prices and vast linked ski area to suit all levels.
October 20, 2008
Peter Huge from
United Kingdom
Peter Huge from
United Kingdom
We visit every February half term from West Wales. Having skied for over 30 years at places ranging from communist Bulgaria to Morzine and St. Moritz, I feel that Chatel is a great place to ski and is quite reasonable for our family of four. The trick is to rent an apartment cheaply, drive out and the whole holiday including accommodation (#350), ferry/tunnel(#70), fuel (#250), tolls (#80), lift passes (#250) for 6 days can cost little more than a thousand pounds with your own equipment. This leaves a little money to visit some of the quality small restaurants tucked away in the outlying areas and on the quieter parts of the slopes. Most of the staff are really helpful and polite. We ski Chatel only and are now considering the more expensive lift pass to explore further but 650km of pistes (plus off-piste) should be ok for most at the start. Try it and have a great time. Peter and Lyn Huge
October 20, 2006
Susan from
United Kingdom
Susan from
United Kingdom
Christmas 2005 - My first time skiing at 45 years of age left me a little apprehensive. I had only ever viewed a ski resort in the summer. I chose Chatel as my son had been there with the school; this gave me confidence that at least he would know where he was going even if I didn't.
I know I have nothing to compare it with, but I can't envisage going anywhere else. I did ski, and actually I did like the one or two drag lifts that were at Pre la Joux, and I love the winding green run from Plain Dranse to Pre la Joux. I have booked again for Christmas - not sure the snow could be improved on last year it was fantastic, and I'm not sure I'll progress beyond the lovely green run. As a complete beginner at 45 it was heavenly.
October 15, 2006
Pauline from
United Kingdom
Pauline from
United Kingdom
Went to Chatel for the first time in March 2006. What a great place. Snow fantastic,food fantastic,place first class. We ate out most of the time at the Flambee; what great steaks, pizza and onion rings!!!! To die for. Could also drink as much as we liked as they provide transport back to the chalet.
(Russ the Bus does a great job - for only a few euros tip) would highly recommend Chatel for all the family. The runs are well groomed and the lift attendants are really good with helping on and off the chairs/lifts.
March 07, 2006
Anon from
United Kingdom
Anon from
United Kingdom
Went to Chatel Feb 06, snow was fantastic, resort is great. Runs well groomed, manageable queues for lifts. One minor gripe is that I am a boarder and found that the alot of the meandering blue and green runs are very narrrow, in quite a few places have slight up slopes, which makes navigating down them on boards very very hard. Skiers should have no problem. It also took some planning at the end of each day to try and work out a days boarding avoiding drag lifts. Usual problems around very full buses for Pre-la-joux and Linga at the end of the day.
Word of advice; we stayed at Club Hotel Les Soldanelles, although the hotel is adaquete it is very basic and in need of a refurbishment. Bathrooms are small and only have a bath. Food is of school dinners standard. They cater mainly for school parties, hence the beds seemed very small. We managed to miss any school parties but I would imagine it would be hell sharing it with school trips. My advice would be to spend a little more money and find alternative accomodation.
February 13, 2006
Marcus from
United Kingdom
Marcus from
United Kingdom
8 of us have just spent a fantastic week at the Chalet Lac de Vonnes in Chatel. The chalet was perfect, as was the region. Chatel is a wonderful town, and although not huge, there are enough restaurants and bars to keep most groups entertained. Plenty of excellent skiing in Linga, Pre la Joux and Avoriaz, and some good runs over in Super Chatel & Morgins. We didn't make it over to Les Gets, but you will need a full Portes du Soliel area pass to get the best skiing. The lifts were efficient and queues were small. Super Chatel has quite a few drag lifts, but they're OK, and the rest of region has mainly chair lifts / gondolas. There are some good runs for beginners, but not a huge amount. If you are new to skiing, get some lessons booked & you will be cruising the blue runs at Linga / Pre la Joux & Super Chatel in no time. Avoriaz is a boarders paradise & it's easy to get to from Pre la Joux - a couple of chair rides & an easy blue takes you straight into Avoriaz.
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