Pretty village with good amenities, but not too noisy at night. Pistes very well cared for when weather permits. Quiet with no queues on weekdays in school holidays. Campsite close to centre, friendly, clean, full heated facilities including pool and apartments. Good bakery!
Ideal for young families and retired folk.
Less than a week before we head to Le Grand Bornand again. We are taking our motorhome to the campsite; brilliant place with pool and helpful staff. Ski lifts have small queues, pistes are bashed, great environment for us and our 2, under 10, children. This place is a real gem; we may go back again at half-term if we enjoy a post Christmas ski.
We are here again! The most fabulous resort! Kids are now 91/2 and 12 and are leaving me well behind now! They are getting on brilliantly and very independent! Only down side is our favourite restaurant for lunch "La Soleray" is shut so having to visit others! Remember, keep this little gem quiet :)
Le Grand Bornand is a good family ski resort and retains a fairly unspoiled French flavour. The skiing is not extreme but is varied. There are a few blacks and a lovely snow field off the top. It has a nice range of cruisey blues and reds. For beginners or those that prefer relaxing trails there are a range of nice greens as well. As with most Alpine resorts views are spectacular. They get busy like any good resort but you will be unlikely to be troubled by the long lift queues of other resorts. The snow park with piped music has been attractively developed in the last two or three years.
Just to clear things up, LGB (Le Grand Bornand) does have an automated lift system, the lift attendants are as good as any resort and it is only busy in the school holidays.
Great resort.
Pros: Le Grand Bornand is a pretty resort with easy skiing, generally good snow and plenty of mountain restaurants.
Cons: Le Grand Bornand gets very busy and there are too many bad and out-of-control skiers resulting in too many wipe-outs.
Another fantastic holiday at Le Grand Bornand, one of my favorite resorts and the snow was great. This year we spent a few more euro on a chalet on the piste in Les Outalays and it was worth every penny/euro.
My daughter passed her second star but the usually fantastic Esf tuition this year was not so good. The instructor wanted to put my daughter back into the 1st star group after day two as she was younger and smaller then the rest of the group at seven years of age. We would not allow that and low and behold my daughter passes and three of the older kids (they were twelve/thirteen years old) did not. I personally think it was a language issue as she was the only English kid in the group. Just goes to show, stick by your guns as the instructors do not always know best.
This year (March 09) will be our third visit to Le Grand Bornand. I don't like to tell too many people about it as it is so nice. Our two children started to learn at 3 and 6 years old and now at 5 and 8 they have no fear and teach me (mum) a thing or two. No doubt I'll get left behind this time as last year they were doing reds and leaving me behind. Starski Ski school is to blame for that (excellent tuition). So keep this little gem (Le Grand Bornand) quiet.
I would like to say that this resort is awful, but only to keep people away. As one of its best qualities is how peaceful it is. This is heaven on earth. We have been coming for over 5 years now. We have always had snow, always had fun and we like the lack of nightlife, as we would much rather have a nice meal out instead. I would strongly recommend "le ferme du pepe" on the lescale site. We loved the place so much we have been two summer seasons too, great walks to the refuge on Point Percee, and to Aguile Vert. Cant wait till Feb to be back again.
I have been going to Grand Bo (Le Grand Bornand) for the past 8-9 years with various friends and family and really love it. No need for those busy expensive resorts that everyone goes to. Maybe they can keep Grand Bo the same.