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Les Contamines resort snow
Lat Long: 45.82° N 6.73° E
Ski France

Les Contamines Resort Reviews

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Visitor reviews for Les Contamines Ski Resort

Les Contamines Ratings

Overall: 4.2. Based on 34 votes and 21 reviews.

Snowsure: 4.6

  • 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
  • Les Contamines is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.4

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Les Contamines has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 4.2

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.7

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 4.7

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Les Contamines

Public Transport: 3.8

  • There are no buses or taxis to Les Contamines
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 4.3

  • No places to stay in/near Les Contamines
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 4.2

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 2.9

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Les Contamines

Ski in/Ski out: 3.7

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 4.3

  • There are no child care facilities at Les Contamines
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 4.3

  • Les Contamines relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 4.5

  • There are no snow groomers at Les Contamines
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Les Contamines are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.8

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Les Contamines is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 4.1

  • If snow conditions are poor at Les Contamines, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.7

  • Les Contamines usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 4.5

  • The staff at Les Contamines are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Les Contamines are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 4.2

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.4

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.9

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 4.2

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 4.7

  • No intermediate terrain at Les Contamines
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 4.2

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 3.8

  • Not even a kicker at Les Contamines
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 4.5

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Les Contamines
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.6

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Les Contamines has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 4.4

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 4.2

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 3.7

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 3.4

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 3.8

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 4.5

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 4.2

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 4.2

  • Overall, Les Contamines is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 4.2

  • Overall, Les Contamines is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

November 28, 2007
Tony from Ski France France
When we went there first, a friend from Geneva said "don't tell anyone about this place", We have been going there for years ever since, One of the best snow records in France, great locals and not too commercial, ...nightlife has to be found...which is always rewarding, "...it's where the French Ski"
August 23, 2007
Mick from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have been going to Les Contamines since 1989 when it was a really quiet resort and thankfully it has not changed much. There have been some technological advances and I think that with the investment in snow making that has taken place, this year 2007-8 will be great. I have skied Chamonix amd you can keep it. I bought an apartment last year and am a 5 minute walk from the gondola. Try Le Husky and L'Op Trakken for good grub and have a beer and sauccison at the refurbished bar at the bottom of the gondola. Great place, great people. I have to agree also that Ty Briez is a great place to have a beer and savoury pancake. Ok I am biased. Cheers to all Mick.
February 25, 2007
Pam from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
This place is superb for a family holiday. The ESF ski school is absolutely brilliant and the skiing here is just wonderful for all abilities. There is a great nursery where even the little ones can start skiing from the age of 21/2! The resort is quiet at night but that is because all the activity and relaxation takes place on the slopes! We'll be back next year!
February 18, 2006
Richard Burger
This place is a gem. I bought a house 5km up the valley and didn't even know it existed; what a fantastic bonus. I hardly go to Chamonix now; there is great off-piste here, it is so quiet you get whole runs to yourself, and even during the busy Feb period it is still much quiter than the big ones. If 2006 is typical then what a result; great snow from the day it opened on the 3rd Dec. The conditions have been perfect ever since. Stuff the night life, whether its good or bad, save your energy for the slopes (ok I am getting on a bit).
January 22, 2006
Malcolm from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
We have experienced the superb snow record in Les Contamines for the last ten years and it has become reknown for good snow when other higher resorts have failed. The resort has never failed to impress us with the superb mixture of pistes for all abilities and amazing variety of off piste. It is not a high mileage resort but quality counts. A real bonus is that the local people are much more friendly than other resorts we have visited.
January 17, 2006
Jim. from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have to agree with Fran - Les Contamines is a fantastic place to ski and if you found it boring you obviously didn't go to the right places. I have visited on four occasions and I am going back there again this year it really is one of the few unspoilt areas where you can enjoy the culture aswell as the skiing. If the nightlife is not wild enough for you Chamonix is only 25mins drive away.
December 09, 2005
Jo from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Les Contamines rocks; I spent the season there last winter and fell in love with the place. The skiing is great, like Fran said, if you know where to go. As for the nightlife, if you think there is none you have no idea. Saxo, ty Briez and Savoisien are great. I wish I was there for another winter!
November 15, 2005
carl from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have to agree with the last review Les Contamines is one of the best resorts in the Alps and can challenge Chamonix for some of the best riding in the area. Having been shown some of the amazing off piste it certainly is one place you can return to again and agian and fine something new. Thankfully, i am not inclined to wear a day-glo one piece, stupid hat and only go riding for the apres ski...unlike Bob!
March 30, 2004
Fran from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
knowing this resort like the back of my hand now i have to disagree. It is one of the most undiscovered unspoilt french resorts left in the alps. If the skiing wasn't challenging enough you simply didn't know where to go. And as for nightlife - i'd choose a night in saxo or ty briez over watching drunken brits puke in the corner after 15 pints in Chamonix any day...
January 26, 2004
bob from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
i think the resort was really boring it does not have very much to offer experienced skiiers. i would have 2 agree wid elliott i would not reccomend it