Ski Chalets in Chatel (Portes du Soleil), France
France

Resort Chatel (Portes du Soleil) Resort Chatel (Portes du Soleil) Resort Chatel (Portes du Soleil) Resort Chatel (Portes du Soleil) Resort Chatel (Portes du Soleil) Resort Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

Description

Châtel is a pretty French Alpine town nestled on the French side of the Franco-Swiss border, in the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area. The resort sits at an altitude of approximately 1,200 metres above sea level, with groomed pistes running up to almost 2,300m.


A traditional farming town at heart, Châtel is nicely linked in to the rest of the ski area — including popular resorts such as Morzine and Avoriaz in France, and over to the Swiss side.

Unlike a lot of French mountain towns like it, Châtel remains pleasantly unspoiled by the tourism it attracts, and offers a wonderfully Alpine feel. Away from the hustle and bustle of the ski industry, the area is still home to around 30 working farms and the pace of life is relaxing.

For families, Châtel offers a peaceful and pretty base from which to explore a good range of beginner-friendly terrain. Ski schools offer a broad range of classes, and there’s a good selection of sheltered-tree-lines runs if the weather closes in. Parents have a good range of non-ski activities to engage in if bad weather closes in or the kids need a change of activity, and the swift airport transfer time of just over 1 hour from Geneva airport appeals to many.


Getting There

Getting to Châtel is easy — Geneva Airport is the closest airport to the resort, and sits approximately 1 hour 20 minutes’ drive away.


When to Go

Chatel is a family friendly resort so makes a popular choice for families and does get busier during school holidays. The resort is relatively low altitude so if you are planning on travelling during the early or late weeks of the season then you may be better off heading to a high altitude resort with a more reliable snow record.


Where to Stay

On the accommodation front, Châtel is home to a broad range of chalets and hotels from 2* all the way up to 5* luxury, so there’s something to suit a wide range of budgets. The resort doesn’t offer much by way of packaged holidays in comparison to the amount of independently-run properties in-situ, so the majority of visitors plan their own travel from Geneva airport separately.



Getting around

Chatel is linked to the other Portes du Soleil resorts via piste. If you are not planning on skiing then the resorts are linked by road so the best way would be to drive. There is no direct bus linking the resorts, if you want to travel via bus you would have to travel via Thonon-les-Bains.


Apres

Châtel is a peaceful Alpine town and the après ski offerings reflect that. If you’re looking for boozy afternoons and partying into the wee hours, you’re better off in nearby Morzine or Avoriaz (or elsewhere entirely, like Val d’Isere or Meribel…) But, with that said, Châtel soes offer a good range of welcoming bars and cafes where thirsty skiers can kick back and relax with a beer after long days out on the slopes. Venues such as the Nazca Bar, Pub Avalanche and La Godille offer friendly happy hours with discounted prices, and DJs spinning party beats through the afternoon and into the evening.


Eating out

Although Châtel is relatively small, you’ll still find a strong selection of restaurants and cafes to cater for a wide range of menu preferences and requirements. Savoyard staples such as fondue, raclette and pierrade feature heavily — as you’d expect — but there’s also pasta and pizza venues, alongside some more stylish, higher-end restaurants.


Good for Couples

La Table d'Antoine

145 Route de Thonon

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 73 29 53

Good for Couples

Le Vieux Four

55 Route du Boude

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 73 30 56

Good for Family

Fiacre

32 Route du Centre

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 73 30 46

Good for Family

The Pierrier

63 Route du Centre

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 73 24 15

Good for Friends

Le Hors Piste

5 Route de Vonnes

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 76 11 54


Activities

Away from the pistes, parks and powder, Châtel offers a good range of non-ski activities ideal if you’re looking for a break from the slopes. With aqua centre including heated pool, sauna and steam rooms, plus the typical Alpine activity offerings of ice-skating, bowling and cinema, it’s hard to get bored. There are also some fine hiking trails though the dese woodlands around the resort.


Airboarding

213 chemin de l'Etringa

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 6 81 66 52 80

Cinema

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 73 21 04

Spa & Wellness

Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

+33 4 50 72 04 31


Ski School

There are several ski schools in Chatel who offer both group and private lessons. Group lessons are more sociable and will generally work out better value than private lesson but are less intense than one to one tuition. If you are unsure about which lessons are best suited then most ski schools will be happy to chat through your ability and recommend which lessons will be most suitable. It is recommended that you pre book your lessons in advance.

Our recommended ski schools in Chatel include:

ESF have 80 instructors in Chatel and offer private or group ski and snowboard lessons to suit all abilities.

ESI pro skiing have been operating in Chatel for 30 years offering a range of different lessons.

Chatel Sensations is located at the foot of the linga gondola and provide ski and snowboard lessons as well as handiski or taxiski, mogul skiing, freeride, freestyle and telemark.

British Alpine Ski and Snowboard School (BASS) offer group lessons with a maximum group size of 6 people. They offer courses for beginners and pros and all their lessons are in English.


Getting around

Chatel is linked to the other Portes du Soleil resorts via piste. If you are not planning on skiing then the resorts are linked by road so the best way would be to drive. There is no direct bus linking the resorts, if you want to travel via bus you would have to travel via Thonon-les-Bains.


Family ski

Chatel is a charming and traditional ski village located within the vast Portes du Soleil ski area. It attracts families in search of an authentic Alpine experience, with a broad range of attractive chalets and hotels, a relaxed atmosphere, and a wonderfully hassle-free airport transfer time of 1.5 hours from Geneva airport.

With a base-altitude of only 1,200 metres, Chatel isn’t as good an option for early- or late-season family skiing as the nearby resort of Avoriaz, or alternative destinations like Obergurgl or Val d’Isere, but when conditions are good, Chatel is a warm and welcoming village where families have all they need for outdoor adventure on the slopes.

The nightlife here is wonderfully low-key, with no noisy late-night bars or nightclubs to worry about. You’ll find no huge hotels or big packaged tour operators either, which all leads to a peaceful and quiet atmosphere in-resort – perfect for parents looking for somewhere peaceful for the kids.

Up on the slopes, the ski area links into the Portes du Soleil and offers a broad range of terrain suitable for all levels of skier or snowboarder. In total, 650 kms of groomed slopes and around 200 lifts offer access to 14 valleys and more than 12 different villages – way more than you’ll cover in a week! In the local area, there’s a regular bus service which runs through the village, helping skiers reach the different sectors with ease. And of course, the resort’s numerous catered ski chalet companies tend to offer their own shuttle services too, for hassle-free access to the lifts and slopes. 

Chatel’s terrain is dominated by beautiful tree-lines pistes which offer shelter from the elements if bad weather closes in. Terrain parks offer the chance for youngsters and experienced freestyle skiers and boarders to tackle half-pipes, bordercross, kickers and rails, and the resort’s guiding service means more accomplished skiers can explore with no need for the piste-map. 

Parents in search of tuition for the family can turn to ski schools including the Ecole de Ski Francais, plus alternatives such as the British Alpine Ski School and ESI Pro Skiing. The tuition available is of a very high standard, with classes and clinics for learners and improvers of all ages. 

Away from the slopes, parents looking for ways to entertain the kids can choose from a diverse range of entertainments and activities. You can take part in an exciting Snake-Gliss when the lifts close and tackle the snowy descents by sledge, try your hand at air-boarding. There’s also a wide array of more traditional alpine pursuits to engage with, such as husky-rides in the alpine wilderness, guided snowshoeing excursions, sledging, and ice-skating. 


Group Ski

Chatel links in to the Portes du Soleil ski area – one of the largest in Europe – with a staggering range of terrain to choose from. The lifts in many corners of the Portes du Soleil could use an upgrade, and Chatel is included here, but access to the snowy slopes is good. As a base for skiing and snowboarding, Chatel works for a wide range of ability levels – there’s a good range of learner-friendly slopes and of course a huge selection of steep terrain and backcountry ground to explore. But for intermediate-level skiers in search of cruisy blue and red runs, it’s superb. 

Down in town, Chatel is a peaceful and relaxed alpine village – with little by way of rowdy nightlife to enjoy. For that, groups are better off in the nearby resort of Morzine. Chatel is home to a fine selection of welcoming and traditional restaurants and friendly, relaxed bars, but the nightlife is generally low-key. 
There’s a strong range of catered ski chalets and well-located hotels to choose from in Chatel, and groups in search of accommodation have many options to choose from. Most of them are independently-run, with visitors organising flights or car travel separately to their accommodation. Again, for the packaged holiday experience, nearby Morzine and Avoriaz have more to offer on that front. 

For groups in search of a warm and welcoming alpine base, Chatel is a great resort to visit. It’s traditional and charming, with decent ski access and diverse terrain. But if you’re in search of lively nightlife, this isn’t a great resort to choose! It works much better for families who generally have little interest in bus bars and lively nightclubs. 


Childcare

Parents visiting Châtel with the kids in tow and in search of childcare options can turn to the Les Moufelts crèche in the centre of town. This day care centre offers care for kids aged from 4 months to 4 years of age, with meals prepared on-site, a broad rage of exciting and fun adventures planned in the programme and 4 sleeping rooms where tinies can catch up on a little much-needed shut-eye.


The Piste

Up on the slopes, visitors have access to a wonderfully broad range of skiable terrain, with 85 kilometres of local slopes and 650km across the expansive  Portes du Soleil. The terrain is ideally suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders keen to push themselves and cover the ground each day, but there remains a decent amount of learner-friendly terrain as well. 

Expert skiers will cover the local area swiftly, but out in the big, wide Portes du Soleil there’s easily enough ground to keep even the swiftest skier or snowboarder happy for a week. 

From the tree-lined slopes and snowy bowls of Morzine and Les Gets to the steep descents and off-piste terrain of Avoriaz and the Swiss side, it’s a tough ski area to cover in one week. The majority of the lifts and gondolas do the job sufficiently well, and it’s quite easy to get up and out to explore the peaks and valleys. That said, there remain a fair few lift-links in need of replacement — which is a work in progress. If you’re used to the modern lifts of the Three Valleys, the Espace Killy or indeed Austria, then you may find the Portes du Soleil a little slow to get round. 

Freestyle skiers in search of big air, half pipes and rails can hit the snow-park at the side of the Chaterelle piste, in the Super-Châtel Sector. Here, you’ll find a fine selection of challenging hits for everyone from learner to advanced freestyle skiers and snowboarders. There’s an airbag at the bottom of the park where learners and experts alike can practise new tricks in safety, and, if you’re looking for something even bigger and better, head up to Avoriaz where the range of terrain parks will dazzle you!


Ski School

There are several ski schools in Chatel who offer both group and private lessons. Group lessons are more sociable and will generally work out better value than private lesson but are less intense than one to one tuition. If you are unsure about which lessons are best suited then most ski schools will be happy to chat through your ability and recommend which lessons will be most suitable. It is recommended that you pre book your lessons in advance.

Our recommended ski schools in Chatel include:

ESF have 80 instructors in Chatel and offer private or group ski and snowboard lessons to suit all abilities.

ESI pro skiing have been operating in Chatel for 30 years offering a range of different lessons.

Chatel Sensations is located at the foot of the linga gondola and provide ski and snowboard lessons as well as handiski or taxiski, mogul skiing, freeride, freestyle and telemark.

British Alpine Ski and Snowboard School (BASS) offer group lessons with a maximum group size of 6 people. They offer courses for beginners and pros and all their lessons are in English.


Equipment Hire

There are a good range of ski hire stores throughout Chatel which offer a good range of the latest equipment. It is recommended that you pre book your hire in advance as many of the stores will offer online discounts.

Our recommended ski hire stores in Chatel include:

Vincent sports provide the best choice of appropriate and well maintained equipment at the best price / quality ratio.

Skihire2u offer high quality equipment and have flexible delivery and collection times.

Intersport are a staple in most of the resorts across the Alps. They offer a good range of ski and snowboard equipment.

Ski Set are another staple in resorts across the Alps and offers a good range of product.


Lift Passes

 There are two lift passes available in Chatel, the local area pass or the full area pass which covers the full Portes du Soleil including Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets. The full area pass is of course more expensive but it is worth it if you are traveling for a week.

The below prices are based on the current rates in resort but may change at the time of booking

6 Day Pass          Chatel Local Pass    Portes du Soleil Pass
Child (5-15yrs)     €130                         €169
Youth (16-19yrs)   €157                         €203
Adult (20-64yrs)   €174                          €225
Senior (65yrs +)   €157                         €203

Lift passes are free for children under 5 years, proof of age is required.

Family passes are available when at least 4 ski passes are purchased at the same time including 2 adults and 2 children or youth passes. The passes must be purchased for the same duration in the same transaction.

You can buy your lift passes through the tourist office or you can book it through the tour operator who will deliver it to your accommodation when you arrive in resort.


Chalet Sleeps

Chalets sleeping: 8 people & over
Chalets sleeping: 10 people & over
Chalets sleeping: 24 people & over



Resorts statistics

  • ALTITUDE

    1200m

  • LONGEST PISTE

    8km

  • HIGHEST SKI LIFT

    2466m

  • TOTAL LIFTS

    212

  • TOTAL PISTE

    650km






Ski chalets in Chatel (Portes du Soleil)

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