Les Carroz Reviews

My review of Les Carroz

Reviewed 21 Oct 2014

What shouldn’t be forgotten about Les Carroz is that it’s part of one of the largest linked ski resorts in France. With slopes reaching up to 2500m altitude, the Grand Massive is the 4th largest linked ski area in France, and for access to all 5 areas the ski pass cost is hardly more than for a simple Massif pass, which covers only Samoëns, Morillon and Les Carroz. Lying in a natural bowl amongst the mountains and in close proximity to Mont Blanc, the Grand Massif enjoys an impressive snow record, with snow cover almost guaranteed from mid-December to late April as the vast majority of the slopes are north-facing.

Getting there: An easy shuttle bus takes you from Geneva Airport to Les Carroz in less than an hour. Other nearby airports including Chambery, Lyon Saint-Exupery, and Grenoble are all within 2 hrs of the resort, and driving from Calais, Les Carroz can be reached in under 8 hrs.

The resort’s convenient location makes it the perfect family destination, and its child-friendly status doesn’t end there. Les Carroz is a local favourite for families, and has been awarded the ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ label for its excellent facilities for children. Childcare services are welcoming and action-packed, offering a huge range of exciting snow activities such as quad biking, dog-sledging, snake-sledging, and an outdoor ice rink.

I’d say Les Carroz is the perfect resort for children and novices with its free drags lifts from the village for easy practice on the meandering wide nursery slopes, and a new covered travelator in the beginners area. A number of blue runs near to the Kedeuse gondola makes this an ultra-convenient ski-in ski-out resort, and thanks to new snow-making equipment recently installed on the Combe piste, all abilities can ski on an easy run straight back down to the village.

The Kédeuse Gondola will take you straight to the action in under ten minutes where the Grand Massif ski area offers incredible variety of 81 slopes: from greens to black and some challenging off-piste opportunities. You also have access to legendary snow experiences such as the famous 14 km Cascade run, the longest in the Grand Massif area. The main JamPark Pro in Flaine is one of the largest snowparks in Europe; tailored for experts it features a quarter-pipe, a number of tables and rails, a cool chill out zone, and you can’t miss the massive sound system for that awesome party vibe.

Les Carroz has enough in the way of nightlife, with 7 bars in the town centre, and Club 74, for a traditional French ‘discothèque’ experience. 3 of the bars are clustered together on the buzzing Place de l’Ambiance, where nothing beats soaking up the late afternoon sunshine with a rewarding cocktail in hand at the Marlow.

The star foodie authentic attraction is La Vache Qui Ride where cosy evenings in a tepee after a secluded guide-led snow shoe hike are accompanied by the local speciality – the unrivalled fondue – cooked over a real wood fire.