Stroll up to the stylish entrance of this 15-room boutique hotel, located plum on the main street of Les Gets, and you might think an ice-cool haven awaits within. But as soon as you step over the threshold into the velvet-sofa’d reception area, you're greeted by hugely friendly and informal staff who make the place unforgettably welcoming. Chamois d’Or does, in fact, feel more like a big shared chalet than a hotel. Mostly British guests - including honeymoon couples, groups of friends and families with teenage children - mingle and chat everywhere; from the reception area, which doubles as a lounge, to the smart, minimalist restaurant and neon-lit Indigo Bar.
The laid-back, relaxed culture stems from hands-on owner Peter, who hails from Plymouth but is based in Les Gets - and whose genuine pleasure seems to be for everyone to have a really fun time. This is his first hotel, and hopefully there will be others. As for Les Gets itself, this charming French village sits on the fringes of Portes du Soleil, a vast 650km of slopes. Skiing heaven in winter; cycling heaven in summer.
Highs
- The designer interiors - a welcome alternative to all the traditional Alpine-chintz hotels nearby
- Cocktails in the rocking Indigo Bar - don’t miss the extremely potent Margaritas!
- The Little Mountain Spa, a charming offering with 2 treatment rooms, pool, Jacuzzi and sauna
- A good range of room types: romantic doubles, Triples/Quads and a self-catering Penthouse sleeping 8-10
Lows
- The service is enthusiastic rather than faultlessly professional, but that adds to its charm
- The restaurant is under new management since our visit, it's still open daily for dinner, but we haven't personally tasted the food
- If you don’t like purple, this isn’t the hotel for you - it's Chamois d'Or's themed colour and features everywhere
Best time to go
Chamois d’Or's winter season runs from mid December to April; its summer season runs from late June to late August. The best time for skiing is January when it is quieter, and the end of March/beginning of April when it is warmer and sunny. Rock the Pistes is a live music festival on the slopes, which runs for a week in March each year and features local talent as well as big Euro pop acts. In July, the Tour de France often passes through Les Gets.
Our top tips
Don’t miss skiing Mont Chèry, the quiet, uncrowded locals’ mountain, with a good combination of red and blue runs and one gnarly black. Stop for a decadent lunch at La Grande Ourse, with socking great views of the Portes du Soleil across to Mont Blanc. Try the lobster lasagne, washed down by house rosé. Just perfect.
- Boutique Hotel
- 15 rooms
- Breakfast and wine bar open daily
- Best for older kids
- Open all year
- Indoor Pool
- Spa
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
Bedrooms are all ensuite, with lots of handy hooks and ample wardrobe space for ski clobber. Walls are wood-lined, bed linen snow white, and each bedroom door is appropriately Alpine, covered with cow skin. Many rooms have balconies, with big views out across the pretty slopes of Les Gets.
There are various categories to choose from. Double/twin options are Classic and Prestige; Room 12 is an especially lovely Classic with a bathtub and wraparound balcony. We stayed in the huge Penthouse, which sleeps 8 people in 4 bedrooms and has a spectacular balcony with sun-drenched, south-facing views, plus a big living space (complete with purple chairs) and kitchen facilities. There are also Triples and Family rooms.
Features include:
- WiFi
Eating
The on-site restaurant has been reinvented since our visit; where once there was modern British and French cuisine, there is now Le Boomerang's wide-ranging choice of dishes, ranging from Spanish tapas to BBQ ribs, from Thai noodles to good old fish and chips. As with the rest of the hotel, the atmosphere is relaxed rather than stuffy or formal.
For Après ski nibbles and drinks, the bar serves nachos, wings and a fantastic ranges of cocktails (gin, whiskey, rum...)
There are lots of excellent restaurants on the slopes for lunch, serving up hearty Savoyard fare, and other options in town dinners out.
Breakfasts are a Continental buffet, including homemade fruit compotes, fresh pastries and delicious hot chocolate. Cooked options are available, too: scrambled eggs and bacon or a daily-changing special.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Skiing: lifts up to the Portes du Soleil's 650km of slopes are 5 minutes' walk from the hotel
- There are many alternative wintery activities for the non-skier, from ice skating on the little rink in town to husky sledding, snow-shoe walking and cross-country skiing
- Summertime activities range from hiking in the surrounding mountains to playing golf, white-water rafting and paragliding
- Les Gets is a big mountain biking and road cycling centre, with dozens of trails and several famous Tour de France passes close by
- There's lovely shopping in town: chi-chi Alpine interiors boutiques, clothes shops and a bustling food and flower market on Thursdays
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Skiing
Kids
Families are welcome but there are no specific kids' activities/areas, so the hotel is best suited to older children and teenagers. Little ones are not allowed in the spa and there are lots of glass tables and concrete stairs that aren't toddler-friendly.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Triples are Classic rooms with space for a rollaway bed. Family Quads are Prestige rooms with a bunkbed for children.
Cots Available, Family Rooms
Babysitting:
Professional babysitting/nanny services available
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- High chairs
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
Children's menu available
Kids Activities nearby:
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Ice skating
- Husky sledding
- Cycling
- Rafting
Distances:
- Airport: 1 hour's drive (Geneva)
- Shop: 2 minutes' walk (Les Gets)
- Hospital: 35 minutes' drive (Thonon)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Chamois d'Or is in the charming village of Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil domain of the French Alps.
By Air:
Geneva (85km) is the nearest airport and is less than an hour's drive away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.
From the Airport
You won't need a car while you're here so we'd advise a transfer from the airport - there are numerous companies running private and shared transfers between Geneva and the Portes du Soleil, stopping off in Les Gets; ask for details when you book your stay. If you'd prefer to be independent, click here to see our recommendations for car rental. If arriving via Geneva airport, pick up your hire car on the Swiss side of the border (it has 2 exits), as you’ll find it easier - and probably cheaper. Note that you’ll need a vignette (annual permit) to drive on Swiss motorways.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to France and getting around
Airports:
- Geneva 85.0 km
Other:
- Beach 62.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km