Sherman's Travel

After a great time in Zermatt, I traveled three hours to spend a few days skiing in Megève, France. Megève is just one hour west of Geneva, and it’s a great combination with a ski trip to Zermatt. It is possible to arrange a car transfer or train it back to Geneva and then onward to Megève.

If Zermatt has a more jetset and glitzy vibe, Megève feels more family-oriented and affordable, yet still upscale and sophisticated.  In fact, Megève is a wonderful smart luxury destination. It is less international than Zermatt, with a majority of visitors hailing from within France.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have the best ski conditions during my visit. There hadn’t been snow for about a month so the trails were icy. Normally the Mont Blanc mountains are filled with snow in winter but this January has seen a dearth of precipitation. Nevertheless, we made do. (Note that Zermatt has a much higher elevation, and conditions there were much more favorable.)

The Megève mountain runs make up maybe a third the size of Zermatt. The scale is entirely different.  However, overall, assuming good snow, you won’t be disappointed. There are plenty of options.

And at end of day, skiing down to town is a joy as you end up in what must be one of Europe’s most charming ski villages. It’s more beautiful (and smaller) than Zermatt. The shopping is also a lot better here (unless you want a watch). Apparently the French are a lot more fashion-focused than the crowd at Zermatt. Also, prices are not jacked up as they are in Zermatt.

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