Frequently asked questions

This is where you will find most of the answers. If there are still any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Booking

How can I make a reservation?

You can make a booking request via the contact form on this website or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A direct booking will always guarantee you a better rate, as the accommodation platforms take substantial commission.

How do I pay?

Payment is made as follows: 30% at the time of booking, the balance 2 weeks before the start of your stay, and the security deposit 1 week before the start of your stay. The security deposit is returned to you on the day of departure if the inventory of fixtures at the end of your stay allows it. Any bank transfer charges (bank transfer or EU or currency parity) are the responsibility of the customer.

What are the cancellation conditions?

A 30% deposit must be paid at the time of booking. Bookings are non-cancellable and non-refundable. If you cancel more than 2 months before your stay, the deposit will not be refunded. If you cancel less than 2 months before your stay, the full amount is due.

How to get to Chalet des Ours

By car:

From France: follow signs for Geneva, exit the motorway at Annemasse, follow signs for Thonon les bains, then follow signs for Vallée d'Abondance, Châtel.

From Switzerland: head for Monthey - Grand Saint Bernard, leave the motorway at Monthey (exit Portes du soleil), then head for Morgins.

By train:

From France: the nearest station is Thonon le bains, then taxi or bus line 12.

From Switzerland: Aigle station has daily services to Geneva airport. The station - resort connections are then made by taxi. The Léman express runs daily between Geneva and Thonon les bains stations.

By plane: Geneva international airport is just 1 hour 40 minutes from Châtel. Transfer by train to Aigle and then by taxi.

Which services are provided?

The services included in the stay are the reception, bed linen and towels with beds made on arrival and the courtesy cleaning at the end of the stay.

We also offer a full range of services to ensure your relaxation is total:

Breakfast delivery to the Chalet,
Complete organization of your vacation,
Chef at home,
Ski instructor reservation,
Taxi transfers,
End of stay cleaning.

Here is our partner for these services:TA Conciergerie

Châtel

Is there a shuttle service?

The Ski Bus is free. You need to take the Petit Châtel line.

Stop at "Le Dément" 50 m from the chalet on the left. The bus goes up the hill, turns around at the top and goes back down. When you see the bus going up, you can leave and by the time it comes back down, you'll be at the bus stop.

In winter: Blue Line - Buses every 20 minutes. Starts early at 7.00am and finishes around 7.30pm with late buses on Wednesday (until 10pm) Thursday / Friday (until 11.30pm) which run from Place de L'Église to Petit Châtel. Winter timetable - from 16 December to the end of April

Summer timetable - from June to mid-September. Reduced timetable of one bus per hour and the buses stop in the village (outside the CA bank) to return to Petit Châtel around 5-10 minutes after the hour. To get off in the village, you have to go to the stop below us every 25 minutes after the hour.

Can I walk to the village?

You can walk to the village in about 20 minutes (1.2km).

Is it possible to park at the Chalet des Ours?

You can park 2 cars at the chalet. There is also good parking at all the ski lifts (except Super Châtel).

What about shopping?

There are two small supermarkets in the village: Casino and Sherpa. There is a large Intermarché on the lower road towards La Chapelle. Opening times are generally as follows: 9am-12pm. 2.30pm - 7pm. On Sundays, it closes at 12 noon.

The excellent Boulangerie opens at 6am and is just past the cinema up the Route de Vonne, with a smaller branch 100m down the hill - near the Super Châtel bubble lift. The filled baguettes, slices of pizza and croque-monsieurs are excellent.

Can you recommend any restaurants?

There are plenty to choose from, here are some of our favourites:

Arc en Ciel - a hotel and bar "Chevy Bar" pizzeria/restaurant/café/ Just below the chalet next to the lift. 0033 (0)4 50.73.20.08 They also offer takeaway pizzas. Ideal for a first evening after arrival. Ideal for an early evening drink after descending the Barbossine cable car.

Café Zeph - Café and restaurant. Good brasserie food, especially burgers and fondues. They also brew their own beer. 33 (0)4 50 73 24 15

Le Fiacre - 32 Route du Centre. Good French restaurant in the valley. Once again in the centre of the village and reservations are essential. 33 (0)450733046

Chalet Theo - on the mountain just above the chalet - at the back. You have to walk up - there is no car access. They have a FB page for the menu. Closed in summer. Ideal for fondue. Tel: 33 (0)683833971

La Poya - Gastronomic. For us the best restaurant, the owners are adorable and the food incredible. (196 Route du Vonne) 33 (0) 450811934

Le Grizzly - on the road to Lake Vonne. Bistro and bar. Warm atmosphere. Alpine atmosphere. Friendly owner. 33 (0)450732478.

Bistro M - 100m on the left after the Avalanche pub on the way down the hill. What it lacks in alpine atmosphere it makes up for in quality of welcome.

Takeaway Restaurants

Most restaurants offer takeaway meals.

Most restaurants offer takeaway food. We mentioned Arc du Ciel at the bottom of the hill for pizzas. There is also an Italian restaurant serving excellent pizzas and a range of Italian dishes: Pici Pasta 33 (0)450163433. It is located just past the market square, opposite the church. There is also a delicatessen on the Route d'Abondance, L'épicure des Alpes, which serves ready-made meals.

Where to eat on the slopes?

Plaine Dranse

Chez Babeths is a must. Run by a larger-than-life ex-film star of a certain age. She loves men and tolerates their partners. Inside, it's Christmas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You'll find it at the top of the Pierre Longue chairlift. Open all year round.

Bookings on 33 (0)450733877.

Try also L'Alpage. Good food. Also open in summer.

Super Châtel

L'Escale - lovely restaurant at the top of the Super Châtel bubble lift. Good food and great views. Closed in summer

Ski area

What are the skiing options from the chalet?

Petit Châtel chairlift: The Petit Châtel chairlift is just below the chalet. You can walk to it or take the bus to two stops (Le Dément to Barbossine).

At the top of this chairlift, you need to be able to take a short blue/red run, slightly steep in places, to reach the junction that joins the main runs. So it's not for beginners at 8.30am on a frosty morning.

You can return via the return chairlift, to access the loading level you need to be able to ski a red to the top of the forest just behind us. When there's snow around the chalet, it's possible to return by off-piste.

Télécabine Super Châtel: Accessible from the foot of the chalet by the blue line to the "Centre Village" stop. The best area for blues/greens and beginners and where the ski schools usually meet. A few long ski lifts. Access to all areas (open in summer, as is the MORCLAN chairlift). From here you can ski directly to Morgins and from Morgins to Switzerland and then to Avoriaz.

Linga gondola lift: Accessible from the foot of the chalet by blue bus, stop "Linga". The Linga gondola takes you halfway down, then down a beautiful blue run to the chairlift which takes you to the top where you can ski a beautiful blue or red run to the Pré la Joux / Plaine Dranse areas. The red Linga run is icy at the beginning and end, so think twice if you're an inexperienced skier in cold weather. The blue run is easier. At the top, you have access to everything

Lac de Vonne chairlift: Accessible from the foot of the chalet by the blue bus at the "Centre Village" stop, then the pink bus at the "Gabelou" stop. You can choose to go to Linga or to the Super Châtel area. Access to the whole area

La Panthiaz cable car (La Chapelle d'Abondance - at the bottom of the valley, 2-3 miles): Accessible from the foot of the chalet by blue bus Stop "Linga" then Colombus Line C Stop TC Panthiaz - cost €1.20 Access everywhere via Suisse / Petit Châtel.

Cret Beni chairlift (La Chapelle d'Abondance) Accessible from the foot of the chalet by blue bus Stop "Linga" then Colombus Line C Stop Crêt béni - cost €1.20 Same bus as Panthiaz. A pretty "self-contained" ski area, sheltered in the trees and largely blue. Perfect for snowy, windy, cold and whiteout days. But charming at all times. Beautiful slopes. Always a bit quiet. No big cafe though.

And for non-skiers, what other activities are available in Châtel?

Aquatic centre

Just past the Sherpa supermarket is the "Forme d'O Spa", a fitness/balneo centre with an indoor pool (29°C), an outdoor pool (32°C), a play area, 3 saunas and 2 hammams. Massages, facials, etc. To book, call 33 (0)450720431.

Bowling

There's a bowling alley right next to the Super Châtel resort.

Snowshoeing

Half-day snowshoe outings can be booked from any of the resort's 13 service providers, or you can pick up maps of marked snowshoe walks from the tourist office and set off on your own.

Ice rink

The 200m2 ice rink is located in the heart of the village. Sessions last 1 hour.

Sledging

At the top of the Super Châtel cable car: fee-paying toboggan run.

Opposite the Pré la Joux chairlift, with the addition of a themed trail: l'Eterlou, free toboggan run.

Sous Vonnes: Etringa trail (free).

Nordic skiing

Nordic ski area based at La Chapelle d'Abondance, with 8 cross-country ski trails, 8 Nordic itineraries, 1 beginners' trail, 1 biathlon shooting range and 1 play area.

Cinemas:

Morclan 2000 and le Chamois, screenings at 5.30pm, 9pm and 2.30pm in bad weather.