It’s Patchy Bear and Ski Bear here. We’re writing on uncle Teddy’s blog this week from the ski resort of Les Gets, which is part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, which includes resorts like Avoriaz and Morzine

Dad and sis chose Les Gets as it’s one of the closest resorts to Geneva, perfect for their short 2 and and half day ski trip. They only got the local ski pass, making it cheaper than the whole Portes du Soleil pass. To connect with the rest of the area, you need to get to Morzine and go up the gondola on the Avoriaz side of the valley or catch a bus to the Prodain lift

 Les Gets is fantastic for a short break, offering runs for all abilities with all the different ski areas well connected with different lifts. The beginners’ areas are well cocooned from faster skiers and easily accessible by bubble lifts or magic carpets. We haven’t seen many ski school groups out on the slopes but the ESF schools are prominently signposted in town

 There are a wealth of red slopes to keep intermediate skiers happy, most of them wide and friendly even if the pitch gets a little steep. Dad and sister’s favourites included Eglantine, Lievre and any of the runs coming off the Ranfoilly/Mouille de Chat/Nauchets face. Piste A and R on the Morzine side are nice and steep for those who fancy a workout.  Those who fancy trying a friendly black, Myrtilles and Yeti are fun if they’re not icy or too mogulled

  For experts, Gazelle, Mouflon and Chevreuil will give a workout, especially at the tops of those runs where there are big moguls on a steep pitch and all in full view of the lifts to boot. There are off piste possibilities everywhere as the runs all link up

 There are lots of fun things to do too with snowparks, little trails through the forest for kids, boardercross and a video park where you can get a free video of yourself coming down a slalom course

 One tip is not to miss out on the Mont-Chery sector, which needs a very sort bus or petit train transfer to get to from the main Chavanne lifts. It’s quieter and has some great runs

  Most of the lifts start at the Chavanne base – look for the escalator to save you walking up a level. In general, the lift system runs well with few queues. The pisteurs are very friendly and the signposting is good. The mountains are well laid out and connect well

  Les Gets is a fairly big ski town and therefore has a good selection of shops, accommodation and eateries. There’s a skating rink and cute decorations around town

  

There’s a free bus and petit train service around town. These pass the music box museum

As bears, we approve of the various bear-related things around town

  
 Tomorrow, we’ll cover Hotel Regina where dad and sis stayed