MEGEVE

Megeve is of course a very different beast to Les Arcs: a traditional village, much lower down, closer to  Mont Blanc, with mostly French visitors.

It is, apparently, France's first purpose-built ski resort, having been conceived in the 1920s as an alternative to St Moritz.

The resort has been in the news recently, following the arrest of British ski instructor Simon Butler earlier in the season.

For Tarentaise-bound skiers, it's a good option for a day's exploration on the way to or from Geneva.  There are various ski areas to choose from.  La Princesse gondola is deemed to be one of the most convenient, with a big car park just off the road from Sallanches. 

We missed the turning, however, and ended up at Rochebrune, just above the town. There is a handy car park there, with direct access to the pistes.  Although I wouldn't fancy my chances of getting a space there during peak holiday periods.

There's enough on Rochebrune to occupy yourself for a day - the runs are reasonably long, and the restaurants numerous.  We had a good welcome at La Babouche, where the prices (€19.90 for an entrecote frites) are a little higher than Tarentaise levels, but certainly not Courchevel-like.

No ski resort has bad views, but those in Megeve are, I think it's fair to say, some way above average:

The view from Rochebrune