Gaillard, France + Add a trip

Automobiles

If you're coming from Geneva hire a car on the Swiss side of the airport; the French side of the airport is difficult to find and their cars are not allowed on Swiss motorways without an additional charge. The journey to Cluses along the A40/E25 toll road takes only 40 minutes and from there it's another 40 minutes up to Les Gets.

Planes

Geneva airport is 50 miles and approximately an hour and thirty minutes away via the French toll motorways and the mountain road from Cluses (www.gva.ch). EasyJet, BA, Swiss Airlines and bmibaby fly from the UK.

Trains

Not really a convenient option beyond Geneva, although the nearest train station to Les Gets is in Cluses, about 40 minutes away.

Dialing

Country code for France: +33. Les Gets: (0)4.

Reads

Do go / Don't Go

Les Gets is a year-round resort so it's a good option of summer holidays, too. Its immense ski area fully caters for every level of ability.

Cuisine

Savoyard cuisine is much more than cheese-heavy raclette, tartiflette and fondue although you should definitely try all of these; they'll certainly give you the energy to tackle the mountains. Smoked pork and wild mushrooms are frequently used and mountain berries make for spectacular desserts. For something lighter, delicious pike, perch and trout are caught in Lake Geneva and surrounding Alpine rivers.

Taxis

Call Accès Taxi on +33 (0)6 09 33 99 44.

Tipping

A service charge is normally added to your bill (service compris) in restaurants and cafés but it's still customary to leave a small tip. For taxi drivers, add 10 percent to the metered charge.

Currency

Euro.

Packing

Arts

Geneva is only a short drive away and has plenty of museums, galleries and boutiques to keep you entertained. The Art and History Museum has a particularly good collection of sculpture (www.ville-ge.ch/mah). Personally speaking though, we'd rather go and eat too much chocolate at the Arn Tea Rooms in the Old Town (www.swisschocolates.ch).

And...

In the Summer months the Portes du Soleil region is a major mountain biking area. There is also excellent hiking with trails to the Swiss border and beyond; there's a great route from Super-Morzine to Châtel. It's possible to go white-water rafting and canyoning, or for something a bit more sedate there's a high-altitude golf course at Avoriaz.

Shopping

Viewpoint

At just over 2000 metres Chamossiere is one of the most accessible summits above Les Gets. It offers a fine view of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest mountain, a little further to the south.

Something

Les Gets has a market on Thursday mornings where you can sample some of the local specialities. If you'd like a more in-depth look as the delicious local food then every Wednesday at 09h the Perrières dairy has a free tour of their fruitier where they make Reblochon and Abondance cheese (+33 (0)4 50 79 70 04).

Early January Mush along to the Savoie Mont Blanc Husky Race which has a stage at the Col de Cou between France and Switzerland. March The Ebouelle Contest features Freestyle and snowboarding competitions and lively DJ sets. September The Mont Blanc Motor Rally roars into town.