Gideon, Author at Summer in the French Alps

Getting to Praz-sur-Arly without a Car

Train + bus option from Geneva is available all year round and “seamless”

A friend just returned from an autumn break in Praz-sur-arly (lucking-out with wall-to-wall sun in late October) and has just proven that it’s not so hard to get to our apartment from Geneva airport without a car, even outside the main seasons.

Our previous recommended carless solution was to catch a shared bus for 20-30 euros (options here) to Sallanches. From there it’s a 20 min car journey up the mountain – either a taxi or a pickup from someone already at the apartment.

But given this trip was outside the main season, this option wasn’t open – so Jeannie took a train from Geneva airport to Sallanches and from there a bus straight to Praz-sur-Arly, dropping off at the Tourist Office – just 10 mins walk from the apartment. The Timetable is below – but Jeannie mentioned that she thinks SNCF – the train company – runs additional buses, so worth looking into it as an option.

We were concerned there would be a lot of hanging around, but Jeannie described the trip both ways as “seamless.”

NB – The bus was cash-only, so have some euros handy (€3.50 inc baggage)

See here for more info: https://www.prazsurarly.com/en/praz-sur-arly-2/access-and-transport/

Wed 1 Sep 21Wed 3 Nov 21

Restaurant Le Toi du Monde

Megève does not have a monopoly on Michelin -recommended restaurants! Just 5 mins drive from the apartment, heading out of Praz-sur-Arly in the direction of Flumet/Albertville and just set back on the right – is the Toi du Monde. It’s a barn converted into an acclaimed restaurant.

Somehow we’ve not yet been since it opened a couple of years ago. But this summer our sister/in-law and family visited Praz for the first time and came back raving about it – the best of all the great places they ate at. And everyone else would seem to agree, based on its near perfect review scores and it’s Michelin stars!

They also have a few rooms to rent.

Checkout their website. Facebook and Tripadvisor.

Thu 5 Aug 21Thu 5 Aug 21

Hello Les Ronins!

We shall miss Les Trappeurs, a stalwart of the Praz restaurant scene, always standing alongside Le Bergerie and Les Sapins in the heart of the village with a pretty decent french onion soup. But in it’s place has risen Le Ronins!

We noticed the newcomer it on our brief pandemic visit in the Summer of 2020 but didn’t get a chance to try it . Our friends in Les Sapin told us it has been opened by a chef from a top Megéve restaurant looking to strike out on his own with his wife. So happy they have chosen our little Praz. And going by the reviews on their Facebook page and TripAdvisor, the food sounds amazing!

Thu 1 Oct 20Thu 1 Oct 20

COVID-19 Guidance for 2020/21 Ski Season

France has been preparing guidelines that will allow winter sports to go ahead this coming Ski Season. And Praz-sur-Arly has been working with the Val D’Arly and Espace Diamante ski areas to prepare for safe activities. Details can be found below and here

The great news is that the slopes of Praz-sur-Arly – and the entire ski area – is serviced exclusively by open lifts, rather than the enclosed cabins of cable cars and gondolas, meaning there will be little limiting of numbers on the lifts as there is bound to be in many ski resorts. Also, its far from being one of the most crowded resorts, so the day-to-day impact of COVID-19 will also have far less impact than at most resorts.

COVID-19 guidelines for winter sports in France

The information below is translated from the page found at the link above…

Our Commitments for a safe stay:

The practice of sliding sports is an outdoor practice, where equipment (gloves, ski, poles…) promotes barrier gestures. In some public places, the capacity may be reduced. The mask is compulsory from 11 years old. You will find below the protective measures put in place during your journey in the resort.

To access the station, by public transport

Wearing a mask is compulsory on the platforms and in the buses.

Lifts

Wearing a mask is compulsory in the queues and on the ski lifts.
Daily disinfection of contact areas.

At the equipment rental company

Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Disinfection of rented equipment.
Hydroalcoholic gel available.

In your accommodation and at the Tourist Offices

Wearing a mask is compulsory in common and enclosed areas.
Hydroalcoholic gel available.
Disinfection of contact surfaces and increased cleaning frequency.

In bars / restaurants

Consumption seated only.
Table spacing of at least 1 meter or the presence of a fixed or removable wall ensuring physical separation.
Wearing a mask is compulsory for customers when traveling in the establishment.
Hydroalcoholic gel available.
Disinfection of contact surfaces and increased cleaning frequency.

At the Ski School

Wearing a mask compulsory during gatherings at the start and end of lessons, for the instructor and for students aged 11 and over.
In buildings, for public spaces:
• Wearing a mask is compulsory for people aged 11 and over.
• Hydroalcoholic gel available.
• Surface disinfection.
Disinfection of loaned equipment (bibs, DVA, etc.).

Fri 24 Jul 20Fri 28 Jan 22

A musical walk with the cows in the mountains

Mon 16 Mar 20Fri 21 Jan 22

Last ski before Lockdown March 2020

The annual friends ski in March was curtailed by the introduction of the first COVID lockdown in France. On the night of Saturday 14th we got the news the slopes would close and most French resorts hurried tourists out of town. The more gentile Praz sur Arly let us stay – so we had a picnic and shot the album cover for our Folk/Rock album