La Clusaz is a surprisingly large ski resort in the French Alps near the Swiss border – one of the nearest ski destinations from Annecy, and under two hours from our house in Switzerland. We were pleasantly surprised – it’s a cute town, not particularly fancy but cheerful, and the terrain is quite good.
Ski report: Excellent ski area with lots of skiable terrain, inexpensive, not crowded. Unless you’re with small children, skip the mountains to the right (Massif de Beauregard, Tête de Cabeau, Massif de Manigod, and Massif de L’Etale. Take the gondola (La Patinoire) from the village and go up the mountain to the top of Le Merle lift, then take the La Motte traverse to ski Massif de Balme. La Balme has a lot of very wide open, big terrain. Steep with lots of drops if there is new snow. This is where Candide’s run is, and it’s a wonderful place to begin your morning. Next, head to Massif de l’Aiguille, which has a lot of options for lunch and good runs. There are almost no Americans or Brits, very French and Swiss crowd.
Food and Lodging
- *Hôtel Spa Au Cœur du Village (Relais & Châteaux) wasn’t terrible, but it’s definitely not a 5 star experience, and in my opinion not worth the premium price. On the pros side: Very central location, pretty pool area, attentive staff, excellent breakfast spread. On the cons side, rooms are very small and not well outfitted (no room to unpack), and our dinner was perfunctory.
- Lunch at **La Grolle was excellent – classics of the region, well executed, at a good price. It’s right next to the slopes but attracts a local/family crowd, a bit more formal in setting.
- *Les 2 mules – Restaurant La Clusaz was kind of generally annoying. It wasn’t terrible, but the service was spotty, the space trying too hard to be hip, and the menu just too heavy and lacking diversity. Inside the Résidence Odalys Collection Mendi Alde, which I’d skip.
- On the slopes, **Le Relais de L’Aiguille was a good place for a drink, and potentially a meal as well. Big deck with a sunny view, lots of seating.
To try on future visits: Hôtel Beauregard (which was remodeled in 2025), Restaurant La Scierie, St-Alban Hotel & Spa.
