St-Gervais is unusual for France in that it is a winter sports resort that has bags of charm. The town lies not far from Mont-Blanc - indeed the peak lies within the municipality, and you get some magnificent views of the massif. It has a good range of facilities in the town itself, with an ice-rink, a spa, good shopping and a reasonably good nightlife. Nearby Megève, linked by the ski area they share, is an attractive, rather well-heeled resort, popular with the crowd you might see in Zurs, Cortina or St Moritz and significantly pricier than is the case of St-Gervais. The slopes between the two resorts are extensive, albeit relatively low, with plenty of off-piste if the snow conditions are good. It is also far less busy than the other mega-resorts in France and attracts far fewer of the package holiday brigade. All round it is a good destination for intermediates and snowboarders.
The railway station at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet is a popular destination for railway buffs with three different gauge railways converging at the station, but it is also less than two hours from Geneva by train, making it a plausible alternative to Chamonix as a ski destination using only public transport. The best way to access the slopes is to use the TMB (Tramway de Mont-Blanc) which takes you to Saint-Gervais-Ville, from where you can take the free skibus that operates throughout the winter season to the gondola station at Le Chatelet. The skibus schedule for St-Gervais is here. By foot the gondola station is about 15 minutes from the town centre. You can also stay on the TMB to access a separate ski area at les Houches.
