Lodging

Champéry has a dozen hotels and plenty of apartments. There is also an excellent weekly program called Ski Passion, which includes seven, five or four days accommodation with half board, six- or five-day lift tickets for the entire Portes du Soleil area.

Price ranges noted for each hotel are per person based on double occupancy high season with half board (breakfast and dinner): €€€—€125+; €€—€75–€125; €—less than €75.

Hotel Suisse (479-0707; fax 479-0709; €€€). Hotel Suisse is in the center of the village. The hotel has been expanded and modernized. All the rooms are comfortable; however, they vary significantly in size. Ask for a big room when you make reservations or when you show up at the hotel. The hotel’s subterranean jazz bar, Les Mines d’Or, is a popular late night watering-hole often featuring live music. The Bar des Guides has become the nightlife haven of choice for English speakers. The manager of the hotel was a member of the Swiss Olympic ski team. He makes an effort to ski with the guests whenever possible.

Hotel des Alpes (479-1222; fax 479-1223; €€; photo above). Good hotel with a fancy and expensive à la carte restaurant which serves Ladin and Italine cuisine. It's TV room, playroom and playground are great for if you are traveling with children.

Hotel National (479-1130; fax 479-3155; €€) has 24 newly renovated rooms. It has an excellent restaurant with very affordable daily menus. The terrace off of the dining room has a panoramic view of the town and mountains.

Chalet-Hotel la Rose des Alpes (479-2303; fax 479-2306; €€; photo above right) is full of mountain atmosphere and has a good restaurant as well. When you make your reservations make sure to ask for a room with a private bathroom and a full balcony.

Apartments
To reserve apartments write to the tourist of-fice (details at the end of this chapter) or use its Web site, www.mychablais.com. You will receive a listing of available apartments, but you will have to make your reservations through a rental agency or directly with the owners. In Champéry the agencies are Agence Immobilière René Avanthay, (479-1444), Agence Mendes de Leon (479-1777) and Agence les Gaieuls (479-1885). Mendes de Leon seemed to be the most helpful.

The Lodge at Champery rents out spacious two- and three-bedroom, four-star apartments. All apartments have extensive balconies or terraces with the ground floor opening up onto large decks. There is secure, underground parking and all facilities to store skis and equipment and dry boots. The lodge is only a two-minute flat walk from the main cable car; and a four- minute walk away (with plenty of bars, restaurants and shops) . The Palladium sports centre (with pools, gym, ice rink and restaurant) is next right door. Contact Mrs. Miggins Chalet Service (024 494 4424) for details and reservations.