We have just spent New Year in Samoens; booked through Alps Accommodation. One day, the Sunday before NY was really busy (probably due to fresh snow and a lot of people from Geneva). The next day was also fairly busy and then the rest of the week there wasn't really any queuing to get on the lifts and if there was it was very quick. New Year's day seemed empty. The lift passes were reasonable as were the restaurants to eat out. We have been in the summer and that is fantastic too. It is a 'chocolate box' village and was a better kept secret until the article in the Telegraph. We are going back in March.