Tignes or Les Arc 1800?

Bonjour :)

We are lookingto go skiing the week of 7th April. I have narrowed the choice down to either Les Arc 1800 or Tignes. We are a family of 4 - both DH and I are competent skiers. The 10 yo is almost as good and loves a good black run! The 7yo has discovered speed this year (we are lucky enough to live 2h from the Pyrenees!) and is a reasonable intermediate skier but prefers long blues/easy reds.

The kids will be in ski school the morning then we will ski tgether in the afternoon. The accomodation options in both resorts are ski in/ski out. We want to be able to ski hard the morning but get back to pick the kids up at midday and then explore with them at their rhythm in the afternoon. If we stay at Les Arcs the price includes the lft pass but only for Les Arcs (with one day in Paradiski). We would buy the Killy pass in Tignes.

I need to book this week. Snow wise which would be the best bet? Having never skiied in either, I don't really know which would be best (though DH is keen on Tignes for the skiing but not the hotel!).

Any help/feedback greatly appreciated!

Thanks

salut Melbatb :thumbup:

You have a good choice with either resort.

Tignes has the advantage of more high level skiing which means that high temperatures and spring snow conditions will have less effect on the piste conditions.

Les Arcs is a lovely place and won't disapoint you, even if you don't go over to La Plagne. If the children are in ski school all week then La Plagne is probably too far to get back to meet them after a 2 hour lesson. So one day for la Plagne, just to have a look, if this works with the ski school constraints isn't going to limit you.

I would have a very close look at exactly what ski in/ski out means and that this still holds true later in the season. This could help you with your choices.

My very personal choice would be to go to Tignes late in the season. This doesn't mean that you won't get good skiing in Les Arcs, but, just for me, I love LA earlier in the season when you can take advantage of the lower skiing, in the trees etc. and avoid the bleakness that is Tignes.

But ...

Tignes for late season would win for me.

Mmmm it's a given that you have to ski high in april but I have never really fancied Tignes or Les Arcs :evil:

I have fancied LA after going there for the day when I stayed in La Plagne :roll:

Do they still have the double decker cable car from La Plagne to Les Arcs?

Judging by our trip to Les Arcs 1950 in Mid march 2011, it's likely to be pretty warm at 1800m. Personally, I would go for Tignes and you can easily cross over to Val d'isere as well.

Tignes would get my vote late season as well. However, as I have been following SnowCrazyChris and his posts and pics on Facebook, it also seems that LA is holding up really well too.

I think you are going to have a good time whichever one you finally decide on.

Enjoy :)

My two favourite resorts by a long way. Tignes is higher and I think that would be the decider for me in April.

Thanks guys! I have just booked Tignes! The apartment is in Val Claret right next to the chair lift towards Val d'Isere. Thankfully managed to snag the last 1 bedroom one - bit more space!

It has been a long time since I have skiied a big resort. We go to Vars at Christmas out of habit and then the rest of the time generally Andorra for weekends and the odd day in the smaller Pyreneen resorts! Hopefully we will be able to really explore the area and it may even persuade us to spread our wings next year a bit more! I will keep in mind all the positive comments about Les Arcs though,

Will let you know how it is!