Flaine

Hi j2ski peeps. Haven't posted for a while. We've just booked a trip to Flaine (19th to 26th Jan). Never been before. Any tips? We're staying a chalet in Hameau so we know this is slightly off patch (but hopefully quiet). Cheers!

I've not stayed in Flaine so I can't give you any tips about the resort off the slopes but I would recommend La Pente a Jules towards the bottom of the Almandine run for a nice relaxing lunch. If it is open, do the cascades run down to Sixt. You have to catch a bus back but it is worth it.

Thanks Jimbob! Will check out the restaurant. The cascades run definitely on our list.

Jimbobilini wrote:I've not stayed in Flaine so I can't give you any tips about the resort off the slopes but I would recommend La Pente a Jules towards the bottom of the Almandine run for a nice relaxing lunch. If it is open, do the cascades run down to Sixt. You have to catch a bus back but it is worth it.

I would only consider the cascades run if conditions are pretty good. It includes a long section which is basically a mountain road zig-zagging its way down the mountain and it can be a bit of a nightmare in icy conditions :evil: .

Its a long time since I was there so don't remember the slopes terribly well. However, I do have fond memories of the place - I even liked the architecture which tends to divide people :roll: . The links over to Les Carroz can take a little while as there is a small valley in the middle. Not terribly long but I wouldn't be heading over after lunch for example.

We stayed in the Totem which is right on the piste in the village but had some skis stolen from outside the hotel one day at lunchtime so maybe be careful with equipment when down in the village area.

Snow was good on cascades today. It does get a bit icy towards the bottom on the corners but the views are worth it. I would recommend Marvel in Morillon as well, If Carlsberg did green runs.....(other lagers are available).

Hi Jimbobilini. Wasn't aware that you were in Flaine this week!

We've got to day 4 and having a slow start this morning. Day 4 is peak tired muscles for us. Had a super day yesterday. Wall to wall sunshine, no breeze, no lift queues (other than a short wait for the Grand Platieres in the morning). Pistes are generally quiet other than the main runs back down to the resort such as Tourmaline. Nearly everything is open. Fred (red run) was shut at the beginning of the week but opened yesterday. A couple of high black runs are shut. We've skied probably 2/3rds of the pistes in Flaine and will try to pick up the rest today. Having observed Diamond Noir from the chair, we will definitely not be skiing that one! Looks like a proper black with a narrow steep mogulled section at the top.

Not sure we are loving the architecture and the town is lacking any kind of atmosphere. Prices in the mountain restaurants are very high (and we're used to Zermatt and Val d'Isere pricing!). Food quality/choice not great as well and we had an awful cup of coffee yesterday (which is criminal). Bit of a shame really. Will hunt out the Almandine restaurant today.

No new snow although some is forecast later today. Pistes are holding up well.

Ugh, meant to reply to this but forgot...

Some great skiing in Flaine/Grand Massif, but...

bedrock barney wrote:Prices in the mountain restaurants are very high

Yeah, this.

You might have already found these, but...

Last trip was a couple of years ago but I like my coffee and remember we got the best coffees off the mountain; the cafe at the bottom of the Molliet chair (between Flaine and Les Carroz) was good, with huge hot chocolates and not stupidly priced. Dropping down to Les Carroz or Morillon for lunch was worthwhile; the hotel at the bottom of the run into LC ("Bois de la something?") was good for a snack stop but might have changed hands recently, and there's a couple of nice pizza places in the centre of LC and a small creperie just down the hill from the gondola which was great value. We also found a good patisserie near the lift base in Morillon (I think!).

And, yes, the Diamante Noir is a real Black; can develop a bit of a cornice at the top which turns the entry into a "drop-in" - and that gets your attention... :shock: ...much easier in fresh snow, so don't write it off completely!

Bailed out early with snow now coming down quite hard and flat light. Would rather save energy for last two sunny days. Pistes much quieter this afternoon.

The snow should freshen things up nicely.

The Vernant chair was shut today - it stopped a couple of times yesterday so clearly some mechanical problem. Not great for those in the lower resorts wanting to get into the Flaine sector. We saw a sign saying there was a shuttle bus so presumably some kind of access was available.

Had another poor lunch today with yet another terrible coffee! Probably the most disappointing aspect of the trip so far.

Mephisto supérieure now open. Came down it for the first time this morning with a decent amount of speed. Some nice crests including one that I overcooked to the amusement of Mrs BB who was following behind.

Lucifer run not yet open but maybe will be after this current snow.

Adders - thanks for the restaurant tips. We'll look them out, but only if the Vernant chair is fixed in time.