Les Arcs + First Visit + Children

I am making my first visit to Les Arcs and need a few questions anwered please.

Can anyone use the Magic carpet lift at Arc 1800?

Please can anyone suggest some runs for a snowploughing 8 year old? We are staying in 1950.

I understand that there are some free lifts in Les Arcs. Are any of the free lifts near to 1950? Are they suitable for a beginner?

Are there any reasonably priced places to eat out?

I will have about two hours of child free skiing a day, which runs are "essential" to do? I am a good intermediate.

Thanks for your help.

Hi Clairecf,

If you are staying in 1950 and you're 8 year old is a snow ploughing beginner then skiing over to 1800 may be a little daunting to start with (as 1950 and 1800 are in two different parts of the Paradiski area serparated by a mountian ridge,you do not say how competent a snowplougher you're son/daughter is).

0n the 1950/2000 side there are many gentle wide slopes that will be ideal for a relative newcommer, from 1950 there is an easy green/blue run down to Pre-St-esprit that is generally skier/boarder free and would be good for building confiedence, just above 1950 accessed via the "cabriolet" telecabine and just off to the right down a gentle track is the Saint Jacques chairlift which is free on saturdays and sundays which gives a couple of piste options at the top which again are ideal for beginners.

Free chairs in the area are - Arc 1600 "Combettes" ,Arc 1800 "Chantel" and again Arc 2000 "Saint Jacques" ,all these are free on saturdays and sundays ,alternatively you can load trips on these chairlifts onto a childs lift pass during the week as follows 1x ride =3.00euros ,5x rides= 15.00euros and 10xrides =30.00euros or all lifts are included if you purchace a normal ski pass.

Lift pass prices are - Les Arcs & Peisey-Vallandry ..which includes Arc 1600/1800/1950/2000 +Peisey-Vallandry and Villaroger/Le Pre, Adult - 203euros , Child - 152.50euros for a 6 day pass.

For a good couple of hours skiing (with care if on you'e own) the run from the top of the Aiguille Rouge down to Le Pre will get the muscles burning, with a variety of gradients from black at the top ,red in the middle and bottom half to a nice meandering track the final way down into Le Pre.this run can also be jioned half way down the Aigulle by taking the " Lanchettes " chair up from Arc 2000 this starts you on the red run part of the piste and misses out the top part which is black, this run is an absolute must on a cold crisp, sunny day with fresh snow.

In my humble opinion most of the skiing on the 1950/2000 side will be very good for an early bginner with good pistes all around,and will bring you're childs skiing on in leaps and bounds, and for the more adventurous there is a wealth of more challenging pistes across all the area once confidence has been built.

If you are not going for a week or so send me you're postal details via the private messages facility and i will send you some piste maps, lift pass price details etc and some tourist information dvd's and cd roms from the Bourg-Saint-Maurice/Les Arcs tourist office for you.

All the best for you're trip

jon.

Thanks for your reply and your offer of piste maps but we are arriving very soon.

I was hoping to use the magic carpet with my youngest,aged 4, and had assumed it was possible to get a ski bus from 1950 to 1800.

The 8 year old is confident, he was tackling reds during our last trip however that was a few years ago!

I personally am looking forward to skiing your suggestions.

Thanks again.

:DHi Again,

Sorry i forgot to mention about the ski buses...sorry,

There is a free ski bus that runs between all the resorts of Arc 1600/1800/1950/2000 and Peisey-Vallandry ,they are all easy to use and have the destinations on the side for example - 1600 - 2000(this will be the bus that services the resorts of Arc 1600,1800.1950 and 2000) and 1800 - 2000 (will service the resorts of 1800,1950 and 2000) etc.

Unfortunately i have never had cause to visit the childrens area of Arc 1800, but from memory i think it located near the bottom of the Transarc telecabine, to the right there are some steps which lead off to the right and i am fairly sure the childrens play area is somewhere there (although i cannot be 100% certain).

Mind you i am certain you will enjoy the Paradiski area and the skiing it has ,the conditions as with the alps in general are excellent.

Have an enjoyable and safe trip. :D :D

jon.

Jon,

Thanks for your advice. We had a wonderful holiday. The snowploughing 8 year old had no fear and the 3 year old went everywhere either on reins or my knee!

Claire

Hi Clairecf,

I'm gld you and you're little tikes had a great time in Les Arcs, and all came home safe and sound.....hopefully you have been converted to the joys of the area :D :D

jon.