Back from Tignes report.

Ok, I've not done this before, so if I leave anything out just drop me a line and I'll do my best to answer any questions.

I would rate myself as an average, middle of the road, intermediate skier. Pretty good at parallel turning (better turning right than left which is annoying) and found myself carving quite a bit towards the end of the trip. I also went with my bro who is pretty much at the same level as me but is a boarder.

Both of us tend to enjoy just cruising so stuck to mainly greens and blues, of which there are ample in the Espace Killy area. Having said that I think there are more red runs than any other, of varying difficulty. We saw quite a few blacks but some were in fairly poor condition given the fact it hasn't snowed since December!

The Espace Killy area is brilliant, granted I don't have a hell of a lot to compare it too, but we literally didn't do the same run for the first 2 days, and I think if you were a good intermediate or advanced skier you could quite easily spend a week without skiing the same run at all. From what we saw there seemed to be a hell of a lot of off piste skiing as well. We didn't do any ourselves as we were content with skiing the marked runs, our ability, and the off piste conditions didn't look to good due to the snow fall. I assume like most places you'd be wise to hire a guide to take you around.

The lift system was also very good; the lift passes are split into three areas - Tignes, Val d'isere and the two combined. It's definitely worth paying the extra to gain access to Val d'isere... it's less than £5 per day extra.

We stayed in Val Claret, all of which, in the right conditions would be ski in-ski out. We stayed in 'La Vanoise', a fairly small, but excellently managed hotel, which is literally 10 meters from the nearest lift. I think we counted 5 chair lifts, and the train that takes you up to the Grande Motte in Val Claret alone.

Val Claret has a good mix of Bars and restaurants and most are reasonably priced. We never paid more than £3.50 a pint (apart from the Grizzly bar), which compared to London, and the fact you're half way up a mountain seemed ok. There is also a free bus service that takes you to Le Lac and I think Le Lavachet. We didn't eat out in the evening as our hotel included Breakfast, a 5 O'clock snack and dinner, but we did have lunch up the mountain which varied from £15-£40 for the pair of us. (£40 for two pizzas, a bowl of chips, a coke and a sprite in Val d'isere!! I still haven't told the Mrs…)

Apparently conditions aren't great at the moment due to the lack of snow. If Conditions are bad now, I can't wait to go when they're good!!

My conclusion would be that the marked runs are generally an intermediates paradise. As seems to be the case in most resorts, some of the blues seemed more like reds and visa versa. I would also say the off piste skiing would more than satisfy the advanced skier if they felt there weren't enough marked blacks. Oh, and there are 3 brilliant snow parks as well…

We had such a good time, and were so impressed with the hotel we were considering rebooking to go back next year there and then, but as I'm a civil servant, I'd rather hold on until after Aprils budget before I commit… :hunf:

Really glad you enjoyed yourself Smokey.
It is am amazing ski domain ......
and quite addictive :lol:
I'm in Val Claret in April :wink:

Cheers.

It's fantastic. We got lost about 3 times... But what a place to get lost!

Thanks Smokey Barr, that was a really good report :D

I've only been there out of season on the glacier, but it does look like an enormous ski area.

Ally

Nice one Bud. Val is somewhere I keep thinking of, so this helps.

The Grizzly bar just has to be experienced though doesn't it? I don't think there is another bar anywhere quite like it.

Andy - Oh absolutely! It's certainly unusual and well worth a visit or two. I would loved to have spent to evening in there, but the prices are just crazy...