La plagne/champagny advice please

Hi we are staying in champagny 4-12th January. Want to book kids into lessons in la plagne as feel it will be easier to collect them from there so we don't have to trail back to champagny to collect them. Planning on putting kids into morning lessons daily but for €50 extra we can book them in for afternoon sessions too - we would maybe only use this ~3 times so we can ski with them the rest of the time (gives us 3 days to ski further afield without kids in tow.... we do love them- honest!!!!). not sure how feasible this is though as lessons finish at 4.45pm and we dont know how to get back to champagny!!! Can anyone tell me what time the chair lifts close going back to champagny as we can't find lift closure times anywhere?!?! Or is there a bus (and what cost) that goes back to champagny from la plagne? Ad what time/ how often do they run?
Hope all above makes sense!!!
Cheers
X

I dont want to be the voice of doom here but in my opinion you can pretty much forget this idea.
champagny is on the opposite side of the mountain and as far as i know there are no buses and if there were it would be a very long ride via Moutiers to get there! You really do not want to get stuck on the opposite side of this resort, it could possibly be cheaper to stay the night than pay for a taxi.

You do not say how old you kids are or their ability but it would be a bit of a struggle to get to La Plagne for morning lessons, thats if the lifts are open in time. I would allow an hour with decent (child) skiers to get there.

Sorry.

Thanks - kids are early-mid intermediates so realize it will take a while... Was guessing an hour. There are 4 kids (aged 7-11) and 4 adults (all 21 of course!!!!) going so guess we will just have to take it in turns to collect kids/ski further afield!
Thanks anyway!

I think that would be sensible or you risk adding much stress to your mornings. The last lift back is the Grande Rochette at 4:45......Not worth the risk really.

Cheers :0)

Also bear in mind that the last run down to Champagny is a crappy red path (Les Bois) possibly not to suited to children (depends on conditions). Can take a gondola instead however.

You'll love the whole La Plagne area, and 3 blues above Champagny, around the Rossa chair are ideal for kids.

Champagny is great and the runs on that side are in the sun but I reckon at the time you are going they would be skiing in the dark and as i remember its a good 3/4 of an hour down at a good pace ..are there not any ski schools there...you'll struggle to get over early in the morning ..its quite a long way

All good advice given-too many imponderables to contemplate getting back to Champagny late afternoon. but I agree with the other comments, allow one hour in reasonable/decent snow conditions. Lift closing times in January are around 4 to 4.30 depending on the importance of connections to other villages. Also, remember although it is getting dark here at 4.30pm, France is one hour ahead so dark at around 5.30pm (our time!). It might be worth noting that in Champagny there is a beginner area with free lifts at the top of the gondola and a bordercross higher up beside the Rossa chairlift. Finally, have a look at The Where to Ski website for additional La Plagne information (www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com and also www.la-plagne.com, and www.champagny.com). Enjoy it, Colin.