My holiday in Courchevel 1550

AllyG wrote:I had a really lovely time speaking French with my afternoon instructor and it turned out that he likes just the same awful sort of jokes as me! And at one point we were in the chair lift discussing my problem with moguls and another French esf instructor sitting with us joined in and said his bag was full of alcohol and if I drank all that I'd be able to ski the moguls no problem! Ally

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah now we know how you broke you toe Ally :twisted: :twisted:

Ally,

I bought my boots from Snow&Rock at Hemel ski centre. They were fantastic, took well over an hour ensuring correct fit and subsequently have heated and stretched the boot to get over my wonky size 12's at no extra cost. I would thoroughly recommend them - and go after April when hopefully they are quieter and have a sale on.

I enjoyed reading your Courchevel report, very detailed (do you take notes?) but I have to say "you must be mad" - late train, missed connection, a studio (everyone living and sleeping in the lounge?), having to shop/make meals, unsatisfactory lessons, badly fitting boots, sleeping on the floor of the train on the way back, and 200 Euros (?) for the lift pass! Honestly, this smacks of the French 'pile 'em high' ski tourism. Yes the extent of the skiing is vast, but I honestly think you'd have a better time and get better value elsewhere! Just my opinion!

And how is your toe! I thought I'd broken mine playing football but the doc says its gout!!!

Johnski

Thanks LittleSki :D
I did have a very good holiday in spite of the bomb scare and my morning instructor with no sense of humour, and my broken toe (just as well I didn't know it was broken before or I might not have carried on ski-ing).

Eljay, honestly, you know perfectly well I'm tea-total :roll: :D :D

Has everyone read my update on the Courchevel pistes, moved to page 1? There are a few things I can't remember, like where the 'canyons' (natural half-pipes) are, so if anyone knows please post the answer and I'll update the report. My daughter and I rate Courchevel as the best ski resort we've been to so far, out of Borovets, Zell am See, Obergurgl, La Rosiere, and Val Thorens (we have been to Tignes but only on the glacier so we can't really compare it).

Ally

johnski96 wrote:Ally,

I bought my boots from Snow&Rock at Hemel ski centre. They were fantastic, took well over an hour ensuring correct fit and subsequently have heated and stretched the boot to get over my wonky size 12's at no extra cost. I would thoroughly recommend them - and go after April when hopefully they are quieter and have a sale on.

I enjoyed reading your Courchevel report, very detailed (do you take notes?) but I have to say "you must be mad" - late train, missed connection, a studio (everyone living and sleeping in the lounge?), having to shop/make meals, unsatisfactory lessons, badly fitting boots, sleeping on the floor of the train on the way back, and 200 Euros (?) for the lift pass! Honestly, this smacks of the French 'pile 'em high' ski tourism. Yes the extent of the skiing is vast, but I honestly think you'd have a better time and get better value elsewhere! Just my opinion!

And how is your toe! I thought I'd broken mine playing football but the doc says its gout!!!

Johnski

Hi Johnski,
I'm glad you enjoyed my report - in fact it's not quite finished yet. I don't make notes, so if I've made a mistake anywhere then I'm very sorry and perhaps someone will tell me and I'll correct it.

The apartment was absolutely fine, even though it was a studio. The sofa pulled out into a very large double bed which you could still use when the dining table was down (very spacious by French standards), and the two bunk beds were behind a partition in what the French call a 'cabine' which is sort of like a recess. The only problem we had sleeping was that two of us snore. Of course when I was asleep I didn't know there WAS a problem (I am one of the snorers) but it was rather hard on the third person (my daughter) when the other two were both fast asleep AND snoring :D

I don't particularly like eating out. I'd much rather eat in and read a book or something. I get fed up waiting for the waitresses to come and take the orders, and then we have to wait again for our food, the bill, etc. etc. I can shop, cook and eat at home much quicker.

They've cancelled the sleeper Raileurope Snowtrain this year, so there's no sleeping accommodation on the overnight Eurostar. Everyone just has to sit up all night. After about an hour of this I was in total agony and desperate to lie down. So I asked the staff in the buffet car if there was any reason why I couldn't lie down and sleep on the floor in there (like health and safety or something). They said it was okay and luckily there was no-one else in there, drinking or whatever, and I was far more comfortable stretched out on the floor with my ski jacket as a pillow.

My toe is feeling reasonably okay today, but I'm trying to rest it as much as possible. I suppose I won't really know if it's healing until Friday when I go back to the GP to have the dressing changed. I wonder if I am the first person to break their toe while wearing a ski boot? And congratulations on buying some nice comfy ski boots for yourself. I am seriously thinking about buying some - a broken toe in a hired boot is really going a bit too far :shock:

Ally

My first ever ski trip to Val Thorens, we travelled by Eurostar from Waterloo, overnight. I know where you are coming from regarding the seats, as they are designed for 2-3 hour journeys sitting upright. I ended up lying (not sleeping) on the floor of the carriage underneath seats and tables we had. It was not pleasant, and the smell of other passengers in the coach was dreadful, ranging from farts, bad breath, BO, wine and booze, and strong flavoured crisps all added up to a vile concoction. That may well have been the day I decided to cure my fear of flying.

I also stopped in a P&V apartment, and hated the place. Too small by far. Cooking in it would have been a joke.

Unlike Ally, we like eating out, and did so every night.

I learned to ski that week, had ill fitting boots, and hated most of the whole scenario. But it didnt put me off at all strangely, and I think this is now why I look for better standard accommodation, catered chalets, etc.

I know everyone is different, but I agree with Johnski's "why do you bother" post!!!!!
It seems everyone has dramatically different ideas about what makes a ski holiday.

How exciting for you to learn to ski the Mongols.
They are a lot of fun.

I want to learn how to ski those Mongols )

I know where you are coming from regarding the seats, as they are designed for 2-3 hour journeys sitting upright. I ended up lying (not sleeping) on the floor of the carriage underneath seats

Which is why I am booked in first class all the way at Easter - reclining seats and less smelly people 8)

ParalyticSkiCrazie wrote:Which is why I am booked in first class all the way at Easter - reclining seats and less smelly people 8)

Sleazyjet for me unfortunately :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Pure luxury compared to Ryanair who I flew with last week - ridiculous flight times and equally ridiculous luggage restrictions (like checking after duty free you still only have one bag before you get on the plane or you pay)- Never again will I be seduced by their low prices :oops: