New skier, hope to go this winter!

I can somewhat agree with Tony_H. My first ski trip was Les Menuires. That was great. Also Val Thorens was fine for me. I went the end of Januari / Beginning Feb. and the snow conditions were fine here.

While others would avoid Val Thorens and Les Menuires I had a great time.

I booked a last-minute and the costs were OK, I speak French so no problems with the locals and the snow conditions were fine.

Cheerz,
Stefan

Yes i 2nd Tony H saying 3 Valleys is good. English speaking instructors there. If you like exercise and being active and outdoors you will enjoy skiing. Good luck, hope you have fun!

Les Menuires is a great option and you'd have a good time, but I remember when I learnt in Courchevel (the other side of the 3 Valleys) I was completely overawed by the extent of the skiing on offer and frustrated by only achieving a few local runs by the end of the week. You may end up feeling slightly short changed.
Why not head for somewhere smaller?
Les Saisies is great for learners and you'll be able to access most parts of the domain by the end of the week. In the southern Alps, Montgenevre is a favourite with plenty of easy runs and snowsure skiing. My best choice would be La Clusaz or Le Grand Bornand - they are in the northern Alps so less journey time, both super villages and with plenty of accessible learner pistes amid stunning scenery. La Clusaz has the more lively nightlife.

Have fun!

I'd also suggest Puy St Vincent

The Alpe d'Huez green slopes are good as are the lifts but there can be a hell of a lot of 'through traffic'.

We had good times a few years ago with some 2nd week skiers in Folgarida/Madonna.

Dave

jastem wrote:If you fancy trying Italy, take a look at Folgarida. It is a very small quiet village in the Dolomites near Madonna, but it is good for beginners because there are a couple of nursery slopes which are not part of another run so you can learn and practice and gain confidence without the usual idiots hurtling down at speed knocking you over! Beginners we have taken there, in their late teens/early twenties, have skied the long blue back into the village by the end of the second day and done a few of the reds by the end of the week.

In France, Alpe d'Huez might fit the bill with its central bowl of nursery/green slopes.

Also, as long as you're not tied down to school holidays or anything, WAIT for great deals... the press releases I'm seeing are talking about discounts even now, and the season hasn't started yet. You'll also see where has had some decent snow.

Look out for 'Fresher's Week' offers - all-inclusive packages for first timers with free ski hire, lift pass, and group tuition. Gooogle it.

There are some great ideas here but I would also chip in with Les Gets; nice town, great access from airport andf to the slopes, good range of schools (do not use ESF, every single time I have I've regretted it - huge classes, 'bon, allez, follow me' attitude).

Good luck.

Hi I would recommend 2 resorts for you, if you are fixed on France try La Tania it is a choc box resort with some good beginner slopes but also has great acsess to 3 valley ski runs so if you do well there is a bit of scope for getting on a few different runs. La Tania also has a lot of chalet accommodation which is better than hotel if you want to take an afternoon off and lie around watching TV. The night life is great a village friendly feel about the place and not as expensive as the bigger resorts. Failing this my daughter came skiing for 1st time last Feb, we went to Cervinia in Italy it is a very high resort so 99% snow sure, Ideal for beginners with miles and miles of nice open slopes, good bars etc but not so pretty, all hotel accommodation, which is generally cheaper than chalet but not such a good experience IMO, try and get a hotel up the hill near the lifts or it's a bit of a shank in the morning. The big advantage with Italy over France is the prices you will pay in restaurants for lunch up the hill and the price of drinks, about 15% cheaper.

I would certainly look at 3 valleys, but not until next season, you just won't get full use of a ski area of that size on your first week. Go for somewhere smaller where you'll get value for your money on a lift pass.