J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Timeforabeer

Jacko I'm off there on the 13th. I've gone for SkiSet deal which is handled locally by Michaud Sports.

I was going to use SkiFun as they will store your gear and stick your boots on a drier, meaning you don;t have to schlep your gear around, but they came up pricey. We have friends who have a chalel there and SkiFun look after their skis year-round and they get excellent service - not to mention a decent discount for all the business...

Intersport was recommended by the tourism authority but they come up pricier than SkiSet too - if you're going for a week you might get a better dela but we're just doing a long weekend.

Re Bandit's comment - I spent a very enjoyable summer working in France and Pelforth Brune (sp?) was the beer of choice. though locals were a bit bemused by us drinking it as it was seen then - dunno about now - as an old fellers' beer. Bit like a milk stout here, I guess.

Mutzig does some real liver-whackers but the standard brew is very, er, standard

BUT this isn't getting the job done of helping Wickers with his weiss-beer appreciation. I have to say I prefer the filtered, 'crystal' versions as opposed to the cloudy 'hefeweiss'; not sure there is much taste difference, never having lined them up for a taste test, but all that cloudiness just screams 'monster hangover' to me.

Beer of preference: the really fresh, crisp 'kolsch' type beers from Cologne... mmmm... and a Lowenbrau in Munich... must leave this thought or the afternoon will end abruptly with me going to the pub.

I think the only sensible way forward is an in-depth taste test.

Any views on Les Arcs 1950? Newish one built by Intrawest.. and also anywhere in Italy that might suit? thinking of Selva Gardena....

I think Wickers and caron-a are both right - my lingering fear, being a grumpy old misanthrope, is that I will form irrational and immediate dislikes of people and their habits, if put in too close and repeated proximity to them. So if I ever did it, a large chalet might be best...

incidentally I may have given a wrong impression re buffet at Christiania; the food was immaculate, with a very high-end hors d'oeuvre (God that's hard to spell) buffet to start - big prawns, lobster tails a couple of nights, fresh asparagus (with their owen Air Miles cards no doubt), salads etc.. then a couple of choices of fish; then ditto meat; inevitable chariot of cheese; puddings again SIY, but all classy, like.

There is a very complex algorithm of trust and responsibility at play here... Basically she wouldn't trust me to tick all the boxes she would want ticked so she organises it, and it is therefore her responsibility if she doesn't like it... which she appreciates, and I am happy with.

Tho I have indeed been in many coversations, caron-a, where for example I am bluffing that I know where we are going the weekend after next, or at 'Whitsun half term' - or indeed when Whitsun half term is....

I've never done a catered chalet and quite like the idea so this has been really useful - thanks everyone.

Other hotels that you might find useful for bringing the littl'uns: we did Christiania in Val d'Isere this year and the hotel could not do enough to help out; they even did an 'unofficial' young kids' dinner, and when the youngsters stayed up to eat with us they were happy to have food from the buffet (they are big seafood fans, but there is a vast choice), skip the meat and fish and cheese courses which are served plated, and have a dessert again from the buffet.

Last year we did Les Sherpas in Courchevel - again fab food with kid-friendly early dinner. And a short walk to the beginner's zone, which otherwise is halfway up Jardin Alpin run from the town itself.

any news on how long the run will be? Or shd I get off my lazy behind and Google it?? Yes: and I have - 415m with a 100m vertical drop... not bad c/w Milton Keynes's 140m...