J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by OldAndy

flat country skier wrote:would like to go and spy :)

May inform on you!!
Madonna with the group is my only trip this year - other things on next year.

Whenever we have been looking at ski hire the "best" option has been SkiSet with a discount voucher (-40% or -50% vouchers seem to turn up regularly later in the year).
We have asked about group discounts from specific shops, looked at "discounts" with TO's and other outlets from Intersport, Sport2000 and others.
The 50% "discount" has always been from full list price with TO's (Crystal, Inghams, Neilson).
If pre-booking you will presumably be paying in sterling and this has to be factored in too. So - is the actual price being offered by Inghams/Iglu competitive? For example; a couple of years ago in Austria early pre-booking looked good but at the time of the holiday the hotel price/offer was slightly cheaper.
I tend to go for a convenient shop that has the kit I want on offer rather than worry about saving a fiver.

Very early season then. So it is a gamble on the weather.
With a slow start to the snow being high up as in Val Thorens is an advantage although the snow making facilities across the 3 valleys is excellent.
If the weather while you are there is bad (storms, whiteouts, heavy snow) then being high up is a disadvantage as few lifts may be open whereas in the lower resorts there may be more available skiing.
It is a gamble either way.
Do have a look at Meribel Mottaret - which could be a good compromise in the early season with easy accessibility to all three valleys.

The Three Valleys is an amazing area. Well deserves its top reputation in my view.
Val Thorens is over on one end with Meribel in the middle valley and Courchevel at the other end. It is a high resort and can be bleak, especially early in the season.
When do you have your trip planned for?
Personally I think Meribel Mottaret is the best village for a central location in the Three Valleys.

Bens Bus has worked well in the past.
Train is not that straightforward.

Many helmets have removable ear pads - the idea being that these are removed for skiing in warmer weather.
Go to a local ski shop and explain your needs.

And let's not forget the folks who are out in all weathers trying to make the roads safe and skiing/boarding possible.
Friends arrived in St.Anton last night from Zurich.
At the airport their driver said he was going to put them on a train as the access road was closed. But, luckily, he got updated and they had a quick and easy drive as the road was opened again.

Wot he said........
Need to try on, especially if you use a helmet. I prefer the orange/yellow colour.
Within reason price makes a difference. You MUST have double skinned lenses to stop fogging up.