Messages posted by : AllyG
This is exactly what I was going to say, except that I was going to add that it also depends on the depth of our pockets and the state of our health! The first family ski holiday we went on was to Borovets in Bulgaria (9 years ago) and I chose the resort simply on cost. For three of us it was only £820 including flights, half board, lift passes, ski and boot hire and 2 lots of group lessons. The resort wasn't that great, but we got about what I was expecting for the money. Next holiday I had a bit more money and we went to Zell am See - which was really great - and not that expensive because I got one of those family offers where kids go and stay for free and also ski for free so my younger daughter had a completely free ski holiday. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about the place - we loved it. It's got fantastic mountain restaurants, friendly natives, a variety of ski-ing, and amazing views. Then there was Obergurgl - picked because of being snowsure and luxury hotels because my eldest wasn't very well and I knew she might be confined to bed for the whole week so a marvellous view of the slopes from her bed was very important. In this case somewhere suitable for her was more important than the money (Obergurgl is a very expensive resort). This turned out to be a very wise choice and the holiday worked out well for all of us. By the next holiday my youngest had got pretty good at ski-ing and she wanted a resort with miles and miles of piste, so we picked Val Thorens in the 3 Valleys and saved money by going self-catering. Also, by that time we'd decided to do our bit to save the planet and we wanted somewhere we could get to by train. Out of all the resorts I've been to I would say we got most time actually ski-ing at VT. It's pretty much ski in and ski out, there are fast gondolas or chairs straight up the mountain (no draglifts), and when we went there were few queues. It's an ugly purpose built resort for serious skiers/boarders - it would be awful for a non skier. We liked VT so much we went back there the following year. And the year after that we had someone else to share our apartment (and bills) with so we went a bit more upmarket and picked a cheap apartment in Courchevel 1550. Courchevel is great because it has a very high tree line so you can ski past trees without worrying too much that there won't be any snow. There is plenty to do for non skiers (something of particular concern on this holiday), there's a wide variety of slopes from beginner to advanced, the slopes are all really well connected, and the pistes are looked after to a really high standard. So, we are fortunate again this year to have friends to share the apartment bills so we're going back to Courchevel. And we've also skied twice at Tignes on the glacier in October because it's a cheap holiday and it fits nicely into the half-term break and it means we don't have more than 8 months without a ski holiday :D To conclude - I don't think there is a single resort that has it all, and in any case our needs seem to change with each holiday. Edit I forgot to add La Rosiere to the list of places I've been to. I didn't like it very much, principally I think because it has a lot of draglifts, some of which are very hard to use. The La Thuile side in Italy is said to have much better ski-ing but the only link to it is a long draglift over the top of the mountain which closes fairly often due to the wind etc. It may however also be the case that I'm being influenced by other factors as well - like it's the only place we've ever hired faulty skis and boots and had to take them back, and the only place I've ever been chucked out of group lessons into a lower group (because the group was ski-ing above the stated level and I couldn't keep up). We went at Easter and there was loads of snow, so that wasn't the problem. And our apartment was cheap and right by the slopes and perfectly adequate. I know lots of other people are very fond of La Rosiere, so maybe it's just me. Ally |
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Thanks Andyoneil :D
I'm glad you had a great holiday. We liked Val Thorens a lot as well. We've been there twice and now we're going back to Courchevel for a second time. As you said, the ski-ing possibilities in the 3 V's are practically endless - there are loads of different routes to get around on and the lift systems are all fast and efficient. I remember that crowded bumpy bit at the bottom of the pluviometre - my bobble hat blew off and back up the slope and someone behind me picked it up for me. Ally |
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I wear a bobble hat outside all winter, including walking around ski resorts and I am very much in favour of supporting the bobble. I am very fond of my bobble hat :D
I don't think bobble hats are dying out though, they're just being temporarily replaced by helmets whilst people are actually on skis/snowboards. Ally |
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That's true Jabe444 - but it's much better than having to walk (or graze ponies!). And I think it partly depends on the quality of the snowmaking equipment, as well as the environmental conditions at the time the snow was made. If you see it as another challenge and a chance to practice one's technique ski-ing on a different type of snow it's not so bad - like icy snow, powder snow, slushy snow, corrugated concrete snow, and then manmade snow. Ally |
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Thanks for the weather map Swingbeep :D
It definitely looks like it's going to snow next week in the French Alps :D J2Ski says, for Courchevel, 2cm snow on Monday (14th), Tuesday and Wednesday and freezing down to 1300. Ski Club of GB says pretty much the same thing, except they also give light rain (!) for Thursday with a freezing level of 1850 - so presumably this means snow above this - and windy (25) from the west. Ally |
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Brooksy, Are you sure? OMG I don't suppose that will last longer than a few hours, with all 5 hundred and whatever it was snow cannons going flat out :shock: :D :D :D :D |
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I was looking at the Ski Club of Great Britain website, and they definitely say it's going to get colder next week in Courchevel (sorry everyone but I haven't checked all the resorts - there are an awful lot of them).
They now say 4 cm of snow on Wednesday and the freezing level will drop to below 1300 day and night for next Tuesday and Wednesday 16th. So even if it doesn't snow much they should be able to make plenty of the artificial stuff, as long as the water doesn't run out (does anyone know how much they've got left in their reservoirs?). Ally |
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Thanks Smokey Barr, that was a really good report :D
I've only been there out of season on the glacier, but it does look like an enormous ski area. Ally |
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