J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dorset Boy

What about Flaine? Not the world's prettiest but excellent for families, close to Geneva so short transfers.

Not many hotels (Crystal have the Totem I think) but loads of apartments, most with easy access to the slopes.

For starters, you don't ski on powder, you ski in it!!! :wink: :lol:

You may want to see the thread on powder technique. Keep practicing, and one day it'll hopefully just click!

Skiers generally fall into 3 camps: Self Caterers, Hotelers and Chaleters.

The range in quality of chalets is comparable to the range in quality of hotels.

A catered chalet will offer breakfast (usually with a cooked option), afternoon tea (cake etc) and a 3/4 course meal with unlimited wine. You room will be cleaned if the chalet staff are doing their job properly!

Quality of food and wine and free extras will depend on the TO and the budget they set. The more expensive will offer a choice of wines, canapes & drinks before dinner, port with the cheese etc.

Dinner will be all together unless you have agreed a kids session as well. It is usually at 8 pm but that is usually negotiable to a degree within reason. If you have special eating requirements, these will generally be accommodated so long as the TO is notified in advance (shopping for the following week is generally done on the Friday of the week before).

Ski hosting depends on the TO and is not dependant upon being in a chalet. However, guides are NOT instructors or a substitute for ski school. Red run ability is usually the minimum standard.

Everyone on the holiday will have one thing in common - a like/love for 'riding the mountain'. Strangers will only be that for the first evening.

In 5 seasons working in chalets I only ever had one dull group, and having also stayed in numerous chalets, I've never had a problem.

It is important however to remember that a chalet is NOT an hotel, and your staff are part of the holiday - they will eat with you and may socialise with you too. Look after them, and they should look after you! A chalet is less formal than many hotels but most people who go with a reasonable company are hooked.

Find the small specialist companies - their service and staff to guest ratios are generally far better.

If thinking flights look at Chambery (nearest), plus Lyon as well as Geneva.

If your daughter is doing a season, she will probably know of someone prepared to pick you up from the airport for petrol money.

If in Berkshire have you thought about flights from airports other than London, such as Southampton, Bournemouth or the Midlands?

He's testing the 'water' and dependant upon outrage will look to introduce this in the future.

He'll then look to charge for the oxygen, or maybe he'll investigate standing only aircraft.

Ryanair were once great for cheap travel. They now rank only a little higher up the scale than Sir Fred Goodwin and our government.

5 seasons in Meribel and a summer and autumn in La Plagne, having worked for Silver Ski and Out of the Blue.

Depends on what age you are, but a great way to experience it is to get a job with a tour operator. The chalet companies need lots of staff and not just cooks. The independent operators (rather than the big boys) will have better staff to guest ratios, in some ways making life easier (with OOTB we had 2 chalet staff in chalets of 8 and 10 guests).

You should draw up a list of resorts you'd like to work in, the find out which operators go there. Make initial contact with the to see what jobs they offer, and when you should apply. Also obtain their brochures.

Expect to work hard, be paid a pittance and live in a shoe box, but you'll have a blast.

The Aup de Veran is a 4 person gondola, the DMC (holds c20 pax) takes you to the Grands Platieres, the highest point in the area, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc.

I'd expect the wind to be no problem as that's only a breeze.

Spent two weeks from Boxing Day there in a two bed apartment. Decor was looking a little tired in the apartment, but size was excellent.

Location is very good - 150 m to the nursery slope and the Grand Vans chair (the link to the other resorts in the GM). This is also the meeting point for both the ESF and ESI. You can't ski back to the door but to 100 m or so away. The Balacha drags at the top of the nursery slope service a blue run and a green run, and the Grand Vans run is a blue.

There is a back door entrance to the Ski Set hire shop from the apartment reception area, and another ski shop and the ESF office are also on the road level.

All apartments have their own ski lockers with heated boot warmers - great!

Supermarket and bakery are a 200 m stroll away and the Orange lift to Flaine Forum is 30 m away.

I would be more than happy to stay there again.