J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andymol2

munich_johnny wrote:I don't wish to be only negative, but the snow forecasts on this website are so crazy optimistic that it has become a running joke with my ski buddies. We post each other comedy screenshots of the forecasts because they bear no resemblance with the real world. WeatherPro and Bergfex have proper forecasts.

For example......look at the Niederau forecast for today. It shows 24cm of new snow on Tuesday and Wednesday at town level but ALSO shows the temperature at 5 degrees. That is literally impossible.

If lucky might be some sleet.

Not necessarily - you can get a warm front arriving - hitting cold air, giving a substantial dump of snow and once passed the warm air behind the front can give a peak temp well above freezing. So during the course of a few hours both can happen.

It depends on whether you will be using your Aussie mobile call package in which case you will probably be able to roam onto pretty well all of the networks.

If you are going directly to the resort and planning to get a French sim card I suspect in terms of coverage the networks are much of a muchness.

If you are doing it as part of a trip via the UK it might be worth getting a pre-pay sim from the likes of GiffGaff or any of the supermarkets as unless things change in the next few weeks with the impact of Brexit, you will be able to use a UK sim bought from a supermarket using the inclusive minutes/data/tests just as if you were in the UK.

Nearly went back to Soldeu in Jan (opted for Bardonecchia in the end)
Had our second week on the snow staying in El Tartar when there wasn't much snow and returned a few years later, staying in Soldeu when there was so much snow that the snow fences were almost covered.

Will go back again sooner or later as I like the area.

Been a couple of times - first time as a last minute thing and the second because it is a good place for novices in that it has enough blues to keep them going and because of its layout very difficult to get lost.

Pretty snow sure.
No great yomps to the lifts as there are quite a few along the main road.
And lots of piles of snow (outside the hotel) to bury a cheap bottle of prosecco in to chill whilst getting showered and changed!

The beauty of the 3 valleys is that it is so well linked.
La Praz is the cheapest of the Courchevel (1350) options should be well covered with snow so you can ski back to the village/town.
Les Menuires is cheaper as is the "Hamlet" of Reberty just above although Reberty has much less accomodation.

Been to Sauze twice and the only lift closure was when it was extremely foggy and they were stopping people going up the lift that takes you back from Sestriere to Sauze (unless you were returning to Sauze)

However modern a lift system is you can't legislate for the weather.

Does anyone know if the link between Sauze and Sestriere will be back in action - last year some of the runs were closed by the Local Authority which meant that the only way back was bus or black.
Taking a 1 week on snow skier and certainly not taking him down a black for obvious reasons (Nor Mrs M who has a thing about blacks.

Been to Sauze a couple of times over the years and like Italy for the ease of gluten free foods for my daughter who has coeliac disease. But Sauze alone is a bit limited and whilst Sestriere is good as is Sansicario (there is the pain of a very long drag lift out) which takes you back to the top of the return to Sauze that was partially closed last year/

It is a bit limited for those seeking blacks but has enough skiing for beginners and intermediates with a mixture of blues and reds with a decent lift system so queues are limited.
Been there twice - the first time as a last minute thing after coming out of plaster after having a toe tendon repaired (didn't know in time if I was going to be fit to ski so left booking late) and was pleasantly surprised.
Suited my wife well as she found navigation easy as most of the slopes are either side of a long valley and the reds wide enough for her not to get anxious. Snow was like pudding as it was Early April.

Decided to return last year - fab snow and sure in the knowlege it was suitable for a beginner as we were taking my eldest daughter's partner for his first taste of snow. Whilst he was in ski school we went down to Ponte Di Legno for the more challenging stuff.