J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by msej449

Well, what if someone was ill? Surely, they'd have to let them on the chair? I have had a friend of mind get a very bad allergic reaction up high in the 4 Valleys, and was rapidly getting cold to boot, and I had to get him back down ASAP. Everyone was very accomodating. Perhaps the lesson is to say that they're unwell, rather than 'freezing-up' - although to my mind if anyone (novice or expert) feels they can't cope, then the last thing you want to do is to bully them into a nightmare trek back down the slopes. Going back down on a chair is the sensible thing to do in such circumstances.

My tip is to choose somewhere and then just ring some of the agencies - something that a lot of mainland Europeans seem to do. Where we go in Switzerland (the Valais) is, as suggested, a satellite resort, where a 2-bedroom apartment will be about £425 a week including bedding via an agency. Also check-out flying and then public transport vs car hire - sometimes it's cheaper. e.g. Geneva airport to the Swiss Valais resorts by train then bus/telecabine would be around £50 return per person (see www.sbb.ch). I assume the same is true for the French and Italian Alps.

I've just put my winter tyres on my car. Like you, I can't take chains. My owner's manual says they only fit on the 15" rims, and not on the 16"/17"/18". Beware chain retailers who say "it should be OK". I finally went for winter tyres because, if you think about it, it actually doesn't cost any more than the swap-over charge (around £50 for all four). The softer winter tyres are better in the cold anyway, even in the UK. Only problem is you may still need chains to (a) convince French police and (b) when you have to handle icy slopes or very deep snow. The ideal option is a set of winter rims plus winter tyres plus chains (this is why you see flash cars in the Alps with grotty wheels - they're on their winter rims).

It seems a bit unfair to dismiss Verbier. I like it a lot, but I stay in the linked village of La Tzoumaz (www.latzoumaz.ch), costing about £600/week in the high season for a 2-bedroom apartment, sleeping 4 comfortably. Off-piste and heli-sking is good. The trouble with Nendaz and Thyon is that they're too far from the main Verbier slopes, to my mind, so I'd recommend Verbier itself, or La Tzoumaz. I wouldn't go in the Euro school holidays (check the dates out at the www.eurydice.org website, which lists who is away when). Realistically, I don't see you spending precious time driving out from what is a pretty big ski area, although you might make a trip to Chamonix if you wanted to 'do' it. I'd leave car tours until the summer, and do a walking/ MTB /touring trip to the Alps then. But really, it depends a lot on what you're after and I'm biased, as I liked the area so much I bought an apartment in the 4 Valleys (when things were a lot cheaper!). I've skied around Lake Tahoe, Vail and Mammoth and of course, the snow is tremendous: I loved the space and efficient queuing but it was expensive and rather binary - either very easy or very difficult, with not a lot in-between. I've done the Trois Valees and absolutely hated the terrible queues and discourteous French - I would never return to France to ski. The nicest atmosphere I've seen was at the Italian resorts, and if I had younger kids that's probably where I'd opt for, even if the skiing wasn't 5*. If you do come to the Alps you will have to accept the risk of poor snow compared to the Rockies.

OK, so if you're in Verbier, then for eating: avoid the new Carlsberg chalet (bang in the middle of the main slopes down to Ruinettes) as this seems pricey to me. The buvette (outdoor cafe) at La Chaux is Ok for a snack. I like the cafe at the Cole de Gentianes which is reasonably-priced and you can warm your clothes on the radiators. There are fantastic views from the Cabaine du Mt.Fort on the run down from the Col de Gentianes, but it's mainly outdoor and can be busy.

On the Savoleyres/La Tzoumaz side the cafe at Savoleyres is reasonably-priced and quite pleasant. My favourite is Chez Simon, on the northern side, which is just above the 6-man chair up to Savoleyres. The Baratin is a boarders cafe with good views but mainly outdoors, but I've been short-changed there more than once.

Skiing-wise, the La Tzoumaz side is good for the afternoon, when the main Verbier slopes get busy. I love the long run down from the top of Savoleyres (exit the side with the 6-man chair and go across the slope) which. if you keep left and go under the 6-man, takes you right down to the telecabine at La Tzoumaz - about 800 vertical metres in one run.

If you prefer to ski around a bit, don't go right down to the telecabine at La Tzoumaz: turn left just before the road goes in a tunnel under the piste, right below the 'baby slope' and catch the 2-man chair back up. At the top of the 2-man turn right and either take a break at Chez Simon, or ski to the 6-man back up to Savoleyres. Walk out the reataurant sode at Sasvoleyres and take either the red (ahead, to the left ) or the blue (to the right) for more gentle skiing.

If you go to my apartment rental website at www.laforet35.com click on the 'Skiing Guide' link and this has a run-down of the skiing around Verbier. If you're travelling via Geneva and want directions, I also have maps of the airport, carhire pickup and autoroutes to La Tzoumaz - click on the NEW GUIDE link above.

Note that the Skiing Guide is best read alongside a map of the ski area (which is probably downloadable from www.verbier.ch). Plus I disclaim all liability re. the guide - it's not meant as a substitute for the official piste map and common sense.

La Tzoumaz is linked to Verbier via Savoleyres and considerably cheaper, but definitely is more of a family resort. Verbier has more night-life but can be pricey. There's a new fast telecabine out of La Tzoumaz, opens around 8.45am. Personally, I'd recommend contacting an Agency in Verbier, La Tzoumaz or Veysonnaz and book yourself an apartment - In La Tzoumaz this'll cost around £650 for a week, for a 2-bedroom apartment with parking.

I had a similar problem after a bad accident, and I can understand that it can be depressing. But you can still have a good holiday without compromising your health if you treat it as a regular break, sans skiing. If your children can be taken out by other people in the group, or attend their group lessons, they can still have a good time, and you can still relax. In retrospect, missing one of many ski holidays won't be significant, whereas permanently damaging your knees will affect you forever.

You probably need to re-phrase your question - "Where is the best place to go with younger children during the school holidays". Ideally, you want a destination with a short transfer and a reasonable time to start the return journey (earliest we've had was at 3.30am!). A hotel may have suited you as a couple but you might prefer an apartment where the kids can spread out. If your children like swimming, perhaps look for somewhere with a pool near. Best countries for instructors are Italy and .. well anywhere but France, frankly. Remember that very young children don't have the same stamina as their elder siblings so be realistic about one of you having to finish earlier. If you're going late, then consider somewhere with a base at least 1500m. If most of the family are learners, check on how big the learner area is and its size in relation to the rest of the resort. When our children learnt, it helped loads that we took them for dry-ski lessons in the UK first.