J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

Max,
Have you thought about getting a similar type of experience at home first? That is - working as a waiter, bartender, cleaner, kitchen assistant etc.

I have never worked in a ski resort, but I do run 2 holiday cottages here in the UK, and when I was looking to employ a cleaner to work with me, I was really looking to find someone with experience and references, or someone I knew personally.

From the owner or manager's point of view, it is risky employing someone with no relevant work history, because they may simply not turn up, or (in a ski resort) disappear off ski-ing, or go out binge drinking etc.

I live in fear of missing a dirty sock under the bed, or something equally awful, every time I do a changeover clean. All it would need would be a really bad review on Trip Advisor or somewhere to possibly wreck my business, which I have spent years building up. I would imagine the same applies to a similar business in a ski resort.

Ally

Thanks Wanderer for the tip about the water. I will be sure to order a carafe d'eau next time I'm ski-ing in France.

Ally

Everything costs a lot more at Feb half-term.

A friend was thinking of coming with us to Courchevel during that week, and I looked at flights for him. The only suitable one I could find that was left was Snowjet Bristol to Chambery at £400 return!!!! It's normally around £100.

Anyway, he's not coming now.

Ally

Sued,
Hope you get better soon.

Ally

Ian,
Don't worry, you haven't lost nearly as much as I have by booking early. I booked our P&V apartment in Courchevel for Feb half-term as soon as it was available in July, and then a few months later they started doing a 15% discount for UK holidaymakers. And they wouldn't give me the discount retrospectively :evil:. So I've probably lost around £150.

But if you don't book early, especially for Feb half-term, you run the risk of there being nothing left. I am trying not to think about how much money I've lost. I'd advise you to do the same. Concentrate instead on thinking about what a great ski holiday you're going to have :lol:

Ally

I've looked on the VT website now, and it says they've spent 1.5 million euros on 4 new magic carpets covered in glass tunnels. It also says the carpets go up and down the slope, to get the beginners to the ski school meeting point.

So, that will be good for beginners.

And, it also says they've put in a new connection between VT and the Orelle area, which will be good for everyone else.

Ally

TheoBane,
I have some of my receipts here, from a couple of weeks ago.

One hot chocolate in Starbucks (the cheapest place we could find) in Geneva airport - 2 euros
One fanta in ditto - 3 euros

Conversion rate - 1 euro = 1.45 Swiss francs.

Lunch in the mountain restaurant at Tignes at the top of the funicular - one plate of chips and mixed vegetables plus one bottle of water = 15 euros (food was cheaper at the bottom, in Val Claret - some people actually went down for lunch!). At 15 euros for lunch each day you would be spending about 200 euros over 2 weeks.

You could stuff yourself internally at breakfast when there, and pack some lightweight cereal bars and bring them out from home if you really want to economize?

Ally

Thanks swskier, that would explain it.
I wonder why they put a magic carpet there? I don't remember that bit of slope being really easy. People used to use that drag lift to get back to their hotels if they were up that side of the resort.

Ally