J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Julia Moss

Lucky you!
If you're both good skiers then the sky's the limit with regard to skiing from Montgenevre.
Montgenèvre's ski area is varied and extensive. The village ski area extends over 75km and there's vast intermediate territory on both sides of the valley. The wooded Prarial sector is packed with fairly short but fun reds and sheltered blues with a steep black if you want. In the Gondrans sector and Le Chalvet, there are wide open pistes and a few challenging runs. We particularly like going up the Serre Thibaud lift and dropping down to the right into a magnificent valley with several swooping runs and a couple of challenging blacks. Continue down the valley for a super experience and a back way into Clavière.

Most skiers prefer to take the Monts de la Lune ski pass option (110km) and be able to ski over the border into Clavière, Italy. You need to be a confident intermediate to go over the top via the difficult Crete draglift, but the blue runs from Le Prarial are delightful. You'll also find that meals and drinks are a bit cheaper on the Italian side.

If you like clocking up the miles, you can explore over 400km of pistes in the biggest international ski domain known as the Vialattea [Milky Way], which includes the ski terrain of Clavière, Cesana, San Sicario, Sestrière and Sauze d'Oulx. We particulary love San Sicario for it's intermediate cruising and it's not too far to get back. If you do go further afield make sure you can get back in plenty of time.

Look at www.Montgenevre.com for an events programme and ideas of what there is to do. As you'll be there on New Years Eve there will almost certainly be a fireworks display and other festivities. Have a wonderful holiday, it's one of our favourite resorts.
By the way, if you can, get down to Briancon and explore the old town - wonderful narrow streets with some interesting buildings and shops including an Italian bakers and tea shop which serves the best ever real hot chocolate. :)

When we bought our new Rossignols a few years back we asked the shop if they should be waxed. No, they said, they're good to go. They've been waxed many times since but have never been as good as they were when we glided down their first ever piste...
I guess it depends where you buy your skis.

I've just checked sncf-voyages.fr and RailEurope.co.uk and neither could come up with a timetable. SNCF couldn't find any trains for that day. I suggest phoning the London Travel Centre for more advice.
Tel number:
0844848 4064

Opening Times:
Monday to Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-6pm

They can book the travel and send you the tickets.

Good luck. We've made the journey as far as Modane on the Italian border to ski in the Maurienne Valley and it was a fabulous trip.

Gonzo wrote:going to VT on the 28/01 with a group of mates, cant wait.
Julia, how much for a meal at La Fruitière?
thanks

We ate there late January 2011 and enjoyed the midday special main course at 19€ and a dessert, all puds at a fixed price of 9€. Drinks extra of course. That should give you an idea though bear in mind that you could add an extra 5-10€ at least for an a la carte main dish. It's advisable to book your table in advance.


And no, we did not have to pay to go to the toilet!!

We were very impressed with access to VT from Orelle when we tried it out last season. There's some decent s/c accommodation there too. Vallee des Belleville (300km) lift pass 224€ 6 days.

By the way, those interested in the development of skiing at VT and generally in the French Alps should visit the excellent museum in St Martin de Belleville. They have an incredible amount of images, video, maps etc. Mostly in French but a must see for devotees of French skiing.

Finally, have to say that the best on-mountain meal we've had was in Val Thorens at La Fruitière. A rare treat for most pockets but great location, polite and efficient staff, and most importantly absolutely delicious fresh local food.

Skimargriet wrote:Closer by then the Alps and cheap and specialised in welcoming families with lots of other activities (snow shoeing, poney rides, great tobogganing slopes for children & adults, etc.) is Le Mont-Dore/Sancy.

Yes, Le Mont Dore and Super-Besse are great - when the snow is good. We have happily skied there in superb conditions and the terrain (extinct volcanoes) is as good as any small resort in the Alps or Pyrenees BUT I wouldn't ever rely on conditions being good enough to book a ski holiday in advance.
Having said that, anyone who enjoys a multi-activity winter holiday, who is self-sufficient in French and enjoys a holiday with a difference should give Sancy some consideration. http://www.sancy.com/

For a short break you don't want a lot of travel time. La Clusaz is convenient from Geneve and one of the shortest drive times from the UK. I've recently come across a company at www.skiweekender.com
They specialise in short breaks and are based in the La Clusaz / Grand Bornand area. Might be worth a look.

Anywhere in the Via Lattea circuit is easily accessible from Turin. Don't overlook places like Sansicario, Claviere or Sestriere but Montgenevre is only 10 minutes further up the road and is a huge favourite for anyone that has ever skied there.
Go through the Frejus tunnel into France and the Maurienne Valley and you have Val Cenis and a handful of other small resorts. Or, access Val Thorens and the Three Valleys from the high-speed gondola in Orelle where there's some quite nice, resonably priced accommodation at Hameau des Eaux.