J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Julia Moss

SerreCheSkiGirl wrote:

And I think the English speaking Eurekaski school has a base there(eurekaski.com). There's also a choice of ski hire shops - most offer discounts for pre-booking.

Gavin Crosby ran Eurekaski but he now heads New Generation British run ski school in Serre Chevalier http://www.skinewgen.com/Serre_Chevalier
It's still worth visiting http://www.eurekaski.combecause Mel Crosby runs a service organising all aspects of your ski holiday in Serre Chevalier including accommodation, ski or snowboard coaching, childcare, transfers etc. A very useful source of info.

Lovely village but a bit isolated if you want to enjoy all the benefits of the Portes du Soleil ski area. Abondance itself is not snow-sure so you may be better off looking at Châtel, or perhaps St Jean d'Aulps or Morzine.
Check out the Portes du Soleil website to see that you can cover great distances on skis and by using free shuttle buses. Unfortunately, Abondance isn't well connected enough to make it that attractive for skiers but would make a gorgeous winter wonderland escape for Christmas for example - but you'd need the snow!
http://www.portesdusoleil.com/

La Clusaz is a great destination, we've done several trips to the area and review it in full on our website. You'll benefit from staying somewhere in the town as the traffic can be heavy (especially at weekends) and you can either walk or use the shuttle buses to get to the main lifts.
The UK ski specialist Peak Retreats goes to La Clusaz and nearby Grand Bornand and offers a choice of good quality hotels and self-catering accommodation. They are definately worth a look.
http://www.peakretreats.co.uk/ski/la-clusaz.htm

Do they give you rose tinted glasses as well ..... if it was up to me I would demolish the lot and start again 8)

Considering all the recent new buildings (the first new development since the villages inception) have been designed in a similar style, your wish is unlikely to be fulfilled.
There are I think, a lot worse ski village designs than Avoriaz. One of the main obstacles to pulling them all down and starting over, which many ski stations would love to do, is the fact that all the apartments were purchased by individuals when they were built and are still in private ownership. Lucky them, they probably bought them for a few thousand francs....

If you're good skiers, get the full lift-pass you can explore the Milky Way right over through Sansicario to Sestriere and back into France for Montgenevre. Definately head into Montgenevre though - it's not far and there's a choice of two routes to get over.

daved wrote:the skiing is fantastic but the place is a trifle ugly

While we stayed in Avoriaz we took a guided tour of the ski village and found out about its history and the architecture. It helps you see it in a different light altogether and you can't deny it has an impact and is one of the most dare I say "iconic" ski villages in the Alps.
There's a good potted history on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoriaz
Nevertheless, extensive skiing from here with some great runs over to Chatel but watch out for slushy conditions on the busy return runs in the afternoons.

If you need to get away from the sunny slopes around ADH you could head over towards Oz-en-Oisans which is generally more shady. There's a small selection of red and blue runs where you can while away an hour or two in the afternoons but if the mild conditions continue, you're going to get some slush wherever you are.

On the mountain you have to find La Paika on La Varosses piste in the Chavannes sector - barbecue steaks, salads as big as they come and a dessert table groaning with scrummy home-made puds. Main courses around 20€ though daily specials were cheaper.
In the village Le Copeaux was exceptionally busy - we had to wait for a table in January, but it's well worth it. They serve Savoyard dishes but in a modern style. We had lovely vegetarian meals but most were eating steaks or duck served with various sauces. Expect to pay 20-30€ for a meat main course.
For an after ski drink and value meals, we found that the central L'Op Traken bar restaurant was friendly and down to earth. Traditional meals or pizzas in the dining room started at around 8-50€.
For a unique experience and only if you love cheese - book a table in the vaulted dining room at La Fruitière and Auberge des Perrière - these are the old cheese-maturing caves. Cheesemaker and restaurant on the same site with a small deli selling dairy and other local foods, the restaurant is amazing and will serve up a delicious traditional Savaoyard meal from 23€ per person. :-)