J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by PrivateBryan

I don't think it looks dull. It's just a snowy day in the mountains.

I like looking at the pix Ise posts- this place is stunning.

He asked for peoples opinions, perhaps he'd like more than one option.
Incidentally, looked on Edwin Doran website. No ref to skiing but I'm you know best.

Hi,
My daughter is off to Zell am See in Feb HT with ski astons.
Cost all in 754.00.
They are going by luxury coach and staying a 3 star hotel. As she has not been yet I can't tell you much more than that, but could post more towards the end of Feb.
They have been planning this for more than a year so definitely seems the time to start looking into it.
Best wishes.

Are you driving over?
If so it will be much easier to take food with you. I cannot see it being practical to take much if you are flying.

We have been SC to France twice.
The 1st time we went on a short break and we flew.
We had a group of us and we divided up the taking of essentials such as t bags, sugar, coffee, jam, cake, biscuits. We froze butter and milk and took the too! It meant we could have a cuppa, grab our ski clothes and hit the slopes. We ate out that 1st night. After that we had a kitty and took it in turns to shop. It did owork out cheaper that way.

The 2nd time we drove and took our food with us, just buying bread, milk and beer as we went along. It's not exactly embracing the culture, but hey we were skiing.

If you have a car it will make trips to the supermarket out of resort much easier.

Have a great time.

After all that - you didn't mean Samoens did you!
:(

Do you means Samoens?
Where are you staying?

I've been there 5 times in last 3 seasons so know it quite well.
They have a good website you can look at. The Grand Massif website has been updated for this season and looks quite good.

If you are hiring equipment the Xtreme Glisse hire shop is apparently quite good. It's right by the Gondola so easy if you need to change boots or skis. They have a website so you can have a look at the prices.

The Gondola ride from the village to 1600 takes 8 mins, but the chair lifts are fairy slow up to the Tete de Saix. Won't be a problem next week as it should be quiet. Les Carroz and Morillon are lovely for skiing on sheltered runs in the trees, but Flaine is great fun. It has some great confidence giving reds, which are wide and keep the snow really well. Even in April it doesn't seem to get slushy.

To get back to Samoens you have to go down the Perce Neige which can be a bit of a trial, it's usually a bit of a tangle of people trying to get up and failing and knocking other people down. Especially mid week when the beginners head higher. The Dahu is a bit the same and the Marmotte is a better bet. The Dahu has a steep part which never gets the sun, so can be a real shock. I remember one day there were about 50 people just stopped on the slope watching others picking their way down. It was quite funny. (Except the loony teenager who just skied into everyone) He got his just deserts later though, we saw him tangled in a netting.

The mountain restaurants are quite expensive (Alps!) and I would personally avoid the ones at Samoens 1600. And don't order waffles, you get cardboard. Our best lunches have been a flask and a roll, brought with us, sat at the bottom of a slope watching people skiing down! In Flaine you can nestle back in the trees, out of the way. In Les Carroz there is a lovely little restaurant but I can't see it on the piste map, there are 2 together, and it's the lower one.

We've always wanted to do the Cascades run which is 14km and finishes in Sixt, but it's never been open in the times I've been there. I've been told that it can be a bit boring (flattens out) towards the end, but worth a run. It starts in Flaine, but you can get a bus back to Samoens.

If you're self catering and have a car there is a large Champion supermarket out of town on the Taninges road.
The shops in town are lovely, it will be stunning in the village with the snow so low. Try and make a visit to the Jardin Botanique, it's lovely and peaceful. (tho admittedly it's never been covered in snow when we've been, could be slippy)

If there is anything else you want to know I'll try to help. Have a great time. You'll love it. We aren't going there this year as we've been offered an apartment cheap in Les Saisies, but I wish I were!

Been telling people we saw sheep on the slope at Flaine...We were on the Gondola and they were a way away, but I expect they were chamois. They looked like little black sheep though.
And me a farmers daughter too.... :oops:

Try Samoens?
We stayed at Les Terrasses for 3 nights last Jan, there is an apartment that sleeps 4/5 within a short walk to the gondola. They'll do short breaks if no bookings.
It's near the village centre too.