Latest posts for the topic "Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?"

Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 21:11:49 GMT

I've booked 3 months off work, and plan to fulfil an ambition of approximately 3 months (Jan-end March) in France - ski-ing (of course), & learning French. I won't need to work, but would like to meet other ski companions.

Friends and family will be joining me from time-to-time. We'll probably kick it all off with a family ski holiday after Christmas (although it doesn't have to be at the location I'll spend of the rest of my break in) - and I'll be looking for a studio apartment rental for the rest of my solo stay.

Any thoughts on where to go? I may drive down so I have use of a car - but would then need to find somewhere with undercover parking.

Possibilities in my mind so far are Brides-les-Bains (access to 3 Valleys) and Morzine (for Portes du Soleil).

thanks! -)

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 05:43:17 GMT

Have just requested the same. Really trying to push the gym work to make the most of it. As ever I will not look beyond Chamonix but there is an certain trip I may try and drop in on for the day.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:18:36 GMT

I think that you would definitely need a car to get the best out of your trip ..and stay somewhere central ...how about Bourg st Maurice a lively small town with reasonable pricing and not far from 4 of the Major resorts..a bit further away from there is L2A and Alpe d'Huez (about a 2 hour drive) and if you want to shift bases ..up to Morrilon where you are on the Flaine circuit( Grand Masif) and a 20 minute drive from the Portes Du Sollaile and Pras du Lys( worth a day or 2 for a change) and about an hour from there is Le Grand Bornand etc

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:33:50 GMT

We should ask how your skiing is and what you want to try and get out of the 12 weeks. Being resort based has lots of advantages when it comes to finding like minded ski friends, getting to know terrain and snow pack etc. Perhaps less of a concern if your focus is improving your onpiste skills or just ticking off resorts where skiing alone is probably advantageous.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:29:53 GMT

Thanks. I am not looking to ski every day - and building a social circle is important- so intend to be either resort-based or near a resort.
The more I think about it, the more I feel I may not take your car with me - it would be a lot of hassle and expense, so somewhere with good public transport links is important.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:30:28 GMT

*a car with me even!

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:35:52 GMT

And I am an experienced ski-er but getting on a bit, so won't be wanting to frequent the parks, but love long, scenic descents and miles under my skis with good coffee stops along the way.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:57:58 GMT

I think you are wrong about going by car...it really is no hassle ..I also am ...over retirement age..and I am going by car for the 3rd time this season..it really is easy. Also as you are going for 3 months you will need to take a fair amount with you and skis? car is really the sensible option. Also remember shopping ..unless you intend to live in restaurants (expensive) and resort supermarkets ( twice the price of the ones in the valley). With your scenario I might choose Les Gets ..a nice little resort but if you have a car Le Grande Massif and Pras de Lys are only 20 minutes drive ..but have you thought about Italy ..the Sella Ronda offers a vast ski area mostly linked and has good transport within..and offers much cheaper living ..

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 09:39:01 GMT

Just to throw and idea out there; an interesting option would rent in Aosta (must be cheaper than a resort). That would give you direct lift access to Pila but also put you in the Middle of some of the best skiing in Alps. Being Italy, will be cheaper, have better food and less people than France and am sure there is a bus service to get you to other resorts in region.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:07:54 GMT

Thanks Daved - I have driven previously, so not 100 per cent sure, great to have your advice.
I want to improve my French, so will definitely go to France, and will look at Les Gets.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:08:39 GMT

And thanks too Rachero!

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:43:31 GMT

Chamonix should be a good bet for a three-month spell. It's a proper town, not a village, which should work against cabin fever, with great skiing. Yes, different areas are not "joined together" but this shouldn't be an issue for a long stay. Frankly the area would be too huge for all practical purposes if it was a one single area linked through the slopes and not through the valley. Good vibe in town too.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 11:19:51 GMT

Yes and in exchange for pizza and beer some of us could show you around.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 11:20:13 GMT

Thanks - I have only had half a day in Chamonix previously, before we drove through the Mont Blanc tunnel and stayed in the Aosta valley (which, as Ranchero says, is much cheaper). I guess if I went to Chamonix, I'd have the option of going over to Italy too - does anyone know what the public transport links would be like in order to do that? We loved Pila especially.

Still haven't ruled out driving down, lots to think about. My base will definitely be in France.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 11:21:37 GMT

That's a deal Ranchero :)

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:23:07 GMT

There is a bus between Chamonix and Courmayeur, but not sure if it goes elsewhere in Aosta. I never took the bus myself, we usually drive, but I was told that it existed. Italy is cheaper than France, as for food I like both, maybe French food edges it for me a bit as I am totally indifferent to pizzas and lasagnas, even real Italian ones, probably wouldn't even notice if all pizzerias disappeared tomorrow :) If you take a car than the world is your oyster whether you stay in France or Aosta. But I would stay in Chamonix for the vibe alone and drive if I want to ski elsewhere. Places like Les Gets will be full of families once school breaks start.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 13:46:07 GMT

Thanks again - just looking at the Chamonix piste map - the fact it's not far from Geneva is a big advantage too.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 14:41:03 GMT

Italy will be cheaper for longer stays.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Sat, 17 Oct 2015 23:46:50 GMT

Going for a season to France is an expensive way to learn French!

Def not Brides-le-bain. The gondola ride alone is 25 min to the main ski area lifts. At the end of your day you have another 25 min ride down, because on most days, a run down is not possible. So if you ski every day of your 12 weeks, you will spend 84 hours on a lift, which will not add to your skiing.

In my first season, I skied for 4 months, every day on the 8.00am lift, and never missed a days skiing. I cannot imagine not skiing every day, what a waste! I still ski dawn til dusk every day.

I am not sure who you will build your social circle with, since most people will be out skiing?

Forty five years after my first season, my "social circle" from those days is still there. I still ski every day with Austrians that I worked with.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Sun, 18 Oct 2015 09:36:56 GMT

Here's the thing - not everyone's the same. One of the joys of being there for so long will be NOT having to get the 8am lift every day in all weathers.

If I pull back the curtain and there's cold, heavy snowfall, I can wait until it stops before heading out - go to a bar or cafe instead and practise my French! The locals aren't all out piste-bashing all day ime.

Btw Dave Mac, have you thought of asking that charm school for a refund?

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Sun, 18 Oct 2015 15:43:33 GMT

Have to confess am getting a bit of a lazy skier, not often I will put in a full day on-piste. Maybe is a bit sad but quite often I can be seen going home at 10am. Quick skin up, one run down and spend day doing something else. Actually just don't think I am fit enough to ski full on every day.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:58:13 GMT

Me too ..I did 4 weeks last year (2014) and there was a LOT of snow so if I couldn't see I didnt go but I was tired at the end and needed a day or two's rest ...or at least my muscles did.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 07:43:41 GMT

Definitely lazy myself. When conditions are boring I skin up to Cabane Mont Fort, have lunch and ski down. I invested in a pair of Head Magnums to make piste skiing more enjoyable, but even then, it's 3 hours of skiing maximum, after that it's terrace/bar hopping. I did make a point of going up in any weather, any conditions last season (well, one of my flatmates was a ski nut who would drag me out as I was the only one in a flat without a valid excuse not to ski - everyone else worked on weekends), but on some days it was literally for one run only - couple times visibility was so bad this one run took a very long time, couple it was so icy that skiing for longer would be definitely pushing it. The benefit of longer stays and season passes is that you don't need to ski bell-to-bell. But it's good to go in any weather if only for an hour just for the sake of having skied some awful conditions :) That's what many locals do as they don't feel the need to maximise the uptake from the short holiday. They would ski most days that they can ski but many of these days will be rather short.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 14:06:58 GMT

Head Magnums, great minds must think alike.

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:44:16 GMT

Not so alike on DPS though :)

Re:Plan to spend 12 weeks in France - where to go?

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 17:06:18 GMT

I has assumed they were in the bin :-).