Latest posts for the topic "Tignes Vs Claviere"

Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 07:04:30 GMT

I have narrowed my next year family holiday down to these 2 resorts!! Can anyone give me pros and cons for both. I have chosen these resorts for mainly childcare due to my son being 4yrs old and we want him in whizz kids where they drop off and pick up from ski school. Both hotels are crystal club hotels and very near to slopes.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:05:15 GMT

russco,
Dont know very much about either of these places excvept think I can say that Tignes will be a lot more expensive for food/drink & probably lift pass.
Not much info but hope it helps a little :-)

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:07:27 GMT

Interesting selection. 2 totally different places. Tignes is high up, bleak, snow sure and often affected badly by the weather. france is particularly expensive off the slopes, but you have a great ski area including Val d'Isere. It does look like the surface of the moon I am told.

Claviere on the other hand is a nice little town on the French/Italian border, linked in to the Milky Way ski area so again lots to go at. Bad weather affects it differently because they dont tend to shut everything at the drop of a hat. Its also more reasonably priced off the slopes, and if you wanted to get about, there are more places within easy reach to ski at.

I guess a lot will depend on what accommodation is available. Tignes do have some fantastic chalets, Claviere is a bit more traditional and olde worlde in comparison. I am sure you'd enjoy either of them.

I cant remember who it was, but someone who posts on here was in Claviere 3 weeks ago, and there are several people I can think of who have done Tignes, so hopefully they will come along and give you a real insight.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:34:13 GMT

Never been to Claviere, but have been to Tignes and Val d'Isere.

The are is huge, with skiing and boarding for all levels. If you are serious about getting a lot of milage under your belt and trying some challenging runs, it is one of the better places I have been.

If you are inetrested in 4 hours a day and lazy lunches and the cosmiploitan social scene I would avoid it like the plague unless you are.

Between 18-28
Seriously minted
Only interested in resorts which feel like someone has put big mountains in the UK

This being said, I rate it highly as a place to do your sport, if thats what you are doing, and if you have to chose do Vl d'Isere rather than Tignes, it is a little nicer in my opinion, and as the resorts are linked there is no worries about getting to places like Le Grand Motte if you want to.

I do most my riding in Austria, but from my limited experience Switzerland is the overall the best mix of the things I look for.

Height
Snow
8 hours on the mountain
People from all countries
Cost (more affordable this year)
Architecture
Beer

)

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:36:06 GMT

never been to claviere but have friends and family who have and they rave about it-much prettier than tignes and cheaper certainly.
However, I love espace killy-been 4 times purely because the skiing is amazing. I dont have the experience of some of the smaller resorts to compare but the I dont think anyone would say that the skiing is poor! (never had the runs closed however so that would change my view)
I think it depends when yu are going-if you dont need the height of tignes Id go for claviere. What type of skiing are you looking for? Blues and reds or off piste? Steep blacks etc? The sache and le fornet are crackers in espace killy

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:41:42 GMT

rossyhead wrote:never been to claviere but have friends and family who have and they rave about it-much prettier than tignes and cheaper certainly.
However, I love espace killy-been 4 times purely because the skiing is amazing. I dont have the experience of some of the smaller resorts to compare but the I dont think anyone would say that the skiing is poor! (never had the runs closed however so that would change my view)
I think it depends when yu are going-if you dont need the height of tignes Id go for claviere. What type of skiing are you looking for? Blues and reds or off piste? Steep blacks etc? The sache and le fornet are crackers in espace killy

I relly enjoyed the riding at Le Fornet, could "ski" back to my door in the village.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:00:01 GMT

tino_11 wrote:Never been to Claviere, but have been to Tignes and Val d'Isere.

The are is huge, with skiing and boarding for all levels. If you are serious about getting a lot of milage under your belt and trying some challenging runs, it is one of the better places I have been.

If you are inetrested in 4 hours a day and lazy lunches and the cosmiploitan social scene I would avoid it like the plague unless you are.

Between 18-28
Seriously minted
Only interested in resorts which feel like someone has put big mountains in the UK

This being said, I rate it highly as a place to do your sport, if thats what you are doing, and if you have to chose do Vl d'Isere rather than Tignes, it is a little nicer in my opinion, and as the resorts are linked there is no worries about getting to places like Le Grand Motte if you want to.

I do most my riding in Austria, but from my limited experience Switzerland is the overall the best mix of the things I look for.

Height
Snow
8 hours on the mountain
People from all countries
Cost (more affordable this year)
Architecture
Beer

)

I agree with most of what you have said but you must be seriously minted if you think cost is a plus for Switzerland I have already posted on a previous thread some of this years prices prices, I was surprised at the beer prices though about six swiss for a 33cl draught, to my calculations thats GBP3.79. So if your holiday revolves around beer Switzerland the place. :shock:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:10:40 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:

tino_11 wrote:Never been to Claviere, but have been to Tignes and Val d'Isere.

The are is huge, with skiing and boarding for all levels. If you are serious about getting a lot of milage under your belt and trying some challenging runs, it is one of the better places I have been.

If you are inetrested in 4 hours a day and lazy lunches and the cosmiploitan social scene I would avoid it like the plague unless you are.

Between 18-28
Seriously minted
Only interested in resorts which feel like someone has put big mountains in the UK

This being said, I rate it highly as a place to do your sport, if thats what you are doing, and if you have to chose do Vl d'Isere rather than Tignes, it is a little nicer in my opinion, and as the resorts are linked there is no worries about getting to places like Le Grand Motte if you want to.

I do most my riding in Austria, but from my limited experience Switzerland is the overall the best mix of the things I look for.

Height
Snow
8 hours on the mountain
People from all countries
Cost (more affordable this year)
Architecture
Beer

)

I agree with most of what you have said but you must be seriously minted if you think cost is a plus for Switzerland I have already posted on a previous thread some of this years prices prices, I was surprised at the beer prices though about six swiss for a 33cl draught, to my calculations thats GBP3.79. So if your holiday revolves around beer Switzerland the place. :shock:

Yeah granted, this really depends on where you earn your money I suppose. In the UK the pound has weakened so much, whilst the Euro has strengthened against the Swiss Franc. I was in St. Anton and Grindelwald within a week of each other, and believe me Grindelwald was cheaper (neither are known as cheap resorts).

Gluhwein on the slopes
St. Anton - 5.60 EUR
Grindelwald - 3.20 EUR

Beer on the slopes (Hefe - 0.5l)
St. Anton - 5.80 EUR
Grindelwald - 3.80 EUR

Actually Grindelewald was cheaper than Mayrhofen, whch is not an expensive place.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:01:05 GMT

I have been to both of these resorts. Tignes is the better place.No question

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:09:53 GMT

Hmm, tricky question. I was in Claviere a few weeks ago and went to Tignes about 4 years ago.

If I had to chose between the two it would be Tignes purely for the skiing, however, if you are looking to save money I would go to Claviere, the lift pass alone is much cheaper at GBP110 (ish) which includes a day on the Italian milky way and a day in Montgenevre, there's enough skiing to keep most occupied and the village is a lot quieter and cheaper than Tignes.

Tignes is a concrete jungle and can be very bleak, but the mountains are amazing and you could spend weeks there and not get bored. Tres expensive in resort, another bonus is that you can get the ski train there which means 8 days skiing.

Can't comment on the ski school or kids facilities on either though.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:44:22 GMT

One other thing; Tignes has normal toilets, practically every toilet outside the hotel in Claviere were those hideous 'squatting' toilets.

Porcelain and ski boots don't mix well. But don't let that put you off.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:50:23 GMT

On the subject of toilets, I was amazed to see that in the newish sports and shopping centre in Val Thorens, they had those hideous squatting toilets. The last time I saw one of those was in Zambia 30 years ago, and the walls were made of mud, without a door, but in a clever snail shell design.

Maybe the idea is to improve one's muscles for ski-ing, with all that squatting.

Ally

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:50:48 GMT

NellyPS wrote:One other thing; Tignes has normal toilets, practically every toilet outside the hotel in Claviere were those hideous 'squatting' toilets.

Porcelain and ski boots don't mix well. But don't let that put you off.

I strongly objected to paying to pee in Tignes :evil: Most of the restaurants seemed to expect to relieve me shortly after relieved myself :lol:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:01:01 GMT

Those squatting toilets are another reason to avoid Prato Nevoso. People did not always hit the spot...ugh.

I've been to Claviere, stayed at Passero Pellegrino. Nice place. Skiing nice enough locally, but we got a mini bus to Sestriere at the end of the week as it is really too far to ski there and back and actually get a chance to have a good ski once there.

I have not been to Tignes, but would choose to go there over Claviere now that my kids are older and we are able to cover a lot of ground.

Not much use! Soz

Tignes Vs Claviere

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:02:29 GMT

russco wrote:I have narrowed my next year family holiday down to these 2 resorts!! Can anyone give me pros and cons for both. I have chosen these resorts for mainly childcare due to my son being 4yrs old and we want him in whizz kids where they drop off and pick up from ski school. Both hotels are crystal club hotels and very near to slopes.

Never really fancied either of these resorts, so I better not comment :shock:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:18:13 GMT

NellyPS wrote:One other thing; Tignes has normal toilets, practically every toilet outside the hotel in Claviere were those hideous 'squatting' toilets.

Porcelain and ski boots don't mix well. But don't let that put you off.

One reason why I always tried to avoid france. There were plenty of them in Serre Che too.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:57:03 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

NellyPS wrote:One other thing; Tignes has normal toilets, practically every toilet outside the hotel in Claviere were those hideous 'squatting' toilets.

Porcelain and ski boots don't mix well. But don't let that put you off.

One reason why I always tried to avoid france. There were plenty of them in Serre Che too.

Looks like you might want to avoid Italy as well then? Both Claviere and Prato being in Italy.

They are definitely more rare than they used to be though

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:13:23 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

NellyPS wrote:One other thing; Tignes has normal toilets, practically every toilet outside the hotel in Claviere were those hideous 'squatting' toilets.

Porcelain and ski boots don't mix well. But don't let that put you off.

One reason why I always tried to avoid france. There were plenty of them in Serre Che too.

I admit it is not an ideal place for concentration, but as long as you're not trying to read a newspaper, it's Ok :shock:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:42:44 GMT

No point there being anything here anymore

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:51:34 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Perhaps I should have put a ) in.

Nope. You should have left it out altogether. Folks of all nations are welcome here. End of.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:17:39 GMT

Dids1 wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

NellyPS wrote:One other thing; Tignes has normal toilets, practically every toilet outside the hotel in Claviere were those hideous 'squatting' toilets.

Porcelain and ski boots don't mix well. But don't let that put you off.

One reason why I always tried to avoid france. There were plenty of them in Serre Che too.

Looks like you might want to avoid Italy as well then? Both Claviere and Prato being in Italy.

They are definitely more rare than they used to be though

I know that, I was stating a comment about France in general, not associated with Claviere or Prato. Mind you, Claviere is ONLY JUST in Italy.... )

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:32:10 GMT

What I don't get about those toilets, is why they deliberately build them like that, even in the new sports/shopping centre in Val Thorens. There must be a reason for it.

The only 3 reasons I can think of are
a) they're cheaper to build
b) they're easier to clean
c) they're pretty much vandal proof.

Surely no-one actually prefers using them to the 'normal' toilets?

And, if it means that people avoid certain ski resorts/countries for this reason, then I would think that toilets are, for once, a ski related subject.

Ally

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:39:48 GMT

AllyG wrote:What I don't get about those toilets, is why they deliberately build them like that, even in the new sports/shopping centre in Val Thorens. Their must be a reason for it.

The only 3 reasons I can think of are
a) they're cheaper to build
b) they're easier to clean
c) their pretty much vandal proof.

Surely no-one actually prefers using them to the 'normal' toilets?

And, if it means that people avoid certain ski resorts/countries for this reason, then I would think that toilets are, for once, a ski related subject.

Ally

I love them, what you do is drop your sallos, put the elasticated shoulder straps over the coat hook on the back of the door and sit back and bobs your uncle, mission accomplished
for extra stabilization just take a one handed grip of the shoulder straps leaving your other hand free to..... what ever :shock:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:45:32 GMT

Ian,
How did a spelling mistake get into your quote of what I said? (There and their). I haven't tried quoting anyone, but I thought it automatically copies exactly what was said. I can't stand making a spelling mistake myself (I don't mind other people's mistakes - just mine), I have a real 'OCD' type of thing about it.

Ally

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:49:51 GMT

AllyG wrote:Ian,
How did a spelling mistake get into your quote of what I said? (There and their). I haven't tried quoting anyone, but I thought it automatically copies exactly what was said. I can't stand making a spelling mistake myself (I don't mind other people's mistakes - just mine), I have a real 'OCD' type of thing about it.

Ally

Ally we all make mistakes even me, mind you I can't remember the last time :mrgreen:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:53:17 GMT

Ian,
I also have a 'thing' about always wanting to know, whatever it is (you may have noticed!) and I still don't get it. As I said, I don't usually go on forums or chat sites, but I thought that quote thing worked automatically, so how did the website/computer copy me wrong?

Ally

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:55:39 GMT

AllyG wrote:Ian,
I also have a 'thing' about always wanting to know, whatever it is (you may have noticed!) and I still don't get it. As I said, I don't usually go on forums or chat sites, but I thought that quote thing worked automatically, so how did the website/computer copy me wrong?

Ally

No idea Ally, when you quote you can edit the quoted comments, but I did not change anything 8)

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:58:25 GMT

Oh, thanks Ian,
That's very interesting, maybe someone/something 'out there' is trying to tell me something ... I wonder what ... :shock: but I hope it is ski related.

Ally

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:05:10 GMT

AllyG wrote:Oh, thanks Ian,
That's very interesting, maybe someone/something 'out there' is trying to tell me something ... I wonder what ... :shock: but I hope it is ski related.

Ally

Chill, glass of something cold and don't worry about it :mrgreen:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 20:37:27 GMT

Thanks guys for your opinions and wait for It i have decided on neither of these resorts and gone for flaine (grand massif ski area)well next question is ?!!! Is it a good decision to choose flaine ?comments good and bad please!

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 20:49:54 GMT

I've never been there, but I like the sound of Samoens, which is next door, and I'd like to go there myself at some time in the future. So Flaine sounds O.K. to me,

Ally

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 21:22:17 GMT

russco wrote:Thanks guys for your opinions and wait for It i have decided on neither of these resorts and gone for flaine (grand massif ski area)well next question is ?!!! Is it a good decision to choose flaine ?comments good and bad please!

IMO it is a very good move!
Biased as I love the Grand massif (and especially Samoens, Ally)

Been there loads of times and no problems with the toilets - that France is apparently so well known for

If you are ok that it is not an attractive resort in terms of accomodation & you want nice open pistes and lots of runs, you won't be disappointed.

Great choice.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 22:23:07 GMT

Ski area looks good to be fair. Never been, never fancied it much.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 08:51:08 GMT

Tony, Flaine might be a lot of the things you don't like about France, but you are right the ski area is good.
Thing is, there are so many places to go - I'm keen to go to La Plagne.
My sister came back last week and said it was probably the best ski holiday she has been on. And Austria is normally her favourite too.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 11:09:07 GMT

I must admit before i went to la plagne in january i was a little concerned with reports about it being a concrete jungle etc.. but the main reason i go on a skiing holiday is to spend as much time on the slopes as poss and as far as skiing goes la plagne rocks!! loads to do even without the link to les arcs.Tony give it a blast and you might find its actually as good if not better than a lot of resorts you have skiied in!!! who knows?? :lol:

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 11:38:23 GMT

Well I agree that the main reason to pick somewhere to go is for the skiing, which is why I went to Serre Chevalier last month, and why I am booked up for Alpe d'Huez for next Jan. Having said that I STILL have to say that the best places I have been to for ALL ROUND great holidays have been Austria. Mayrhofen and St Anton are hard to beat in terms of having a large and varied ski area, traditional alpine town, and lots going on with a good choice of pleaces to eat and drink. Sadly, as much as Serre Che ski area was fantastic, off the slopes it was dreadfully dull and quiet.

Re:Tignes Vs Claviere

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 11:51:41 GMT

i must agree tony, st anton is my favourite resort of all time but there childcare facilities are not very clever which is now an issue for me!! but as far as other austrian resorts go like soll, kitz etc they don't even compare to st anton.