 Poster: A snowHead
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tripowski, Welcome to SHs!
+1 for FlyingStantoni's post above.
To add, I don't think you'll end up in groups of 10 adults at Lindarets, it's possible I suppose, but I would imagine the groups will be smaller than that as you are going on a quiet week and Ardent is a very small area of accommodation.
I would go with the ESF group option too in your position. The instructor will know exactly which runs to take the group down, at which times depending on conditions, and this experience will be invaluable to you compared to trying tackle runs on your own. For example it's likely that a 'red' run in the right conditions could be easier than a 'blue' run in bad conditions, the instructor knows this and picks the best runs for the conditions.
If you do want private, I would happily recommend BASS and we used them for a private lesson from Ardent last season and there was no extra charge. Though BASS private lessons are expensive. No experience of the other schools mentioned.
Re. your wife not being sure about committing to skiing every day, the ESF group lessons are relatively inexpensive and so she could just take a day off if she really wants to. Still cheaper than booking private lessons.
Re. the area around Lindarets, a friend of ours happily lapped Prolays with her 7 year old timid skier the other week, she found the bottom bit of Prolays quiet as people cut over onto Mossette and into the Stash, but I agree with FlyingStantoni and the blues are not that easy. Maybe the blue Grand Plan from the top of Chaux Fleurie in the morning when it's groomed and quieter, not in the afternoon when the sun's been on it and it's busy with people heading back over. I wouldn't tackle the run down to Ardent until later on in the week and then maybe not at the end of the day.
Hope you enjoy your holiday and it all works out for you, I am envious, I would love to be going next week and staying in Ardent 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What FlyingStantoni said. ESF Linderets have a good reputation and will do group or private lessons to suit. The first lesson or two on the Linderets bunny-hill & Lechere will be fun and adequate preparation for when it's time to move-on to the other various blues. Do avoid the Chaux Fleurie blue and Ardent home-run (take the bubble down). By the end of the week you'll have no problem going up to Mossette for the views and skiing Abricotine all the way back, apart from one 100m pitch near the top which you can side-step down if too bumpy. You're very sensible to want to build your wife's confidence gently, if you manage this you'll both have a great time!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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If you do not want to go the ESF route, then I would highly recommend Freedom2Ski (www.freedom2ski.com) who we use all the time for the kids and coaching. Very flexible in location and will be more than happy to meet you where it suits you (sounds like top or bottom of the Ardent bubble would suit best).
FlyingStantoni's advice on the runs is spot on.
Bob
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Ardoyne wrote: |
| Freedom2Ski (www.freedom2ski.com) |
I'd completely forgotten about them. Good guys.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Nunfa1 wrote: |
| I keep checking the web cams now, less than 4 weeks to go, and the upper slopes on Pleney never seems to have anyone on. Is it closed up there or does it just not get very busy? |
Was there on Saturday and it was quite quiet but with loads of fresh snow and blue skies! 
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| FlyingStantoni wrote: |
| Ardoyne wrote: |
| Freedom2Ski (www.freedom2ski.com) |
I'd completely forgotten about them. Good guys. |
+1 for F2Ski - they reignited my kids' enthusiasm for skiing after a horrible ESF "follow me!" experience in Flaine.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks all. We booked the ESF group lessons today and I shall report back on what happens!
Looks like the snow is going to be good, which will surely help.
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Hi everybody
My first time here and it will be the first time in PDS this half term. Any preferred routes to drive to Avoriaz from Dijon, we're coming from Uk. I read that there are trolleys you can use to get your luggage from car park couvert to your residence, is it true? Hopefully we should be there early morning. If we had time, would it be easy to get to the base of Mont Blanc- Chamonix. Could we squeeze in any skiing without skipass on that saturday? We and the kids had 3 weeks before and last year we did a few blacks in Les Deux Alpes. Are there any runs to avoid probably blacks, did I see sthing called swiss wall? or narrow reds. In fact better still, is there anywhere we could get advice as to the state of the runs when we're there other than normal meteo stuff? Our place says ski in ski out is that really true or are there flats to avoid from Les Alpages.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi Mihaid, welcome to Snowheads! Let's see if I can get the ball rolling...
From Dijon you have two choices, stay on the autoroutes via Bourge-en-Bresse, or take the "A" roads over the Jura. It's personal preference really, one way you pay more tolls, the other you'll need to buy a swiss vignette to get through Geneva quickly. I usually do the motorways, it might depend on whether it'll be snowy on the day, Jura can take forever at snow-chain speed, motorways are usually kept clear(er).
Don't know if there are luggage luges available these days, they usually all get nicked! Be prepared to hump you gear, or get a horse-drawn sleigh/rattrack taxi. It's not far from the parking to Les Alpages.
Don't understand your Chamonix question, sorry  If you don't have time to justify a half day pass on the Saturday, you could do one run down to Prodains for the cost of a single back up on the lift.
All the blacks are tough, and tougher if icy. Stick to the blues 'till you get your ski-legs back. Try looking for a rep's jacket in the Tavaillon bar at apres-ski time, buy them a beer, grill them for info.
Everywhere in Avoriaz is truly ski-in-ski-out.
Have fun!!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Hey shep, did you mean A39 or A6 from Dijon if there's a difference.
What I meant was: if we get there say 6am we would have time to go to Mont Blanc probably. But what makes me wary is whether the changeover day traffic might make it pretty difficult. Stay on A40 all the way to Chamonix then come back to Cluses.
In our previous resort there were nursery slopes with free button lifts. Are there any in Avoriaz?
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Surely this is a wind up?
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Off to Avoriaz on the 26th, but I've got a question about crossing into Switzerland- do we need to carry our passports?
No sniggering at the back, please!
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Poster: A snowHead
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MrSteve, no sniggering, promise 
You should carry your passports, though you probably won't be stopped. If you are though, you'll be glad you have them!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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MrSteve, When you ski over the top onto the Swiss Wall, there are two custom lanes. If you go through the 'Nothing to Declare' channel and subsequently fall on the way down you will be severely ridiculed by the people going up on the chairlift.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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MrSteve, In 20+ years in the PDS I've never had to show a passport on the slopes but I think strictly you should carry it and on the odd occasion I have seen Customs officers (or at least people wearing official looking jackets with "Douanes" on the back) on the slopes but they didn't seem to be stopping people and checking, they just looked to be enjoying a day out on skis.
I usually carry mine.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| DJL wrote: |
| Surely this is a wind up? |
Not necessarily so. here http://www.2alpesnet.com/lifts/status.html
under Deux Alpes pistes about 6 of greens and blues are free, which was more than enough to get our ski legs back on the saturday.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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MrSteve, you do not need a passport if you are carrying a PDS pass. The agreement that people could ski cross-boarder without a passport is what made the PDS unique when it opened. You need a passport if you intend to spend the night on the Swiss side.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| FlyingStantoni wrote: |
| MrSteve, you do not need a passport if you are carrying a PDS pass. The agreement that people could ski cross-boarder without a passport is what made the PDS unique when it opened. You need a passport if you intend to spend the night on the Swiss side. |
We've all got the PDS passes, so we just need to make sure we don't get stuck Swiss side when the lifts close then!
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MrSteve, Regardless of skiing the PdS, I think that you have to be able to prove your identify in France with some form of photo id. So either a passport or driving license with photo will satisfy that requirement
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Switzerland has been in Schengen since several years and there are no longer passport checks on its borders. Beware though if you have a 501g fillet steak shoved down your trousers. Ooer.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
we just need to make sure we don't get stuck Swiss side when the lifts close
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Oh yes. You could always get a taxi home of course. It only takes about four hours. 
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Does anyone know of supermarkets en route to Uk where we could top up our wine reserves at french prices, thank you very much yummm
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Erm. I think you will find there are supermarkets in most towns in France
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| sanman wrote: |
| Erm. I think you will find there are supermarkets in most towns in France |
I was thinking more along the lines: local brits knowing some special places, rather than the Auchans of this world.
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mihaid, try calais vins: http://www.calais-vins.com/ good quality wine warehouse, just off the motorway (nr the Mc Donalds) We stop here most visits on way home.....
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You know it makes sense.
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mihaid, the owner of Le Boomerang in Les Gets is also a part time wine negociant and supplies wine to the local chalet owners and bars. He does some absolutely fantastic wines at very good prices. His viognier at 3 euros a bottle is better than stuff I pay £12 a bottle for in the UK.
He's a lovely guy and if you say that you want to buy a "quantity" of wine then he'll probably do you a mini wine tasting if you pop around there. Le Boomerang is also quite a reasonable tapas bar - so there's an opportunity to combine two activities.
The only thing to note is that that not everything will be kept on the premises "in quantity", but he only needs a couple of days notice to get it ready for collection.
PM me (send/read messages at the top right of the page) if you'd like his contact details.
You could do worse than to say to him that you'd like x bottles of wine for no more than y euros and let him choose for you.
The other place to stick your nose in is Lidl in Cluses - which is at the bottom of the hill just as you come into Cluses from Taninges. They do a very good Cote du Rhones Villages for 1.89 euros. Very, very quaffable (they do three different Cotes du Rhones - buy the most expensive one).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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FlyingStantoni, if that is the same Lidl Cotes du Rhone Villages they had in the UK as a special offer then it is very good indeed. I bought a case then, but haven't seen it since and the case is long gone.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Chris Bish, FlyingStantoni,
€1.89 is the most expensive??? There's some people after my own heart. Cheers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yep mihaid, 1.89 is the most expensive(!) It was 2.19, but has been reduced.
I've had the 2011 and 2010 - both were excellent.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Here's hope you don't buy it all before we get there.
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Oh, and it's fantastic for cooking - very soft tannins. At 1.89 you can just throw in a whole bottle in a coq au vin or stew.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| mihaid wrote: |
| Here's hope you don't buy it all before we get there. |
It seems to be a staple.
It was at the cash desk end of the first wine aisle you come to when I popped in two weeks ago.
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I think it was £4.99 in the UK.
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This is the Lidl stuff...
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Yes. That is what I got. I thought it was a bargain at £4.99! Wish I had some more.
I also got a kg of superb Lavazzo coffee beans for £10 last week from Lidl. You get some great stuff there if you choose carefully.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Does anyone know what the exchange rate is like in Morzine at the moment? It's dropping like a stone here and I wondered if I'd get a better deal in Resort?
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Unlikely, I would say. There is very little difference between the rates on offer. I could get a few pence better in town, but is it worth the petrol? To enjoy your holidy, I suggest you buy your Euros and consider them spent already!
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FAQ
