looking at one or the other for chrimbo, any advice as we havent been to either before??? thanks (family of four)
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Courmayeur more "bling"
Champoluc more family friendly and likely better value for money. Also slightly more convenient for getting up hill. Courmayeur cable car and bubble not ideally situated.
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?
Never been to Courmayeur, but definitely go back to Champoluc. As under a new name, says it's great, and great value.
Can't do any info on Champaluc, I was in Courmayeur this year.
Not a great resort IMHO. As a ski area I found it quite small, I had all four corners mapped and all lifts (bar the top cable car which was closed) ridden on day one. I snowboard and like hacking through the trees so I don't mind lapping the same lifts but would have gotten bored of the area quite quickly if I hadn't done a couple of day trips to break it up. The town itself is quite bling, there's a Hermes shop, a Rolex shop, a Gucci shop etc, I found it quite hard to find a €30 present for herself, you could spend €500 easily or €2.99 in the one tacky souvenir shop by the bus station, but nothing in between that I could find. Not much in the way of pares, although there was one good bar, which did good nibbles at about 5ish.
Pubic transport is good and cheap, I did a day trip to Pila and La Thuile which were both covered on the Courmayeur lift pass. Can't really comment on the towns, but thoroughly enjoyed the hills. Both had better snow conditions than Courmayeur and seemed less busy. Pila was particularly quiet and between the runs was less tracked than you'd imagine considering how accessible it was and that it was three days since it snowed.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Spent a week in each of Courmayeur and Champoluc last year, back to back. Champoluc defo gets by vote!
But... if you have non-skiers and want a nice town to stay in, other things to do, Courmayeur. Champoluc by contrast: lots of small villages, fantastic cross-country area down the valley in Breuil (with snow making), better snow conditions (surrounded by glaciers which consistently create temperature inversions, or so we were told...).
But, of course, all this is my own personal prejudice.
After all it is free
After all it is free
A little pitch for Courmayeur.
It's got, world class cafés, great off piste incl access to the Valley Blanche, heli skiing, new lift to hellebronner, nice town, top class snow making, good weather, good Nordic skiing in the Val Veny, World class views. Lots of good day trips available, incl Pila, Chamonix and La Thule.
In ten seasons in Chamonix I've had some of my best days in Courmayeur!
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Another vote for courmayeur. I've had a long weekend and two week long trips. had great conditions. IN the first week of feb 2014 we had a week of falling snow. its was great. Pics here
PS Maison Vieille for the bestest pizza. Plan Checrouit 2000 for the best hot chocolate
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
+1 for Courmayer. Only skied it for a day mid April this year and loved it. Food and views is a plus. Maison Vieille is cool, stayed there this August on my TMB trip and the owner is super cool dude, food was fab. Definetly worth a visit.
NB - it was my first IT skiing experience and it was limited as we stayed in Chamonix, but snow (and food, coffee, etc) were better on IT side of the MontBlanc
See a short experience from Courmayeur (most of time when it is sunny it was from IT side, some parts from Chamonix as well):
Those that appear to have skied both recommend Champoluc...
Pretty telling to me.
Courmayeur skiing much smaller and not nearly as interesting. Unless you're touring or heli-ing (both of which Monterosa is also famed for).
Maison vieille may be good but we looked at the menu and were underwhelmed. Chiecco however is astonishingly fine. But then, so are Aroula and Frantze above Champoluc and in the village Le Sapin and the Essential are two of our favourite restaurants in the world. Even with SH recommendations we have yet to find anything comparable in Courmayeur village (Maison Filippo excepted, but it's not in Courmayeur).
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.
personally, I'd go to Fuoripista for pizza in Courmayeur, although it's on the Dolonne side so may not be handy in the evening
Haven't done Champlouc but have skied at Gressoney a couple of times. I'd quite happily go back to Courmayeur or Gressoney for the skiing; the latter would be better for piste bashers though IMO. For off piste, touring etc, you'll have a great time at both. For après, Courmayeur wins
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Courmayeur............Stay in Entreves, Auberge de la Maison............. really nice!
On the mountain eat at Vielle Maison, drink at the Aussi-bar, ski the Old Arp run, and remember the apres ski at Bar Roma.
Champoluc......... stay at Hostellerie de Mascognaz, ........ rather excellent!!!!!
On the mountain eat at Rascard Frantze, drink at the piste-side bar towards the bottom with the half-boar lodged in the chalet wall. Eat the half decent pizzeria opposite the ski depositories at the end of the day.
Don't do just one resort on your stay, but ski BOTH resorts in your jollies!!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Arno, for Italian apres?
Yeah, Champoluc is indeed quieter. But Courmayeur when we've stayed there is hardly party central.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Skied both and Champolluc definitely gets the vote
Courmayeur piste area smaller and feels much smaller ..... Monte rosa pistes cover a lot more distance.
Off piste excellent in both - but more easily accessible in monte rose I think. But helbronner brings awesome opportunities if you are up for it .... And up to it !
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Not Champoluc please.. Otherwise it will spoil our quiet retreat
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
shshhshsh, yep forgot, shshshsh
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?
Yet another vote or Champoluc - quieter pistes, bigger and more varied ski area, access to Gressoney, Alagna and the Indreen freride area, terrific off piste.
For non skiers definitely Courmayeur with very explorable town. Also, Helbronner, especially with the new lift, will improve skiing possiblities for those who dare.
looks like Champoluc then.....well try not to make too much noise thanks for all the posts
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
just had an email from Crystal telling us that the snow conditions in Champoluc are not good and they are doing thier best to resolve the situation...... snowdances prehaps?????
After all it is free
After all it is free
doing champoluc in january and february... can't find fault with it, the off piste areas are great, the run down to alagna never used to be pisted but is now a easy black leading into an easy red.... thats if you go down the piste !!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@iskar, slightly suprised, I thought they were doing OK and had a bit more snow. We were over weekend before last and had they had Frachey links open most of the system woukd have been.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I've skied both, Champoluc for skiing, maybe CMY for apres. The Tennis bar (down the road) is probably one of the most dangerous places in the world
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
On web cam it shows the run back down to mid station is closed, but someone had gone past the barrier though !! As you do
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.
@AndAnotherThing.., the Tennis bar? What's that?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
you can go s/c to champoluc on sunday for £295 with Crystal, guess that says something!!!!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@under a new name, It's down in Pre Saint Didier, an innocuous looking place. The time to worry is about 11:30pm, when instead of leaving as you planed it suddenly seems a good idea to stay for a little longer. The table dancing helps....
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
There are poeple skiing down from champoluc this morning....not many by the looks of the web cam
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@AndAnotherThing.., ah, so not in Champoluc then! I was worried that there was a "hot" spot we weren't aware of. Phew.
Most of Monterosa will be open as of today, not entirely sure what the problem is with the Crest-Frachey link. I thought the Belvedere chair had finally expired but it's forecast to run in one direction towards Crest as of today.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
as long as it all open on the 19th January i'm ok
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?
as always - new resort results in a headache - I 'need' ski-in/out as I got used to it. Does Champoluc offer it? Planing a next year's family trip and looking for tips for accomocation
@under a new name, thanks, looks really interesting and is similar to what we usualy book. The school is still to announce 2015-2016 calendar in the next weeks, so as soon as I know the dates I will come back to you
Courmayeur is a lovely area which I have a real soft spot for- good for a long weekend or base for off piste and/or heli-ski. If you stay in Dolonne you can ski back down and possibly to your accommodation staying in Courmayeur proper you have to upload and download. Progression wise it's ideal for intermediates but difficult for absolute beginners who have the nursery slope up the hill but then no really easy blues.
IMO Monte Rosa has all the positives of Courmayeur and then some, bigger area more variety, sense of travel if you like to stick to the pistes, good restaurants on mountain and in resort.
No contest IMO.
@AndAnotherThing.., I know of the Tennis bar you speak of, it's a black hole of a place-the owner's a real character too!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
can you share the address as well? Will try to navigate via google maps and locate the appartment within Champoluc
After all it is free
After all it is free
@mooney058, hah hah Champoluc address? It's too small to have addresses! Proper ones anyway. If you find the bar Lo Bistrot opposite the Crest bubble, the apartment block is next door to your right as you look out of the door of the bar. It is on streetview I think.
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.
@under a new name, just learned of how to find/use streetview on an ipad
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
snowdances prehaps?????
