Bargain week Les Deux Alpes 23rd March

A snowHead

Hi.

Looking for 3 other people.

I did this 2 years ago. Booked an apartment, flights, and transfers with Bens Buses. We had a great week, and it sure didn't cost the earth.

I've seen an appartment that looks fine to sleep 4, for £492. I can't find the one we had 2 years ago, but this is in the same area(there is even a cheaper one, and others around this price).

Flights to Grenoble from Birmingham are £70. It's an early flight out depart 6am, arrive 8:45. Transfer time is just 1 hour 45 mins, so assuming it departs not long after plane arrives, should be time for a bit of skiing on Saturday(ski hire offers 7th day free anyway).

Transfers with Bens Buses is £43 return, and Lift passes are £210 for 6 days.

Total Price for all that is just £446 each. I guess decent kit, if you want to hire like me, will be around £120, making £556.

https://www.skiset.co.uk/ski-resort/les-deux-alpes/booking/.

I'm not really too bothered about dates, but this is only date I've looked up. French half term is 16/2 to 3/3, so best avoided.

Les Deux Alpes is very high, so extremely high chance of good snow. I went to Morzine 2 years ago too, and it was really poor conditions, but L2A was about perfect.

I'm pretty competent, so would be nice to find others similar.

It may also be possible to ski one of the most unique ski areas in The World: La Grave. Basically an un-pisted mountain, with a lift. You have to pay a daily supplement - I think about £25. You should also have transponders and a guide. We were lucky enough to find an a guy, who knew it well, and offered to take us. It was the best day on the slopes I've ever had. We had perfect conditions. La Grave is accessed from the very top of Les Deux Alpes ski area, and you get towed behind a Piste Basher. It was sort of on the limit of our abilities. We all took a couple of tumbles(not our guide of course). This is a bit of the day 2 years ago:

http://youtube.com/v/OMAqVxGETtM

Just ask, if you have any questions

A snowHead

HI Steve,

Sounds good. I'd been thinking of Les Deux Alpes, and very tempted by La Grave.

I had been looking more at late Jan / early Feb, but first week of March would be doable (would be heading straight over to Ste Foy for a Snoworks course afterwards).

Rob

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi Rob.

I really liked L2A, and was blown away by La Grave. I'd definitely do it again, if a guide could be found.

I'm not that fussed about the date really, but half term best missed I think. I did actually edit this, and change to a week earlier. Few of us go to a 6 Nations Match each year, but this year was the turn of Twickenham. We wanted 5 tickets, but only managed to get 2 from Club, which were for Scotland on 16th March. I thought we'd just buy 3 more tickets, but as they're a pretty insane £576 and upwards, it's just not worth it. With that, I put the date back to where it started.

1st Week in March is fine by me though, just overlaps French half term by 1 day. 2 years ago, there was one guy(Rob coincidentally), and then 2 others that knew each other(the 2 I did La Grave with).

I've actually been trying to find something that works for 3 Valleys, in addition to this, and was thinking about a month earlier for that. It's not as easy though, for flights or transfers. Bens Buses does go to Meribel though, and there are flights, but times a bit awkward. I think from Luton was best - from memory.

I live in Ashby de la Zouch, so close to Birmingham(and even closer to East Mids). 2 years ago, Rob stayed here the night before, and we flew from Birmingham. The other 2 flew from Manchester and met us there.

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Hi Steve,

Definitely interested, L2A or 3 Valleys. Have been there (La Tania) a couple of times, but miffed that I didn't get around to doing any of les couloirs. Did do a couple of beautiful runs down into the Vallée des Avals, but no pics - foolishly forgot to zip a pocket, and never found that phone. Best place I've skied was Gressoney, but at that time I was just dipping my toe in the off-piste, so haven't done any of the famed routes above Alagna.

I'm based in Leeds, though my sister and mum live just on your side of Leicester.

Does look like 2nd March will overlap the school hols in Zone A (which includes Grenoble) by 2 days next year, though: (http://www.education.gouv.fr/pid25058/le-calendrier-scolaire.html)

Will PM you my email address and mobile no.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I've been to La Tania too, and Meribel. Much as I love L2A, and La Grave was my most fun ski day ever - I think 3 Valleys is just the best(well best I've experienced anyway).

I've not been that many places to be honest. Went to Soldeu a fair few times, but twice there wasn't any/much snow.

I'm no off Piste specialist, but I do like it.

I don't think hols would be that much of a problem going on the 2nd. Wouldn't get that much skiing done on Saturday(If any, but some would be nice), so it would only really be Sunday. When I get in the mood, and a bit of time, I'll have another look at 3 Valleys. I fancy doing 2 trips, cos I think doing it this way, you can almost get 2 for the price of one anyway. I'm not bothered by the dates much. If I get twice, a decent break between the two would be nice though.

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I've been to La Tania too, and Meribel. Much as I love L2A, and La Grave was my most fun ski day ever - I think 3 Valleys is just the best(well best I've experienced anyway).

I've not been that many places to be honest. Went to Soldeu a fair few times, but twice there wasn't any/much snow.

I'm no off Piste specialist, but I do like it.

I don't think hols would be that much of a problem going on the 2nd. Wouldn't get that much skiing done on Saturday(If any, but some would be nice), so it would only really be Sunday. When I get in the mood, and a bit of time, I'll have another look at 3 Valleys. I fancy doing 2 trips, cos I think doing it this way, you can almost get 2 for the price of one anyway. I'm not bothered by the dates much. If I get twice, a decent break between the two would be nice though.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

If a couple more people can't be recruited, would you consider bed-and-breakfasting it in January? Would work out a bit more expensive:

Neilson have the Serre Palas in L2A at £449 for a week from the 12th from Birmingham. With 2 for 1 lift passes that works out at £572 each, or £627 inc. advanced skis and boots.

Crystal have self-catering deals in Brides les Bains / La Tania, with BOGOF passes, though their site says the deal ends at midnight (Neilson don't say when their BOGOF ends).

After all it is free

Yeah maybe.

It's surprisingly quiet on here these days. I found others pretty quick two years ago, and think there were more interested than places. Give it a couple of weeks, and see what transpires.

2nd March is start of the final week of Paris holidays.

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Hi Rob.

Are you still interested in La Tania in Jan?

I've had to hange the date of this anyway - because I am going to England v Scotland for definite. That's 16th March.

I'm interested in La Tania though, and maybe L2A later. but maybe would go La Tania then L2A later, around 23rd March.

I've just looked for something like the deals you mentioned, but couldn't find them. I can find apartments in Meribel for £400 and upwards. They will take up to 4, but I'd be happy with that. Bens Buses goes to Meribel, and flights shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the link. I'm very interested in La Grave. I'm SKGB Purple Advanced on and off piste and this year I'm on the Mountain Craft course in December and on the advanced off piest course in January so provided I come out unscathed! I'm up for anything February onwards

You know it makes sense.

I just checked, and flight with Thomas Cook 23rd March are £76 return, Bens Buses £43 return. There's still quite a selection of apartments available, from on £205 for 4 people, but most are somewhere between £400 and £500 for the week.

The original cost I first posted of just £446 each for flights transfer and Apartment still stands. I guess decent kit, if you want to hire like me, will be around £120, making £556 for everything but food.

Catering 2 years ago, we made our own breakfast each day, some just Croissant from bakery, I did myself egg and bacon, and made real coffee every day. We ate out every night, and just had a vote on what we fancied.

As I said, there's a supplement to pay for La Grave. I cannot exactly remember how much, but was around £20 - £25. We were lucky, and someone volunteered to take us. You are supposed to have a guide otherwise, which you'd have to pay for. Lot of Brits use The Red Frog pub, so maybe find someone again.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I just checked, and flight with Thomas Cook 23rd March are £76 return, Bens Buses £43 return. There's still quite a selection of apartments available, from on £205 for 4 people, but most are somewhere between £400 and £500 for the week.

The original cost I first posted of just £446 each for flights transfer and Apartment still stands. I guess decent kit, if you want to hire like me, will be around £120, making £556 for everything but food.

Catering 2 years ago, we made our own breakfast each day, some just Croissant from bakery, I did myself egg and bacon, and made real coffee every day. We ate out every night, and just had a vote on what we fancied.

As I said, there's a supplement to pay for La Grave. I cannot exactly remember how much, but was around £20 - £25. We were lucky, and someone volunteered to take us. You are supposed to have a guide otherwise, which you'd have to pay for. Lot of Brits use The Red Frog pub, so maybe find someone again.

This apartment looks great, and is £546: Diable is the main lift up from this end of L2A, and the one we used every day 2 years ago:

Quirlies 364 is situated in Les Deux Alpes and offers ski-to-door access. This apartment is an 8-minute walk from Les Deux Alpes Ski School and 50 yards from Diable Ski Lift.
This apartment comes with a kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven, a flat-screen TV, a seating area and a bathroom with a bath.
Skiing and cycling can be enjoyed nearby, while a ski pass sales point and ski storage space are also available on site.
Rivets Ski Lift is 100 yards from the apartment, while Gentianes is 200 yards from the property. The nearest airport is Chambéry-Savoie Airport, 45.4 miles from the property.
This is our guests' favourite part of Les Deux Alpes, according to independent reviews.

A snowHead

Hi - Might be interested in L2A if missus decides not to come skiing (she hates it) . . .

re La Grave try Rod Frazer at BASS L2A . . .he knows the mountain like the back of his hand

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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@SteveBrown, have a look here for apartments. All privately-owned and well-looked after by our very own snowHead easiski http://www.easi-apartments.com/

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

Hi there,
I would be interested in joining you if a place is available.
Have you any definite dates planned?
I skied la grave a couple of seasons ago with snowheads on the off piste bash but the snow was very poor and it was a bit of a let down after great expectations. Nothing to do with the guides they can only find the best snow and if the best is crap then that's all there is.

If there is availability please let me know as I was going to go on the snowheads off piste bash but I was too slow and it was all booked up before I even looked at the forum. The old saying goes "you snooze you lose"

Cheers Phil

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Is this happening? I am going to Les Deux Alpes from 23rd March to 30th March - I need accommodation with a friendly group!

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Bargain week Les Deux Alpes 23rd March

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