 Poster: A snowHead
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It turned out to be an interesting combination: One of Snowheads acknowledged biggest gobshoites (me), a rather infamous resort (in Snowhead terms), and a chalet previously touted by one of Snowheads most controversial characters (david@traxvax) who also happened to be present for the week. To our credit the subject of Snowheads and a certain Snowhead were never brought up 
Well we had a last minute change as http://www.tracksvacations.com/ had suffered a late cancellation and so some friends of ours and their 3 kids booked up on the Wednesday before departure. What they saved on last minute booking with the chalet they lost on the air fairs (£180 NCL – GVA per person).
I booked our flights the day they were released and due to what I suspect was an Easyjet cock up we got half term flights for £50 a head plus ski carriage ( got 2 pairs in 1 bag). This was a snip but we added to this with a very generous offer from Tracks of a returning guest discount (despite the fact I only called in with some bacon & cheese), a 10% SnowHead discount (sadly no longer available, although you could always ask), kids sharing a quad room, and we had a catered chalet half term holiday for £475 a head including flights and transfers.
We pre-ordered:
A 2 hr private lesson for the kids from http://www.evolution2.com/rosiere/uk/default.asp
Ski hire on line from http://www.twinnerlarosiere.com/
And a €493 family ski pass from http://ski.larosiere.net/accueil.php?lang_id=2
Well we rose at 04.15 survived the wet 55 minute drive to Newcastle Airport Q park Bellair. Simple check in of the car and arrived at the airport at 06.00. Check-in was fine, they asked how many pairs of skis and I lied and said 1. The flight took off 10 minutes late at 07.40. The landing was a fairly bunmpy affair and I turned grey, Mrs Frosty went a bit pale. A really quick baggage reclaim saw us in the Tracks minibus and on the road 45 minutes after landing.
The Tracks minibus is an S reg Transit, and has S reg Transit sound insulation, S reg Transit suspension, and an S reg Transit engine. That said the transfer was included in the price, which saved us £70 a head for car hire. 3 hrs later and we were in resort, although with an hour to go Mrs Frosty had to sit in the front and had her head out of the window feeling very rough (on reflection I suspect this was a ploy to get out of the hell that is the half term ski hire shop  ). Tracks staff unloaded our gear and put them outside the bedrooms which was a nice touch. After a cuppa tea and a piece of cake we were taken into the village in the minibus to collect our hire gear. Our friends booked through www.snowrental.com and ended up at Arpin Sport 2000 shop and we were at Twinners. All their stuff looked good and our kids got some cracking Dynastar gear. Steve, the ski host and driver, flitted between the 2 shops making sure we were okay. It was really nice getting a lift in the mini bus and when we got back Mrs Frosty had perked up and unpacked. By the time we had settled in it was then time a welcome meeting with a nice drop of fizz and some delicious canapés.
They asked how we wanted the kids to be fed and we went for 4 days with us, and 2 days fed earlier than us with some kiddy food. The 4 days that they ate with us were: raclette, lasagne, pierrade (hot stone), and final night feast. I won’t go into precise menu detail to protect the chef but the food was absolutely outstanding. 3 faultless courses cooked with attention to detail, superb local ingredients, imagination, and a good dollop of skill. Every night we scoffed all that was available and yet we all felt like we could eat no more. Breakfast was cereals, porridge, and eggs. On the last full day it was with extra bacon, sausage and beans. The cakes for high tea were deeelish and varied. Oh and the chalet wine was rather good too.
Well the only bit left is the chalet itself. Not ski in ski out, but right next to the bus stop in both directions and a gentle 5-minute stroll into town centre. We found it very well placed. The chalet itself seems to be caught between the modern and the old and can’t seem to make its mind up. Our quad room was en suite with a shower, wash basin and toilet. The shower had been shoe horned in and as a result totally compromised the washbasin and the toilet. There were 2 excellent shower rooms in the passageway which I used rather the cramped en suite. I would bin the shower, reposition the toilet (so that I could get more than 1 bum cheek on it  ) and put in a full size wash basin. There were little niggles like bedroom doors that didn’t quite fit properly and creaky floor boards. It was all electric heaters which for some reason a just don’t like. There was however an excellent and very large sauna, a very nice Jacuzzi bath (fits 2 people, but only if 1 goes on top  ) and loads of well thought out drying hooks. The beds were very comfortable. The stairs down to the bedrooms looked like they had been imported from a ship and were outrageously steep. Mrs Frosty’s fall from mid flight was unfortunately not caught on camera. Upstairs there was a very tidy ski room and a entrance hall that doubled as a nice boot room, a lounge, and a long narrow dining room that had windows on 3 sides. Apart from the stairs I found the chalet perfectly adequate, if a little claustrophobic. We had 5 boisterous kids however and there were too many ornaments etc for my liking. The coffee table had 2 glass tops, there was an unused glass door that one of the sofas backed up to, and lots of fragile looking things about. Very nice, but not for our boisterous lot. Perhaps this perception was brought about by the first night incident where one of the kids jumped off a top bunk and landed on a double bed…..breaking it . We were most grateful that David was able to fix the bed without fuss or charge. There was a large selection of DVDs and X-Box games, games and books available for the guests. The chalet staff were excellent and even serviced our skis on he last night for a very reasonable fee.
Would we return with a bunch of banshees? – NO
Would we return as a couple? – YES
Did we get value for money? – ABSOLUTELY
I have done 2 in depth reports on the Espace San Bernado
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewpost.php?p=277606
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewpost.php?p=115560
and little has changed since then. It was the busiest week of the season but we rarely queued more than 2 minutes, the exception being in the resort level drags on poor visibility days. Perhaps the developments in Les Eucherts have slightly increased the number of skiers. I did notice for the first time the poor quality of some of the drag lifts, the worst of which were the easy Lievre Blanc I & II lifts which would be used by those just off the beginner slopes. These were launching folks off their feet and dumping all sort of skiers on the floor. I saw one poor woman get dumped 3 times in a row. I have a considerable amount of inettia and after having the button ripped from between my legs twice (never happened before) the lifty suggested I adopt a tuck position. I thought these lifts a complete disgrace.
DAY 1 – Monday
Horrid vis. Wet snow in the morning, in the afternoon it flitted between wet snow and rain. Packed in 2pm looking like drowned rats
DAY 2 – Tuesday
Horrid vis. Smowed all day
DAY 3 – Wednesday
Quite clear in the morning and skied down Fontaine Froide with David, hot choccy in The Vieux Chalet the bottom. The lady serving said we were her 1st customers of the season that had skied down. It was the fist morning the run had been open all season. A fabulous run so we did it again. The snow was wonderful everywhere. The kids had a lesson 11.30 to 1.30 and then it clouded over and bug me it started raining again. I was gutted, thinking about all this great snow that was getting trashed. The drowned rats packed in at 2.30
DAY 4 – Thursday
A certain Bernard C, admin & Chief Smiley Maker drove over from La Plagne and spent the day with all the Frosties, david@trax, and TallTone. We Headed over to Italy and did the long run No 7 into La Thuile. A run I had never done, but truth be told I was a little disappointed with its flatness in places. We had an excellent lunch at La Rascard, bummed around in the col area for most of the afternoon producing some grade A tumbles from all the Frosties, TallTone, and the Chief Smiley maker. We popped over back to La Ros and all the youngsters, the hairy, and the Irish all whooped down the boarder cross course. It was so much fun that some did it again. We finished with a celebratory round of drinks at the Traversette Mountain Restaurant and then looked at the watches. A slight error by the man who lives there saw the wrong lift being caught and a s a result the visitors were faced with a 400m walk up a green piste before they could start the ski down to their car. It was nearly dark when they nade it down. One of the most memorable days skiing I have ever had in almost perfect conditions with some wonderful company. Chalet night off and ate at the Petite Danoise. Super meal, good value, and rounded off by the company of the very entertaining TallTones
DAY 5 – Friday
Bummed around La Rosiere in the morning and then spent time with our friends. The Father was a learner and struggling a bit, the mother was a good skier and the kids beginners but coming on leeps and bounds. They had taken 3 one hour lessons at exscape prior to the holiday just practiced with a few tips from Mum. We skiied with the Mum and kids all afternoon in glorious snow ond wonderful weather. I skied in a fleece and without gloves. Mrs Frosty and I had the most wonderful 2 hrs on our own late afternoon, giving each other tips and practising stuff on virtually empty pistes. Finished skiing 5.10.
Day 6 – Saturday
Aided by David and the chalet ski host we took our 4 friends (not the Father), and TallTone and MediumTone (aged 9) over to Italy. We skied to Roxi’s for a hot chocy and a Bombardino and then caught the Fourclaz lift up. The snow was still superb an we did the 1150 m descent into La Thuile via the reds 17, 17a, 18 & 6. This is one long drop and no lift is required. A fabulous run. Some then did the black off the top of Belvedere, and some went to the loo. A super value panini at the Piccolo San Bernado Bar and then it all closed in and the infamous Col wind got up. 30 minutes saw us back in La Ros and a swoop down to the lower slopes to get out of the wind. After 3 days of high temps the snow higher up in La Ros was turning rather hard up top, but nicely soft lower down. We messed about again in the trees and caught the very last chair up the Roches Noires for a last blast down.
So proud of all the kids today, they were superb. To see the joy and pride on our Friends and TallTone’s faces was a joy in itself
Summary
A fabulous holiday, in a fine resort, with some lovely people I would now like to call friends. La Rosiere is not the worlds greatest ski resort, in fact it is is pretty ordinary compared to many. We have now had 3 fabulous holidays there and the kids are bursting to get back again. To be honest I can't blame them 
High points – Days 4,5 & 6
Low Points - Knowing that no matter what I do I am not fit to fasten my kids ski boots
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 20-02-07 9:40; edited 3 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Great report Frosty the Snowman, It must be great to be able to ski well enough to go on to lots of different parts of a mountain I can't wait until me and the kids can do the same - I suspect though that I'll always be several minutes behind them! The snow looks far better in your photo than I had, but you were probably a fair bit higher than I was. I'm a bit envious about your catered chalet - I go self catering and there is no shop in resort so I take everything with me and it tends towards prepackaged/tinned foods, like pies, veggies, smash, treacle sponges, tinned custard etc. Once I've finished the fruit I take with me I'm fair gagging for fresh veg when I return!
I love your snap of the family - I will browse the rest of photo's another night.
Glad you had 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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Megamum, Mrs Frosty is at the back, the other 2 are freinds
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Frosty the Snowman, Ooops, still a good snap though!
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brian
brian
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Megamum, Here is a better one
Me on left hand on the boss' shoulder. Red helmeted snotminers are mine. Tall and junior Tone on the right. Click again on the image and you can see the Matterhorn in the distance. Mist rolling in below to La Thuile.
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great read glad to hear you had such a good time,
have just looked up your lead to booking on line ski pass but although it quite clearly states family pass at E493 every time I tap in detail E509 just keep popping up much to my dismay,I think I will try phoning instead.
will read your thread on ski area with much intent.
when do you ski again?this season?
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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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Didn't they weigh your skis?? I tried 2 in 1 bag and Easyjet weighed the skis at Liverpool and Basel and charged me excess 
Shouldn't a trip report be in trips ??????
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Frosty the Snowman, Great report - sounds like you had a great trip
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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kitenski, In view of the sensitivity of the subject . . . it's probably just as well it's in here . . . and I only furniture'd up and re-hung the bathroom doors
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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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Frosty the Snowman, Great honest and fun to read report. Glad you had a good time. Perhaps next year you could try a resort over the valley beginning with M?
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| kitenski wrote: |
Didn't they weigh your skis?? I tried 2 in 1 bag and Easyjet weighed the skis at Liverpool and Basel and charged me excess
Shouldn't a trip report be in trips ?????? |
There were 4 of us and I checked in a kids bag weighing 10 kilos. The ski bag weighed 15 kilos leaving me 7 kilos within my 32 kg allowance. Fine by me if anyone wants to move it.
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You know it makes sense.
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Frosty the Snowman, Great report - glad you enjoyed it !
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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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I reckon I paid about twice as much as you did for much the same holiday... alright, our chalet was next to a (beginner) drag and you could ski back, and we had childcare booked, but all told for my family of five, it worked out more than £1000pp Just shows the value of DIY!
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Poster: A snowHead
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TallTone, We were very lucky with the cheap flights I found, and the discounts we acheived. 4 is also a much better number for discounts than your 5.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Red Leon, all of us. We all had lessons and hired skis and boots. The cost angle was what put me off going for so long!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Frosty the Snowman, Good to hear you all enjoyed yourselves. Great report - I totally agree about the food and wine - excellent every night. Steve also took us out two days ski guiding and was a great host and good company. 
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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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top report, thank you very much - La Rosiere is on the list of places to go but was pipped at the post by a fantastic deal to Puy St Vincent for March (GBP797 for 2 adults, one child in a 2 bed apt including flights and transfers) so that is where the family Parkers will be heading
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the kind comments folks. It makes the effort of doing a report worthwhile.
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Had a good look at the new photo - its nice to have group shots like that to look back on. Spectacular scenery in the background. It looks like your on top of the world
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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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Megamum, we were!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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You know it makes sense.
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Tony Ellwood, I suspect that Emma's culinary skill have been developed even further since your visit. Enjoy
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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TallTone, Absolutely stunning set of photos ... real 'Dream Holiday' stuff. Suspect the snow scenes were shot a few years ago as there is 'no snow' in The Alps as everyone knows.
Would you have enjoyed it more with Frosty in a different valley
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brian
brian
Guest
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TallTone, looks barely tolerable
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Frosty the Snowman, fantastic report - have looked forward to this - and no illnesses - perfect! (except your knee, but that will be fixed soon I am sure)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Frosty the Snowman, 'Tis true .... some have the 'eye', alas I don't. I could spend 'zillions' on equipment and not come up with stuff like that. 'Ise' had that same amazing ability - sadly now lost from here- to capture 'stuff'. Surely he could have just 'air-brushed' you out?
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| Quote: |
Surely he could have just 'air-brushed' you out?
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And replaced me with what?.....Mont Blanc perhaps 
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brian
brian
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brian, Yes I love his photos. He now has a Canon 350D (I think) and has put some lovely photos on his blog.
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FAQ
I wish I was one of your kids - would you adopt me?? 
.... only 4 sleeps to go !!!! 