 Poster: A snowHead
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@boarder2020, I know it's my thread and I said no positivity but the payoff in smaller Canadian towns is the people who will actually talk to you and be very welcoming rather than a mass of other tourists. But they are a bit crap if you want more than one street and a couple of bars and restos.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You obviously haven't been to some of the sledneck bars  while there are a lot of tourists there are certainly plenty of locals in Whistler too, about 12000 permanent residents (for reference Chamonix is around 9000).
I guess it also depends how you define tourist. I've done 4 "seasons" (3-6 month stints) in BC. I certainly wouldn't call myself a local, but I don't consider myself a tourist either.
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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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In my book, when talking about monstrous appartment blocks, there are 2 main contenders.
1. Brelin building, in Les Menuires. Actually now it is protected architecture.
2. Superdevoluy resort; just north of Gap.
There are quite a few french "drawing-board-resorts" that have massive high-rise concrete buildings.
What makes Superdevoluy special, is that 80% of tourist beds is in 2 buildings. They are massive, even larger than the famous "Brelin" building in Les Menuires.
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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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another vote for St Manton. And don’t forget Val Thorens- Blackpool on snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Actually...... I quite like the look of Brelin.
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| Quote: |
Actually...... I quite like the look of Brelin
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+1
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| pam w wrote: |
| Actually...... I quite like the look of Brelin. |
Yes, I like it too. Not without reason they put the building on the architecture list.
I once got an upgrade due to overbooking, to a huge 10-person appartment on the right hand side of the building. We hade a U-shaped balcony running around the appartment - great!
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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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| Grachen wrote: |
| another vote for St Manton. And don’t forget Val Thorens- Blackpool on snow. |
Yes, I visit Val Thorens every year in early Jan for 2 weeks, and it's not the best looking resort for sure — lots of 70's and 80's apartment blocks. But VT is getting better, as it's the highest ski resort in Europe, and very snow-sure. Many a year we have driven up the valley and there is lots of grass, only to be relieved when we reach VT to see all that lovely snow.
I always think: "The most ugly ski resort in the world with snow is more beautiful than the most beautiful ski resort without snow".
And because of "global warming", a huge amount of investment is pouring into VT, with many super luxurious (and expensive) hotels and chalet complexes being built. Plus lots of wooden cladding is starting to adorn the ugly apartment blocks. I asked a VT local why they did not just pull them down, and the answers was because often each apartment is owned by a different person, so it would be impossible to get them to all agree.
And of course just next door is one of the most beautiful ski resorts in the world: Meribel. And for that we have to thank a wonderful Scotsman by the name of Major Peter Lindsay:
https://snowlimitsskischool.com/the-history-of-meribel/
And for those of you wondering why the French built so many dreadful high-rise apartment blocks right bang in the middle of the beautiful Alps, the answer is: because the French governments of the time were all socialist/communist, and they decreed that skiing was not just to be for the bourgeoisie. So hence, France need high-density accommodation with tiny apartments, so the every-day man on the Paris omnibus could afford a week on the slopes.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Well not really a ski town - but the former Sarajevo Olympic sites are in disuse!
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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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Yikes and double yikes
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You know it makes sense.
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Niseko then Flaine.
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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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| Onnem wrote: |
| pam w wrote: |
| Actually...... I quite like the look of Brelin. |
Yes, I like it too. Not without reason they put the building on the architecture list.
I once got an upgrade due to overbooking, to a huge 10-person appartment on the right hand side of the building. We hade a U-shaped balcony running around the appartment - great! |
Yeah - I like it too.
I quite like Flaine TBH
I don't mind these modernist buildings if the form sits right in the landscape.
I dislike that one at La Plagne because it thrusts itself our of the landscape rather than sitting in it - IYSWIM
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
I always think: "The most ugly ski resort in the world with snow is more beautiful than the most beautiful ski resort without snow".
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That's actually not true though. I'm biased but Les Contamines looks lovely in the Spring as does St Gervais.
But putting aside my biases I defy you to go to Kitzbuhel in the summer and say its not prettier than Val Thorens in the snow.
Don't getting me wrong - VT is a great place to ski
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| jedster wrote: |
| Onnem wrote: |
| pam w wrote: |
| Actually...... I quite like the look of Brelin. |
Yes, I like it too. Not without reason they put the building on the architecture list.
I once got an upgrade due to overbooking, to a huge 10-person appartment on the right hand side of the building. We hade a U-shaped balcony running around the appartment - great! |
Yeah - I like it too.
I quite like Flaine TBH
I don't mind these modernist buildings if the form sits right in the landscape.
I dislike that one at La Plagne because it thrusts itself our of the landscape rather than sitting in it - IYSWIM |
Same here, always liked Flaine.
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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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| Quote: |
one of the most beautiful ski resorts in the world: Meribel
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Have to agree as a ski town it is pretty dysfunctional. Hirafu especially and the surrounding accommodation with the need to use mini busses is not great, though some of the architecture is great.
Really not a fan of the layout - but I guess that is the low density trade off vs the high density all clustered next to lifts French purpose built style.
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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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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to be honest this year we would all be happy to be able to ski in the ugliest ski town in the world.
Pretty normally means lack of ski convenience, ugly means for to door skiing, both can be good.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Surprised no-one has bit about Les Deux Alpes but never mind...
Here's another contender for truly ugly: St Francois-Longchamps. Three tower blocks and one building with a bit of wood cladding.
A really unpleasant vista when arriving from the much more eye-friendly Valmorel.
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Anyone familiar with the spaceship at the far end of Leysin? Called Fabiola after the Belgian Queen/Princess.
It's a monster but far enough from the main village not to condemn the whole lot to "carbuncle land".
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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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| Bergmeister wrote: |
| philwig wrote: |
Whistler.
Now Mr Trump has made America Great Again he needs to sort out his ski resorts. |
Err... wrong country for Donald to sort!  |
not so sure you know, That dude is capable of sorting the whole world pretty easily
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Flaine is ugliest resort I have ever skied.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I don't think I was saying the Spar was the problem.  It definitely has more variety than the tiny store in Lech.
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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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One from each of the large Alpine countries:
France: Flaine
Italy: Sestriere
Switzerland: Davos
Austria: Iscghl
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You know it makes sense.
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Aspen. Had read in Where to Ski & Snowboard that it was the author's favourite North American destination so it had been on our to do list for years....
After places like Whistler, Banff, Breckenridge, Keystone, Fernie, Revelstoke and less mainstream places like Big White, Silver Star and Sun Peaks, we were seriously underwhelmed by the town. Sprawling and in the main, all rather characterless. We found one short street that was quite quaint but were otherwise disappointed. We left thinking 'Is that it?'
Thankfully, we were staying up the road in Snowmass - which was great. Purpose built but on the snow and with a handy selection of shops and restaurants.
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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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So shoot me but I think Chamonix is a bit of a dump. Got that of my chest.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Perhaps we should define what we want in a ski town as opposed to the resort in general.
For me these are; in order:
Somewhere warm, dry and comfortable to sleep
Somewhere convenient to the slopes - no long walks, no busses or driving
Somewhere where there are sufficient bars and restaurants.
Somewhere with nearby shops for food and equipment.
Somewhere where I can gaze on the mountains and think wow!
Somewhere where there is a swimming pool, or other activity for the evening
Oddly, appearing "quaint" or "brutalist" or having an architectural preservation order on it does not appear in the list.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| johnE wrote: |
Perhaps we should define what we want in a ski town as opposed to the resort in general.
For me these are; in order:
Somewhere warm, dry and comfortable to sleep
Somewhere convenient to the slopes - no long walks, no busses or driving
Somewhere where there are sufficient bars and restaurants.
Somewhere with nearby shops for food and equipment.
Somewhere where I can gaze on the mountains and think wow!
Somewhere where there is a swimming pool, or other activity for the evening
Oddly, appearing "quaint" or "brutalist" or having an architectural preservation order on it does not appear in the list. |
Think you've got a new thread there johnE, given the warnings earlier about positive posts not being welcome.
I agree with your list, staying right there up the mountain in the snow and without having to go up to there each day, is one of a ski holiday's most attractive elements.
And sunset up there is fabulously good.
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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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@ski3, My argument is that a crap ski town offers non of these features
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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So many in France I haven’t the time to type them all
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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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| johnE wrote: |
Perhaps we should define what we want in a ski town as opposed to the resort in general.
For me these are; in order:
Somewhere warm, dry and comfortable to sleep
Somewhere convenient to the slopes - no long walks, no busses or driving
Somewhere where there are sufficient bars and restaurants.
Somewhere with nearby shops for food and equipment.
Somewhere where I can gaze on the mountains and think wow!
Somewhere where there is a swimming pool, or other activity for the evening
Oddly, appearing "quaint" or "brutalist" or having an architectural preservation order on it does not appear in the list. |
Do people actually go to a ski town if it doesn't have all of above as a bare minimum?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Do people actually go to a ski town if it doesn't have all of above as a bare minimum?
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I could name a few from st Anton to Zermatt
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| halfhand wrote: |
| So shoot me but I think Chamonix is a bit of a dump. Got that of my chest. |
The mountains are spectacular though...
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| Jonny996 wrote: |
| johnE wrote: |
Perhaps we should define what we want in a ski town as opposed to the resort in general.
For me these are; in order:
Somewhere warm, dry and comfortable to sleep
Somewhere convenient to the slopes - no long walks, no busses or driving
Somewhere where there are sufficient bars and restaurants.
Somewhere with nearby shops for food and equipment.
Somewhere where I can gaze on the mountains and think wow!
Somewhere where there is a swimming pool, or other activity for the evening
Oddly, appearing "quaint" or "brutalist" or having an architectural preservation order on it does not appear in the list. |
Do people actually go to a ski town if it doesn't have all of above as a bare minimum? |
Sure in the skiing world ski in ski out is a luxury afforded to very few and plenty of locations where you might be in a dark valley with not much in the way of views or a multitude of shops etc. Has very little correlation with the quality of skiing however.
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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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Can't believe Cortina made it on here. So much beauty and some great decor and art
The old lift system.jist means the slopes aren't too busy.
Most French high altitude resorts have bastardised their mountains.
That's the price you pay for cheap, ski in and out convenience..
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+1 for Chamonix. Town is nowhere near the slopes. Connecting bus service is useless and the lift system is prehistoric. You would think they could afford something better for the process they charge for a lift pass! And the mountain restaurants are horrid.
*Grand Montets was good before the cable car broke.
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