 Poster: A snowHead
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Just booked for one night on the way to the EoSB, can't wait!  Lovely little town.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Mollerski wrote: |
jb1970,
Let's be honest, great resort for those lacking a sense of humour.  |
Aye, whatever! lol
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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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We nearly booked to stay there earlier this year but found that la tania and le praz were both comparable in price terms so we went with la tania. We were very glad we did because the gondola looks like a right faff. I just don't believe the people above who described it as a relaxing start or end to the day. Gondola rides are all unpleasant - small seats, humid sweaty air, farts, too many layers on. They are just grim.
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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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| jb1970 wrote: |
| valais2 wrote: |
| jb1970, ....incidentally...which hotel huave you booked? |
Hotel Amelie. |
Nice hotel. Middle of the town, 5 minute walk to the gondola (uphill going there!). All the better bars and restaurants within 2 minute walk.
I spend two weeks every season in B-L-B and I can honestly say the gondola ride doesn't bother me at all, although I do miss out on the apres-ski in Meribel. This coming season I will want to try the new Folie Douce in Meribel, so I can see a late evening taxi ride back to B-L-B on the cards at least on one evening. Maybe I can even convince the driver of the late evening bus to Moutiers to drop me off on the B-L-B by-pass again! If there was enough snow you could ski off-piste all the way back to B-L-B. I did it last January, and I found it to be on the limit of my skiing skills. The owners of the Le Plantin told me that three extremely drunk Russians left his restaurant at midnight the evening before my attempt to ski back to B-L-B, and he didn't expect to see them ever again! Didn't see any bodies on my journey, but maybe the wolves got there first!
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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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It really is amazing how many folks will diss the place even though they've never actually stayed there. 
We go back time and again, like others, because we like it. If you can't stand the 22 minute bubble ride then just go somewhere else and leave the place nice and quiet for the rest of us that appreciate it like that. It's really no more awkward as a base than many locations in Meribel. No one ever mentions the sardine-tin-like buses there that (eventually) ferry you back and forth at the ends of the day.
Let me extol Bride's virtues once again:
* bubble ride directly to Meribel and the heart of the 3V system
* eg. only 2 lifts to the top of the Saulire, 3 and you're on the Val Thorens side
* bubble starts 30 mins before rest of system so you can still beat most folks to the top
* use the ride to plan your day
* bubble ends 30 mins after the rest of system so you can still ski to the end of the day
* use the ride down to recap and unwind
* real French atmosphere
* low altitude (600m) means a good nights sleep and more energy for the day
* quiet location
* easy to get to
* relatively cheap
Okay, it's not suitable for those wanting to get drunk with a load of noisy Brits every night but, hey, that's not 100% of the skiing population.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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^ ...and occasionally you can ski back down to Les Allues rather than get on the buble at Meribel centre
(Will have to rely on others to say how often this is possible - I've been there when the run has been closed and open)
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| dsoutar wrote: |
^ ...and occasionally you can ski back down to Les Allues rather than get on the buble at Meribel centre
(Will have to rely on others to say how often this is possible - I've been there when the run has been closed and open) |
Skiing from Meribel to both the mid-stations of the gondola is possible on marked pistes, but these particular pistes are often closed due to the poor condition of the snow.
At the very end of the day it can sometimes be difficult to find an empty bubble, if trying to get on at the mid-stations, due to them being full of skiers happily returning to Brides-Les-Bain!
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Mixed reports but I'm all excited. To be honest, lots of places have at least a 10-15 minute gondola ride - I can certainly name a few I have been to (Soldeu, Soll, Les Deux Alpes) - what is another 15 minutes onto each journey!!! As far as lack of nightlife goes, as I've said before, I am not too fussed at all about apres ski (i'm teetotal for a start, so it doesn't bother me). Quite looking forward to it now, although I have Les Deux Alpes in January first!
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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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| dsoutar wrote: |
^ ...and occasionally you can ski back down to Les Allues rather than get on the buble at Meribel centre
(Will have to rely on others to say how often this is possible - I've been there when the run has been closed and open) |
Easily managed it back in March this year when the alps had that very warm spell. It was icy in places and slushy in others but still a nice run none the less.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| altis wrote: |
It really is amazing how many folks will diss the place even though they've never actually stayed there.
We go back time and again, like others, because we like it. If you can't stand the 22 minute bubble ride then just go somewhere else and leave the place nice and quiet for the rest of us that appreciate it like that. It's really no more awkward as a base than many locations in Meribel. No one ever mentions the sardine-tin-like buses there that (eventually) ferry you back and forth at the ends of the day.
Let me extol Bride's virtues once again:
* bubble ride directly to Meribel and the heart of the 3V system
* eg. only 2 lifts to the top of the Saulire, 3 and you're on the Val Thorens side
* bubble starts 30 mins before rest of system so you can still beat most folks to the top
* use the ride to plan your day
* bubble ends 30 mins after the rest of system so you can still ski to the end of the day
* use the ride down to recap and unwind
* real French atmosphere
* low altitude (600m) means a good nights sleep and more energy for the day
* quiet location
* easy to get to
* relatively cheap
Okay, it's not suitable for those wanting to get drunk with a load of noisy Brits every night but, hey, that's not 100% of the skiing population. |
Obviously, I haven't been yet but it is unfair for people to be hard on a place that they have never been to. There is a lot said about the bubble lift but most places have a gondola ride each morning.
Thanks for putting all the positives on - I am really looking forward to it now; even though its away in March!
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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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jb1970, fair enough. Don't forget to tell us what you think when you have been there. As AlpineAddict says - we all want different things. But there's no point asking for opinions and then screening out those of us who don't like the place. Have a great time.
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You know it makes sense.
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FAQ
