Hi,
Not sure if this forum is really the right place for this but here goes.
The family (5 adults) are looking to go skiing for a week this year after Christmas in France. This appears to be a pretty expensive time to travel. Ideally just want some thoughts on some good value places where french is spoken or English is tolerated in Europe.
We all seem to be heavy drinkers so places where a beer is handy would not hurt. Also as this is a holiday and not strictly a ski holiday would like to stay somewhere that is nice also (as opposed to a hostel or 5 people jammed into one room).
deags, welcome to Snowheads. New Year is about the most expensive time to ski in France, with the busiest pistes and a fair chance, that early in the season, of sketchy snowcover. Unless some of you are teachers you'd get twice the holiday for half the price a couple of weeks later.
English is tolerated all through Europe and French is spoken in France. Not sure quite what you're after, there.
All resorts, everywhere, should have nice places to stay but if by "good value" you mean cheap, probably not at New Year.
If beer is an important factor Austrian resorts, especially the smaller ones, might be the best value and they will just about all have some nice hotels. But they'll be busy, too.
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?
Thanks for the welcome.
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New Year is about the most expensive time to ski in France, with the busiest pistes and a fair chance, that early in the season, of sketchy snowcover. Unless some of you are teachers you'd get twice the holiday for half the price a couple of weeks later.
Yeah this is unfortunate as the ski section would mostly be based around Christmas which is the main purpose of the travel.
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English is tolerated all through Europe and French is spoken in France. Not sure quite what you're after, there.
Yeah I just added this as there are some parts outside France that speak French. Reading this again it was a little pointless.
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But they'll be busy, too.
Joy. Seems it'll be that way everywhere.
Any particular areas in France to consider during this time?
What sort of thing: Tour operator deals with flights? Self catering DIY? Catered chalet DIY? Hotel?
We did Sauze D'Oulx (Italy) at christmas and there were queues, but nothing unmangeable. I've also done Les Arcs at new year and don't remember queues being bad at all so personally I wouldn't worry about the queuing side so much as finding a resort you like at a price you can handle. Catered with flights you are looking at £1000 upwards....
a.j.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I'd suggest Mark Warner but their New Year prices are eye-watering..
For resorts, maybe La Tania, Les Gets or Alpe d'Huez. All are quite beginner-friendly.
the ski section would mostly be based around Christmas
sorry, don't understand that either. You want to ski the Christmas week, or the New Year week? (the latter is more expensive and busier). If you go to the Aosta area of Italy (just through the tunnel) there's a lot of French spoken.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
deags,
If coming from Oz and new to Euro skiing I would point out a few things.
Firstly have no fear about being able to access beer it is common throughout the alps though hideously expensive in some alpine hostelries.
Secondly French is clearly spoken throughout France and in the Western most bit of Switzerland too. English is spoken throughout all the main alpine tourist areas and finding someone to speak it well is not difficult. Finding someone who speaks it exclusively in a particular ski class may be more of a challenge and you will need to go to a resort with a ski school who have a sizeable English clientele
As far as somewhere that is nice is concerned this could refer to either the resort or the accommodation. If the former be aware that all known purpose built French ski resorts are architecturally hideous whatever the surroundings. Anyone who says otherwise probably regards Damien Hirst as an artist. However purpose built resorts do mean that you don't have to walk very far to ski if this is important.
If you are meaning the accommodation you do need to take some care France is notorious for cramped apartments, there are plenty of non cramped ones available though the prices will be somewhat higher just read the description carefully.
If you want a traditional alpine town with skiing at reasonable prices Briancon is a fair bet though the local ski school is probably less Anglophonic than some up the valley at Monetier there is an English speaking ski school in an attractive village from which you could take a short bus trip to Briancon if the skiing is palling.
After all it is free
After all it is free
thanks for the responses. they are appreciated. Will check them out
pam w wrote:
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the ski section would mostly be based around Christmas
sorry, don't understand that either. You want to ski the Christmas week, or the New Year week? (the latter is more expensive and busier).
What I mean is the purpose of the trip is Christmas in Paris so skiing would unfortunately have to be new years week or the week before. However, given the public holidays in Australia new years week would be the one.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
New Year is about the most expensive time to ski in France, with the busiest pistes and a fair chance, that early in the season, of sketchy snowcover. Unless some of you are teachers you'd get twice the holiday for half the price a couple of weeks later.
