half term in Claveire + Montgenevre, what to expect

A snowHead

Hi,

Less than 3 weeks to go to our holiday in claviere, we're took the plunge and gone during half term, the price we've paid is crazy but thats done with now.
I'm just wondering what to expect regarding how crowded will it be. We asked the resort reps when we were there last year what is it like during half term, they said there's little difference and that it doesn't get crowded at all, I'm wondering if they were saying this just to not put us off booking into their place again.

We spend the morning having lessons in Clav then after lunch ski over to Montgenevre and spend a few hours there before heading back to base.

anyone have any experience of what it really is like??

thanks for any help

A snowHead

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

Not been to Claviere at half-term, but, as an ex-teacher did year after year of half terms in places like 3V, Val d'Isere, Sella Ronda etc. Yes, it will be busier, but not impossibly so. There are always places where you can get away from the crowds, and in France and Italy there is always a quiet spell at lunch time.

snowHead

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Claviere is that small that they simply don't have the bed capacity to make it overly crowded at any point during the season. Montgenevre will be busier.

So, morning skiing in Claviere will be same as usual, but then you'll get more people coming through the resort from mid morning onwards as they do the whole ski the Via Lattea thing.

Great snow there this year though... enjoy! Very Happy

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

yeh the conditions are fantastic, lots of fresh snow with more forecast!!! snowHead

thanks for your replies

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We had New Years there (based Montgenevre and skied over to Claviere lots) and there wasnt an issue at all - lots of lifts were just ski straight on Very Happy

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Great area.

After all it is free

Montgenevre should not be too bad - busier at weekends with day trippers. During the week will be busy but there should be no real big waits for lifts. Nice resort - really enjoyed it there - first ski holiday so a bit of a soft spot for it.

We've stayed at Montgenevre in half term before - with 4 kids.... It's fine. - yes busier than other weeks, but not a problem. We've booked in again for half term this year too! Very much looking forward to it and nice to hear the snow is good at the moment as generally the Alps have had a patchy season so far from what I hear..

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

it wont get busy for too long, been there several times and its great

easy to do the italian milky way,and montgenevre is big enough too

take time to look at the ski shops - last year they had this outrageously expensive ski jacket that the wife took a liking too ( about 800 euros!)
ha ha - Claviere has to be one of the smallest places i have been to for resort shops noway were they ever going to sell that jacket.

claviere is a lot cheaper than monty for food / drink so well worth lookng around

we found a good priced bar just pasth the church on the opposite side ( up some small steps in from of a small hotel

also remmeber that if you cut in where the chgurch is you can ski to the l;ifts - beats walking with skis

great chocolate at a good price in the golf club bar just below the border post

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Two things you must do
1. Have lunch at La Coche (bottom of 44 lift)
2. Have a Hot chocolate with rum at the Rifugio Gimont (just by the the bottom of 42 & 43 lift)

Have a great time

Your plan to have lunch in the Claviere side sounds good. I didn't find the lunch stops in Monty as appealing

snow reports

We're there (but staying in Sestriere) for the same period, wave if you see me!

Hi all,

thanks for your replies and suggestions. Lunch/beer at La Coche is on our to do list, as is beer at most of the mountain bars!!

You know it makes sense.

It is DINNER at La Coche!! Book in by phoning Gabriella on 0039 0122 87 86 29. They pick you up at 7.30 ish ouside the Claviere Ski School building in snow motorbikes, whizz you up the hull, and give you 12 courses wine and grolle for a fair price...a daft night out.

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

howster, being in lessons for the morning should help a lot - presumably instructed groups get lift priority, as they do in France?

In France I'd advise having a quick snack then skiing through the lunch hour, when the French are crammed into the restaurants, but maybe that's not necessary in the less busy italian resorts.

Have fun. Don't forget a trip report! snowHead

A snowHead

pam w, from past experience of Claviere (this is our 3rd time) there is defintely no priority given to group lessons on the lift, but being English i dont mind queuing and waiting my turn, as long as everyone else doesn't mind waiting their turn.

ibendzeeknees, i was just trying to be posh saying lunch, where i come from we have breakfast dinner and tea.

we were offered the La Coche meal last year but didn't take them up on it, mainly because my girlfriend and son are fussy eaters and we thought/were told its mainly cheese they serve. I really fancied going but got out voted. some people from our hotel went and had a great night, and bad heads in the morning!!

please can you tell me a bit more about the night, in particular the food they serve for TEA

thanks all

A snowHead

howster, that's interesting. I wonder if it's usual in italy? More democratic? In France the usual form seems to be that there is a separate lift entrance for instructed groups, who then get on alternatively with regular punters. In the case of small kids they are all put on beside an adult.

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

Any time we've skied in Claviere (a few times) ski school have always had priority and we've had to take wee kids up with us when needed.

Heading back first week of March, can't wait! Very Happy

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i've never noticed any form of priority on lifts, even for the small kids, they are given some help getting on etc i've even had a couple of young kids, say 5 years old, ride with me on a chair lift with me looking after them, but no separate queue as such.

maube i'm just missing the obvious and queuing up politely, but uneccassarily, like a good english boy Confused

we're there soon and can't wait, conditions are great and our hotel (Grande Clav) is back getting good reviews!!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

stayed at grand claviere last year and really enjoyed it. Young staff were pretty good. food excellent for what it is. free beer from 4 pm........

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Howster...the nosh for 'tea'...whatever that is...isn't it a drink??!!...you get unlimited vino, and nosh which could be canapés, (I know that's French!), pizza slices, sausages, deer/pork/lamb, blah blah. This is not cordon blue cooking, and if there is a criticism, there is so much nosh you could do with asking what you're going to get so that you don't stuff yourself too early on. There is no way that it is all cheese. Gabriella is a delightful person who speaks good English. Mention me...real name is Andy.

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

Andy,

thanks for clearing that up, it sounds like my kind of dinner/tea/whatever, loads of meat!! Think i'll book us on it this year.

Yes tea is a drink, its also a meal, the one a few hours after dinner and a few hours before supper.....

Help!!

half term in Claveire + Montgenevre, what to expect

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