Poster: A snowHead
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for a year, at some point in the future.
(Probably three or four years' time, but I like to plan ahead.)
We'll want a middling-sized town, nice and French, within say 30 minutes' drive of skiing.
Can anyone kick the ball off for us and give us some ideas of where we should think of looking?
Ta v much in advance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Briancon, Embrun or if you want somewhere a bit bigger, Grenoble
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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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Thanks Arno. Are they within 30 mins ski though? I'm trying to spot places on Google maps and they all look an hour or so at least?
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northernsoulboy, Briancon has skiing from the town.
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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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northernsoulboy, There is a lift up from Briancon itself, 15 mins to Montgenevre. You can be in the Vercors in 30 mins from Grenoble, don't know how long it takes to places to the east.
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Yep - just seen, ta. Serre Chevalier - never skied there, either.
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northernsoulboy, Also Cluses, Sallanches.
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northernsoulboy,
Brilliant place to ski and very pleasant in the summer. Barcelonnette is meant to be a very attractive place as well or possibly St Jean de Maurienne.
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T Bar, I don't remember Barcelonnette being all that big a town, it is pretty though.
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Very helpful already, thanks everyone.
We need somewhere decent sized as we'll need good internet access.
Unless I see a massive bargain I'm talking renting, not buying, and after a very quick initial look that seems tougher.
Lots of places to rent by the week, not so many by the year.
I'm sure they exist, we will be going down there in the summer to nose around, and get the lay of the land.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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northernsoulboy, others have covered Briancon
Grenoble has Les Sept Laux and Chamrousse just outside it - I have skied at Les 7 Laux and it is really good; bigger places like Alpe d'Huez would be doable in about 45mins - you can save a bit of time by accessing from Oz or Vaujany. Grenoble is definitely getting towards being a proper city. I quite like it myself but may not be quite what you are after
Embrun - you can either drive up to Serre Che or there are lots of smaller places like Orcieres Merlette, Risoul, Puy St Vincent and Crevoux which are as close or closer
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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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northernsoulboy, Other big places to consider are Gap and Annecy. Fast internet coverage will probably have improved in a few years time.
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Medieval Annecy is beautiful all year-round, with lots of amenities and very close to skiing. Lots of tourists though, but that's because it is such a nice place.
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You know it makes sense.
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Annecy I think will be a bit touristy (and probably more expensive than we want), but ta for the suggestion.
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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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+1 for Annecy, but some of the most expensive housing in the region.
or
Bourg St Maurice - although it's small town rather than middle size, however some of the best skiing in the world virtually on your doorstep, and a direct connection by Funicular
to Les Arcs.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yep, I thought about Bourg, which I have been to, for Les Arcs, and the funicular etc. Never been in summer, though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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northernsoulboy, It's very nice in Summer with lots of touristy things to do and obviously loads of walking\hiking but not that many tourists like Annecy.
Les Arcs attracts lots of Mountain Bikers in the peak of summer. I always think BstM is more laid back in summer, in winter I feel everyone is in a rush but in summer it's noticeably relaxed, and you can find a parking space in the centre of town!
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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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St Jean de Maurienne
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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northernsoulboy, have you spoken to/emailed Marcellus? Snowhead and owner of www.livetheseason.com - if he can't help with a full year, I'm sure he can advise further
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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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i would certainly consider chamonix though could be pricey. Saint Gervais too small? Lots of ski areas open up Megeve, Les Contanimes, Les Hoches and drive to Espace Diament and Chamonix.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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About the weekly rentals; Have you actually asked them? When we did a season, once we'd settled on a couple of preferred destinations we just contacted the weekly renters and asked them. Of the the 25 or so contacts in St Gervais 18 said yes. We paid less than £1k a month all in for 90m2 and several of a similar order
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Sallanches is within 30 minutes of Chamonix, Les Contamines, St Gervais, Combloux, Megeve, probably Flaine.
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Annie wrote: |
About the weekly rentals; Have you actually asked them? When we did a season, once we'd settled on a couple of preferred destinations we just contacted the weekly renters and asked them. Of the the 25 or so contacts in St Gervais 18 said yes. We paid less than £1k a month all in for 90m2 and several of a similar order |
No Annie, and I definitely would try that. But as I said, at this stage we're just starting to plan so I'm really just looking for possible areas/towns at the mo. We want to go for a whole year, probably to coincide with university term start, and I'm pretty sure someone somewhere will do us a deal!
Thanks to all others for thoughts, am looking at towns at the moment and planning a drive down in the summer.
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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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rjs wrote: |
northernsoulboy, Also Cluses, Sallanches. |
Cluses is a right dump
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northernsoulboy wrote: |
Annecy I think will be a bit touristy (and probably more expensive than we want), but ta for the suggestion. |
agreed but there are some very nice villages around the lake within just a few minutes drive of the town. How about Albertville? Moutiers?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Quote: |
there are some very nice villages around the lake within just a few minutes drive of the town
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and jolly pricey they are, too. I don't think Albertville has much to commend it - always seems a soul-less sort of place to me, though perhaps it has hidden charms.
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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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no can't say it has any particular hidden charm to speak of just practical I guess. Sallanches is probably the best shout so far as it does access quite a lot in all directions and has some nicer bits to it from what I have seen
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northernsoulboy, A friend of the family lived for several years in Briancon and adores it, but that was in the seventies. Hope it works out well, sounds like a great plan.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thonon/Evian?
La Vernaz?
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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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There are lots of lovely villages around Sallanches that would fit the bill as well as having a nice central area. Easy to get to lots of summer and winter resorts.
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Poster: A snowHead
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MeMyselfandI, I agree, Thonon area would be on my shortlist too.
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