 Poster: A snowHead
|
I posted a couple of days ago looking for suggestions for half term - but that no longer looks possible. So I am having to revert to the original plan of Easter.
Having looked at some of the suggested smaller French resorts suggested on various threads I am now quite taken with the idea of Ste Foy /Le Grand Bonand......or anywhere similar. Some of the appeal of these places is the low cost of the lift passes, as with a 4 & a 6 year old we may find that skiing time is limited to mornings only whilst they are in ski school. This aside I am definitely more interested in going somewhere that is more traditional alpine village than purpose built resort. DH is set on driving down (did it last year to chamonix it wasn't as bad as i expected!) so we will have a car, and being a slight distance from the slopes won't be too much of a hassle.
Ste Foy maybe a better bet than Le Grand Bornand as it is 500m higher? But LGB is an hours less driving time according to google maps.
Anyone have any thoughts on these two resorts - or alternative suggestions please?
Thanks 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
annaa, had you considered going with a family specialist? Last year we took our then 7 & 4 yr old to Les Deux Alpes wth Mark Warner at Easter. Previous year we were in Belle Plagne with Esprit (girls were 3 & 6 then. This means they have kids clubs to goto for the other half day they aren't skiing which my girls enjoy as much as the actual skiing (every day we tried to pick our girls up early every day my youngest refused as she wanted to carry on doing the stuff they were doing in the kids clubs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
I have to admit I haven't - when I've looked before the cost of organised childcare seemed excessive to me, but I guess they have to pay the staff for the whole season, even in term time when there are fewer children to look after, if any at all. And I guess they will only go to the bigger resorts?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
annaa - I think Sainte Foy would be the most snowsure of the two but it would be at least 2 hours further to drive.
Other places to consider - Les Carroz (very pretty, good ski school and similar distance to LGB), Val Cenis (cheap all round, similar driving time to Sainte Foy I think), Montgenevre (v. good ski schools but further to drive).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Thanks snowymum, I'll investigate those Well, Les Carroz and Val Cenis - I really don't fancy driving to Monty, though I was there for a week nearly 15 yes ago and would love to go back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Bonand is a lovely place to go with children in tow and on one of the occasions we were there it rained on and off most days at resort level but higher up conditions were fine. Parking near the lifts was a bit of a nightmare, my husband dropped us off at the bottom then drove some way to park, but there is a free navette which was useful when ours were old enough to manage there own kit.
I don`t know what the current offer on lift passes at Samoens is like but I seem to remember some very good prices, especially for children, and on a very ad hoc basis because we were not sure how much of a day our offspring would manage on the slopes. It really is a very easy quick drive to get there (from our part of England just one days drive although we tended to do that on the way back rather than on the way there). There are plenty of other things to do in Samoens apart from ski but unless your accommodation is exactly right you do need to drive to the main telecabine where there is a huge car park.
Les Contamines may also be an option, a little further, but again at one of the main cabines there is a huge convenient car park for offloading small children and kit!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for your reply CaravanSkier, can I ask what time of year you were in Grand Bornand? From what I've seen on the internet I would really like to try it - but may not be brave enough to go at the end of the season. Half term '16 maybe?
We didn't get to Samoens when we were in Flaine, but I remember my parents mentioning that it would be somewhere they would like to stay after doing the run down cascades (?) - so will investigate there too.
And good point about the swimming pool snowymum - worth factoring in
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
annaa, there is a snowhead called loatie who has a timeshare in Le Grand Bornand. If you send her a PM I'm sure you'd get an honest, as well as an informed, opinion. One thing to remember about small French resorts (and I have an apartment in one) is that if you want to put your children in group lessons they may be predominantly Francophone. There are a lot of Belgians in France at Easter, too. Even if the instructor speaks some English - and most do - they won't be speaking much if the vast majority of the kids are French speaking. (Yes, before anyone jumps in, I know that not all Belgians are Francophone - but the ones who go to small French resorts probably are).
There should be plenty of accommodation options at Easter, and if the end-of-season snow is good you'll have a very wide choice. I'd book nearer the time. Easter has virtually nothing in common with Half Term (thankfully).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premier Neige in Ste Foy have kids clubs - we looked into it for a late season trip last year but never made it. We've used Esprit in Courchevel, Peisey, St Anton and Val d'Isere but not yet in school holidays for our boys (nearly 5 and just 3) as they really ramp up the prices compared to the low season weeks we've been used to before school was a factor! This Easter we've booked with Family Friendly Skiing in La Tania, going by snowtrain rather than flying - was definitely cheaper than Esprit. Funnily enough, pre-children we had a week in Samoens and it was a lovely town but not ski in / ski out at all and I think the hike up the gondola with small children would be a real pain, it annoys me as an adult! Another resort in the Grand Massif that intrigues me as a place to stay with children in Morillon, especially the higher level part of the resort at 1100 / Esserts, the company Odalys have a cheap and cheerful looking block there right on the piste.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
annaa, I've loved Ste Foy and Grand Bornand. I expect either would be lovely for you. However, my trip to GB was in mid-March in 2011. That was a bad snow year and the snow was receding by the day. Easter 2015 is early April. You might be fine, you might not. From this far in advance, 500m height difference doesn't really mean a lot - it depends on where the snow falls during the season.
Is is feasible to wait until closer the time then choose a place which has been lucky with snow? If you're driving, then you don't need to worry about booking flights early to get good prices. Someone who knows the area better than I do might be able to comment on the likelihood of getting accommodation at Easter at short notice.
Incidentally, don't forget that most of the big resorts with expensive lift passes will also have 'local' passes available at a lower price, so you don't necessarily need to rule out a bigger resort.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
pam w, I think it depends which week Annaa is thinking of in terms of the number of Belgians. Many UK schools are on holiday from 28th March next year which is not Belgian school holidays. On the years that Belgian holidays coincide with the first week of UK Easter hols some apartments/ ski schools can get booked up well in advance.
In terms of the Grand Massif I think Samoens, Morillon and Les Carroz all have their pros and cons. The reason we prefer Les Carroz as a base is that we like Les Chalets de Jouvence which is right at the foot of the piste and in the event of a bad snow year it is an easy drive up towards Flaine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the suggestions . Have had a look at a couple of the TOs you mentioned always29, and it has just reminded me why we DIY most of the time. A cheaper chalet slightly away from the slopes and we can do accommodation, petrol & payage, ferry, ski hire, lift passes and ski school for the children for what they charge just for the accommodation!
Really doesn't make sense to me?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
annaa, once you've DIYed a few times it's unlikely you will pay the premium for a decent family orientated TO. And you are right you can save quite a bit on lift passes and sometimes accomodation by going to the smaller resorts. We've been to La Norma and Les Contamines and are going to Les 7 Laux this christmas. The big difference was we never ski schooled ours (now 7 & 9) so that was never a consideration. La Norma is probably too far to drive for you. Les Contamines is an excellent ski area but I'm not too sure it would work well for you with the kids so young and doing half day lessons. For me with young kids you want to be as close to the slopes as possible. For me personally, climbing into a car every day to get to and from the slopes would be a no no. I have to say that in that sense two of the best places we've been are satellite villages in big resorts namely Oz-en-Oisan and Les Coches. In both cases it was literally 100m to the lift (and ski school if you were doing it). In the case of La Norma and Les Contamines it wasn't a major trek, maybe 400-500m. But Les Contamines you have to stay in the satellite village for that to work. From what I can tell where we are staying in Les 7 Laux is right on the slopes. The great thing about Les 7 Laux and close by Chamrousse is they are easy to get to. 40km from Grenoble. So you may want to look at those. Schools are out in my area last weekend of March next year so conditions should be less of a worry. I was really keen to go to Ste Foy but struggled to find budget accomodation. It may be easier at Easter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
snowymum, English school holidays make little or no difference in Les Saisies because there are so few Brits. Easter is very quiet and it's easy to find accommodation near the lifts. Les Saisies is not really a "budget" destination (notwithstanding coffee and lunch will cost a great deal less than in the big ski factories) but there are plenty of accommodation options for 4, very central, near the lifts, for €430 and upwards week of 28 March. High spec 2 bedroom piste side places, less central, from around the same price. Free passes for under 5s, cheap private lessons. But I'd not recommend booking at this stage - the snow quality at that time of the year is hugely variable, though Les Saisies always has amongst the best snow around. I did try a day trip to Flaine, on some poor late-season days but it was no better than Les Saisies. The top sectors of Les Contamines can be better, but only above Signal, the middle gondola station, whereas you can always ski to the village in LS which is much higher. Layne has it spot on about Les Contamines and it would be a good late season bet for some families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I must admit -it was your Ste Foy thread that got me started on investigating smaller resorts Layne
Last year we stayed in La Tour at the top of Chamonix, but because of the time of year (second week in Jan) there were no kids ski school classes running, so we had to drive down to Argentiere every day. We found this so convenient with small children who can't. (don't want!) to walk far in ski boots as we turned up early enough to find a parking space right next to the lift and walk over to ski school in ordinary footwear, change there and then leave their shoes in the car. It was so preferable that when we skied in La Tour in the afternoon we would do exactly the same despite being only 300m or so from the lift!
So whilst I'm not considering a half hour drive to the slopes, a five minute run to a nice large car park would be ideal!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
annaa, I really relate to your point about car parking, which I why I mentioned it as a potential downside of GB. We have not been there at Easter but have done a couple of Christmas trips. It would not be somewhere I would book far in Advance for an Easter trip as it is a bit of a trek to anywhere else if the snow in GB is really poor. It is a lovely place to ski though and would certainly recommend it in good snow conditions. I don`t know anything about the ski school though as we did not use it for our 3.
Since you are driving, and if you are willing to chance it given that it is not the busiest of times, maybe book your channel crossings well in advance to get the 'best' prices, and leave the 'exactly where' decision to very last minute. Samoens (and other places not much further) has lots of accommodation so I doubt you would have too much problem at that time of year. If you drive to the lifts we always thought it made little difference if its a 5 min drive or a 25 min drive, which hugely increases the area over which you can look for accommodation.
Xmas and Easter choices for us have most frequently been in and around Bourg St Maurice because there is the huge car park (for which I think there is now a charge) at the bottom of the funiculaire and a shop where you can hire kit and leave it there every night, taking you up to Les Arcs and its an easy drive to Val D'Isere or La Rosiere giving you a choice of ski areas. The additional drive time seemed a small price to pay in years when the snow was iffy early or late season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
My one concern about leaving it until the last minute is that we would be unable to get the children into ski school. I'm sure this would be a problem in half term, but how likely is it at Easter?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
annaa - I have just booked our Easter trip. Only our first one restricted to school holidays so not much experience but I e-mailed around 5 ski schools over 3 resorts that are known to have good Easter snow records. 2 resorts had availability but 1 resort (3 ski schools I tried) were already full for group lessons and only had afternoon slots left for private. We needed lessons for 5 children and have booked places now. Cancellation policy for a full refund on our one is quite short though, around 2-4 weeks I think, so I guess you could book lessons just in case depending on their cancellation policy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
SkiPenguin - do you mind if I ask which resorts they were? I guess one is Montgenevre from your thread, but the other two?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Obergurgl and Avoriaz. Obergurgl had availability but we ruled it out mainly as the ski school lessons are 10-3 with an hour for lunch and decided that was too long a day for a 5 year old. Also it worked out more expensive than our other two resorts overall.
Avoriaz was the one that had little availability, however i only tried a couple of their ski schools and there are more in the resort.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not sure if it has to be France, but have skied the last four Easters at the Stubai Valley near Innsbruck (11 hours from Calais). Snow is always great and the resort is set up for families at Gamsgarten where there are gentle nursery slopes and great Childcare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
annaa, I can understand that concern about ski school and booking and others have obviously experienced difficulties!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
annaa, I suspect that ski school booking difficulties are much more likely in the resorts - such as Avoriaz - which attract large number of Eastering Brits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions - having spoken to my parents today (they may come too, which is great for a bit of free childcare on a couple of afternoons!) it looks like it maybe Samoëns - though I've now got a good list for future years......! Your suggestion Snowsartre will definately be one of those, particularly if the keep offering free lift passes for under 10s
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I would suggest either Saas Fee, Switzerland (although this can be pricey) it is beautiful, great for families and very snow sure. It is described as one of the most traditional, prettiest resorts in the alps.
Second choice would be Pila, Italy (my personal fave and is where my partner and I shall be living for the season) again, great for kids, VERY quiet compared to French resorts and cheap. You can stay in the Valley (Aosta) or on the mountain (Pila) I would suggest staying in Aosta. The gondola up to resort is very short anyway! Hope this helps
Lottie
www.nexuscamps.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
