 Poster: A snowHead
|
I'm looking into booking a week at a catered chalet in early February 2016, either the first or second week (which I believe will avoid the holiday rush). We are a couple in our 30's from the US. We will spend about a week in Paris before heading up to the mountains.
Right now the front runner is somewhere in the Three Valleys, possibly Meribel or somewhere nearby. Being our first time skiing in Europe, I'd prefer something relatively user friendly. We are intermediate skiers and have tried several locations in the US. We won't be doing much partying, and would rather have a nice quiet town with good food and drink. Non-skiing activities are a plus but not a must.
One note is that we will need to get back to the US by Sunday. Easy access to a major airport would be a plus, or check out on Saturday to spend a travel day back to Paris. For example, I was thinking that if we did Three Valleys we could leave out of Geneva rather than make our way back to Paris.
What would be the best time to look for accommodations? I see some places that are taking reservations for 2016, others that don't have the schedule listed.
Are there any other places that would fit what we're looking for? I'd like to stick with places in France.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@mgchan, welcome to SnowHeads 
You have a PM (top right, send/read messages).
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 3-02-15 10:39; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@mgchan, if you are an intermediate skier who likes an extensive ski area, well connected, lots of ski-in / out accommodation, and guaranteed snow, accessible to GVA, 3 valleys would be am excellent option. If money not an issue then stay in Courchevel 1800. If altitude not an issue stay in Val Thorens. I have not stayed in Meribel but I do hear complaints about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Have a look at la tania or meribel village for something quieter but still in the heart of the 3v network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Just as another option if you pick one of the resorts near Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Courchevel, Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Arcs, Val d'Isère) you can catch the train back to Paris.
Not necessarily quicker/cheaper/more convienient but more relaxed, you get to see a bit more of France out the windows and you're going to spend enough time in an airport/on a plane the following day!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| mgchan wrote: |
| One note is that we will need to get back to the US by Sunday. Easy access to a major airport would be a plus |
I think Geneva would be your best option for flying back to the US - it is a major airport. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
I think Geneva would be your best option for flying back to the US - it is a major airport. wink
|
When they were thinking of uniting Lyon and Geneva airports the idea was that Lyon would be the intercontinental hub and Geneva for Europe. The plan never happened but I still tend to think of Lyon as more intercontinental.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@mgchan,
Meribel would be a good option but I would suggest Courchevel 1850 if budget extends to that. Courchevel 1650 is a bit cheaper but nice. I like La Tania but it is may be too quiet - think you might prefer somewhere you could stroll around shops and bars given that you are not in a big group.
Another thought would be St Martin de Belleville - very pretty and quiet.
FLights via Geneva would work.
I'd be tempted to call Supertravel and VIP Ski and see what they can offer you (both good 3V chalet operators).
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
French school holidays start 6 February 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think 3V will be the best option for us as we can either make our way back to Paris or fly out of Geneva depending on flights. I had previously looked into St. Martin de Belleville and will do some research on Courchevel. I'm willing to do some spending for a nice trip but of course money spent in one place means less money at other places.
Is now a good time to look for accommodations for next year or should I wait until later in the season? Some locations are not yet showing availability/prices for 2016. Also, am I mostly tied into a full 7 night stay or are there options for shorter stays (e.g. 5 nights). From what I can tell, most require a 7 night stay and check out either Sunday or Saturday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
In St Martin a few years ago we met a very very helpful lady and she runs a company called Ski Talini. she was ace, really helped us out of a bit of a fix and we weren't even staying with her. You could look up her chalets as they are in central St Martin de B. There is almost nothing to do in St Martin apart from Ski. Even the walking trails we found a bit uninspiring but maybe we were missing something .... but it is quite nice and French, and as far from a megalopolis as it's possible to get.
If you want really really really quiet (!) I recommend Chalet Chardon Bleu outside of St Martin. It's currently run by a fab couple, the food's good, it's not too dear at all, there's a hot tub outside, and they transfer you to the slopes and back every day. However, it is located in a tiny tiny hamlet with nothing around it, and you can't walk anywhere from it. If you have a car, less of an issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Can anyone suggest how far in advance to start looking to book accommodations? A lot of the places I see now are booked for this season, but don't have availability listed for next season yet.
Also, just to clarify, when a chalet lists a price at (X) is that price typically per person, for a week? or per night?
Is it more difficult to find a shared chalet as just a couple, and would it be better to look into a hotel that is more flexible on nights? I do not necessarily need to spend a full week, and might consider just 4-5 nights.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@mgchan, the price for chalets is usually a 7 night stay, with dinner on 6 only (breakfast and afternoon tea are usually provided on that day) including wine. The price is pp. some chalets do offer flexible stays but generally only out of the main school holidays (so perhaps not good for you with a planned early Feb stay) and with short notice when they see any gaps. Hotels will offer a per night price, but - again - in holiday periods your choices will be less as the hotels can fill the rooms for a week so are less inclined to allow short stays.
If you arrive, say, last week of January, you should have more options. PM me if you need more help 😀
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I second the suggestion of St Martin-it's a charming traditional village,with good links into the whole 3v area. It's my favourite resort in the 3V, so maybe I'm biased. There are some rather smart chalets there, which tend to be owner operated businesses (better quality than tour operators). It s not all ski in ski out, but the chalets run by Ski Talini are as near as makes no difference. There are some nice restaurants, a few bars, and that's about it. There are some walking paths and you can go dog sledding along the Doron valley. Les Menuires (unspeakably ugly, but good skiing) is just up the road and has a big sports complex if you want to go for a swim.
Also you might want to check out La Tania, as there are loads of small chalet companies there...see www.latania.co.uk which has links to most if not all of them. Try and avoid french school hols if you can- why ski on busier slopes when you can ski on quieter ones!
The other resorts have all sorts of advantages and disadvantages, depending on what you prefer. Val Thorens is high, not very pretty and can be rather bleak and cold, but has great snow. Meribel...attractive but spread out so sccess to the lifts can involve a bus. It is central though, so you can go in either direction easily. With one or two exceptions, I'm not a great fan of the skiing in Meribel itself. Courchevel 1850 has great skiing, Courchevel 1650 ditto, but perhaps more of a mission to explore the whole 3v. Though Le Praz is pretty, the runs down to the village can be hard and icy.
Despite the vastness of the ski area, it is very easy to get about and explore all of the resorts skiing on offer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
Lyon as more intercontinental
|
Logical as Lyon has no intercontinental flights* whereas Geneva has quite a few and is considering extending the runway to accept A380s...
*well, a couple if you consider Dubai or Algeria to be intercontinental
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Yes to whoever said don't go in the french school holidays. If you can time it so that it's before they start, you will do so much better IME and will have lovely quiet slopes. In Europe in school holidays you can get busy pistes and lift lines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
If your timing falls into the french school holidays go to Italy. Or somewhere. bu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
