Poster: A snowHead
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Hi SnowHeads, I need some help deciding where to go for a late booked deal over Easter, from 4/4 to 11/4. I will be driving there. I'm looking to book accommodation late to keep costs down and looking at self-catering with a view to budgeting around €500 on some cheap digs.
I've so far been looking at Les Menuires - where there is a good choice of ski schools - Val Thorens and La Plagne. All reasonably high for late season snow.
Last few years have been to St Martin de Belleville and Vallandry which were nice, but those occasions were with a group of adults/kids of mixed abilities so we were all able to keep ourselves amused.
This time it will be just myself, my 15 y.o. son and 8 y.o. daughter. It will be my daughter's first ski trip so I want a very good English speaking ski school. Last year at Vallandry we used ESF, and found them to be pretty poor. May have been bad luck. Hence the reason for looking at Les Menuires or Val Thorens as the Prosneige school seems to have excellent reviews.
Would be much obliged if any experienced skiers can give some tips on some of the best locations to look at? Ideally want a location that has some other things to do to keep the kids occupied even if its just a decent couple of bars with other kids to mix with (and for me to chill with a drink!).
Regards!
Jason
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi Jason,
we've just come back from La Plagne (Belle Plagne) and we had a ball, in the weeks leading up to our trip there had been some good dumps of snow and while we were there the sun was shining and it was warm so we managed to have great skiing in sunny weather.
My only worry is that the temperature was quite high and there was a lot of snow loss in the lower slopes, not sure if its going to get any better by April, but ask for updates from those coming back.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Gilbern74, if you went back to Vallandry, there is the New Generation school which generally gets good reviews.
Always luck of draw, but we've used ESF before in Vallandry and had no issues
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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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@Sack the Juggler, When you say the lower slopes how low do you mean?
I am looking for one more week end of season and La Plange 1800 seems to be on most TO's websites but I am a little concerned 1800 will be too low that time of year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just got this email from Silver Ski - Manchester only flights so maybe no good for the OP who is in London, but others might be interested
5TH APRIL
Last Few Holidays Remaining:
Chalet Kings Hame, Meribel - 2 Rooms @ £399pp
Chalet Jacques, Meribel - 1 Room @ £429pp
Calet Jacqueline, La Tania - 3 Rooms @ £429pp
Chalet Sonjon II, Courchevel - 2 Rooms @ £399pp
Chalet Du Praz, Courchevel - 1 Room - £419pp
Chalet Topaz, Plagne Soleil - 2 Rooms @ £429pp
Chalet Bon Coin, Plagne Village - 3 Rooms @ £399pp
(Manchester Only - Add £40 Airport Security Charges to all of the above prices)
Call Us Now on
01622 735544
www.silverski.co.uk
Email: silvers@silverski.co.uk
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chrisrawles wrote: |
@Sack the Juggler, When you say the lower slopes how low do you mean?
I am looking for one more week end of season and La Plange 1800 seems to be on most TO's websites but I am a little concerned 1800 will be too low that time of year. |
I've stayed at Les Coches at 1450m in a bad year from about April 10th. All the links were kept open. We are able to ski back to Les Coches. Don't get me wrong, conditions weren't great generally but there was still plenty of piste skiing to be done higher up. At 1800 you will definitely be OK.
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Was in Plagne Centre last week..... conditions are great.....pistes are all good......lots to do. Sledging from the top of the Colorado was a blast and my mate did the Luge which was awesome. Great place for kids.
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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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chrisrawles wrote: |
@Sack the Juggler, When you say the lower slopes how low do you mean?
I am looking for one more week end of season and La Plange 1800 seems to be on most TO's websites but I am a little concerned 1800 will be too low that time of year. |
Hi Chris,
all the runs around plagne 1800 were fine, we had a great weeks skiing, mostly warm and sunny so by the end of the week there were some patches starting to show lower down, if it stays cold for the rest of the season then it should be ok, but best check with those coming back each week to see how its holding up.
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@Sack the Juggler, Thats what i thought. I have found a few options in 1800 but don't want to book just yet in case a heat wave suddenly hits!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thank you everyone for your priceless advice
Last year I took a day to go over the Vanoise link to the La Plagne area and was impressed by the long smooth pistes over there, and thinking at the time it would be a good place to bring my daughter to learn to ski. So you've swayed me to take a keen interest in that area.
I've started looking at some decent cheap studios available in Belle Plagne. There seems to be some good choice still available. Also there seems to be a good choice of ski schools that I can look at.
@Sack the Juggler, can I ask what other things you found to do in Belle Plagne (evenings) and does anyone know how that compares with the other resorts in/around La Plagne?
Thanks!
Jason
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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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@Gilbern74, BP would be good for the height it gives you at that time of year and for ski-in ski-out.
Not the liveliest of places after dark but there are a few bars and restaurants and you can always use the cable car / free buses to access other bits of LP.
There is a gym/spa and down in Bellecote there is a bigger indoor/outdoor public swimming pool (certainly open afternoons - dunno about evenings).
Is the Saloon - sometimes topless, noisy bar still going? That's in BP.
This might help...
http://www.la-plagne.com/en/winter/guide/shops/bars/belle-plagne.html
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You know it makes sense.
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my kids generally mucked around in the snow - preferably toboganning, even if on black poly bags - and sometimes enjoyed playing "family games" in the evenings and were ready for earlier than usual bed time. I don't remember any other "activities" though one of the chalet hotels we went to had a kids room which showed videos in the evenings. But 15 and 8 is quite an age gap so I guess they do very different stuff.
Does the apartment have wifi? That'd help a good deal.
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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 is a bowling alley in one of the bars in BP - if your kids like that ???
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You'll have no worries at all on snow Gilbern74 - unsettled all next week with snow to relatively low levels for almost April .
Should be great.
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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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La Plagne will be brilliant! I had a lesson with Oxygene and thought the instructor was excellent.
Have a fab time, I love LP
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