 Poster: A snowHead
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I am looking for some advice please.
I'm a competent skier, and I am looking forward to spending much of the coming season in the Grand Massif.
My wife and I will be living in Samoens and we are keen to get the most from the experience. I'm wondering if it is worthwhile considering trying to find a local guide who can ski with us for a few weeks to help us get the most from the area?
I'm thinking a local guide will know all of the best runs, best off-piste etc.
On the one hand it might be a bit extravagant to hire someone for a long period of time and might end up not being necessary, but on the other maybe it is a good way of seeing everything the Grand Massif area has to offer.
Would be great to hear from anyone who has considered taking this approach to know how it worked out for you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
| ...a local guide who can ski with us for a few weeks... |
Expect to pay about €450 a day.
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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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| altis wrote: |
| Quote: |
| ...a local guide who can ski with us for a few weeks... |
Expect to pay about €450 a day. |
I understand if I go to the local ski school and ask for a guide for a few days it would be that price. But do you think the price would be that much if I hired a local directly for a few weeks?
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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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@eddiesteadygo, how much do you think they would expect to earn in a day, given the work is seasonal? I thought guides generally worked for themselves.
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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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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @eddiesteadygo, how much do you think they would expect to earn in a day, given the work is seasonal? I thought guides generally worked for themselves. |
Lots of guiding take places via ski-schools. Also I usually hire private instructor for my children when they go skiing, so I'm familiar with the general costs.
Just wondering about the option of a longer term ski guide with the focus not on instruction but being more about being an expert in the local area.
Would be good to hear if others have considered this and whether they found it to be useful.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Guides are already taking bookings for this coming winter. The chances of finding anyone with a window of 'a few weeks' by now is pretty slim - unless no one wants to book them 
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I'm sure that is true - I'm not necessarily looking for the timing to be continuous, as we have family and friends visiting for various dates.
I'm particularly interested if anyone has done it on a long term basis and whether it proved with hindsight to be worthwhile.
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@eddiesteadygo, I don't think there is any justification for hiring a guide for a long period...
A guide isn't going to have a limitless supply of off piste routes. So after a few days I would expect to have covered a lot what's on offer. Sure, there may be some offshoots and variations but you can explore those yourselves.
Another reason for a guide would be their local knowledge of where the best conditions would be. But you can probably figure quite a lot of that out yourself.
And finally, there is just the safety and companionship of skiing with more people than just you and the missus. But you can probably achieve that by getting to know some folks locally.
If you have the money to do it, then fair do's I am sure a guide would love the consistency of the work but personally I think I'd be more inclined to just use one for a couple of days here and there.
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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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| Layne wrote: |
@eddiesteadygo, I don't think there is any justification for hiring a guide for a long period...
A guide isn't going to have a limitless supply of off piste routes. So after a few days I would expect to have covered a lot what's on offer. Sure, there may be some offshoots and variations but you can explore those yourselves.
Another reason for a guide would be their local knowledge of where the best conditions would be. But you can probably figure quite a lot of that out yourself.
And finally, there is just the safety and companionship of skiing with more people than just you and the missus. But you can probably achieve that by getting to know some folks locally.
If you have the money to do it, then fair do's I am sure a guide would love the consistency of the work but personally I think I'd be more inclined to just use one for a couple of days here and there. |
Fair points. One minor problem I have is I will be there for some of the time on my own. Whilst skiing on my own in theory is fine, someone to ski with would be far more preferable. As you say, I will need to make an effort and post on the local facebook groups to see if I can find some like minded people 
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@eddiesteadygo,
The GM is not all that big. A competent skier ought to be able to hit most of it in a day, albeit not in depth. And ignoring outliers like Sixt.
So two or three days with an instructor ought to be sufficient for piste knowledge. I don’t think there are any “hidden” marvels.
Similarly, the GM is not “high” mountain so Flaine’s quasi-notorious holes aside, you don’t really need a mountain guide.
But if you don’t have the off piste and mountain skills to head off safely, a course or two would be sensible.
As for mates to ski with? Hang out in bars, social media, etc.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd spend a week or so learning the area myself then maybe take a guided day in each of the next couple of weeks ideally after snowfalls. Worth researching and observing the Flaine sinkholes though.
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