 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello folks, I'm a new member here, so hi! I've been skiing for the last 30 years or so (I was fortunate enough to live in Aviemore as a child and have a ski instructor for a father!) and class myself as "reasonably intermediate".
After much negotiation, I have persuaded my wife and son to come away for a long weekend's skiing at the end of January. They are both essentially beginners - my wife is a nervous low intermediate and my lad (11) has way more confidence than style at the moment!!
The destination was left with me with the strict request of "please find somewhere good for us and not just all blacks and off piste for you". So, after much research, I have booked a hotel in Les Saisies for 4 days, as it seems to be pretty beginner / nervous skier friendly (I'm more than happy carving on greens and blues for a weekend - I just love being on the snow). The challenge is that because it's one of the less well known places (a good thing!), there doesn't seem to be many English reviews of the skiing there.
If anyone has skied there and knows it well, I'd be really grateful for any information / tips etc.
Thanks
Schmalex
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@schmalex, PS, welcome to Snowheads! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Les Saisies would probably suit pretty well, but to be honest there are only a tiny handful of very specialist resorts in the world which are "just all blacks and off piste". Pretty much every ski resort caters for beginners fairly well.
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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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Thanks for the replies, folks. I took them to Tignes Val Claret a couple of years back and they thoroughly enjoyed the greens up at the top, but were a bit put off by the run back into the resort at the end of the day. They skied the red from the top of Grande Motte back into the village beautifully (my lad snowploughed most of it, so his legs must have been burning by the end!!), but it was a little too much for my wife and some of the steeper, icier sections put her off a little - hence why I'm looking for a very gentle place this time!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Les Saisies is part of the Espace Diamant which is a big linked area with plenty of skiing to suit beginner to intermediate skiers .. assuming it has snow of course. We stay over in Saint Gervais but one of our kids favorite days out starts in Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe and ends over in Crest-Voland which is right next to Saisies .. all of these areas are lift / drag linked and our usual circuit can be done all on greens and blues .. reds and a few blacks are around but not required .. as others have said tho pam w is the local expert ..
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I guess I am.... been out on my snowshoes in the forest this morning, having got a bit tired of my visitors... 
Les Saisies should suit you perfectly. If there's anything specific you want, e.g. recommended ski instructors, let me know. How will you travel? Apart from an expensive private taxi transfer a rented car is the only practicable way of getting here. Are you staying in le Calgary? Very nice.
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We're staying in Le Very. It was all a bit last minute and they were the only place that had availability. It looks fine on the website, so fingers crossed!! To be fair, we're only there for 3 nights and intend to be on the slopes all day, every day.
We've rented a car at Geneva, as it seemed the most practical and cost effective way of transferring.
Are the main lifts pretty accessible from the centre, or is it a bit of a clump in boots?
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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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@schmalex, the main lifts are easily accessible, not much clumping required. I'm sure Le Véry will be absolutely fine.
However you said you had "persuaded" your wife, a nervous beginner, to do the trip. Maybe deciding now that you will be on the slopes "all day every day" is not such a great idea? The weather might be horrible - blizzard, high winds, or even if it's nice she might prefer not to be dragooned around the slopes all day! There are lots of other nice things to do including a new sports centre with a smart swimming pool, spa treatments etc. Or even a walk with beautiful snowy views to Mont Blanc and the Hauteluce Valley.
If she would like some private lessons I could recommend an instructor "sympa". Et plutot sexy.....
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Hehe. I'm hoping for lots of skiing, but am just happy to drink wine and build snowmen if it comes to it!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'm not joking about a ski instructor.... If your wife is a nervous and reluctant beginner a couple of private lessons could help enormously.
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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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I've mentioned it to her and she's taken instruction pretty much every other time we've been - despite what she says, she's actually very good but just lacks a little confidence to really lean on the ski. She's thinking about instruction at the moment, as I agree, it makes a world of difference
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| pam w wrote: |
| Et plutot sexy |
@schmalex, i am assured by a close friend that a fit body to follow helps a lot - she always brazenly asks for a young instructor with a tight bum.
Certainly always has a big smile at the end of each lesson
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You know it makes sense.
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She's got me for that!
Oh...
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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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Are the main lifts pretty accessible from the centre, or is it a bit of a clump in boots?
last time i was there five years ago, you got out of the car, you put the boots on, (the piste is about 10m away) ski for 200m, catch a 4 man, which heads over the buildings of the resort
So to answer the question, v accessible
From memory, as you approach from NBD . Crest, large carpark on rhs,
The runs aren't the longest in the world, but very scenic
Overall, one of the nicest ski resorts I've skied, nice atmosphere
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
catch a 4 man, which heads over the buildings of the resort
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much faster 6 man now.....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Pam. Speaking with the ski hire shop (ski Republic concession), they suggested that try had a locker down by the piste that we could use. Would it be worth it, or is Le Very close enough to a lift for a carry?
Sorry for all the dumb questions, but I want to make it as easy as possible for my OH to have a fab, stress-free time!! The
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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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@schmalex, I don't think you'd have any problem carrying skis from Le Very. Uphill in the morning, downhill at the end of the day. But if you want to keep it as easy as possible rent from Piccard Sport whose shop is that bit nearer the "front de neige" and also right on top of the meeting place for the private lessons with Glisse Passion, the ESI (who I would strongly recommend rather than the ESF). I don't know where that Ski Republic place is and can't make sense of what it says on their website. It says they are opposite the ESF but that's not what's indicated on the map. And where are their lockers? Can't help there, I'm afraid. Unless they are offering big savings I'd go with Piccard Sports.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks. The concession is STARSKI SPORTS. They were some €80 cheaper than Piccard or Ducrey Sports!!!
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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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@schmalex, I could see it was Starski sports (googled) but I didn't know where their shop was and, as I said couldn't make sense of their website. Ducrey Sport are much cheaper through Skimium and there are all sorts of discounts. Ask them exactly where their lockers are.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the info. I will ask them. I think the shop is located by the Olympic restaurant, so I'll check it out on arrival. I costed the rental up through Skimium, but the difference was still significant. Sadly, whilst my French is OK, it's not quite up to a good old haggle!!
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If it really is by the Olympe restaurant that's pretty near to the front de neige (everything is pretty near, really) but that's not really "opposite the ESF". Next time I'm in the village I'll have a look.
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Great, thank you!
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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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@schmalex, Les Saisies is a great area and perfect for your needs (providing, as Pam says, that you organise the right ski instructor for your wife - it will be worth it in the long run )
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hmm. Thanks for that. I've mailed them to confirm that they are still honoring orders placed. Will have to wait and see what they come back with. I've worked in a few companies in administration and it's not always the end of the world if they can secure the appropriate re-financing...
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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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Pam W. A quick question if I may. Driving up from Geneva, is it recommended to come through Megeve, or through Annecy and Ugine?
Bearing in mind there may be a little snow on the road up the hill on Friday afternoon, which route would you say has the most chance of being ploughed?
Getting very excited about this coming weekend now - it has all the makings of some lovely fresh powder skiing (albeit, I expect the visibility will be a little rubbish!)
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Well. We arrived home last night after a fantastic weekend in Les Saisies!
Having driven up the hill on Friday afternoon in blizzard conditions, we were greeted by the most beautiful little town. The hotel (Le Very) was basic, but well placed, very reasonably priced, clean and warm.
We hired through Ski Republic and their concessionaire, Star Ski sports (opposite the ESF building) kitted us out with very new gear and were most helpful. They have a ski locker near the Front de Neige that we rented for the weekend, which meant we didn't have to lug our ski's up and down the street at the start and end of the day.
It snowed hard all Friday evening and put down somewhere near 75cm overnight, but we woke up to crystal clear blue skies and plenty of fresh powder on Saturday morning. Had a fantastic day all day Saturday in increasing cloud. The snow started again on Saturday night and absolutely chucked it down all day Sunday. Visibility going up the Chard du Buerre lift was down to 150m or so at times, but the skiing was incredible - powder on the pistes, light wasn't too flat, quiet runs and lifts.
Overall, the skiing was excellent - lots of gentle blues down to the town, which really suited the family as they were able to really build their confidence without having to trek a long way to enjoy some more cruisy runs.
All in all, it was a fantastic weekend and, whilst not the most challenging skiing I have done, it was certainly some of the most enjoyable due to the condition of the pistes, the friendliness of the locals and the scenery while skiing through the trees. For sure, we'll be going back!
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You know it makes sense.
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nice review, sounds like you had an excellent time. I have my fingers crossed for a resurgence of winter and a 75cm dump when we head back there in April 
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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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@schmalex, sorry not to have responded. Am in Italy. I usually go through megeve. Did you get to the new Bellastat lift or anywhere beyond the Saisies bowl?
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Poster: A snowHead
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No problem - hope Italy is fun!
We went up through Megeve on Friday. The snowfall was absolutely biblical on the way up the mountain!!! At NDB, things started getting very slippery and we very nearly had to put the chains on the car, but managed to keep some momentum up!
We stayed in the Saisies bowl to be honest, mainly skiing the Mont Bisanne, Chard du Buerre and La Legette peaks. We only had 2 1/2 days & the weather was pretty dire on Sunday, so I wanted the family to enjoy the runs that we had and stay pretty close to the village so that they could enjoy frequent Vin Chaud, Pression and Chocolat Chaud stops!
What a truly stunning place it is, though! We will definitely be back (and probably for a week) so that we can explore the whole Espace Diamant area.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@schmalex, ah yes, that area is mostly very gentle. More challenging skiing in the area, including on the chamois lift and the black down to BISANNE 1500 though it's not an area for hot-shot skiers.
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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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... and we are back off to Les Saisies again this year.
For the first time ever, my wife said "if you are pretty sure there'll be snow, why don't we book a week's skiing between Christmas and New Year there again" as she enjoyed it so much last season! No sooner had she spoken than I was online and booked it up
Fingers crossed now for a good snowfall before Christmas, as I'm going to look very ordinary if we end up mountain biking for a week...
Why are hire cars at GVA so bloody expensive?!?!?!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If you're up for a small amount of increased hassle you can hire on the French side of GVA for a lot less usually but beware:
- Finding the mythical 'French sector' is not easy though well publicised online now
- The cars will not come with Swiss motorway passes which you will need to buy
- Snow chains are rarely standard on French hire cars but seem to be on Swiss hire cars.
Use somewhere like AutoEurope.co.uk to hunt out the best deals.
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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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Yeah. I looked at going from the French sector and, quite frankly, the saving was only about €40, so by the time you've factored in the Vignette / winterisation fees and hassle factor in, it really isn't worth it. To put it into context, I've just booked a rental Focus for a week in Mallorca at the end of this month for £70 (full to full, so no fuel scam), whereas HolidayAutos / AutoEurope all want a minimum of £230 for a Vauxhall Adam for week from 26/12 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Chains are not Always provided with the Swiss cars either. Need to check. Unless there's a big price difference use the Swiss side for the snow tyres and vignette. I didn't know there was a week between Christmas and new year.....
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It is perfectly possible to get from Geneva airport to France and back without using the Swiss autoroute, you don't have to buy a vignette.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Chains are not Always provided with the Swiss cars either. Need to check. Unless there's a big price difference use the Swiss side for the snow tyres and vignette. I didn't know there was a week between Christmas and new year..... |
It never feels like it with family here every year, hence the decision to feed everyone on Christmas Day, kick 'em out early on Boxing Day and then head to the slopes, sharpish!!
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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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That'll be the new year week then which will, I'm afraid, be busy and expensive. Where are you planning to stay?
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Sadly, yes it'll be busy, but it was either put up with a little more bustle, or possibly forego skiing for the year, as my wife and I both have pretty hectic work travel schedules during Q1 and Q2 and our son's school is starting to clamp down on un-authorised absence (quite rightly).
We're staying at Le Very again. It offers everything we need and isn't too expensive to take a studio for that week (it's in the €hundreds, rather than the €thousands that some places are asking for for that week and, with the strong pound, it's all converting quite well at the moment!).
What's the snow like there at Christmas time, generally?
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FAQ
