 Poster: A snowHead
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Morning all
I was hoping to get some advice on these two for a weeks skiing over new year as I haven't been to either.
It's going to be me and my girlfriend plus my sister and her husband. My brother and law and I will be skiing together and will be looking to be off piste as much as possible and will be ready for touring.
The girls will likely be skiing in the morning and might have lessons but will be into nice lunches and drinks. They might also take a couple of days off to mooch around town.
So in short we are looking for a nice village, good food and good bars but not crazy apres. Advice on shorter lift queues also much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
James
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Serre Chevalier is much under rated as a ski resort but has all the things you are looking for. Sauze D'oulx is probably good value for money but did have a bit of a reputation for hard drinking night life.
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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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Thanks! Definitely leaning that way....
J
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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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Serre Chevalier has great off piste and the girls can take the free bus into Briancon to shop! I was there last year and agree that it is much underrated.
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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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@welshskier, +1, it is a great place for all.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've not skied a lot in Sauze but have skied Serre Che quite a bit, it's a great place to ski. What would sway it for me booking in advance early season is that the more common weather systems drop more snow on Serre Che and have the Italian side in a bit of a rain shadow. This is not always the case I believe last march had huge quantities of snow in Italy but based on quite a large number of trips to and from Turin airport it appears to be more commonly the case.
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Sauze and the MilkyWay aren't known for good early season snow so xmas/NY might be a risk. However the 2 xmas visits I've done there, one had plenty with 3/4 open, in a season when early snow was a rare commodity across the rest of the alps and the second was epic with everything open and several mornings of fresh powder; So you might get lucky. Sauze has a bit of a party reputation but at xmas seemed quiet.
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Thanks everyone. Serre chevalier now booked up and can't wait.
Have a good season everyone.
J
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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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@kesone1,
Have a great trip.we're out there on 17th January staying at the (not so) Grand hotel.Any other snowheads out that week?
Check out the tourist office website for some extra activities.there's even the chance to go in the snowploughs,as well as the hot springs etc
Enjoy
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...sorry meant Piste bashers!!!!
Snowploughs are what I do!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@lambert, I'm here all year so hit me up for a ski 
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Why do people on this thread prefer Serre Chevalier to Sauze? Are the prices 'French' in SC or are they friendly like Italy?
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You know it makes sense.
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Both !
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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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I last skied Sauze about 40 years ago and was in Serre Chevalier last year so I may be biased, but I'll be in Sauze in January and will be better placed to compare. However, SC really is great for offpiste, and good on piste through the larch forest, as well as being handily placed near a real town.
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Poster: A snowHead
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What does that mean?
See, I'm pretty in love with Sauze. Refugios are friendly, and many are nice sunny places. The tree line is very high, and the tree skiing is great fun. 3 days after a dump, I can still find fresh tracks.
And say what you want about drag lifts, but the skiing off those drags lifts is just so much fun! And because they are drag lifts, it keeps the rift-raft away that can only ski if they 'sit' on the uplift.
And then of course, the price of said food. I ski with my two kids, and it's mama-money-bags, but in Italy, I say 'yes' all day long. When we have skied France, we pack our lunch in the backpack, I get a morning coffee, the kids split a hot chocolate, and in the afternoon they can choose from another hot chocolate or a crepe. Otherwise I'd be broke after the first day.
All that said, I've haven't skied Serre - and just wondering what I'm missing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@HeidiAmsterdam, Welshskier sums it up, I am biased though!
One thing I do miss is the Italian mountain restaurants, just don't get them in France! But luckily as SC is a very "French" resort, the food here is good and not as expensive as most...
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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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@KenX,
That would be great.maybe see you at Grand or send me contact details ( not sure how to do it privately on snowheads)
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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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@KenX, Right. So, it's a personal choice as well.
For me, the off piste in Sauze - Sansicario is fun enough. Refugios are more important than shopping.
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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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@lambert, Grand may not be very grand but last year the food was excellent and the location couldn't be better.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Serre Che is great all round ski resort and Briancon is a lovely town. The lift system isn't as great as othe large ski resorts in France but that's all part of the charm. There aren't two many places around with high altitude bowl skiing, low level tree skiing and charming towns to boot.
Some of the home runs have some quite steep sections so check them out before you plan your route home. I saw more carnage on the late runs home at Serre Che than anywhere else I've skied. To be fair though is was just after a warm spell with rain to 1700m and then a re-freeze. I think you'd be unlucky to get those conditions but it is always a danger in southerly, relatively low towns. It's easily avoided though by taking lifts both ways over the icey zone.
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@welshskier,
Good to know.thanks for confirmation.looking forward to good food and good skiing
Bring on the snow
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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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@Weathercam,
You analysis was much appreciated by me. I shall try to venture over to SC at some point as I will be in the Via Lattea area from 13 December until 4 January....
I hope to be skiing, but should snow fail me in the early days, we'll be indulging ourselves in spa treatments and shopping, interspersed with snow dance.
I'll have a car, so I'll be mobile to snow chase, but hoping we paid our lack of early season snow dues last year, and this year shall be fruitfully rewarded in abundance... that said, this tropical weather does not bode well.
But, anything is possible!
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@HeidiAmsterdam, I'm not too sure when I'll be heading out, if snow arrives early then could be around a similar date or even earlier!
Ciao
Oh and one another thing When pronouncing Oulx it's not Ouuuu but Oulckse if that makes sense 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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So you DO pronounce the X on the end! I've always wondered exactly how you pronounce it, I've only ever heard it as Sowzee Doo.
You learn something every day 
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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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@HoneyBunny, or is that Suzie does or suzie doesn't?
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Our Piemontese neighbour pronounces it 'ultsz'
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You know it makes sense.
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@Hells Bells, 'ultsz' or 'Oulckse' but not Dooooooooooooooo
In the summer I did a couple of rides on the other side of the valley and this shot shows various options from the top of Sestriere down to the valley road and the tree runs down to Sansicario and beyond.
If you ski all the way down to the road then you'll have to hitch back to the van at Cesana.
Depending on the snow we either part up in Cesana or drive up to Sansicario - and it is SOOOOOOO quiet there !!
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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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^stunning!
@Hells Bells,
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'll be in Sansicario the 3rd week. My sister and family are joining us, including my 3 year old nephew. He isn't showing to be too adventurous, so wanted an apartment for him... but still think we would have been better off at Orso...but oh well. It's Christmas and family and skiing, so it's all good.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Weathercam, by the way. Do you have a tip for a private transfer to Milanpense from Sansicario that is less than 400 EUR?
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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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@HeidiAmsterdam, think I'd investigate taking train from Oulx into Turin and then train / bus out to Malpensa which is where I presume you meant?
As I've only driven it once and it's a fecking long haul and traffic can be horrendous!
And 90% sure that the train that comes down from Paris stopping at Oulx goes on to Milan, as I think it's the Turin / Milan express?
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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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@kesone1, Do post a report as always looking for good new year venue. Cervinia this year.
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FAQ
