 Poster: A snowHead
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A number of years ago through this fab site and via all you wonderful people, we were pointed in the direction of Puy St Vincent and Snowbizz. We are still head there religiously every year and we love it! We are off again for Easter and as we drive there and our kids are a bit older (now 9, 7 and 5 years), we thought we might stop at another resort on our 'way home'! So I was wondering if anyone could recommend somewhere that might fit the bill???!! It would be the first week in April. Looking for a small and safe resort, no need for off piste- greens/blues/forgiving reds is all we need so we can all ski together for a four days, would not need ski school, just a fun little adventure for the boys on the way home. Any ideas would be very gratefully received. Thank you SO much and happy Christmas!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not exactly on the way home but Risoul, just round the corner is an absolute gem of a resort. I haven't really met anyone who's skied it and not absolutely loved it.
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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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Maybe one of the Maurienne valley resorts?
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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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@pottercs2010, If you head up through Briancon and over the col de Montgenvre and then through the Frejus tunnel to get home. You will pass through or close to.
Serre Chevalier
The milky way resorts (Montgenevre, Claviere, Cesana Torinese etc)
Bardonecchia
The Maurienne valley with many resorts some a bit more of a drive than others from the main motorway..
I have skied a fair few of them but not all. Serre Che and the milky way are both large ski areas and maybe not exactly what you are looking for. But individual bits such as Montgenevre and Monetier can feel safe and compact. (Serre Che was where we took our kids skiing most Easters at similar ages to yours).
The Maurienne valley has a cornucopia of small safe attractive resorts not dissimilar but not identical to PSV.
A few to look out for.
Bonneval Sur Arc This is smaller and more compact than PSV but usually has really great late season snow due to its height, very attractive and a real gem. Its downside is the skiing is somewhat more challenging than PSV's and you need to be able to use tows which some don't like.
Val Cenis /Termignon slightly larger than PSV but a real family resort with the skiing you describe
Valfrejus A bit higher and attractive varied family skiing but a bit purpose built.
Hope this helps.
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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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@Hells Bells, and @T Bar, beat me to it, the Maurienne valley at french end of tunnel frejus. We went with children age 11/9 in late March for the first time to val cenis and had a really good week there. It's probably about 45mins from the tunnel to get there and nearly all the slopes are on the north facing side of the valley so has good chances of keeping snow later into the season.
We stayed in val cenis haut which is at 1500mtrs with walk out onto the snow access, and many blue, red runs to reach the whole area all the way up to 2800mtrs.
Cost is reasonable in comparison to some of the larger premier rated domains for both lift passes and eating out.
Bonnaville sur arc is the next (last) village up the valley and about 40mns further up than val cenis but as @T Bar, says a little more restrictive when compared to your demands but beautiful non the less.
Onward journey home from there is really easy as well with a very simple run out toward chambrey, dijon direction.
I met a representative from val cenis at the ski show in London about 7yrs ago and she did her best to get us to visit the area and was very proud of it, I only wish I'd taken notice sooner as it more than matches her enthusiasm.
Hope you find somewhere you like and that suits your journey.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@pottercs2010, depending on the snow, then there are eight resorts in the Queyras just over an hours drive from Puy.
Like I've said on here before if Walt Disney / Carlsberg designed a chocolate box ski resort then St Veran would be it!
And the added bonus is that you can ski one in the morning and the other in the afternoon and all are on the same lift pass, and after the main holidays that pass is 50% cheaper!
As well as Risoul there is also Vars which is actually a fair size only around 45 mins from Puy.
Last year we did a road trip from here in Serre doing Val Frejus, Val Cenis and Bonneval.
This year I'm I'm hoping to go to Valmorel and a few others further down the Maurienne
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St Veran is lovely but it does put you further away from UK than PSV.
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I remember Snow Bizz used to organise a day trip to Serre Chevalier so may be worth a try out before you go?
However my memory of that is probably 18 to 20 years ago!
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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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Thank you all so much. So very grateful for all your advice and now off to do a lot of goggling!! Many thanks again.
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Les 7 Laux and Chamrousse on the way to Grenoble, or smaller still Alpe de Grand Serre!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Serre Che has a real cult following. I know many people who say it is their favourite resort, all of them female for some bizarre reason. It has a terrific range of skiing and Briancon is beautiful for a night out and a meal. I've only skied there for one week but I personally found the lift system not up to the mountain but things may have changed since then or maybe it was just because I was there at New Year.
If you really enjoy Puy then I'd stay in the southern French Alps. In my humble opinion, the resorts are for more relaxed, less developed and offer a much nicer experience than the mid and northern Fench Alps. It's well worth the extra drive. I've yet to find a resort in the area that wasn't lovely. As I posted earlier, I think Risoul/Vars is brilliant possibly the best family resort in the world. My wife hates skiing and skiing holidays and even she enjoyed it.
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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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As somebody who has been to PSV lots, when we decided to drive once it struck me odd when driving through Montgenevre that we hadn't given there a try, given PSV was a longer drive still. So the following year we were in a catered chalet in Monty and loved it so much decided after that not to go back to PSV.
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