 Poster: A snowHead
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We're looking for possible ski destinations in 2017 at Easter (school holidays). I like the look of Val Thorens, but as we fancy going by train, it adds the hassle and cost of a transfer (especially since we're not travelling at the weekends).
With that in mind, I'm now considering Les Arcs, since Bourg St Maurice is at the bottom of the hill. We did Tignes this Easter and found shopping to be a pocket emptying experience. Hopefully the supermarket in Bourg will be a bit cheaper?
Anyway, enough of my rambling. As Easter is fairly late next year, would the Paradiski area be fairly snow sure? Is it crowded at that time? How would it compare to the Espace Killy for Easter skiing?
All comments appreciated 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think I have skied at Les Arcs most Easters for the last 15 years and always had a good time. The snow depth has always been sufficient but getting heavy towards the end of the day. I have even skied there at the very last day of the season and had a good time but the runs down to 1600 were closed. Have a look at the webcams and even though it is now June there is still plenty of snow about. If the lifts were not closed you could ski in 2000 today.
Easter is rarely busy but with Catholic and Orthodox being the same weekend in 2017 it may be a little busier. I suspect it will be about the same across all the Tarrentaise resorts. Last Easter there were some big queues in places but mostly it was straight onto the lifts. We waited 2 minutes for one lift, which is pretty bad.
Comparing it to Tignes for Easter the extensive glacier is clearly a big attraction and clearly better, but the rest of the resort is just about the same.
The bus transfer from Moutiers to Val Thorens is really no harder and possibly easier than the funicular to Les Arcs.
The supermarkets in Bourg are a little cheeper than the little one in Arc 1600 (I haven't tried the Lidl) so instead of carrying a big rucksack on the funicular or even driving down we simply shop locally and pay a few euros extra. Intermarche and SuperU are a fair trek from the funicular station. I am more tempted by the greater variety offered in Bourg. Why do French supermarkets have brilliant fish counters but the ones in the UK are a really sad encounter. In other words we go to Bourg to buy St. Jaques, stewing steak and fresh veg rather than to save money. In fact we often end up spending more.
See you in Les Arcs at Easter.
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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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Just to echo @johnE, train to moutiers then short transfer to Val Thorens seems pretty straight forward.
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Paradiski is very snowsure IME of going several times early and late season.
Shopping will be cheaper in Bourg than up the mountain.
The counter to the hassle of getting a transfer is not having to ride the funicular twice a day. You pays your money... Also, some prefer to be "in the mountains".
Wouldn't expect it to be busy.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thank you ever so much for your replies- they are all VERY helpful to me.
John/ Turnip- when you say bus transfers, is it simply a matter of getting on a regular bus, like you might do to get on the shops in England, or do they operate less regularly?
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@faithsdaddy, It is a local bus service, you catch it at Moutiers station and it takes you to Val Thorens, stopping at St Martin and Moutiers on the way. It runs to a specific timetable, which is more frequent at the weekend. IIRC there are quite a few through the day and of course they are coordinated with the train service.
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