 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Why not look at Montgenevre ?
Finding cheap apartments seems a lot harder in Italy than France.
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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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we take out complete beginner secondary school students to Pila......they'll be fine 
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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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We liked Pila so much this year that we're probably going back next half-term too. Cheap accom available in Aosta thru AirBnB. Lots of school trips there with absolute beginners but, most of the time, we managed to avoid them:
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@altis, That's a beautiful picture
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@Tubaski, thanks.
It didn't take long to sleuth out fresh tracks to test Mrs A's comfort zone  but at least it demonstrates how quiet the place can be even at half-term with coach loads of British kids about on the easier slopes.
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I hate to say this as I'm not the greatest fan of French skiing and love Italian skiing but a few years ago we flew to Turin and drove to Risoul and had an absolutely amazing, great value time in a resort that is simply wonderful for families - pretty, snow sure, massive sweet shop on the main street, amazing sledging run, free beginners gondola thing, blue runs form the top of the mountain, great tree lined skiing over to Vars, amazing scenery, good value accommodation, great food... I could go on. I honestly haven't met anyone who's skied the place and hasn't loved it.
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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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@Hils68, Have a look at Courmayuer, we went half term this year with our 11yr old son. No queues for the lifts apart from maybe 3 mins getting on to main chair when the ski schools were setting off. It's a compact area, so it's very easy to get back to pick up the kids, our son was in ski school from 10.30, we were able to ski with him from 9 then drop him off for ski school, pick up at 1, lunch and ski some more.
We stayed in Pre St Didier which is 5km from Courmayuer in Village de alpio, through booking.com, they have a range of apartments, only built a couple of years ago, very good value. There's a bus that take 10 mins or so to the resort, it's a 5 min walk from the apartment and drops you off at the base station. It's a 10 min walk through town to get the return bus, you can leave your skis and boots at the hire shops, so there's no need to lug them around. We found the walk a good warm and warm down each day.
We're going back again for half term next year, but have booked an apartment through airrbnb in Courmayuer as we wanted to be nearer the town for eating out in the evenings. If you do go,the lift pass covers one trip up the Monte Bianco Skyway, we missed the last departure this year by 2 mins, but we will defiantly do it next time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| geoffknight wrote: |
@Hils68, Have a look at Courmayuer, we went half term this year with our 11yr old son. No queues for the lifts apart from maybe 3 mins getting on to main chair when the ski schools were setting off. It's a compact area, so it's very easy to get back to pick up the kids, our son was in ski school from 10.30, we were able to ski with him from 9 then drop him off for ski school, pick up at 1, lunch and ski some more.
We stayed in Pre St Didier which is 5km from Courmayuer in Village de alpio, through booking.com, they have a range of apartments, only built a couple of years ago, very good value. There's a bus that take 10 mins or so to the resort, it's a 5 min walk from the apartment and drops you off at the base station. It's a 10 min walk through town to get the return bus, you can leave your skis and boots at the hire shops, so there's no need to lug them around. We found the walk a good warm and warm down each day.
We're going back again for half term next year, but have booked an apartment through airrbnb in Courmayuer as we wanted to be nearer the town for eating out in the evenings. If you do go,the lift pass covers one trip up the Monte Bianco Skyway, we missed the last departure this year by 2 mins, but we will defiantly do it next time. |
Bar Roma is the place to be after skiing all day in Courmayeur! good beer and free nibbles put out every day and the selection is massive! You can fill up for free if you want!
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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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| rjs wrote: |
Why not look at Montgenevre ?
Finding cheap apartments seems a lot harder in Italy than France. |
Indeed.
Accommodation in Italy tends to be more hotel based. You'll find self catering easier to book in Montgenevre. Montgenevre good for intermediate skiers, with some great confidence building slopes. It's easy to get back in time for ski school pick-up, as on all but a couple of slopes you are one run from resort.
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@Hils68, Champoluc should also be a contender, as should La Thuile.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@Hils68, Pila is a lovely little place. There are many reds that are mostly easy and wide but they are labeled Red because they have a steep and/or narrow bit. In other words he will be fine on a huge amount of the run then have to go slowly for a few 100yds .Not knowing how you ski hope that helps.
We are gong via Turin this year and use Carole at Pilaski.co.uk to sort everything but flights out for us which makes it so easy.
Having been for the last 8 years we did look to go elsewhere but it is just so easy and we like it so back we go.
I doubt you will have had any help as we all seem to like the places we know. Hope you can make a decision - they will all be great really !
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Hils68, Would advise against Cervinia based on information provided. Valtourneche is not that swift over to Cervinia and much less so Zermatt and Swiss side. The skiing though is very good and utterly snowsure, but not perhaps the best location for family as you describe. To fully appreciate Cervinia I would say you need to stay in the resort itself. No idea about Pila but sounds great...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| skimastaaah wrote: |
| @Hils68, Champoluc should also be a contender, as should La Thuile. |
with your requirements I would say that La Thuile would suit you down to the ground, try the Planibel Apartments for self catering, and they're right next to the gondola lift and ski school meet. Ive been to both Champoluc and La Thuile definitely La Thuile of the two.
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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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AirB&B'd an apartment in Cervinia last season. Was compact for a family of 4 hairy blokes but perfectly serviceable and great value. Really liked the place, though the Italian side of the mountain is a little too cruisey for my personal taste. Food was amazing.
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Thank you for ideas. . It's between Pila or montgenevre, with la thuile as a possible one.
Just a thought on Pila . . Has anyone stayed in Aosta town and just caught gondola up and is it easy? or do you think with kids it is better to stay in Pila itself?
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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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Staying down in Aosta is easy - there is certainly much more choice of accommodation. You just need to cater for the 20/30 minutes up in the lift every morning. Even if you are another 10/15 minutes drive away from the gondola it's not that much of a hassle.
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Aosta has good supermarkets if you are self-catering.
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The main town is on the other side of the Railway to the Lift station and an easy walk from the centre (though too far for me if in Ski Boots).
If you are hiring a car there is free parking at the bottom of the lift and whilst it is pretty busy I have not seen it full. Could be at a weekend though.
Gondola takes 20mins to get up to Pila but I expect there would be a queue too at the bottom to take into consideration too. We stay in Pila so can't say exactly how big but there are a lot of people going up it so just a guess. Also when you get to the top, go right to the slow town chair then on to Leisse lift to miss the queues at Chamole lift. That is the only lift queue we see during the week days that we are there - obviously weekends and much busier. It is fine after 10am if you do want to go down there to do the 3 runs off it. You could even do most of Piste 3 as there are ways of missing the top vertical bit and the steep bottom bit. 1 & 2 are fine with snowplough on the steeper bits, plenty of people doing just that, as they are not that steep and quite short.
In Town there are plenty of places to stay and most (not all) are within metres of the runs. Anything from self-catering, via B&B to full board hotels. We use B&B and eat out somewhere different each night. Speak to Carole at pilaski.co.uk and she would sort you out for everything at no extra cost than DIY, she has lived there for nearly 20years so knows the place inside out. Also if you have any hassle she is there to help during your stay too. No hard sell she will lay out your options and then leave it to you. Re supermarket, never seen one in Pila, not looked, but would get everything down in Aosta as comment above.
There are resort reports on here but if you do end up going and want a Piste runs down happy to help.
Note you do get a day in another resort on the lift ticket so if you did have a car then it would be easy (well over an hour) to go to another resort in the valley. We have never bothered to be honest as the hassle never seems worth it. You can do it by busses too but that would take longer.
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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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Another vote from me for Courmayeur, but not sure on the range of available self catering accommodation.
There is definitely enough to keep you busy for a week at Courmayeur, good mix of blues and reds, great food and coffee on the mountain too, and even though some of the restaurants in the village are pricey, there are some cheaper options too and great pizzerias.
You could at Pre Saint Didier as others have suggested, and that also opens up the option of La Thuile too as that bit closer to there. Airbnb definitely worth looking in to as well.
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@hawkwind, Very good to see all the runs on there who needs Google Streetmap.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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There are heated boot/ski lockers at the bottom station that easily take two sets each so it's (usually) dead easy to leave your stuff there and walk to your accommodation in Aosta.
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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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@hawkwind, Where we stay they have there own and I would be surprised if all hotels up there did not. Check before you go this option as probably not needed. At least 2 bars in town on the piste minimal walking to them required.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Jake43, cheers Jake43 , we will go for it as we are a good 20 minute walk away from the lift , saves a lot of hassle carrying everything there and back each day. We are staying in the town of Aosta itself.
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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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@hawkwind, Fully understand if you are down in Aosta sensible choice. Don't forget you get a "free" day at another resort in the Aosta Valley on the ski pass. Starting from Aosta that means it is not that much extra time to get to say La Thuile for the day.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks for all ideas and I love the video link of the pistes. Like the look of Pila at the moment so going to look at Pila itself and Aosta town. Although I think with kids it's nicer to stay up the Montain with the snow as we only really see it once a year ! Have got in touch with Carole at Pila ski so hope she comes back with some good offers. Any recommendations on places gratefully received too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Hils68, Tricky as we only stay in one place and I think that is full half term week. Carole will get you a good deal in one of the apartment places.
Loads of great cheap coffee on the mountain, spoilt for choice really. Do try the Prosecco though as it is only €3 and comes with nibbles - La Chatelaine or Bar Societe are best for this. Tricky to find Bar Societe as it is off a natural half pipe run which the kids will find fun (Piste 6) best outside space too for the sunshine days. You can come in at the front but try the back first it is more fun and easier to find.
Have a great time.
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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, we are not going half term week, but first week of March ( taking kids out of school . . . Whoops). So if you can give us the name of accomodation I can have a look. many thanks, looking forward to prossecco !
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Hils68, We stay B&B at Della Nouva which is right on the runs through the village - but I thought you wanted self-catering of which I know nothing, other than there are many apartments in view.
We would normally be there that week ourselves but we are going earlier this year to cater for the Whistler trip that has to be earlier too. Normally get great snow and good weather that week so I am sure you will have a good time.
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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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@Hils68, another vote for Pila, feels spot-on for what you're after. I'd imagine the staying in Aosta novelty of up/down the gondola each day will wear off quickly, whereas being up in Pila would make an afternoon off trip down to Aosta lots of fun.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Claviere is on the French border but with Italian prices. You can ski Montgenevre on one side and Sauze Doulx on the other.The lfit pass includes a day in the Serre Chevalier which is a great day out.
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Hey Double,
And if the snow is just good enough the ski down to the supermarket car park is interesting.[/b]
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ciao @DrLawn, 
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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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I'm biased.... Champoluc everytime... Empty slopes... Not expensive.... Great hot chocolate..
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courmayeur worth a try defo, nothing to difficult on the slopes, hardly any ques,and bar roma to unwind, been back three times. 
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FAQ
It has everything you are looking for and you can always ski over to Italy (claviere) whilst your boys are in ski school. The Monts de Lune (Montgenevre and Claviere) ski pass is all you'd need.