 Poster: A snowHead
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Good afternoon,
We have cheap flights booked into Grenoble for February half term (week of 18th February). We are a family of 5 (boys aged 16, 14 and 10) and enjoy skiing intermediate runs together. We are looking for the impossible: a quietish traditional resort (no need for night life), without too many queues (even though it's half term!), with plenty of intermediate skiing, within about 2 hours' drive of Grenoble. In the past we have skied at La Rosiere, Val Cenis and Chatel - all of which we enjoyed.
Serre Chevalier looks like a possibility but the road closure seems to make it too long a drive.
Thank you for your insight and inspiration,
Sally
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chamrousse.
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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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| brandlingsally wrote: |
Good afternoon,
We have cheap flights booked into Grenoble for February half term (week of 18th February). We are a family of 5 (boys aged 16, 14 and 10) and enjoy skiing intermediate runs together. We are looking for the impossible: a quietish traditional resort (no need for night life), without too many queues (even though it's half term!), with plenty of intermediate skiing, within about 2 hours' drive of Grenoble. In the past we have skied at La Rosiere, Val Cenis and Chatel - all of which we enjoyed.
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You mean Grenoble airport, which is 45 minutes from Grenoble.
How many km of ski runs?
No queues at half term is a big ask for France, there are places but if you are talking about the Rhone-Alpes half term they are pretty rare as all the small, local resorts will be rammed with locals.
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Yes, Grenoble Airport. 100-120km plus of runs? I understand the queue comments but if you have any indicators as to where might be better than others then I would be grateful.
Sally
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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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Risoul
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Risoul
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| cameronphillips2000 wrote: |
| Risoul |
a long, long way though.
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The new road to Serre Chevalier will be open if not there is a relief road anyway but it's far more than 2 hours. Alpe D'huez and Les Deux Alpes are both about 2 hours but likely to be busy.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I'm not sure what else these guys are good for but they are good for lists of transfer times https://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Airports/Grenoble_airport_transfers.html
These days, if the snow is averagely good, half term isn't the chaos it used to be - due to faster, higher capacity lifts. Still makes it less attractive if it can be avoided, but not necessarily carnage.
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@brandlingsally, the road to Serre Chevalier should be open for the winter. Its almost exactly 2 hours drive. It's 2.30 to Lyon Airport.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Puy-Saint-Vincent? Not quite as big as perhaps you were wanting but suspect more than enough to keep you busy for a week
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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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Check out:
St Francois-Longchamp/Valmorel - would be perfect for you all
Valloire/Valmeinier - another good choice
St Jean/St Sorlin d'Arves (Les Sybelles) - bit of a schlep up hill to resort but very pretty with big ski area
Another option, if you have a car, is to stay down in the valley (eg. St Jean de Maurienne) and drive to a different resort each day. You could then seek out some of the smaller ones which will be quieter but this might be a bit tiresome with all those kids in tow!
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Thu 22-09-16 10:17; edited 1 time in total
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Not sure on the transfer time but I would agree Valloire is a good option. A real village and good intermediate slopes
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You know it makes sense.
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How about Vaunjay or Oz en Oisans? Both link into Alpe D'Huez but are much quieter, and Oz is genuinely ski in/out.
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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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You shouldn't have too many horrendous queues that week hopefully. For some reason the UK half term is split this year and that is the quieter of the two weeks.
I'd second the suggestions of Vaujany and Oz, or Serre Chevallier.
Or how about Montchavin or Les Coches in the Paradiski area? Quiet village and out of the centre of the domain so you'd avoid the worst of the queues. It's a 2.5hr drive without traffic - but could be nearer 3 in half term tho. Any use?
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Poster: A snowHead
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It takes my friend 1.5 hours to drive from Grenoble to Les Arcs, but I think the time will be vastly longer if you are leaving from the far side of Grenoble or even the centre. Of the 4 week half term period the 18th is looking to be the busiest followed by the 11th. the 25th and 4th of March are all looking a bit quieter.
Les Sept Laux is very close to Grenoble and though it can get busy at weekends it may be a bit quieter than the mega resorts of the Tarrentaise. If you are fealing brave there are some quiet, tradditional villages in the Chatruese, but they are genuinely tiny and low
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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 fits the brief and definitely 2-2 1/2 hrs from Grenoble airport 
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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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| brandlingsally wrote: |
Good afternoon,
We have cheap flights booked into Grenoble for February half term (week of 18th February). |
It will be totally rammed that week in nearly all of the resorts close to Grenoble because that is the same week as the locals are off. So I would avoid any sneaky suggestions like Chamrousse (well not enough pistes) or the 7 Laux. It is also the Zone B holidays so you'll have all the southerners up hunting for snow as well. The only saving grace is the Ile de France will return from holidays that weekend.
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As Davidof mentions, France will be busy.
Italy is another option. But still busy.
Sauze d'Oulx, Milky Way resorts etc. are all within 3hrs from Grenoble airport.
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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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Thank you all - you are a great community of helpful people.
Thinking Serre Chevalier/ Valloire and Valmeinier.
So:
1) Which would you go for given our requirements?
2) And if Serre Chevalier: is the road really going to be open?
3) And if Val/Val: would you base yourselves in Valloire or Valmeinier?
4) And do you have any accommodation suggestions for either?
Many thanks indeed,
Sally
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Serre Che is the best of those by far.
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I know someone who goes to Sauze d'Oulx half term week and says there are far fewer people on the pistes compared to the French ski resorts. The problem is Grenoble is not really that convenient.
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@brandlingsally, the replacement tunnel section is due to open before the ski season begins. With the speed in which they sorted the relief road for last winter, I have no reason to doubt that it will be open.
What sort of accommodation are you looking for? Look on www.eurekaski.com for good quality self-catered apartments, mainly in Monetier, but some in other villages too.
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