French ski resorts for beginners

A snowHead

Hello,

I would like to resorts recommendations in France for beginners in skiing and a good village with some shops and restaurants.

A snowHead

Welcome to snowheads @puff3ra!

Can you give a bit more information about your circumstances? Are you a group of adults or a family group? Are you flying to France or willing to drive (assuming you are UK based?). Any preference for self catering or catered chalet (and linked to this, any budget in mind)?

Without a bit of narrowing, you are in danger being recommended almost any resort in France at this at rate Very Happy

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

And, why France?

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@puff3ra, Welcome to snowHeads!

I'd suggest two resorts as examples of what's available, I'm sure other sHs will chip in with their recommendations.

1. Flaine. This is a 1960s purpose built resort whose architecture was described by the tour op rep as "Benidorm on snow!" Laughing

However, it does have the advantage that the skiing area is a sort of bowl with the different runs all coming back down to the flattish area at the bottom where the ski schools meet. Plenty of self catering accommodation.
2. In contrast, you could go to a place which is based around original French villages. One example would be Serre Chevalier, which consists of a number of villages (and one town, Briancon) strung along the valley with skiing on the slopes above.

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So, I live in Brazil and I will be in my vacations in Milan in febreuary/17. I will be with my wife and maybe one more couple. I didn't decide about transport, I have 2 options, or I will take bus/train or I will rent a car. In addition to France, can be in Italy this resort.

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@puff3ra, If you are flying into Milan, then as beginners you should definitely consider Livigno. It's set in a high valley, so is snow sure. The beginner slopes are easily accessible from the town. In fact as it's so suitable for beginners that for the last two years snowHeads has held a Bash for beginners in Livigno, the details of next year's are here. Although it doesn't coincide with your travel dates there's still some useful info about Livigno there. Also for historical reasons it's a duty free area, so you'll find that drinks (if you want any) are relatively cheap!

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

That helps a lot, thanks! There are others on here who know much more about Italian resorts than me, especially within striking distance of Milan. I do know that Italian resorts I've been to tend to be much busier at weekends as get a lot of city visitors just for skiiing on their days off work.

From Milan you could head west towards Aosta valley, or east (and north) to the Dolomites. I'll have to leave others to recommend where would best suit beginners as a resort, though the Dolomites I think will be your best bet, and are stunning.

EDIT. Quick google search suggests Passo Tonale as a good location for beginners and not too far from Milan either.

After all it is free

@puff3ra, I'd agree that if you are going to be travelling to Italy, it makes sense to ski in Italy! You will presumably be having ski lessons? For group lessons you need to be aware of the "start of the week" arrangements - In France almost always Sundays because people arrive in resort on Saturdays. Private lessons are more expensive but if there are four of you sharing the cost, would make sense. You could then have much more flexibility about timing, and more personal attention. Good luck! And welcome to snowheads.

I'd recommend montgenevre. Just over the border from Italy in France (linked to Italian resorts by pistes and lifts). There's a big fenced off area for beginners by the village so you don't get disturbed by the faster skiers and once you've mastered that, a lovely green run from the top of the mountain all the way down to the village.

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Hello,

Thank you for the recomendations. I liked Livigno, I will study about this trip to there. Montgenevre is cool too, but the resort seems to be smaller.

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@puff3ra, As you'll see, Livigno already has snow! http://www.livigno.com/en/sport/verificare/webcam/webcam1.htm

P.S I fixed the link error to Livigno in my previous posting.

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I don't think Italians have green pistes do they? Or if they do, they are exceedingly rare. I wouldn't get too hung up on the colour grading of a slope, since you're beginners you'll be taking lessons, and the instructors will know best what level of slope you're capable of skiing. Plus, one resort's blue can be another resort's green (or red). In addition, the difficulty of a slope can vary considerably in time, depending on condition of the snow (hard, icy snow is much harder to ski, particularly when starting out), whether it's been groomed, time of day, etc.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

If you want a village feel do not go to Flaine.

It makes sense to stay in italy so Selva, Sause d'Oulx or Livigno would all fit the bill.

But you do not say what time you want to go and how flexible you are. There are quite a lot of small village based ski resorts in Italy, if it is a average snow year then one of them will do. As beginners you don't need a big resort.

A snowHead

I have 2 weeks in my vacations. I thought in stay 1 week in Livigno (or other) and 1 week in Davos, because is near Livigno (I would like to go to Zermatt, but is far from Livigno and I think the logistics a bit complicated to get there. I'm intereseted in visit Switzerland, because is a country that I never visited. My dates is from 16/02 to 02/03.

A snowHead

My dates is from 16/02 to 02/03. OK the snow should be good then.

Livigno is a good beginners resort.

St Moritz Klosters Davos are within easy driving distance of Livigno assuming the tunnel is open. Most hotels will be NOSE BLEED expensive. But you can find less expensive accommodation outside the resorts but on ski bus routes with a bit of searching.

Zermatt is not a suitable resort for beginners and early intermediates IMHO

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I think almost any resort can be suitable for beginners and early intermediates provided you are with a good instructor and stick to the pistes he or she has introduced you to. Starting to "explore" on your own can turn quite scary, in some resorts and no doubt Zermatt is one of them!

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Neither were really in my price bracket when I was skiing in Europe but I visited both on day trips from other resorts.

St Moritz has better scenery and a more traditional chocolate box town. Probably has better intermediate slopes too.

Both resorts have ski areas that do not link together except by free ski bus.

Help!!

French ski resorts for beginners

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