 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m just about to book our annual family holiday and I’ve narrowed it down to either Avoriaz or Arc 1950 but can’t decide!!
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? We are a family of 4, daughter of 7 with 2 years under her belt, a son of 16, snowboarder, and a non skiing wife going in the middle of March.
Cost wise they’re roughly the same and we’ll be staying at the L’Amara in Avoraiz or Le Village in Arc 1950, does anyone have experience of either hotel?
Thanks in advance.
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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've not stayed in those specific hotels, but I have stayed in Avoriaz and Les Arcs. I prefer Avoriaz as a town in terms of it's design, layout and generally how it looks. They are both purpose built, but Avoriaz has, imho, far more character than Les Arcs. In terms of what to do for a non-skier, neither are amazing. There's Aquariaz in Avoriaz now, which is a nice pool and whatnot, but that's about it beyond the usual shops and eateries. You can get down to Morzine quite easily from Avoriaz tho, which is definitely a town in it's own right, and I suppose you could do the funicular to Bourg St Maurice from Les Arcs, but I think as a 'tourist destination' for want of a better description, Morzine is a bit nicer than Bourg.
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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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RedorDead, i would probably go for Les Arcs as I like the ski ing area better than PDS, but feef, points about the two towns are valid
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| Quote: |
going in the middle of March
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very good time to go to either, I'd say, as the French school hols finish 7 March.
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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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Personally I'd go for Les Arcs, I didn't really enjoy Avoriaz all that much. Les Arcs is a very faux-chocolate box village but it has a fantastic location with ski in ski out and easy access to the lifts. I'm also a bit biased having worked my first season in Les Arcs, I just absolutely love the ski area. If anything I found PdS a bit too big, I prefer resorts that are slightly more compact.
The kids will love 1950 too. And be sure to go to the waffle shop.
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Thanks very much for the advice, much appreciated. We've decided on Avoriaz, the Aquariaz sealed the deal with our daughter.  . When we factored everything in, transfer costs etc it was about £300 cheaper which is a bonus.
Thanks again.
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Arc 1950 is the choice in this family - by a long way. Disney creation on snow is accurate but Disney does it so well!
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Dav, I think it's quite natural to be biased about your first season, a bit like your first snog or whatever. For me it's Morzine and the PDS.
I do find "I found PdS a bit too big" a remarkably odd statement. In what way? You got lost?
To me, that's a bit like saying that France is "too big".
Ski areas can certainly be a little too small, but too big? How does that work?
(I don't see how LA1950 can be any more ski in and out than Avoriaz? it's a bit of a binary state. Although I suppose you could have ski in or ski out but not both - i.e. ski in, hike out or vice versa).
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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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RedorDead, I think you made the better choice with Avoiraz. Les Arcs 1950 is a lovely man made little village but considering you have a non skier in your group Avoiraz makes far better sense. There is a nice family feel to Avoiraz too with horse drawn carriage rides etc.
As for ski areas I liked Les Arc but reckon that Avoiraz PdS area is better again. Get the bus down to Morzine and there is a lot more to do too.
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RedorDead, hope you have a great trip
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Been to both several times with my wife and 3 kids (15,13,and 11) and arc1950 is far better
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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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Probably been to Avoriaz 12 + times with old and young always enjoyed
It and so will you .
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks again for the feedback everyone.
One quick question - I'm thinking about booking the transfer with Alpybus, we've used them a couple of times for Chamonix and they've always been good. They state their shared transfer only goes to the Prodain Telefarique so I'm guessing we have to get the cable car up to the resort and then get one of the horse taxi's to the hotel. Does anyone know if there is a cost for the cable car?
MrSteve, we've booked the 2 bed apartment, it sounded big enough for what we need.
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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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RedorDead, Ski Lifts will take you right up to the drop-off area in Avoriaz, so you don't need to go via the cablecar.
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Poster: A snowHead
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feef, thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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RedorDead We've used Skiidy and Mountain Bus Company/Rolling Road for transfers. The latter ones will drop off/pick up in the underground car-park at the Amara if you ask nicely. 
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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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MrSteve, thanks for the tip, I'll give them a try.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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fwiw i always felt that avoriaz was utterly soulless. aquariaz would keep the your daughter happy for an afternoon, maybe two but your teenager won't think much of it.
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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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maxhowarth, I rather like it. The architecture (for me) works. Just as well we're not all the same, eh?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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so true. but you are dead right about the ski in/ski out-ness of avoriaz. it pretty much defines si/so.
to the op, i still think morzine is lovely.
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RedorDead From the Amara ski-locker rooms you will only be able to access the Proclou blue and green runs- it's a nice easy start to the day though.
You then get the (currently being replaced) Proclou chair to come back up to the Lindarets crest just above Avoriaz and either ski back down into/through Avoriaz or head off down into Les Lindarets.
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| maxhowarth wrote: |
| so true. but you are dead right about the ski in/ski out-ness of avoriaz. it pretty much defines si/so. |
as does 1950, you can literally take your ski off right outside the bar, waffleshop or accommodation (depending slightly where it is)
Then when you want to go play again, a little bit of poling and then you can ski down to Marmottes.
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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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Loved Avoriaz when we went at Easter this year. Would love to be heading back in Feb.
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I do like Avoriaz, but prefer to stay in Morzine for the better options. Def better snowboarding in Avoriaz for your son, especially if he's into parks. Not been to Les Arcs for a few years now though, so it may have come on some. We tend to use skiddy gonzales from geneva for our transfers - easy to spot at the airport, with those big sombreros and they're pretty flexible and well priced. At Avoriaz you'll still have to get from the drop off to your accomm though. Massive range of skiing there for all abilities.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Feel obliged to say that 1950 and Avoriaz are both my fave destinations and miles ahead of other places. Both are incredible. Especially for families. Though love the extra trees and feel of lindarets etc too in Avoriaz, the area has a really safe feel for kids.
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