 Poster: A snowHead
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Just back from fab VT easter trip with family (3 kids less than 14). Thinking of alpe d'huez for Christmas. I fancy the sarenne and the outside pool. What's the consensus of pros and cons of both...we are not off piste smokers. We drive from Ireland so distance not an issue.....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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For Christmas VT is more likely to have snow than AD.
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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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Both good resorts although I give VT the edge on resort convenience and ski options high for good skiing or down to st Martin in poor light or bad weather for tree skiing
Both resorts have a good range of slopes to suit all tastes
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| Jehu wrote: |
| For Christmas VT is more likely to have snow than AD. |
Yes, AD can be marginal at Christmas some years, the south facing slopes can also be icy due to the sun exposure then refreeze.
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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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Courchevel end of the 3V's is a better bet at Xmas than VT for good snow and shelter from the wind.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Kagallag, neither IMO. Although a great time to go the weather can be pretty grim at Christmas so you are better off to have some tree skiing immediately to hand. Staying in La Tania/Le Praz in the 3V or Les Coches/Vallandry in Paradiski would be my recommendations for this. If snow conditions are poor but the weather clear you can simply head up to the higher slopes, ski there for the day and return to village level at the end of the day. If the weather is poor you can stay close to home and make use of the runs below the tree line. If the weather and conditions are a mixed bag you can mix it up too. If you are staying in Val T for instance and the weather is bad getting anywhere with decent vis will be arduous. Just my view/experience.
ADH will be fine but for sure will have less options if conditions are poor. Either way the Sarenne may not be open so early in the season (or at least the lower section) and anyway a better ski IMO is to come through the tunnel and ski down Rousses and Le Face to Vaujany (assuming the latter is open). That is a great ski and a massive vertical. Whenever we've had access to a pool we've not used it as much we thought we would. I've always stayed in Oz-en-Oisan as it's a nicer station IMO when going to ADH.
Another advantage of staying lower is the easier access and you sleep better a little better.
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Not done VT at class but have done Meribel several times and skied over to VT. It was always windy and sometimes grim.
AdH at Xmas once and snow levels weren't good and lots of runs not open (Inc Sarenne and Tunnel). Though one year isn't a valid sample.
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My Christmas TR's if it helps
December 2009 - Aime La Plagne (Paradiski) - snowmaggedon on the outward journey
December 2010 - Oz-en-Oisan (ADH)
December 2011 - Les Coches (Paradiski)
December 2012 - Les Contamines
December 2013 - Oz-en-Oisan (ADH)
December 2014 - Tignes Le Lac - snowmaggedon on the return journey
December 2015 - Montchavin (Paradiski)
December 2016 - Les Coches (Paradiski)
December 2017 - La Tania (3V)
We went to Aime in 2009 because a couple of other families we knew were staying the same week and so we wanted to do some socialising with them. The journey out was extreme and it wouldn't have made much odds where we were staying. Once there the conditions were naturally good across the area and I don't remember the weather being too bad. However, whilst not incredibly high being at 2000 isn't as comfortable as being at 1350/1450 and Aime is a bleak place in poor weather.
We went to Tignes in 2014 because we were going to Le Sept Laux and it didn't open and there was a lack of snow everywhere. We got caught out by the Saturday storm. In hindsight we should have gone to Les Coches. We would have had a better ski on the Saturday - though we'd still have spent a night in the car or emergency shelter on the way out. But as with Aime it's a grim place to be in poor weather.
Other than that we've stayed at lower stations.
The theme for 4 years 2010-13 was for a missed bag of weather but usually with a snowy day or two involved. Then there were 3 very barren years before a reversion to a mixed bag this season. Mixed bag = good skiing.
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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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Stay high (for snow), with trees (against wind).
Val d'Isere.
Courchevel 1850.
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@Kagallag, How long does it take you to drive? We normally fly from Belfast and always thought the drive would be a bit extreme from here, but maybe not?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for comments. I'll open up the options. Tom doc we got IF to Holyhead at 0830 holy Thursday. We got Chunnel at around 2000 We drove to hotel near Reims. Left hotel at 0630 and managed an hour on the beginners slopes in VT same day. Were able to bring all our own gear saving a lot for hire costs for family of 5. We shopped at bourg en bresse but in hind sight prob could have not bothered as we found the Sherpa decent value. Drive was a breeze with no delays either outbid back. On way back we left VT at 1100 on sat and were in hotel in Calais at 2200 after 2 pic nic breaks en route taking advantage of the 25oC weather. We got 8 ski days. Then got Chunnel at 0720 on Sunday and the IF swift from Holyhead at 1715. We were through Belfast at 2100 ish. Might not suit everyone but we enjoyed the drive and saved a fortune of flights and ski hire...wouldn't do it any other way and so can afford a second holiday to France now in summer.
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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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@Kagallag, thanks, worth considering.
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