 Poster: A snowHead
|
I appreciate that there have been many posts re Christmas 2024 location suggestions but I am hoping that you might bear one more? We will be a group of 12: 2 non skiers (my parents, who will ideally have a village to walk into and potter around in) and my family and my sister’s family (with 6 boys between us ranging in age from 23 to 15). We are all decent skiers but as it will be Christmas and as my parents will be with us, we won’t be looking to ski as ‘hard’ as we might normally.
We are looking to be in a chalet (thinking that will work better for us for Christmas itself) and given the lateness with which we are booking, that precludes Austria and the Dolomites (as there is very little left/what is left is somewhat pricey). So it’s France that we are looking at. We appreciate more traditional villages. There are decent options in Les Carroz and Meribel. I appreciate that both are far from snow sure but three questions:
a) how easy is it to get from those resorts to nearby higher, more snow sure resorts (eg Flaine for Les Carroz);
b) do those resorts have a Christmas atmosphere/things going on;
and c) are there any other resorts that you might recommend instead?
Many thanks for your help
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
A further thought: Val d'Isere? Le Fornet chalet?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Val d’Isere is what I immediately thought of when I saw your requirements and I think it would be a better option than the other two for Christmas week. I don’t know about chalets in Val though so hopefully someone else can advise on those.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I haven’t been to Les Carroz in a long time so can’t comment. But I have been to Meribel several times for Christmas.
I think it depends what you mean by snow sure.
If you want snow in the village itself, it’s not totally guaranteed in Meribel (but likely!). But if you want snow on the pistes, then you’re 100% snow sure! The pistes go all the way up to 3000m in Meribel itself. And you’re 1 or 2 gondolas away from Val Thorens and Courchevel. Both with pistes above 2000 and all the way to 3200.
And it might be that some of the lower pistes are not ideal. But there’s so much to do at high altitude anyway! I forgot the exact stat but I think there are like 400km of pistes above 2000 in the 3V. It’s still huge!
In short: if there’s no snow to ski in the 3V, then there won’t be anywhere else either in France  .
In fact, if you want something with a village feel AND have access to great skiing, then I’d say Meribel/The Allues valley might be one of the very few options actually! In France, there’s simply no real village above 1500m. They are all purpose built ski resorts above that altitude.
The other 2 to consider maybe:
- St Martin de Belleville ( it’s 1500m too, but it’s in the 3V)
- Bonneval Sur Arc (1800). But it’s veeeeeery far and tucked away.
Le Fornet is frankly more a hamlet (there’s nothing going on there), but it’s nice.
Val d’Isere, to me at least, really does not feel like a mountain village. The main street has massive 6 or 7 storey buildings on both sides  . That said the atmosphere is fine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| schuster wrote: |
| A further thought: Val d'Isere? Le Fornet chalet? |
That will theoretically be most snowsure as it's the highest, inasmuch as anyone can predict Christmas snow levels now, but it's a tiny hamlet about 2.5km up the valley from Val d'Isere, with a cablecar link in to the Espace Killy ski area.
Traditional stone chalets, some restored old ones, some new in traditional style, so attractive enough, but I can't imagine there's much there for non-skiers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I've been to Les Carroz, but not at Christmas. It's a good sized village, maybe even a town, and I'd imagine could have a nice atmosphere in the right conditions at Christmas. Just my opinion, but it seems a bit more of a 'real' village to me than Meribel.
Getting to the skiing in Flaine from Les Carroz requires a number of lifts there and back. If you were to drive, then you should be able to drive to up the road to Flaine for a day trip, park up and ski there.
If you need a vehicle to drive from UK to the Alps, Vans for Bands have offers available for SnowHeads this year between 20th December to 19th January, 10 night rental of a 'luxury' van that seats 9 available for £995 for 10 days' rental, includes winter tyres, chains, insurance, and European breakdown cover. Insurance excess at £1500 can be reduced to £250 for a fee. Quote Snowheads on price enquiry if interested. Link below includes video of van in action on trip to the Alps.
Just mentioning this because Les Carroz is one of the resorts we're looking at for the vans, and we think they could be useful in resort for the exact reason mentioned above - day trips to Flaine if required. Further, our cancellation policy is £250, so if there really isn't any snow before Christmas, and you need to cancel, then you won't lose all the money that you may otherwise have invested in flights and transfers. Book Les Carroz and hire a van, not a bad plan. Lads and Dads could travel in the van with all the luggage, leaving the rest of your party to travel by plane with only hand luggage.
https://www.vansforbands.co.uk/winter-holidays
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
It's a good sized village, maybe even a town, and I'd imagine could have a nice atmosphere in the right conditions at Christmas. Just my opinion, but it seems a bit more of a 'real' village to me than Meribel.
|
Most likely, yes. Again: the higher you go, the less authentic it is in France. Quite frankly, it's that simple.
For the OP, another thing to consider, maybe, when it comes to Christmas "vibe": if you stay at or below 1500, you will likely have beautiful forests where you can hike (and do some cross country skiing for example?). We went 2 Christmas ago with my parents to Le Raffort (just below Meribel), and they very much enjoyed being able to do that - it's just a special feeling to be surrounded by these majestic trees. Something you don't get when you go higher sadly .
Can't have it all I suppose, so you just want to decide what's most important!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quite honestly, it's now so late to be booking for a big group for Christmas that you will have very little choice. Maybe if you have a very big budget you will be in luck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I booked a self-catering chalet for 10 people in Les Saisies, months ago. There wasn't a lot available even then. Another family now wants to join us but I could find nothing at all that would be OK for them within miles of our quite central spot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Les Saisies would suit your group very well, actually. It's quite attractive, lovely scenery, very snow sure. Walkers can go up to meet skiers, either walking up an easy path or, up the other side, by chair lift. But there really is very little left in the village itself, which is where your parents are going to want to be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. As @PJ Maza says, we can't have it all! Any final comments before we make our decision?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Les Carroz is a pleasant village but we like ski to the door accommodation so stay at Les chalets de jouvence self catering rather than a chalet and go there later in the season. In a mild year the snow could be dicey Christmas week at resort level but ok higher up in Flaine if you have a car. There is a newish public pool in the village which your non skiers might like.
If you were to strike lucky with snow conditions the runs above Les Carroz are beautiful.
Val D’Isere village is much higher at 1800m so more chance of a pretty white Christmas in the resort and the ski area is one of the most snow sure. It is more expensive all round than the Grand Massif. Le fornet is a bit out of the way so find out how late the buses run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| schuster wrote: |
| Thank you all for taking the time to reply. As @PJ Maza says, we can't have it all! Any final comments before we make our decision? |
If it's a choice between Les Carroz, Meribel and Le Fornet, obviously I haven't seen where exactly the chalets are located in each resort, what they look like or what the cost differences are, but I would choose Meribel for your mixed group, as it offers superbly located access to the whole 3V and some high altitude skiing, has the charm of attractive wooden chalet buildings nestled below the treeline and enough life going on that non-skiers might find things to do. I thought it was a very pleasant place when I passed through. There are lots of English voices there, so doesn't feel that French! I guess it would be fairly busy at Xmas.
Les Carroz is pleasant enough with tree-lined runs, but it is low at that time of year and the easily accessible skiing in the vicinity doesn't get to much more than 2000m.
Le Fornet is a great hideaway, would feel quite exclusive, quiet and it should be the most snowsure at resort level, but the non-skiers would be very limited, though there might be a bus down to Val.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@schuster,
Very late for Xmas options, but...
With non skiers my first suggestion would be Zermatt, especially as they now can get over to Italy by lifts.
Other two would be (again with non skiers in mind) Val d'Isere & Tignes (upper 3 villages). Tignes may sound a bit of a strange recommendation, but look at Evolution 2 for non skiing activities, plus walking around the frozen lake.
Bit surprised of definition of boys at 23!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
Bit surprised of definition of boys at 23!
|
one of my boys is 50 next year
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Morzine and Les Gets both good for authentic village/town feel. Haven't been at Christmas to either, but imagine that both could sparkle.
Avoriaz provides higher altitude skiing if needed. St Jean d'Aulps is off the main circuit, has a nice local ski area of its own, and you could travel to the main circuit in a van for day trips to add variety to your ski trip.
There are lots of people on here who know the PdS far better than me, but I think it's worth thinking about for your trip - especially the town vibe of Les Gets and/or Morzine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Briancon as well. Lovely town linked into the Serre Chevalier ski area, with skiing between 1300m and 2800m, lots of snowmaking. Again, plenty of other people on here that will know much more about it and the ski area than me. A van could be useful to drive to Villeneuve or Le Monetier on a couple of days, although you can of course get there by lift.
I've also read that 80% of Serre Chevalier's skiing is above 2000m, given that the ski area is around 250 km you're getting a lot of high-altitude skiing for your centimes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| schuster wrote: |
| b) do those resorts have a Christmas atmosphere/things going on |
If you never been at Christmas before you may be surprised at the lack of festivities.
Part of the reason we go at Christmas is to largely bypass Christmas and used our enforced time off to get some good skiing in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
They have pretty lights - but that's the case all season! In my local town in England lots of houses have (far too many) Christmas lights but on Christmas Day there is pretty well nothing "going on" other than church services. In ski resorts, in contrast, there's plenty going on - it's a normal ski day with lifts open, ski school groups, lots of people, shops open selling seasonal things. And there is always a programme of "animations" as there is every week during busy tourist times. It's far superior to being in the UK on Christmas Day which generally means stuffing your face all day and far too much TV.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@schuster, Have you considered Alpe D'Huez? There's the outdoor pool, ice rink and the village, as French resorts go is pretty good. Relatively easy to walk around and for non skiers to get up the hills.
I've not been at Christmas, so wouldn't know about how Christmassy it is, and of course you are at the mercy of the snow gods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
As you have asked about Les Carroz I have been there at Christmas and it is very pretty. The tourist office plan a lot of events based around the main square, mainly aimed at children, but which gives it a lovely feel. There are also lots of lights and some huge decorated trees. There is an ice rink just below the main square which opens in the afternoons/evenings. Clearly snow conditions depend on weather and it is lower than other resorts but a lovely atmosphere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We're going to Val D'Isere for Christmas in a catered chalet for the 4th time.
It's really christmassy with lots going on, torchlit processions, ice sculptures, streetwalkers, Father Christmas on a horse-drawn carriage, fireworks & there always seems to be plenty going on for children too.
Decent amount to do for non skiers - cinema, leisure complex, nice walks, lovely village, shops, cafes.
Add in fabulous skiing & great après and it ticks all my boxes 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@schuster, have you fixed up something?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Samoens is another option, the village is lovely, really genuine feel to it and nice restaurants and bars. Ot is low but the ski slopes are generally at a good height and with access to Flaine which is nice and snow sure. You "might" have more luck there with a late booking for a group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
