 Poster: A snowHead
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Probably no connection between the two, but the forum may be able to answer two seemingly simple questions.
First, when are the French "Spring" half term and Easter holidays and is it safe to assume that the slopes in France will be a lot less busy outside these periods?
Secondly, my "preview" brochure last year had prices which I calculate must be at least 3o% cheaper than this year's brochure prices. What's going on? Could it be that last year's preview was based on 2002 prices and hence a more favourable exchange rate, or could it be that the vintage snow conditions this year have encouraged the operators to believe that demand will be higher this year? If the latter, I may be tempted to wait before I book for Easter 2005.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Feb
Zone A : 12-02-05 TO 28-02-05
Zone B : 05-02-05 TO 21-02-05
Zone C : 19-02-05 TO 07-03-05
Easter
Zone A : 16-04-05 TO 02-05-05
Zone B : 09-04-05 TO 25-04-05
Zone C : 23-04-05 TO 09-05-05
Zone A : Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse
Zone B : Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg
Zone C : Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris, Versailles
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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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Colin Bell, No idea about french holidays but they usually run for a good few weeks!
On the matter of brochures....I'm with you there. Picked some up on Saturday to start pricing up our group holiday and everything seems to have gone up by an exorbitant amount. I think they're testing the water and if they don't get many bookings they'll put them on "special offer".
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Colin Bell, Best to book a DIY holiday.... far cheaper!
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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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PG
1st class information.
People going to France must take note.
I wouldn't have anything to do with Zone A time as in one year I left early February on an empty North bound motorway only to see stationary traffic on south bound for miles, on my way from Chamonix to Lyon.
Unavoidably I clashed with Zone C several years but that is bearable.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG, great info. It means that Easter and the first week of April might be less crowded. Were the French on holiday this year between 3rd and 10th April, because La Plagne seemed pretty busy?
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Colin Bell, Just Zone A - the following week two zones (A & C) were on holiday. Still, Zone A is the local area and it does get busy....
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That means that our February half-term coincides with the local French holidays. Oh well. It wasn't too crowded last year.......
It was ever thus for those of us tied unavoidably to school holidays. 
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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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Our Feb half term is about 6th Feb so might be Ok. Also Easter hols are mid March here (18th onwards)
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Helen Beaumont, Serre Che might be owned by the Compagnie des Alpes by then! Rumours for some time, but we know they're trying to make some major acquisitions at the moment, and Serre Che is at the top of the list.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Had heard some rumours about that, nothing to buy there at the mo though. According to Chris in Serre Che though, nothing was certain and it looked like it would be run next season as a complete resort by the local government instead of separate villages. Still looking for the elusive apartment though.
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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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Helen Beaumont, I'd understood that the the resort does infact have a central organisation, but with local village involvement - hence the slight difference in village closing dates in years gone by. Although I have a suspicion this was all co-ordinated this last season.
From what I gather, there is a very real chance that Serre Che will be sold to Compagnie des Alpes. Most seasons break even point is a very touch and go affair, so I suspect overall most people there would welcome the privatisation. Except those, of course, who stand to lose their jobs. That said, everyone recognises that there is a huge amount of waste in over manning during the skiing season.
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CDA is just about privatised in its own right - only quite recently has the government ceded a majority share. Noticed some big French/Canadian Paris-based investment company (no direct ski/leisure interests as such) had taken a 13% or so shareholding a couple of weeks back... never too sure just how good this is for the end product - an investment company's principle reason for buying any shares is because they see the potential for healthy dividends, a prompt return. Whereas the likes of Intrawest who hold 7% of CDA have a more direct interest in seeing the level of investment in infrastructure maintained, as they are in the industry (Arc 1950 etc)...
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You know it makes sense.
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Mark Hunter, Jason was telling me at Easter that it wasn't going to happen, maybe he'd got it wrong but it was him who told me about the new arrangment for next season. Mind you he had just been out on the bar crawl/ski
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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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Helen Beaumont, the debate over on Skipass is inconclusive... several articles recently though, including one in the Figaro on May 13th, where the chairman directly mentioned his interest in Serre Che, which was "at the top of the list"....
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just checked it out, my French isn't brilliant, but looks like some serious building may be going on (or Not). Can't decide whether this is a good thing or not.
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FAQ
