 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi,
Looking to do a last minute trip in 10 days time. Think we've narrowed it down to Val Thorens, but being last minute I wasn't expecting to have such a huge choice of accommodation, picking my way through the pages of blurb and mis-information on the various holiday websites is proving mind blowing, so any guidance would be hugely appreciated ( and stop the urge to hit the gin too early in the day/piste).
We're looking for cheap, but clean, self catering accommodation ( and I do mean cheap - after all we don't intend to be spending much more than sleep time there). But we want it all, good access to lifts/pistes, night life and facilities, and with good ski in /out location. Any recommendations ?
Also can anyone advise if anywhere offers discounted lift passes? We have our own equipment so it's just the passes we need.
Oh one last question - a rough guide on what to expect to spend, based on part eating out and part in and a couple of good nights out over a 7 night stay.
Thanks All
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@Fester, cant help too much on accommodation, though I would recommend homeaway.com to look at, I tend to use them a lot.
unfortunately, you cannot seem to get discounted lift passes for the 3v, and even resorts that do offer discounts it is normally pre-season, presumably to get you hooked into the resort. as you might imagine, the 3v is so popular that they do not need to offer any discounts, though you can sometimes get them through accommodation providers but they normally come with some sort of catch, ie buying their insurance.
in case you have not been to VT before, it is a great resort (took my first ski trip there), though far from "chocolate box", and I believe "le roast beef" bar is still going, which brings back good memories for me.
hope you enjoy
cheers
terry
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I have booked a self catering apartment through the central booking service in Val Thorens.
You can get a bit of a discount on passes if you are buying more than one. Look for the duo, tribe or family prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I would recommend doing a search on the VT website, sorting by price (lowest first). Not sure how many people are going, and just how much of a shoebox you're willing to accept (some of the appartments advertised as e.g. sleeping 4 can get quite cozy with full occupancy), but that's generally a good starting point. You're low season so it should be cheap enough.
Then you can make a quick list of the cheaper options and locate them on the map to see if they're ski-in/ski-out or not.
Can't really comment on night life as not my thing.
Booking through the website allows you to book passes at the same time (or it did 3 years ago when I last went), though can't remember if you get a discount or not.
Actually a quick scan of the website and they're claiming possibilities for a week's lodging + ski pass from 325 quid in January, includes a 25% discount on passes apparently. That's for a 4 person appartment (probably a shoebox, see above, but fine if you don't mind that sort of thing), and a local VT-Orelle pass (but which you'll be able to upgrade when you book I suspect). Includes your week too.
https://offers.valthorens.com/en/packages/10815/wow-maxi-ski-for-mini-price-its-in-january-from-040120-to-18
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Have a look at Sunweb, they include lift passes and have various accom options in VT.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Fester, VT was originally built by the "left" French governing parties to "socialise" skiing for all. Solution: Build ugly, cheap, high-rise accommodation in the beautiful Alps. Oh, and make sure that each "studio" or "apartment" is tiny to cram as many of the proletariat into as small a space as possible.
VT is has many, many of these blocks, and a 4-person "studio" means two people sleeping in bunk-beds in the hall, and two on a sofa-bed in the living room (which also has the kitchen in it). You will find many of these advertised on Airbnb, the VT website (see above in other comments), and other owners-direct websites. Then there are endless holiday package deals to such apartments.
The plus side is that they can be really cheap; and almost all of them will be ski-in and ski-out.
But the downside is that the reviews are often horrendous: dirty, unclean apartments, missing crockery and pans etc., lifts not working, no bed-linen or towels, noisy neighbours 24/7 etc. In addition, the front desk will often demand a cash "deposit" from you, and good luck trying to get that back at the end of your stay.
As someone has said, and I agree, by far the best deals can be found on www.sunweb.co.uk. These deals can include flights, transfer, accomodation, VT pass and even ski rental (bronze level). Best to then check the accommodation reviews on www.tripadvisor.co.uk. But that can be tricky, as the apartments can be owned by different people, and maintained to different standards.
But if you book with one of the owners-direct websites, you should be given that specific apartment, and so you are more assured of a clean and well maintained place.
But yer pays yer money, and yer takes yer choice.
Just be prepared to have to clean the apartment when you arrive, walk up stairs, and replace missing light bulbs etc. Pay extra for the linen and towels, and bring a good pair of ear plugs with you.
VT is a fantastic resort, and you will have a fab time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ