Belle Plagne

A snowHead

Does anyone have experience to compare the various Constellation Apartments.

A snowHead

We stayed in a 2 bed (one double, one alcove with bunk beds) Constellations apartment in January 2017, it was great. Warm, well equipped, good location, great view although the unavoidable slope down to the lifts is intimidating for beginners.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

We have stayed in Constellations 8 times and indeed are heading out there this coming Saturday. The apartments seem to be very similar in all buildings. Our preference is Andromede as it is truly ski to/from door and closest to the supermarket, Skiset and the steps down to the lower level of BP. Then we'd choose Themis which is at the top of BP and again ski in/out, but a bit more of a walk to the supermarket. We have stayed in Pegase a couple of times which is behind Andromede but harder to get to. The ski locker room is at the top of a steep slope which, depending on the snow depth and ice, can be a real pain to get down from and back up again at the end of the day.

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Can you actually choose which building you will be in? Whenever I've looked you just book "Constellations" and I assume the actual block is almost allocated on arrival

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

That is true. I don't know if tour operators have a particular allocation but just ask when you check in. Pierre et Vacances are very helpful.

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Yeah, the reason I asked was that Crystal will not tell which we are booked into. My concern was that we were previously left to carry our bags from the bus terminus up through the exhaust filled carpark to the Licorne apartments and the Chimes apartments look to be even further up. 4 of our group are over 70 and can do without this endurance test.

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Yes that is the way it works, I'm afraid. A couple of times Crystal have run people up to the P&V reception in a minibus - but we walked. Crystal won't know which block you will be in as it will be allocated by reception when you check in. We're late 60s and just accept the walk to reception, but on Saturday we will try to ask to stay in Andromede - for the convenience whilst there, rather than to avoid the extra walk from reception to the apartment - but that would be a bonus.... Smile

After all it is free

Memory lane! We stayed in that complex the first time I went skiing. I well remember that terrifying 50 m of steep piste (classified blue) necessary to start every day.

Of course on subsequent returns (though staying elsewhere) it just seemed a typical blue with the odd bit close to a red but mostly pretty benign.

So, irrespective of where you are allocated you first go to the PV reception area to be told by PV rather than Crystal?

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Yep, that's how it has always worked with us. The Crystal rep guides you up to PV reception and leaves you to check in. Reception do the paperwork and tell you your apartment number. Try asking for Andromede if you want. Your room may not be available if you've arrived early so you may have to leave your luggage (in their baggage room), go and amuse yourselves and come back later for your keys. That's the same in all the apartments we've had in various resorts.

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So you would say Andromeda is as good as any and nearer the centre for the supermarket etc.

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Exactly. It is closer to the few thing at that level (mini-market, SkiSet, one pizza place/bar, steps/lift to lower level) and we've not found it noisy at all. Themis, at the top, does have better views across the valley....

Thanks, enjoy your holiday!

You know it makes sense.

Thanks! When is your trip?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

We are due out on 14th March.
Previously using the Licorne apts but though good enough, thought we'd try somewhere different.

A snowHead

@Hamlet,
How did you get on at La Plane. Any change to your recommendation of Andromeda?

A snowHead

@gordonmurdoch500@gmail.co, as a matter on interest how did you find Licorne apts? We're staying there at Easter, for our first trip to Belle Plagne. We've booked through Airbnb so have sight of the actual apartment, which looks nice. But any tips and tricks regarding location, getting around, getting from parking to apartment, nearest bar/restaurant for end of skiing drinks in the sun with the family etc would be gratefully received!! snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

The Lucorne has no frills but does the job for ski in/out. We were apprehensive about getting our deposit back but this was no problem.
You can go up the underground carpark tunnel and the Licorne is signed near the top left. This takes you to 5th floor and you go down to ground to reception. There is a code for the lift so try to get it in advance.
By foot from the centre, go round to the left and either climb many stairs or find the lift which takes you up about 4 floors to emerge into daylight near the smaller spar minimarket. It's a short walk over to the left from the spar to the reception( maybe unmanned until about 3pm). The bars are best found at the centre although there is one up to the right of the small spar.
Try alpinresorts to hire skis in advance.
Ski down to Bellecote in the morning and take the Gondola to the Roche de Mio from where you have a great choice of destinations

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And another thing.
There are a number of reasonable restaurants and probably best booked earlier in the day, or the day before. Alternatively, the large Spar sells cooked dishes by weight so meatballs, lasagne, potato dauphinoise etc can be bought and microwaved.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

And another thing.
There are a number of reasonable restaurants and probably best booked earlier in the day, or the day before. Alternatively, the large Spar sells cooked dishes by weight so meatballs, lasagne, potato dauphinoise etc can be bought and microwaved.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Thanks @gordonmurdoch500@gmail.co, some great tips, much appreciated. Definitely a big fan of the fresh cooked dishes the French supermarkets do.

Help!!

Belle Plagne

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