 Poster: A snowHead
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Does anyone have any info on Les Carroz? I am planning a trip there next year with freinds but want to know what it's like as a place to stay, and obviously ski. How easy/quick is it to get up into Flaine for example?
Morillon is an option too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There are a few threads on GM and surrounds.
LC has good access to the whole area; you can get to downtown Flaine in about 45 mins, I'd guess, maybe less. It's a quiet place, close to GVA, with a few perfectly OK bars and restaurants, nothing to write home about. For a small place, it's quite spread out (perhaps it's not as small as I think!), so you need to be careful where you stay if that's an issue. In addition to the main lift station, there is access to the slopes/lifts from elsewhere; you'll need to look at a map.
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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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Ski Bat, we were there earlier this year and really enjoyed it there. We headed for Flaine every day mainly because a warm spell was making LC's slopes either rock solid first thing or slushy later. The trek across to Flaine has one real bottleneck lift, if heading that way go first thing to beat the rush especially at the weekend. Because its really close to Geneva there isn't a changeover day effect, the weekends are busy but things calm down in the week.
Any boarders with you? The runs back to LC have some very long flat sections. The boarder with us was incredibly good on the flat and did almost no walking but beginners beware.
Night life is pretty resticted, a couple of bars and I think there's a nightclub if thats your bag. Basically not a major party town.
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Morillon or Flaine or Sameons is a better bet because the Les Carroz is the lowest and the first resort of the Grand Massif. The higher and further into the Flaine bowl the more snow and better condition can be found. Les Carroz also has the most of the flat area refered to by rich.
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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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I had a fantastic time skiing in the trees during heavy snow falls in early March, but cant comment what its like to stay there as we stayed in Chamonix (about 30 min drive).
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Cheers. I didn't realise Chamonix was so close! Looks like a goer, especially as it's so easy to get to for a long weekend.
Anyone know of any SC accommodation while i'm on... I've found a few apartments but you can never have enough options. 
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Ski Bat, there's an MGM place there, IIRC. No idea what it's like, but they always look pretty good (by French s/c standards).
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Mgm places in les carroz are excellent, pool, jacuzzis etc, run by pierre et vacances
http://www.pierreetvacances.com/index.php?code_mrq=mgm
just don't fill the apartment as sleeping in lounge makes it tight. Les carroz had much better snow than morillon last week. The village is very friendly, has a lived in feel, quiet at night, one drawback is the main road to flaine goes through it. Access to all the other areas is really easy, the bottleneck going to flaine seems to be grand vans, but its an 8 man chair so it chews its queue quicky. The only bit i don't like about the whole area is the ridge above samoens 1600 as its gets very busy as so many chairs feed into it and flaine is ugly in a pleasant way! The flat section is along the ridge back towards morillon and les carroz or a flat blue down to the 4 man MOLLIACHETS chair that then takes you to the edge of the ridge. This chair gets very very busy at the weekend.
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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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I would certainly favour Les Carroz over any of the other resorts in the area (but beware of my bias being a chalet owner there). Generally the Grand Massif has fantastic snow - it is possible to ski back to Les Carroz at 1200m from pre-Xmas through to late April. I don't think the snowboard warnings are particularly fair - there is one area (Perce Neige) that is flat but this can easily be avoided, either by using Les Molliets lift in Les Carroz or a short detour via Morrillon.
The Flaine ski area takes about 45 mins to reach (via the main cable car and two chair lifts). Returning is a little quicker as only two lifts are needed.
What are your plans? Have a look at my chalet (self catering or catering?) - sleeps 8 in four bedrooms. Hopefully we can help, or otherwise, direct you elsewhere in the resort.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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simo1234, Thanks for the link, it's certainly a possibility, especially if there is a discount for a snowhead!! Although at the moment we don't need it for the whole week and it looks a little too plush for our needs!!
If you know of any other possiblities i would be greatful. I think we would definitly be intersted for 2008 though. I'll bookmark it!
This break is more of a 'pre-ski holiday' holiday... before we head out to Whistler later in the season. So cost is a big issue 
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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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Of course there would be a discount for snowheads.....
Ski Bat - Most places would likely rent Saturday-Saturday but I can immediately think of two appartments in Les Carroz that specialise in short breaks/weekends - these sleep 2 (+2 on sofa) or 4 (+2 on sofa) - e-mail me directly on csimmons@flameski.com if either of these may fit the bill and I can investigate further.
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Ski Bat, we went to Carroz last year and Morillon this year. Carroz was lovely, very pretty & good food, we stayed a bit too far from the lifts, but the real problem for us was the club for under 5's which was a dark hole staffed by 16 yr old girls more interested in fag breaks than what they were paid to do. Morillon is not so pretty & not much night life but we could ski to the apartment (2 weeks ago) and the locals were without exception lovely. the ski school also was excellent at all levels. Think we will go back to carroz now that the girls are older & choose the accommodation carefully. rebecca
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You know it makes sense.
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Ski Bat, p.s. we stayed at the mgm apartments in carroz last year - they were beautiful, but nearly a kilometer from the lifts!! in morillon the mgm apartments are right next to the lifts.
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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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rpft@rpft.co.uk, I have no wish to argue with you, and of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I wouldn't describe les Carroz 'very pretty', or even 'fairly pretty', for that matter. I liked it, and would stay there again very happily, but its ordinariness was why I liked it. Still, there we are. Just goes to show.
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Poster: A snowHead
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richmond, you're probably right - I liked the square & church and I think this all merged in with the amazing cake shops, wine, local food etc., my stomach talking...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have actually been to Les Carroz on my first ski holiday, but it was on a school trip back in the 80's and i was obviously too busy messing about with my chums to take any notice of the architecture etc.
I'm not too bothered about that sort of thing anyway. We are far too keen skiers (first lift/last run/no lunch - etc) to spend any time in the town itself.
But all this advise is very much appriciated. Especially from simo1234, whom i will hopefully one day be contacting about the rather decent pad they have over there.
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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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rpft@rpft.co.uk, fair enough, that of course is a sort of beauty.
Ski Bat, you need to relax a bit, enjoy some good lunches, that sort of thing. And what about the evenings? One of the joys of a skiing hol is pottering out for a decent dinner somewhere (isn't it?) after a hard day's skiing.
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I think each to their own. I used to be a first lift - no lunch - last lift person but I've mellowed over recent years. I still like first lift - last but lunch is the most welcome part of the day!
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'll have plenty of time to chill out when i retire with my measly pension (if i'm lucky).
As a rule I usually do do lunch, but we decided that a half eaten mars bar on the lift was enough for our last day in La Plagne this year. The mega tons of snow was far too good for sitting indoors wasting valuable 'powdertime'.
Motto of the holiday was "Go hard or go home". I didn't go home... Vallee Blanche for me next time!!
I think this 'first lift - last lift' topic is a separate thread altogether. I bet it's been a topic before though. 
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Ski Bat,
I have a 2 bed chalet apartment just down the hill from Carroz (900m), if you are interested in renting it then let me know and i will forward the details. between £300 and £550 for a week. One bedroom has a double and one bedroom has two singles. I can also do midweek changeover so you can get those cheap flights or weekends.
The GM is a great area and Carroz is very nice, skiing is very good and the Geneva really is only 1hr away (Airport Car Park to Chalet door). I reguarly leave the slopes at 4pm and am sitting in at home in Chester at 9pm with a Chinese watching the TV!
Anyway let me know.
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NorthWestFace, Cheers. I'd appriciate that. You can send stuff through to me here
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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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Stayed in Les Carroz January 1993. Absolutley no snow. Got bussed to Flaine every day which had plenty. Would love to go back there as it seems to be an interesting ski area.
Do some of the "Veterans" remember, I think 1993 was pretty bad across France?? I was only a lad 
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We had the same experience in 1987 when i first went. I don't remember Les Carroz at all, which is why i'm interested in going back next year. My 20 year aniversary!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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A new club for under 5's, in a large chalet building, is being built next to the mgm , on the edge of the park, should be really good. We used the current version 3 years ago and 2 years ago and it was excellent, but a bit cramped.
1 km from lifts....................a bus goes from outside the door, but ski in out its not.
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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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carroz, I didn't mean to be rude about carroz - we really loved it and would definitely go back. the atmosphere there is perfect. we just got the wrong place to stay & now the kids are older it's different. hopefully the new under 5's place has looked more carefully for staff!! you know the place I mean don't you? near the sherpa.
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I think the MGM is a little luxurious for my 'bargain' holiday. They do look well worth a visit though. Plus i don't have any kids (yet) so i'm not too bothered about such facilities. Just piste/off-piste, a bed, somewhere to wash and somewhere to eat/drink.
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You know it makes sense.
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We really like Les Carroz, proper village & not a concrete jungle!
Great access to wide range of runs on the Grand Massif, something for everyone, we will be going back.
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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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Ski Bat, I reckon you'd be better opff in Flaine. The architecture and ambience is not to everyone's taste (I never stayed there so I don't know, but I don't have a pathological fear of purpose built resorts), but ambience is low on your list of requirements. Flaine can't be much further than LC by road from GVA.
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Poster: A snowHead
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rpft@rpft.co.uk, No offence taken, yes it was the place near the sherpa, its a bit grubby and cramped hence the new one. (the sherpa is now a spar, not pleased about that at all). They have built the new kids chalet on top of the crazy golf which my daughter enjoyed hugely last summer, have not told her yet! waiting for stamping of foot........... The mgm in morillon did not look completely finished 2 weeks ago, however mgm have taken about 2 years to completely finish the ones in les carroz.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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carroz, don't know where we will go next year - we are really struggling with this sodding 'not taking kids out of school stuff'. disaster about bernard & his wonderful sherpa. have had terrible headaches from his hooch.
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