 Poster: A snowHead
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I’ve been trying my damndest to find somewhere that suits for half term 2022 (we’re the second week from 19th-26th).
I have spend HOURS over several days researching different resorts in Austria, Italy and Scandinavia, but they all fall down in one area that France tends to excel at, and that is decent sized self catering accommodation for a 3 generation family of 6 people. We normally book a 4 double bedroom chalet with decent living room size, but trying to find that outside of a France is like chasing rainbows....
So, if you absolutely HAD to book somewhere in France that wasn’t horribly busy on the slopes, where would that be? Am I right in thinking that one of the resorts that links with Italy (e.g. La Ros) would be OK?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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2 French zones including Paris plus UK that week. I don’t think you will find a French resort that wasn’t horribly busy.
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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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| DJL wrote: |
| 2 French zones including Paris plus UK that week. I don’t think you will find a French resort that wasn’t horribly busy. |
Maybe I should reframe the question as to which would be the least worst?
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Good luck Timmycb5, You are planning to go on the 3rd week of half term to France when both areas C, which includes Paris and A which includes the main alpine local areas are on holiday. It will probabbly be one of the busiest weeks of the year.
May I suggest you redouble your search to especially to Italy which doesn't have a half term. Try Alleghe in the Dolomites. I seem to recall from summer visits that there are self catering apartments there. I'm not sure if any bookings will be open yet for 12 months away
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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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My son found a good apartment in Madonna di Campiglio the season before last - took a lot of research, but he's good at that. It's much too early to give up - all depends on your priorities, but personally I'd live with a smaller bedroom and sitting room to avoid long lift queues and crowded slopes. But then I'm used to living in my own (small) apartment in the Alps, and on small boats. I just can't bear lift queues - I'd really prefer not to bother. If I HAD to go to France in a busy half term week I'd put the whole family into ski school to get lift priority and ski with someone who knows exactly where to go.
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| NickyJ wrote: |
We booked this place for last Easter (obviously never actually managed to stay there!!!)
But looked nice
https://www.chaletalpina.com/ |
Ive heard of that place before but totally forgot about it! Thanks
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We stay at www.Mareo.it in Italy. Several good quality self catering apartments within the building. Very easy walking distance to nearest lift (under 100mtrs) and two minute walk into town.
Disadvantages : not an easy transfer (we hire a car and drive from Munich / Milan / Verona / Innsbruck)
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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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| Timmycb5 wrote: |
| DJL wrote: |
| 2 French zones including Paris plus UK that week. I don’t think you will find a French resort that wasn’t horribly busy. |
Maybe I should reframe the question as to which would be the least worst? |
The answer to that is the FR resort with the most efficient lift system twinned with becoming an earlier riser to get out there before the 9am ESF Le Mans-style running start.
Don’t lunch at lunchtime and/or take packed lunches/picnics.
All the FR resorts will be packed but the efficient ones will push numbers up the hill and dissipate crowds more quickly (turning what would have been 10yrs ago an hour queue into just 45 minutes).
Good luck
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| Grinning wrote: |
| Timmycb5 wrote: |
| DJL wrote: |
| 2 French zones including Paris plus UK that week. I don’t think you will find a French resort that wasn’t horribly busy. |
Maybe I should reframe the question as to which would be the least worst? |
The answer to that is the FR resort with the most efficient lift system twinned with becoming an earlier riser to get out there before the 9am ESF Le Mans-style running start.
Don’t lunch at lunchtime and/or take packed lunches/picnics.
All the FR resorts will be packed but the efficient ones will push numbers up the hill and dissipate crowds more quickly (turning what would have been 10yrs ago an hour queue into just 45 minutes).
Good luck |
That’s good advice. Coffee stop at 11.00, ski until 13.45, late lunch.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Grinning wrote: |
| ...the 9am ESF Le Mans-style running start. |
Oh now I want to see that! Sunday, lesson #1 on snow skis get placed on one side of green slope/wanna-be skiers line up on the other. Instructor drops the flag/ski pole and, well everyone watching pisses themselves laughing 
To the point, yep you're basically looking at skiing in France if you want the large, private self-catered (or even catered) chalet as it's just not the way they tend to do things in Italy or Austria (don't know about Spain/Andora). Don't know what but Italy/Austria are much more about hotels and B&Bs.
As it's France the where really means somewhere really big, or really small. If a "ski holiday" is more about the "holiday" than the "ski" somewhere small would work, and often get skipped over by others are they don't have 200,000KM of linked runs (no buses) so can be quieter. If it's the other way around though then go somewhere big. Yes it will be busy and there will be some bottlenecks and queues but at least there a lot of mountain for you all to spread out over!
For a specific suggestion you could check out the Portes du Soleil. As it's where the company I go with are based I normally stay in Morzine, which can be a pain during the morning/lunch/afternoon rushes. For a group of comitted skiiers and some young beginners I'd be tempted to look around Chatel/the Swiss side. There are a lot of long drag lifts in this corner which means many people take one look at the map and just write it off - to the point you can still find untracked side piste days after the last snow and even be making 3rd/4th tracks on piste mid week around La Chapelle d'Abondance (peak season, though maybe not half term week).
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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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| Mjit wrote: |
| For a group of comitted skiiers and some young beginners I'd be tempted to look around Chatel/the Swiss side. There are a lot of long drag lifts in this corner which means many people take one look at the map and just write it off - to the point you can still find untracked side piste days after the last snow and even be making 3rd/4th tracks on piste mid week around La Chapelle d'Abondance (peak season, though maybe not half term week). |
Oi! Don't tell everyone. Everyone knows Avoriaz is higher so has best snow, and Morzine has more life in the village 
Drag lifts only really Torgon / Super Chatel / Morgins Corbeau
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You know it makes sense.
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I forgot to mention that I didn't want to remortgage my house.
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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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I don't think there is a least worst. I think the least worst is to accept it's going to be busy and as the guys say manage your time, routes, etc. to avoid the worst. Also managing in terms of getting in and out of resort.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ah, so you want 4 double bedrooms for a total of 6 people, and a large living area, but you want it for less than €400 per person? Have you considered Bulgaria or Romania?
Hint: the lowest price on the search I linked to was €2408 for 130sqm and sleeping 8... yes, it goes up to €8K, but you don't have to select that one and the site has filtering functionality built in.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| ousekjarr wrote: |
Ah, so you want 4 double bedrooms for a total of 6 people, and a large living area, but you want it for less than €400 per person? Have you considered Bulgaria or Romania?
Hint: the lowest price on the search I linked to was €2408 for 130sqm and sleeping 8... yes, it goes up to €8K, but you don't have to select that one and the site has filtering functionality built in. |
Believe it or not I'm used to staying in a high end 4 double bedroom chalet in the French Alps within walking distance to the slopes/shops, that even in half term only costs €3,500. The one in Austria seem insanely expensive in comparison.
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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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| DJL wrote: |
| Drag lifts only really Torgon / Super Chatel / Morgins Corbeau |
Yea and give you some lovelly skiing if you just accept the drag.
Just don't make the schoolboy error of deciding to ski from Chatel to La Catelle and skiin down into the Plan de Croix bowl, rather than waiting for the bus... Ski down under a lovelly chair lift, then a 1km drag back out towards La Catelle  Even on skis that was a a cramp inducer!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Mjit wrote: |
| DJL wrote: |
| Drag lifts only really Torgon / Super Chatel / Morgins Corbeau |
Yea and give you some lovelly skiing if you just accept the drag.
Just don't make the schoolboy error of deciding to ski from Chatel to La Catelle and skiin down into the Plan de Croix bowl, rather than waiting for the bus... Ski down under a lovelly chair lift, then a 1km drag back out towards La Catelle Even on skis that was a a cramp inducer! |
Nah, its just a gentle drag lift, we do it a couple of times every trip.
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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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| Timmycb5 wrote: |
Believe it or not I'm used to staying in a high end 4 double bedroom chalet in the French Alps within walking distance to the slopes/shops, that even in half term only costs €3,500. The one in Austria seem insanely expensive in comparison. |
Sounds like you know where to go. Why don't you just book it? 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| luigi wrote: |
| Timmycb5 wrote: |
Believe it or not I'm used to staying in a high end 4 double bedroom chalet in the French Alps within walking distance to the slopes/shops, that even in half term only costs €3,500. The one in Austria seem insanely expensive in comparison. |
Sounds like you know where to go. Why don't you just book it? |
Because that resort gets horrendously busy at half term. I’m talking hour long lift queues.
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Have a look at Sunweb as they not only do majority self catering accommodation, there are lots of non-French options on there usually although you might find lots are not priced up for next season.
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Have you looked at Val Cenis?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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FAQ
