 Poster: A snowHead
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Right, the glacier is open so here goes. This post will develop over the morning!
Sorry its a bit late but here's hoping its a better season than last year. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons I won't be in Tignes for as much time this season, so the daily updates will not start until after Christmas and there will be a bigger gap in Feb. But when I'm there it will be service as normal.
Clearly, things are going to be different in resort this year, recommendations may well change as we see what business have survived the hiatus of the last 18 months, so it will be a case of rebuilding the knowledge base. But lets start with the useful links links, some are still sleeping or need a new security certificate, check terms and conditions before paying:
Tignes Main Site (official):
https://en.tignes.net/
Ski passes:
https://www.skipass-tignes.com/en/
Bus Transfers
Daily from Geneva, and Sat from Lyon (no Chambery and Lyon only Sat this year):
http://www.altibus.com/
Weekends from Geneva and Grenoble, Lyon Sat only this year):
https://www.bensbus.co.uk/ski-transfer/tignes-airport-transfers/
Private Transfers (Operator based in Tignes):
http://www.mountainrides.co.uk/
Private transfer based in Val D, also do shared transfers to Tignes and Val D, max 8, departing GVA up to every hour
https://snow-drone.com/ Discount code snowheads05 see post dated 21 Oct for details
Ski Instruction (British Staff):
http://www.ski-instruction-tignes.co.uk/default.aspx
https://ultimatesnowsports.com/ski/tignes-skiing-lessons/
https://www.skinewgen.com/ski-schools/tignes/ (multinational but fluent English speaking staff)
http://www.tdcski.com
Another multinational school in Val Claret
https://www.333school.com/
Off Piste Adventure and training (British staff)
https://www.facebook.com/TignesOffPisteOfficial/
Weather:
http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/tignes/73320
Route Info (Savoie Only):
http://savoie-route.fr/
Avalanche Reports (Meteo France):
http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/bulletin-avalanches/savoie/avdept73
Live Lift Status:
http://www.skiplan.com/bulletin/bulletin.php?station=tignes®ion=alpes&pays=france&lang=fr
http://www.skiplan.com/bulletin/bulletin.php?station=val-d-isere®ion=alpes&pays=france&lang=fr
Bus Timetable from Bourg:
http://altibus.com/documents/gares/9/navettes.pdf
Val-Tignes (for repatriation of lost souls that missed the last lift or for a spot of (even more) expensive shopping!):
https://www.tignes.net/sejour/deplacement/la-navette-tignes-val-disere
Ski Rental and new boots:
https://guyclarey.sport2000.fr/fr/
Purveyors of fine craft ales to those who have had enough eurofizz:
http://sapaudiabrewing.co/
School Holiday Hacker
https://demo.ecoledeski.fr/user-media/18/2021-2022.jpg
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 21-10-21 10:21; edited 3 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Making a mark
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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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Hey, fantastic, thanks @chocksaway. Let the season begin! I plan to head out on Friday/Saturday so if there are any other Snowheads out there, do say hi and feel free to hook up for a run or two.
I promised to post up some general info on parking here, near the start of the thread so it's easy to find. I will update this as I get more info and as the season progresses, and others alert me to any errors / stupidities on my part! Working bottom up...
Les Brevieres
There are three car parks which remain free all year round. They are open-air and there are no height restrictions on any of them. As you arrive into Les Brev., North car park is on your right before you enter the village. If you keep going all the way through and out the other end, you will end up in South carpark - there is literally nowhere else to go. During super-snowy periods South car park is prone to avalanches during times of high risk (when it's level 5 mostly, but potentially also when it's level 4). You will not be able to retrieve your car from South car park if avalanche closure is announced - the road is physically blocked. Tune in to the Tignes App to get warned but rest assured during normal snowfall it's not an issue. South is the most convenient one to access the bubble and this is the only public link - there is no shuttle bus. So unless you are staying in Les Brev. you have to time your parking to be able to access the bubble or have a mate who can give you a lift up or get a taxi. Returning to your car is easier, as there is a shuttle between the next village up (Tignes 1800) and Le Lac and from 1800 you can ski down to Brev. on a blue piste. This is, of course, strictly forbidden when pistes are closed...
I mentioned 3 car parks. There is a small one behind the old Chalet Chardons building / ski rental shop. Go past North car park and then take the very next turning on the right. It's a tight turn - you may need more than one bite to get around. Down a ramp and hang a left (single track and a blind bend). Best not to use this parking unless you have good snow tyres / are prepared to put chains on / don't mind crashing the car on the ramp and bend. It's mostly used by locals and seasonnaires.
At super busy times, there is a fourth option. Parking is tolerated on the right hand side of the road as you approach the village, just before the North car park.
Camper vans: these are not allowed in Les Brevieres or any of the Tignes villages for overnight stays. The Municipal Police generally knock on the door of new arrivals and offer their advice, which is to move on, unless you are parking for the day or staying in accommodation somewhere. Exceptionally gnarly-looking seasonnaires seem to be left alone.
And finally, an update that applies to Les Brevieres, Les Boisses and Tignes 1800: as of Jan 2022 these car parks remain free but if you are parking for more than 12 hours you now have to display a 'vignette' or parking permit in the window else risk being towed away. If parking for less than 12 hours you have to display a blue disc, set to the time of arrival. The permit for the former can be obtained from the parking information office, ground floor of Maison de Tignes in Le Lac or from the company / lodging hosting you. You need to tell them your car registration and the dates you are arriving and leaving; these are all written on the permit that you get and then place on view beneath the windscreen. Blue discs can be purchased in any tabac. No idea why this has been introduced. Initially I thought maybe to help manage snow clearing better but there's no contact info put on the permit.
Tignes 1800
Most of the parking here is private and part of an apartment block or development. However a small free open-air car park appears to have been reinstated: from the Tignes 1800 roundabout, go towards the village, following "Route d'Eté " signs, then keep right at the barracks following along the plastic tunnel over the magic carpet. Parking is at the end of the road / buildings. Only about 20 spaces so expect these to fill fast as in Les Boisses. Height restriction of 2.20m using a swing barrier.
Update March 2022: I guess the clue is in the name of the access road: "Route d'Eté"... Having been unable to see this parking from the ski lift I took a look around on foot. Definitely hors-de-service - as it's turned into a piste for the winter.
However... A brand new free car park for about 100 cars has been built the other side of the roundabout next to the heliport. Open air and no height restrictions. I've read the signs carefully now and it is managed using the same permit system as Les Brevieres and Les Boisses (and is not seasonnaire-only as I'd originally feared). A nice move for Tignes to have reinstated a decent amount of free bus-linked parking after the last one disappeared under new apartment blocks. If coming into Tignes 1800 along the road atop the dam, take the 3rd exit on the roundabout, past the Auto Centre 1800 petrol station / garage (on your left) and head up a steep-ish zig-zag gravel track for about 300 metres. Don't attempt to go into the barrier-controlled parking opposite the petrol station - this is reserved for seasonnaires staying in the accommodation that surrounds it.
Linked by shuttle bus (see Les Boisses) once you have walked down to the roundabout (where the bus stop is) from the heliport.
Les Boisses
For a skier or walker, it can be hard to tell where Les Boisses begins and Tignes 1800 ends but access by car is quite different for the two. To get into Les Boisses, if you are coming along the road on top of the dam go straight across at the roundabout in Tignes 1800 and up the steep ramp-like road heading to Tignes Le Lac. Take the first turning on the right, which appears straight after the second hairpin bend. At the very end of the road is the Les Boisses parking. Free and open air and liked by shuttle bus. This is 2 buses morning / 2 buses evening during early season (early season, not pre-season; there's no bus at all pre-season) and then starting Christmas week every 30 minutes up till about 10pm. This is a separate shuttle from the one I will mention below and runs just between Le Lac and 1800. On the way up the bus goes in and out of Les Boisses; on the way down it skips it so just stay sat on board while the driver has a fag in 1800 and he'll drop you in Les Boisses a short while later.
There are only about 50 spaces and these fill fast over opening weekend and stay that way. Height restriction: 2.25 metres using a swing barrier which may or may not be locked by the snow-clearing chaps.
See also update of Jan 2022 under Les Brevieres.
Le Lavachet
Covered parking, short-stay or long stay. Height restriction 2.65m enforced by the building being made of reinforced concrete. Linked by shuttle bus to Le Lac and Val Claret till around 4pm pre-season and 24/7 during season proper. What more can I say...
Le Lac 1
Covered parking reserved for seasonnaires only. Height restriction 1.95m. Access right now looks tricky owing to building work spilling over the road opposite but possible. Access as below for Lac 2, but go past Lac 2 and turn right.
Le Lac 2
Covered parking around the corner from Lac 1. Access if coming up from the dam is using a side road (left) opposite the Taxi Office (big yellow TAXIS sign) / Intersport, just before the first roundabout. If you miss it and reach the roundabout, go all the way round and then first right. Height restriction 2.20m. Short and long term OK.
Le Lac 3
The parking of choice for most folk stopping in Tignes Le Lac. Covered and situated underneath the "Maison de Tignes" tourist office and handy to access ski school meeting points and lifts. Short-term and long-term parking OK. Height restriction 2.25m. The main parking enquiries office is located in this car park.
Le Rosset
Covered parking. Long-stay (ie more than 24 hours) only. You have to buy a ticket in advance on line or at the Le Lac 3 office. Height restriction 2.25m. Linked by the same shuttle bus as above.
Golf
Covered parking on the edge of Val Claret. Height restriction 2.30m. Short-term and long-term parking OK. Not directly linked by shuttle - you have to walk down the hill to the big roundabout by Ecrins hotel, then turn left to get the bus at Platieres or right to get the bus at Chartreux. The walk is about 8-10 mins. Or you can walk into town, past the Bureau des Guides, turn right and take the Platieres lift (elevator) down to the Platieres bus stop.
Grande Motte
Open air parking on what's left of the plateau where the new Club Med building now stands. Can be used for day parking during pre-season. Now that the season is in full swing this parking is reserved for seasonaires only. See next section for how to apply which is the same process as for residents' parking. Linked by the same shuttle bus as above to the lifts and other Tignes villages. Height restriction 2.30m by swing barrier.
Residential Parking
You may be lucky and get a private parking space assigned that belongs to the place where you are staying, but this is rare. For much of the open-air parking in Tignes that looks like it's associated with specific residential developments you will see a P (parking) sign next to it, with 'MACARON' written underneath. What that means is that to park there you first have to go to the main Tignes parking office and present them with your flat ownership / season let contract / season work contract and buy a space for the season. You then get your macaron, which is a permit to display in the window. Without the macaron you are liable to get towed (but usually leafleted beforehand).
Au Bon Coin
Some flat owners let out their parking spaces for the season or by the week. Take a peek on Au Bon Coin. These spaces will generally be in locations other than the public parking listed above. You will need to check for yourself what specific restrictions they may have (eg height).
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 19-03-22 1:10; edited 28 times in total
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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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What a pleasant surprise to see this - we’ve been hoping against hope but it does seem to be more of a reality now that we will ski again this winter! Looking for to see the picture building over the next couple of months. Xx
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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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Just had an e mail from Altibus, 25% off GVA to all resorts before 28 Oct 21.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| Just had an e mail from Altibus, 25% off GVA to all resorts before 28 Oct 21. |
They are shared, timed transfers, I take it?
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@chocksaway, Thanks as always. In Tignes from 13/11 to 18/12 and staying in Val from then until 2/1/22. So may be able to keep people somewhat informed on conditions etc. It will be interesting to see how "normal" or not it is. Originally thought 27/11 onwards but impatience got the better of me. Doing quite a bit with Snoworks. A week or two doing technical on the glacier will hopefully get rid of the rustiness after 20 months.
Fingers still crossed that nothing stupid happens in next 4 weeks
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Great updates here, thanks very much all, and I intend to keep a close eye on this thread ahead of group of six of us arriving 28/11 to ski/board for four days, for first time in Tignes. Good to see GM open and in use today. @bobski62 - I get ticked off/giggled at/generally poked fun at for offering to hook up with folk these days, but glad to see someone else continuing to use it for its original meaning! I will carry on regardless, stuff them.. 
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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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@bobski62 & @paddyhambo: I’ll join your hook-up club - out there from PSB onwards so can chip in with pre-Xmas and pre-@chocksaway contributions.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@GreenDay, In addition to the link above, its a big bus from Geneva, 3 times a day, more at weekends. It then drops folk along the valley for minibus and taxy transfer to the other resorts. The bus normally continues to Tignes then Val, although occasionally a swap at Bourg. I've used it dozens of times. The only snag is timing through Geneva, I have missed one by 10 mins, and had a 4 hour wait, but it was a free transfer. As ever the on line reviews are heavily biased to when it goes wrong. No one ever comments when it goes right, over 95% of occasions.
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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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@Kenzie, @chocksaway, Cheers both.
Yes, we are looking at a private transfer next year, had too many dreadful drives and none of us CBA any more (mind you less chance of a horror in early march than January).
One of our pals (who lives in Seez) mate has a transfer co, waiting to hear from him.
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@GreenDay, Snowdrone would be a good call too. Based in Val, you can go full private or booked a shared one, max 8 folks.
I hope they are operating, trouble is there are a load of legacy websites still turning. I've been taking round my contacts all day checking on things!
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You know it makes sense.
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@chocksaway, Thanks for the new page.
If anyone wants to meet I’m in Val d’Isere from 25 Nov for most of the season hopefully, our long stay visa interview is on Wednesday. We are going back to the UK for Christmas and probably for 10/14 days in February.
Snowdrone are still operating, although the quote I got today to bring family from Geneva to Val d’Isere was not competitive, but generally can’t fault the shared service they run.
Today’s research for our return after Christmas.
Geneva to Val d’Isere Wed 28 Dec for 4 people returning 2 people on Wed 5 Jan
Snowdrone €754
Mountain Rescue €590
Cool Bus €652
Mountain Rides are showing €552 but I’ve not contacted them yet.
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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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@muppet, 2 years ago I've used Mont Blanc Transfers, I found them through FindTransfers.com and they were between the cheapest. They had many recommendations.
Clean modern van, arrived on time with a pleasant and responsible driver.
I used the same website last week and they starred once again.
You can always check and send them a request.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Which of the ski schools do you recommend?
Beginner with introduction lessons and 4 or 5 hours practice at the Chill Factore
Will be based in Val Claret if that makes any difference
thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Snowdrone have been in touch. They are raring to go with both private and shared transfers, the latter is a good option for small groups as the prices are competitive, with most of the benefits of a private. With departures up to every hour, there's not much of a wait and it's door to door. And they operate every day for those not tied to the weekend. They have also got a number of all electric vehicles if you want to feel a bit greener.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 19-10-21 15:17; edited 1 time in total
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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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@1015, Most of the recommendations are based in Lac. But there is 333 in Val Claret, which would make it easier for the beginner, not having to make a couple of bus journeys.
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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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Can you take two chairlifts out of La Daille and get to the top of BV, or is it three? I can't remember and the map is missing a dimension.
All this covid stuff is making the where-to-go decision turn on the ability to ride chairlifts, typically not a major criterion.
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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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@1015,
Group lessons or private lessons?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Scooter in Seattle, I think you would need three: Etroits, Mont Blanc and Marmottes. Haven't stayed in La Daille for a long time but have a vague memory that they wouldn't run Etroits if it was quiet, just the Daille gondola, this may be different in a plague year though.
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The Etroits lift no longer exists. It is the new La Daille gondola or the Funi. Or bus and the Olympic gondola or the two chairs.
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@rjs, thanks and I did wonder about Etroits not running...I'll be there in the back half of March and they do start to pinch pennies around that time, and probably should.
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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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@Scooter in Seattle, See the post by Ski lots, I was looking at an old lift map.
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@rjs, me too. Damn, not great news. Might put me back in town. Great intel though, its why I'm here. (thx @Ski lots)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@Scooter in Seattle, would Val Claret suit you better? Tufs + Marmottes to get to the top of Bellevarde. Tommeuses or Borsat to return home. Also lots of chair lifts on the right side of the map and to get up the glacier.
How big is your group? If you're going when it's quiet enough for them to be shutting lifts, will it also be quiet enough that you can make sure you always get a gondola to just your group? (Olympique from Val d'Isere to Bellevarde would be too big for this - you'd have to hope the chair lift alternative was running - but the other gondolas hold 8 - 10 people).
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| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
| @rjs, thanks and I did wonder about Etroits not running...I'll be there in the back half of March and they do start to pinch pennies around that time, and probably should. |
Unlikely for any lifts to be shut that early - the season runs until May.
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You know it makes sense.
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@thelem, thanks for the suggestion. I will be solo as the rest of the fam will meet me in Paris once I'm done, so a single hotel room is what I'm after. The one time I was there I stayed in VDI next to the church tower, and I thought VC looked like a great base, but not much in the way of character. My first thought was out there towards Le Clocheton (Manchet valley?), but some SHs have told me that area is more condos rather than hotels; thus their suggestion of La Daille, which seemed on target (though not a architectural gold mine either) before chairlifts became more important. Hopefully that fades as we draw closer.
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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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| Quote: |
@1015,
Group lessons or private lessons?
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group lessons but it is for just one of our party
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Scooter in Seattle - YSE used to do a good offering for singletons in Vd’I - chalet hotel Chardons - right next to the church in the old village - might even be the place you stayed last time - Google “YSE Val d’Isère” to see if they still offer it. They’re saying in this season’s publicity material that they’re running the traditional fully catered chalet service.
Unlike their other chalets 8/10/14 people Chardons is an old hotel which is run like a big chalet (and has single rooms) - IIRC circa 40 beds.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| 1015 wrote: |
| Quote: |
@1015,
Group lessons or private lessons?
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group lessons but it is for just one of our party |
If it had been private you could have asked the instructor to meet you, rather than you go to meet them.
But if you ask when booking you may get lucky ...
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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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Our Easter plans seem to keep chopping and changing. We were set on Tignes, then we found a great apartment for what we need in Val Thorens, but that booking got rejected as they want Saturday-Saturday, so we're back to Tignes again, and i've requested to book an Airbnb in Résidence le Home Club in Le Lavachet. Any particular horror stories?
I've only visited Tignes once, about 8 years ago and we stayed in Val Claret. Our trip at Easter is with my girlfriends Sister and her Partner who will be first timers, but will have some lessons at a snowdome beforehand. Sister is likely to be very nervous.
Will we be ok in Lavachet? Looks like there's a couple of green runs in the village at Le Lac/ Tignes 2100 and then we could either get the Tovière lift up and ski round to the Borsat lift where there's a number of greens (not sure how difficult the blues are on this route) or we can bus up to Val Claret take the Fresse lift up and then have access to all the greens at Borsat. End of the day looks decent as they can download on Tovière back in to Le Lac and then I think the walk to Lavachet isn't too bad?
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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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The walk to Lavachet is not bad but the free bus every 6 or 7 minutes at peak time is much easier! By the middle of the week a beginner will be able to ski from the top of the Rosset lift to the centre of Lavachet. The Home Club is a big block with lots of long term seaonaires. But the Guardienne is very keen on keeping control. As with any block it is a lottery as to who your neighbours are.
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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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@chocksaway, thanks. Sounds like it'll be fine for us. We're only going to be there Wednesday-Monday, skiing Thursday-Sunday, so I think it'll be fine for what we need. If the others don't get on with skiing, they'll be able to walk around Tignes 2100 fine, bus up to Val Claret etc.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@swskier,
Or they could check out alternative activities such as ice skating (lake ice permitting). Evo2 usually have plenty on offer.
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| 1015 wrote: |
Which of the ski schools do you recommend?
Beginner with introduction lessons and 4 or 5 hours practice at the Chill Factore
Will be based in Val Claret if that makes any difference
thanks |
I think the only school that does group lessons from Val Claret is ESF.
Getting to Le Lac gives you more options. We use Ultimate who are pretty good
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@Kenzie, yes, will see how they get on, but if they don't enjoy it, i'm sure we can find some stuff for them to do, while I and the GF ski, because there's no way i'm giving up ski time for ice skating! 
Airbnb has been confirmed, next point to consider is how we arrange parking when we're arriving late at night. Tignes website says you can only prebook if you arrive Friday-Sunday, Monday-Thursday you need to go to a ticket office after arriving, which close at 10pm, and we land in Geneva at 8.45pm......
An email to the tourist office to try and sort that one out I think.
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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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@swskier,
The ice skating is also under floodlights.
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SnowDrone Towers have been in touch with a discount code:
Here is a promo code you guys can use for a discount:
snowheads05
That is 5€ off a shared transfer per person 18th December until 17th April.
For private transfers, it is about 5% off for weekend transfers between the same dates, 18th December until 17th April.
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FAQ
