 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys,
So...we were due to go to Chamonix this coming Friday (22nd October) for 8 days. Our plan was to have a few days in Cham then head over to somewhere in search of some Glacier skiing,
however AirBnB have just emailed us and cancelled our accomodation (just blimmin' lovely eh?!)
We have flights to/from Geneva and have a hire car booked and now need to find a new apartment.
My question is - where should we go/where would you go within a decent enough drive of Geneva which has activites for kids (aged 6 and 3) whilst also giving the chance of some skiing?
Les Deux Alpes? Zermatt? Tignes? or somewhere else altogether?
All recommendations most welcome as my head is about to explode! 
Thanks folks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nowhere else avail in Cham? 
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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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Theres lots of places but we were only realy going to Cham as we had rolled the accomodation booking over from a trip which was cancelled during Covid and this was the only week we could be away. So given that booking is now cancelled there is nothing tying us into going to Cham if there were somewhere else that could offer us something different.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Unsure about skiing at this point, haven't tried it but get the impression (for holiday use as opposed to sports training) that it's more or less "interseason" during which you may struggle to access anything practical. Could be wrong but looks that way.
Something else, generally the areas within Morzine/ les Gets and Giffre valley Samöens etc are really attractive but unsure of activities in autumn period as visiting summer and winter I've not experienced this time.
Tentatively, lake Annecy and surrounding areas are absolutely beautiful anytime I've been there with more chance of children interest focus perhaps.
As you note, glacier skiing within reasonable reach of Geneva is between Zermatt, Tignes and Le duex Alps and all a fair distance from airport.
Outlying choice perhaps, Val Cenis as it has a lot of summer activities for families, swimming pool, ice skating etc in village and really interesting valley to explore. Good costs and very good places to eat out too.
It's just that access to facilities this time of year that bring a big question mark.
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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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OK, I'll admit my ignorance, and Google couldn't help. WWYG is what?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Where Would You Go is my guess 
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Tignes opened its glacier this morning.
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@MorningGory, Yep, I guess so. 
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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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@NewSkiingDad, suspect it will be quiet everywhere. Verbier lifts are still open for biking until 25th but think you’ll struggle with kids activities. Zermatt for skiing but again not ideal for the kids. Currently glorious hiking weather but think the weather is turning at the weekend
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Les Diablerets for skiing at Glacier 3000. 20 min drive to Leysin for loads of kids adventure stuff.
Edit. Sorry but glacier skiing not open until 6th Nov
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sat 16-10-21 16:56; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sack off skiing - its Autumn. The only ones up there are thr national team and they're not fun to ski with avec enfants. Go to Switzerland instead - do a bit of mountain stuff and then to Lugano for some sun and lake.
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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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Or Saas Fee if you want to set fire to some cash.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@mountainaddict, quality over quantity.
With the OP’s name and +kids - its a recipe for disappointment and the last thing you want to do is discourage anyone with a sub-par morning up high, skiing 20km and being whooshed by the downhillers and paying 300chf per day for the pleasure (Saas fee as mentioned above for 2 adults 2 kids). By all means do it anyway but accept that autumn skiing is NICHE.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
| quality over quantity |
Exactly. Alps Snow conditions at altitude are perfect at the moment Nothing sub-par about it and more snow is forecast.
Tignes is virtually deserted, so doesn't look like too much racer whooshing going on there. Not to mention that, in my autumnal glacier skiing experience, the race training areas are very much segregated from the Joe Public skiers.
I'm sure that, if they go for it, the NewSkiingDad family will love it. Looking forward to hearing about it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@mountainaddict, from another post, @NewSkiingDad‘s children are aged 6 and 2. Glaciers in October are fine for experienced and highly enthusiastic adults, but they are no place for small inexperienced children.
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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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@mountainaddict, how long to get up to the skiable area of Tignes Glacier with a 2&6yr old?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| @mountainaddict, how long to get up to the skiable area of Tignes Glacier with a 2&6yr old? |
And is there even a nursery area setup there? At least the younger one has presumably never skied before.
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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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FWIW, I have taken young children skiing on a glacier in October without issue. @NewSkiingDad, I would imagine your 3 year old will find it quite challenging (cold, bit bleak, steep pistes etc) but I have taken mine since they graduated piou-piou. Hope you get to ski, good luck. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Nadenoodlee,
A few mins in the funicular.
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| Kenzie wrote: |
@Nadenoodlee,
A few mins in the funicular. |
Then onto the Panoramique chair, or ski down to the Vanoise chair, or walk across a rocky path to Champagny.
There is only one public run in the picture posted by mountainaddict.
In previous years there has been a nursery area near the bottom of the Champagny T-bar but the glacier has shrunk too much now.
Next weekend is the start of French half term, I would expect Tignes and Les Deux Alpes to be busy.
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@Snowsartre, I thought I read on another thread that NewSkiingDad himself is not an experienced skier... a family full of beginners/early intermediates is very different to a competent skier shepherding his/her kids around IMO.
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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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| Quote: |
| mountainaddict, how long to get up to the skiable area of Tignes Glacier with a 2&6yr old? |
About 15 mins.
As mentioned above: Funicular ascent (approx. 7 mins), walk 50 metres to chair (approx. 3 mins), ride chair down to glacier (under 5 mins).
Thanks for the points of clarification. I had missed the ages of the kids and the competence of the OP and was merely trying to extol the virtues of autumn glacier skiing.
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| ski3 wrote: |
As you note, glacier skiing within reasonable reach of Geneva is between Zermatt, Tignes and Le duex Alps and all a fair distance from airport.
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I would avoid the Zermatt Glacier, it's really not very good at all, - the Tignes one is better.
Just my opinion, but having tried them both I really think the Zermatt one is simply not worth bothering with.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
| There is only one public run in the picture posted by mountainaddict |
Tignes website this morning showed the two main red and black runs from the top of the cable car as scheduled to open. Below that, the Vanoise Chair is open - so over 700m of vertical is available. Pretty decent for October.
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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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You know it makes sense.
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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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@Bergmeister, indeed but thats not what i asked. 2 kids + kit + 3 lifts/ funiculars/ hot air balloons = will take longer than say a powder hungry solo skier.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Nadenoodlee, The funicular will take the same time for everyone, after the morning rush it runs to a timetable, you can ski down from the top of it without taking another lift. I wouldn't take a 2yo up there though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi guys, thanks for all the replies. I havent been able to reply as had issues logging in - used a VPN tonight and suddenly hey presto! - I'm in!
Im currently sat in a lovely apartment in Les Deux Alpes with a glass of red after our first full day here. We had a trip up the gondola to the glacier today to have a look around, and while its not going to be
any good for the sprogs, Im going to get myself back up there for a few hours every other day for the next week (I have a very understanding wife! )
Les Deux Alpes itself is great, although obviously not everything is fully open yet - I will definitely be returning in peak season.
Can anyone recommend any cool non-skiing activities for us in and around this area please?
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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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| MorningGory wrote: |
| Where Would You Go is my guess |
Ehhh? Is this a p155 take?
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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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@Bergmeister, no, not at all.
What do you think it means?
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FAQ
This is Snowheads, where
on another thread is currently reporting 'hero snow' top to bottom at Hintertux 