 Poster: A snowHead
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We decided to head to Grand Massif for the Week 31 Dec - 07 . Jan
But i cannot decide where is the best place to accommodate. Les Carroz, Flaine or somewhere else? (samoens etc)
We are a family of 2 Adults with 2 Kids (5 and 7 y old)
The kids are easily skiing on blue slopes, the big one some easy reds, and my wife also reds till easy blacks. I can go (almost) everywhere.
So, which is the best option? i realize that Les Carroz is less purpose built as FLaine and maybe more nice to walk around, and probably more things to do, eat etc but Flaine is a little bit higher, and maybe more ski in ski out.
Assuming that we find something near the ski school - lifts , which is a better option for children?
where are more blue, wide nice slopes ?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 25-11-22 13:58; edited 1 time 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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With young children, I'd want 'convenience' and 'ease', hence I'd choose Flaine - many of the apartments there are ski-in/ski-out, which somewhat compensates for poor aesthetics, lack of village/town atmosphere and fewer restaurants.
At New Year, the main cable car out of Les Carroz will also be extremely busy as everyone wants to get up the mountain for the ski-school etc. Whereas in Flaine, you still might have a queue, but you have more choice to get up from the Flaine bowl and it will be far easier and less stressful with young 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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We've stayed as family of 4 in each of the GM villages and through formative years of the children learning to ski. And really like all of them, so no criticism in this direction regarding staying there in any of the locations.
Flaine would be most favourable to meet your question as just so convenient to get both out and back in from the snow with absolute least time etc. Literally walk out and go, highest lift point (ignoring that farmost chair at top right of area  ) and practical to ski down to village the whole way on very wide Blue piste, even for young beginner, it offers alot of scope.
I like the architecture, our children loved the easy freedom there to enjoy themselves. Still it's one of their favourite places to ski.
Outlying area of choice, Morillon 1100 Les Esserts with same ease of use but smaller immediate area to ski along with more "travelling" to reach other piste in comparison to Flaine bowl. Again, relaxed easy to use, some good food places, the best green piste "Marvel" in many ski areas to boot. Has much to offer, and may be more of value the following year when the youngest can cover more ground at pace to easily reach the different areas of GM.
Flaine first though is ideal.
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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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Hm...thanks a lot. I think i will put Flaine as no1 in the list.
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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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so after too many to do or not to do i hit the butten and booked something in Flaine Foret for the week 31 Dec till 07 Jan.
So a couple of more questions...maybe silly but never been in Winter in FR
1. how is the traffic? i know that the street is a lit bit tricky (i suppose not worst as the road to Sölden Glacier) but do i have to expect traffic jam?
2. i know that in FR there are no school holidays. I suppose it will be not so full as some resorts in Austria in this week. However how is it relativ? (not so important since i already booked and for the ski school we do not need a lift to go up as in Austria or somewhere els)
3. how expensive are the groceries, supermarkets etc in Flaine? definitely more expensive as somewhere where not so touristik is....and of course some things i will take with me from GER...but are tha prices really so high?
4. (and most important). Assuming that the kids are ready from the class around 12.30 they will (of course) want to eat something. any suggestions? except going back to appartment and eat there. Any suggestion somewhere near the slopes or in walking distance from the ski school in Flaine Forret?
Please pay attention that the kids are ok with blue and easy red slopes, so somewhere to eat where i have to go skiing a black slope is out of question. And eating i dont mean Restaurant. I suppose they are a little bit expensive. Something with acceptable prices. Dont have to bee a restaurant, althoung some suggestions are welcome (if the weather is not so good)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
i know that in FR there are no school holidays. I suppose it will be not so full as some resorts in Austria in this week.
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Sorry to disappoint but french schools ARE on holiday that week and it does get very busy
there are plenty of places to eat in Flaine Forum and Flaine Foret that are easily accessible from the slopes
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oh really? ok... no idea...
at least until now i found the opposite....
where ever i look says Christmas break: 18 December 2022 – 2 January 2023.
https://publicholidays.fr/school-holidays/
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 9-12-22 13:01; edited 1 time in total
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| Gliss wrote: |
With young children, I'd want 'convenience' and 'ease', hence I'd choose Flaine - many of the apartments there are ski-in/ski-out, which somewhat compensates for poor aesthetics, lack of village/town atmosphere and fewer restaurants.
At New Year, the main cable car out of Les Carroz will also be extremely busy as everyone wants to get up the mountain for the ski-school etc. Whereas in Flaine, you still might have a queue, but you have more choice to get up from the Flaine bowl and it will be far easier and less stressful with young children. |
+1
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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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sometimes says 2 Jan sometimes 3 Jan. Probably the Gvr site is the right one.
However either 2 or 3d Januar ist not till 7th Jan.
That means that this week there will be less families with school-children in the resorts , if we accept that in France they want almost everywhere Sat - Sat or at least Sun - Sun reservations
Thats why ( i suppose) the prices are lower compare to the 24 till 31 Dec.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My apologies, you are correct. This post shows the various school holidays in europe
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=156939&highlight=
I once timed it wrong and clashed with the second week of the Parisian holidays (last week of the four week block of french half-term school holidays) and while it was busy first thing in the morning, overall it was not that bad
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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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really have no idea what means busy in FR
However the Silvester Week and Faschings Week in Ger,AUT, S.Tirol and sometimes in CH are not comparable i think. Probably the most busy weeks in the Ost Alps
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I don't know Flaine well but did find prices for lunch quite high (compared to the French area where I stayed a lot) so it might sometimes be good to have simple lunch back in your apartment. Shops in Flaine resort will definitely be more expensive than a supermarket, and doing some shopping on the way, and perhaps taking some carefully chosen things with you, to be able to make meals without buying too many additional items, would be a worthwhile saving. But ultimately, using resort shops will not cost too much extra in the expensive context of a family ski holiday. And wine and beers in resort shops will cost HUGELY less than buying them in bars!
How crowded Flaine will be will depend on how the snow is in the other parts of the Grand Massif. If it's good snow all over, won't be too bad.
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You know it makes sense.
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We did 2 holidays to Flaine when our son first started and it was great. If the kids lose you, then they can't really get out the bowl.
If you are willing to splash out on some private lessons for the kids then I can really recommend Catherine (though this was 12 years ago) but she is still going. She specialises in teaching kids:
https://en.flaine.com/directory/post/catherine-et-nicolas
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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 will definitely take some things with us from home...however i will take only these which do not need being in Fridge during the transport.
I do not intend to take e.g. Butter or something like this. However many things i will take with me.
Some things we buy there. The "problem" is that the kids will be at school from 09.30 till 12.30 pm
Then they need definitely a break somewhere to drink something and eat something.
going back to appartment and eat there is the one option but somedays they definitely want to eat e.g. a portion of pommes + something to drking...or something like a baquette with ham, cheese etc
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