 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone,
Just returned from our annual group trip away and the first since 2020 and CV19 struck. The OH and I have gotten away a couple of times since then, but we were looking forward to getting the band back together for our pilgrimage to all things snowy and hilly.
We are a group of 8 adults, mostly competent skiers with a couple still being early intermediates.
Destination
Reberty village in Les Menuires. We’ve skied the 3V once previously in 2019 when we stayed in La Tania. We barely touched the VT side then, so this was essentially staying in a new area for us.
The Journey
For the first time, we decided to drive rather than fly and this was for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we found the cost of flights and hire/transfers much more expensive than in previous years. Secondly, it was the first time our group went self catered, so being able to bring stuff from home as well as stop on the way to shop was needed.
We left Friday afternoon and drove for 6 hours or so stopping just south of Dijon for the night before completing the journey on the Saturday. Worked well as allowed us to shop at the Casino in Albertville as well as go against the traffic in the morning. We just missed the fatal accident that gridlocked the valley for hours so we were very lucky. We arrived in Les Menuires about lunch time. This allowed us to meet up with the others who arrived earlier in the day, have a lunch at La Ferme, sort out the ski hire and check in to our chalet. A couple of the group went for a quick ski about for a couple of hours.
The return journey was just as easy. We left Reberty about 3ish after having the “extra” day on the slopes and a late lunch. Stopped in Troyes overnight and crossed back into the UK about 2ish.
Even though I’ve driven in France many times, each time I do I’m amazed at how easy it is. Superb roads, decent aires…just set the cruise control and point the car in the right direction.
Would we drive again…probably…but only if we had a full car to split the cost 4 ways. If it was just the OH and I, we’d fly or train (which is something in really keen to try in the future).
The accommodation
As mentioned this was our first group trip self catered so I found what I thought was a lovely place on Airbnb. It had good reviews, was reasonably priced, had a social living/cooking area and a little treat in the form of a hot tub on the balcony overlooking the mountains.
Unfortunately, it turned into a bit of a mixed bag. Firstly, it was described as a 4 bedroom chalet with room for 8 adults. The bedrooms were tiny and apart from the main bedroom were up what tiny stairs which were almost vertical. We couldn’t even get our bags up them. However, that would have been a waste of time as there was literally no storage in any of the rooms. We ended up having the share the wardrobe space in the main room and keep a lot of stuff in the cars. It was also described as having 4 bathrooms. What it actually meant was tiny shower enclosures at the end of your bed with a sink. There was 1 toilet for 8 adults to share. Throughout the week, every shower leaked, with the one downstairs leaking into the apartment below, thus giving us a knock on the door during dinner complaining. We had to use the provided towels to mop up various leaks, and it took 2 days to get replacement ones. The chalet host was next to useless, and only bothered to respond to anything when I went back through to the owner via Airbnb. I double checked ahead of arriving that we had heated boot storage and was told yes, however it was a cupboard on the outside, with one boot rack which didn’t work and only had room for 6 pairs of boots (in an 8 person chalet). Because the heather didn’t work, our boots froze over night so we had to heat them up on the first morning with hair dryers just to be able to get them on. We then had to keep the boots inside the chalet for the rest of the week. Electrical sockets were loose in the wall, we had no hot water for the first 24 hours and in general we all felt disappointed.
It’s a shame, because the social space was good and the kitchen well equipped. But we made the most of it and it certainly didn’t “ruin” our trip in any way. The real bonus was the location. Falling distance to the piste, La Ferme and the ski hire shop. We haven’t done ski in/out for a few years and we forgot just how much more enjoyable it is rather than walking or a 5 min bus in the mornings.
The Location
Reberty is a great place to access the slopes. Away from the business (and ugliness) of Les Menuires yet with enough of the doorstep for a week. Unless you want to go out every night drinking/eating which is limited there, I’d recommend it. The Sherpa supermarket was well stocked and not as hideously priced as I’d expected.
Two of our group had private lessons with ESF and their meeting point was literally on the piste across from La Ferme so couldn’t get any more easy. The ski down to Sunny Express, Bruyeres or down to Pointe De La Masse was easy and gave us so many different directions we could head off into. Essentially 1 lift away from VT, Meribel or the excellent pistes around Les Menuires.
Ski Hire
We used All 4 Ski and Snow in Reberty which was literally 50 yards from our chalet. Very good service. Let us have the skis both early and hand back a day later without extra charge. I had a pair for Fischer RC One 78 GT and they were excellent. Really responsive, held an edge well and all Ron’s some of the best skis I’ve rented. On par with the Volkl Racetigers I had in Saalbach.
I also found a groupon offer that gave us 50% off the hire. So 6 skis and one pair of boots came to £450 for the week. Bargain.
Food and drink
We only ate out once as each couple took a night to cook, and we had so much left over food that we just ate that the other evenings. However, we frequent La Ferme for both food and drink and was very impressed with the quality and price.
We stopped for a decent lunch at Les Plans des Mains below Mont Vallon which was good quality. Last time we visited the 3V, we stopped at La Cave Des Creux above Courchevel airport for one of our groups birthday treats. We liked it so much that we made the trip over again this trip and the quality was just as good, if not better than last time. Yes it’s very pricey but it we see it as a little treat for a special occasion.
We did a stop at Folie Douce. More to say we have been. Not really our scene. Too full of teens downing bottles of wine on daddy’s credit card. But was still quite fun in the sun with live music. Oh and being charged to use the loo in the disguise of a “donation” was taking the michael.
Roc Seven was better in my opinion. Better atmosphere, view and music.
The Ski Area
Most people don’t need to be introduced to the 3V. It has something for everyone.
Yes, it’s costly but I honestly think it’s worth it. The lift infrastructure, the quality of the pistes, the variety…it is superb. The snow from mid Jan meant that the pistes were mostly in excellent condition across Les Menuires and VT. In Meribel the lower down pistes we struggling either with ice or developed into moguls. But on the whole were fine. For pistes skiers, it was perfect really. Sunny, cold (to start with) and little to no wind. Throughout the week the temps rose and the wind picked up a touch. When we left on Saturday, it was noticeably warmer, almost spring like. Some of the higher pistes had their snow cover blown away leaving just the hard pack beneath (Lory being a prime example). The whole area could do with a top up soon. Off piste looked tracked out and hazardous with rocks starting to show through.
My favourite runs of the week were Combe du Vallon, Lory, Combe Rosael, Col de l’audzin and Lac Noir. The Pointe de Le Masse on a whole was lovely first thing in the sun.
The longest queue we had all week was about 5 minutes and away from the choke points/main runs/lifts it wasn’t overly busy. The best snow and piste conditions were certainly 1800m and above. The runs around VT were excellent even late into the day.
It really is a superb area and I understand why people go back year after year. Having done the Courchevel/Meribel areas the other year and Les Menuires/VT this year I feel that we would not come back for a while now unless it was a very late season trip to VT in April for example. That’s mostly down to us as there are so many ski areas to explore, we don’t like returning to the same place. We prefer Austria, as it just has a different “feel” to the French resorts. So next year I think Ischgl might be on the cards.
So I think that covers everything. Will upload some photos later and throw together some GoPro footage in the coming days.
Cheers all
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Fridge03, nice report, thanks!
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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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Thanks. Good report
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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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Thanks. We’re off to Les Menuires in March and are heartened to hear that we are not going to be taken by surprise by an outbreak of tasteful architecture whilst we’re there.
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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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La Ferme is a God-send if staying in Reberty
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Fridge03, your accommodation sounds pretty rubbish tbh. I've used airbnb in Italy and Iceland and it's been good but I've rented apartments in the French Alps direct, through immo's, tourist websites and never had the issues you had. Whenever, I've looked at airbnb's for ski trips I've not found much or been attracted to what I've found. Odd in some ways. As I understand it airbnb's live (and die) by reviews from clients - so I wouldn't old back.
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| Fridge03 wrote: |
| It really is a superb area and I understand why people go back year after year. Having done the Courchevel/Meribel areas the other year and Les Menuires/VT this year I feel that we would not come back for a while now unless it was a very late season trip to VT in April for example. That’s mostly down to us as there are so many ski areas to explore, we don’t like returning to the same place. We prefer Austria, as it just has a different “feel” to the French resorts. So next year I think Ischgl might be on the cards. |
There are plusses to going back to the same area. Knowing can bring a comfort and relaxation to proceedings. But I get the desire to explores also.
Not a criticism but although 90% of my skiing has been in France I've skied Sonnenkopft, Stuben, Neustift, Wart Schroeken a bit and I never really get the vibe/feel difference. Maybe it's because I don't do much apres, just seems to me the slopes and mountains are the same. The ski in, ski out factor is one thing though.
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Great TR by the way.
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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: |
The Location
Reberty is a great place to access the slopes. Away from the business (and ugliness) of Les Menuires |
Each to their own but I never saw Les Men has being particularly ugly.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Wed 8-02-23 12:41; edited 1 time in total
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