 Poster: A snowHead
|
We passed through Bourg Saint Maurice in January on our return to Geneva after a ski trip.
We are returning May 6th-May 8th to get a feel for the town and surrounding area, with a view to buying a holiday home. Great to get a sense of the different activities available to adults/older teens year round.
We'd welcome any recommendations on things to do in May - we were thinking of walking in the national park on the Sunday, but also hope to view some properties either in Bourg itself or surrounding areas. We will have a car on this occasion, but would like to get a sense of options accessible by public transport/on foot, also.
If we are looking for a house close to stops on the Funicular up to Les Arcs, are there any other villages/towns members would recommend we look at in addition to Bourg centre? We are renting a car for this trip, but would prefer to find a holiday home within walking distance or on reliable bus route to the Funicular. Estate agent recommendations also welcome.
Finally, great to have tips on bars, restaurants and coffee shops to sample while we're there! Thanks all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
We've been going for a week in summer the last few years with our teen boys. Bourg lays on a number of activities over summer in the town (concerts etc) but not sure about shoulder months. Try their tourist info calendar online?
In summer we always do white water rafting (there are lots of water activities!), go up to Tignes and Les Arcs for activities and walking, cycle on the voie verte (easy) cycle track that runs near the funicular, kids like scootering/cycling on the pump track and there's basketball courts there too. Private tennis courts (i think private). Massive lake for fishing but we never catch anything. Woodland area with tracks and outdoor gym equipment. Swimming pool (but never been). They had a big airbag jump tower last year.
Our go to restaurant is Le Chalet near the funicular. Very popular with the locals. Lots of coffee shops centred around the Town Hall but can't say one better than another.
Have only found out about most of the above through exploring so suggest you do the same and have fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@HarperG,
Go skiing in Tignes on the 6th.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Quote: |
Bourg lays on a number of activities over summer in the town (concerts etc) but not sure about shoulder months.
|
This is a good point - there might be rather little going on in May. There are two distinct "seasons". We used to enjoy Les Saisies in the "shoulder" months - late spring and early summer when the wild flowers made walking a real joy and in autumn, when the forests were a riot of colour above and - in good fungi years - below. Our apartment was not in Saisies - the town was just shuttered and really rather dispiriting at those times. We just looked out at a panorama of mountains - always glorious. Obviously Bourg St Maurice is a proper town, and all-year-round sort of place, but there might not be much in the way of "activities".
However, it's a very good time to go out and get a feel for whether you want your holiday home to be in that sort of a place. I think it might be rather optimistic to rely on doing a lot with public transport. And if you get your own place, whilst you kid yourself you'll be able to fly back and forth with "hand baggage only" in practice you're likely to take out a car laden with stuff for all your DIY plans and want to be able to do trips to Ikea, Conforama and La Boite aux Utils from time to time. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
We had a very nice meal last June sat outside La Ruelle. The owner spoke very little English, which we enjoyed the challenge of, being terrible French speakers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of the nice things, if you usually only visit tourist spots in France, is finding that in small town like BSM most people don't speak much English, so you really have to make the effort to express yourself in French to find out how things work. It really is extraordinarily rude to just march into a shop and speak English as many Brits do, without even enquiring (and everyone can do this in French) "Bonjour Monsieur (or madame) vous parlez Anglais?" Even if you can't say anything else, it's a good start.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to you all for such helpful, speedy responses - so glad I signed up!
So we now have plenty to fill our 2.5 days in terms of activities and eating out - with a very real danger we spend too much time having fun and not enough viewing potential areas to buy! Definitely going to hit that cycle route.
The current plan is to look at buying in the town itself, but if anyone has areas they would recommend over others, either within the town or nearby, we'd be interested in exploring while we have the car. Suspect we may end up taking a car every now and then, but main consideration for holiday home and ski season is being able to access the funicular without having to drive every day - is this unrealistic?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@HarperG, with the right location it can be realistic and we don't use our car that much . We're just 200m from a lift for skiing and cam walk to village.
However for shopping, vet visits for dogs, DIY it's an essential.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| HarperG wrote: |
If we are looking for a house close to stops on the Funicular up to Les Arcs, are there any other villages/towns members would recommend we look at in addition to Bourg centre? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| HarperG wrote: |
Thanks to you all for such helpful, speedy responses - so glad I signed up!
So we now have plenty to fill our 2.5 days in terms of activities and eating out - with a very real danger we spend too much time having fun and not enough viewing potential areas to buy! Definitely going to hit that cycle route.
The current plan is to look at buying in the town itself, but if anyone has areas they would recommend over others, either within the town or nearby, we'd be interested in exploring while we have the car. Suspect we may end up taking a car every now and then, but main consideration for holiday home and ski season is being able to access the funicular without having to drive every day - is this unrealistic? |
We bought in Bourg 2020. The other stops on the Funni, are tiny hamlets, nothing like Bourg with few amenities. O
Other villages around could be a consideration, Aime/Seez/Landry, however they are all further away from the Funni station.
There's not a lot happening in Bourg in May, lots of bars and restaurants maybe shut, as lots go on holiday in between Winter and Summer seasons.
Drop me a PM if you want anything specific.
My wife and I had a 3 day break when we decided on buying, so you'll be fine 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I stopped for 2 weeks in Bourg this year and if you want an inexpensive place to stay try the Hotel Arolla ..Thierry the owner seems to have a great knowledge of the town and speaks really good english we tried quite a few restaurants but if you get really hungry try the all you can eat chinese ...I am thinking of going back to the area next year but not to Bourg I would prefer Piesy Vallandry or above ..shuttle to the slopes and easy acces to all of Paradiski
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Thanks all - more great tips - and good to have a few other towns to consider as comparators.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
