 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, have booked flights into Turin and out of Milan for half term week in February and just need to book accommodation and car hire today. Have found two suitable options for accommodation, one in La Thuile and one in Sauze D’Oulx and can’t decide which to book - would love your help to decide!
Going with family - 2 adults and 2 teens, all competent skiers who have loved Cervinia, Val D’Isere, Verbier, Alpbach and Tignes in recent years - great ski areas with links across to other valleys. We are going to be skiing 4.5 days and are happy with limited apres but are keen for great skiing, decent mountain food and the freedom to explore without queueing for ages - is why we have tended away from the big French resorts in recent years.
Which would you opt for? Comments about La Thuile being much more snowsure (with the option of a day trip to Courmayeur) is pushing me in that direction but then Sauze D’Oulx has the option to get up into the Milky Way - just not sure about all the comments regarding closed pistes and lifts and queues on old lift infrastructure at half term. We tend to get up the hill for about 10 and not really stop long during the day, but ski full days until 4:30 or so. Would La Thuile and over into La Rosiere with a day trip to Courmayeur be plenty to keep us entertained? 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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La Thuile , snow is better currently and it really doesn’t get that busy during half term , although judging how many have been recommended on here asking the half term question in the last few weeks might be a little busier than normal  Seriously I think it’s a very underrated ski resort and is better than the La Rosiere side which has improved since the new area has been accessed but does get v busy .
Also the restaurants in La Thuile are superb and great value .
Sauze fun but old lift system , a mate who went last week went out of his way to tell me he really didn’t like Sestriere .
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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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Those really are two very different resorts in my opinion:
Sauze d'Oulx - party town, big wide pistes, lots of people, ability to travel a long way across the area.
La Thuile - fairly quiet, can be cold, a number of narrow pistes.
I know four of the five other resorts you've listed (I've never been to Alpbach), and they sound closer to Sauze to me.
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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 for responses, think I am perhaps overly concerned with the thought of poor snow conditions and it being really busy. We have historically been really lucky with our choices - last year had a week of low wind, blue sky days in Cervinia and were able to get over to Zermatt no bother, which only when we got back did people tell us can be very hit or miss. Having somewhere snow sure is my prime driver.
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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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Also if anyone has any feedback on the Chaberton Lodge in Sauze would be keen to hear it!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Also have an accommodation option in Montgenevre if a better base from snow perspective?!
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@K78ESY, Montgenèvre definitely better for snow perspective and a good choice for a few days skiing. It doesn’t have an abundance of on mountain restaurants but a quick ski over to Claviere sorts that out.
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With a hire car if you go to Via Lattea (so either Montgenèvre or Sauze) I’d definitely recommend using the car for one day to drive to the other end of the resort. It’s very possible to ski from Sauze to Montgenevre and back in a day, and in fact a lot of it is a really enjoyable ski. However, if you are able to drive over in the morning you can maximise the day there and get much more skiing in the local area compared to the ski over and back. Getting to Sestriere is much less onerous on skis from Sauze.
Having skied both Sauze and La Thuille I definitely prefer Sauze, though the lift system is pretty antiquated by comparison to most other major European resorts. I’ve not been to either before in half term but at weekends Sauze has some choke points that can result in major queues. Both of them can be susceptible to high winds closing down the upper slopes, La Thuille is perhaps more exposed and has less decent skiing below the tree line.
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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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@K78ESY, if your accommodation options are on AirBnB and for non-standard periods, be aware that the availability can disappear if you try to book. Just happened to my daughter, booking for Easter in France. Will open-jaw car hire be much more expensive? If not, it's an interesting option.
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Thanks but have quotes directly for all the accommodation options but could still disappear if they get an earlier offer from another persona!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sauze really isn’t the party town it’s often referred to as. Been three times it’s no different regards après and nightlife from pretty much anywhere else I’ve been. I certainly wouldn’t let that be a deciding factor for me or my family.
Lifts are a bit old and slow tbh but again to me not a deal breaker.
There’s some nice skiing to be had in Sestriere but as a resort I wouldn’t stay there.
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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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| jirac18 wrote: |
Sauze really isn’t the party town it’s often referred to as. Been three times it’s no different regards après and nightlife from pretty much anywhere else I’ve been. I certainly wouldn’t let that be a deciding factor for me or my family.
Lifts are a bit old and slow tbh but again to me not a deal breaker.
There’s some nice skiing to be had in Sestriere but as a resort I wouldn’t stay there. |
Yep, agree with all of this. I first went to Sauze around 10 years ago, and while it could get lively it was never manic. Since then I’d say it’s gradually got a bit more sedate, there’s often things going on in the town but plenty of places that are just typical bars and restaurants. Sauze old town is lovely.
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Haven't done La Thuile but for 4.5 days, I don't think you'll go far wrong with Sauze. Really nice atmosphere on and off the mountain, and plenty to keep you entertained.
Keep an eye on Sauze Online if you want decent up-to-date info - https://www.youtube.com/@Sauzeonline
Rob.
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You know it makes sense.
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For such a short trip, either one will be fine.
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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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La Thuile all day for me. Been to both.
Whist MW is big, links are not great, take an age and is a pain to get over to Montgenevre. LT is much easier and the runs over the top before La Rosiere are great. Food is better in LT and snow cover is way better for the majority of time. Runs are not narrow.
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Poster: A snowHead
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To add..... I think Sauze has lost most of that party rep, it does have live bands etc. LT is really quiet at night, some good restaurants 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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Been to both, think I'd favour La Thuile. Good runs over to La Rosierse, snow sure and less queues (in my experience of x2 half terms in each). We found Sauze a bit annoying as a couple of the best runs in our opinion (to the far left of the resort, 3,4 and 5 on the piste map) were only accessible by lifts open only at the weekends and that made the resort feel a lot smaller. Also when snow failed getting back home at the end of the day was limited as were fun runs like the ones down to Jovencaux (spelling?). Did however love our day trips out of Sauze, esp over to Sansicario whose runs always seemed to be empty but well maintained. Both places have great low cost restaurants and while La Thuile is quite quiet you can find lively places. Even though I prefer La Thuile I'd be happy going back to either and so would my teens, we'd just plan our days in Sauze a bit more carefully. Preferred La Thuile Ski School, though can't remember why.
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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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