 Poster: A snowHead
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Howdy,
Where would one recommend to drive to (from Le shuttle) for Christmas skiing (with beginners). The kids aren't great in the car but equally want to be as snow sure as possible (and not too scary climb up a mountain in the car !) although unavoidable I guess .
Skiing on a (very stylish gold plated ) shoe string.
We did Flaine this year but flew and loved it but want something a bit prettier (and quite far to drive all the where there)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Flaine is one of the closer resorts to Calais, so you're likely looking at a longer drive than that to any of the other French resorts that are more snow sure.
Val d'Isere and Tignes aren't particularly scary drives up the mountain.
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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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NB Flaine where you have just been is one of the shortest drives from the UK.
Les Saisies would normally be a good bet for Christmas and is one of the nearer places. Plenty of easy skiing. Les Cimes is well located newish accommodation.
Montgenevre would be very good but is a longer drive (but a very straightforward one if you go through Frejus tunnel).
You could also look at Sainte Foy if you don't mind a smaller resort.
I recommend Peak Retreats for self drive if you want to book through a TO.
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To drive to anywhere with decent skiing, given that with kids you need to have reasonable stops and might encounter some traffic on the way up to the resort at Christmas you need to allow 12 hours from Calais.
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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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Pretty I'd say you want to be looking at Austria
Agree that with kids you need to allow 12-hours from Calais to resort, it can be done quicker but that assumes no hold-ups, limited (2) fuel and loo stops and a second driver (ideally).
Have driven with kids (since they were 6-months into their 20s) and ideally I'd recommend breaking the drive across 2-days, although appreciate that adds to cost. Even if you can cross into France and get a couple of hours done on the Friday it makes it easier.
Xmas is a popular week so the earlier you can be getting into resort the better as you'll miss the queues.
Personally, if looking at France, look at Vallandry and Peisey - they aresmaller resorts and aren't of the brutal concrete style French resorts can be. Part of Les Arcs there is pleny of skiing and due to height fairly snow sure.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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We drive to skiing every Christmas.
How old are the kids? Will they be doing ski school?
We've pretty much always driven through the night and the kids, even at a young age, were pretty good at sleeping through. When they were very young we'd go on the ferry and put them in the soft play area for an hour to tire them out.
The lower satellite stations like Les Coches or Oz-en-Oisan tend to avoid the worst of the mountain road drive in.
With younger children/beginners you don't need such a large area ski area and you can save money by going smaller. A place we went was La Norma for example.
Places like La Normal or the Tarentaisse resorts would be an hour longer than Flaine but in the overall scheme of things no biggy.
"Prettier" is a difficult one to make a judgement on - and tbh in your circs, I would have it down my list of priorities.
Does your car have winter or all season tyres? You will want to have chains.
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Samoens in the GM is an easier drive into resort than Flaine - no mountain road with switchbacks. Not ski in - ski out though if you need that.
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@physiobean, I'll add Val Cenis to the list, a little further by 60 miles in comparison to Flaine but not that much in time with less fiddly route at that end.
An established and traditional village at similar altitude to GM area, but with a barely noticeable climb to get there. Its further along a very broad valley with extremely gentle gradient that belies the eventual height of village, only two hairpin bend in all of it going up there. Very convenient unrestricted vehicle access here too, as many ski areas are getting more controlled.
North facing slopes to accumulate and hold early snowfall, with blue piste coming down right from the very highest accessible lift point, it's a good match for Flaine experience with early skills level skiing.
Usually a good cost for accommodation, food, pass prices etc a very relaxed area to stay and ski around.
With a car, then easy visit to Bonneval Sur Arc further up at the head of valley is worthwhile firstly for a day skiing a different area, also to visit the historic village there (just search with pictures to see it) again a very easy drive seemingly without changing altitude along a lovely valley from VC.
It's really one of the easiest places to drive to, a very good alternative to consider.
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| ski3 wrote: |
@physiobean, I'll add Val Cenis to the list, a little further by 60 miles in comparison to Flaine but not that much in time with less fiddly route at that end.
An established and traditional village at similar altitude to GM area, but with a barely noticeable climb to get there. Its further along a very broad valley with extremely gentle gradient that belies the eventual height of village, only two hairpin bend in all of it going up there. Very convenient unrestricted vehicle access here too, as many ski areas are getting more controlled.
North facing slopes to accumulate and hold early snowfall, with blue piste coming down right from the very highest accessible lift point, it's a good match for Flaine experience with early skills level skiing.
Usually a good cost for accommodation, food, pass prices etc a very relaxed area to stay and ski around.
With a car, then easy visit to Bonneval Sur Arc further up at the head of valley is worthwhile firstly for a day skiing a different area, also to visit the historic village there (just search with pictures to see it) again a very easy drive seemingly without changing altitude along a lovely valley from VC.
It's really one of the easiest places to drive to, a very good alternative to consider. |
Seconded….but will throw in Valloire as an option as well which is easy drive of motorway all the way until the last 19kms
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