 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all
I am looking at moment for snowboarding hols for next
February at moment Crystal have 2/1 on lift passes
We are all good snowboarders and been all over.
Has any one been brides les bains I know it’s low down
But few lifts and your fine is there any night life there
Any help would be good
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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Brides is connected to Meribel by a 25min gondola ride. Nightlife used to be limited but not been for a few years.
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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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I haven't been for ages but we did enjoy being there. You have access to the whole area so get the 3 valleys passes.
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@Boothy5473, As @tarrantd, said, it's a 25 min gondola up to Meribel which can get a bit tedious doing it every day - but saves a lot of £ vs. staying in Meribel. IIRC it requires pretty good snow conditions to be able to ski/board back so likely to have to do the gondola for the return journey also. That means leaving Meribel before about 5 so no long Apres 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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It's 10-20% of the entire skiing day spent sitting in a boring lift.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks it’s just a good price for February
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I've stayed there a few times, and would do so again. 25 mins on the gondola into the middle of Meribel and lift connections to the whole of the 3Vs. I actually quite like the ride and back over the top of the forest, and there are new larger cabins on the gondola now too. Bear in mind though that there isn't really any 'apres' in Brides, and the last gondola down is about 5-5.30pm, so if you want lively apres at the end of the day it probably isn't the place for you. There are plenty of restaurants and normal bars though, and the thermal bath complex, which is great for some relaxation at the end of the day.
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Not sure you lose any skiing time in the morning. Think the Olympe gondola from Brides starts up early enough that you can get to the Chaudanne in Meribel for first lifts.
But agree that ensuring you are back at the Chaudanne in enough time to get the last gondola down can be a pain.
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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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It's cheaper v time spent each day going up or down. Pays your money, makes your choice.
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| It's 10-20% of the entire skiing day spent sitting in a boring lift. |
But it's a beautiful journey that beats a commute to work by some distance! 
We enjoyed having a coffee and a croissant on the ride up and making the most of the views.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Use the time to apply sunscreen. Real disadvantage imv is that there won't be any ambiance neige around the appartment.
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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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I really liked staying in Brides, I found that being close to the lift in Brides was better than staying at the back end of Meribel away from the lifts. This is because you can jump on the first lift up and be right in the middle of the lifts in Meribel when you get off. I used the time on the gondola up to sort out my stuff and finish getting ready for skiing. Nightlife was limited, some bars but not a lot compared to Meribel.
If you go for it I would recommend being relatively close to the lift in Brides, just to take a bit off the journey up, but this is up to you.
The piste map will show some runs going part way down towards Brides, don't bank on these being open and expect to be going down from Chaudanne. If they are open then see it as a bonus.
Will suit if:
You are organised early risers
You are happy to be organised enough to get back to the Meribal base at the end of the day. So have the first beer at a bar neat the top of the gondola back to Brides and you are good (and a can for the trip down from Sherpa if that's your thing)
Are ok with a quieter nightlife down at brides.
It won't suit if:
You are late risers that like to have a leisurely morning, in this case you'll miss too much of the day.
Want to be relaxed about where you end up and risk missing the gondola down.
Want to be in resort with later nightlife.
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It also helps if you are young and fit, particularly for boarders. The top of the Olympe gondola up from Brides isn't that well linked in at the Chaudanne. From memory it is about 300m to any of the other lifts, across relatively flat ground (slightly uphill in the mornings?).
And Brides doesn't really work at all if your preference is to return to your accommodation for lunch.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just to add a few bits: The Olympe last return time will be 5.30pm from 8th Feb (spring opening), 5pm for the first week. The closing time at the two mid-stations of Raffort and Les Allues will also be 5/5.30pm.
There's a better than average chance of at least the run to Raffort being open in February; the Villages run to Les Allues at 1,100m being open is very freezing level dependant. Neither run is accessed from the Chaudanne but from the Legends or higher chairs on the St Martin side. Gives the option of a more interesting way home, especially if you're coming back from the Belleville valley.
You cannot ski/board back to Brides from that side of Meribel at all. The off-piste/itinerary track to Brides starts just below the altiport above Meribel Village on the opposite side of the Doron river.
If you miss the last lift back to Brides from any of the stations, there is no ski bus further than Les Allues - it's a taxi from there.
There's a free ski bus goes around Brides so it doesn't really matter where your accommodation is. Most bars are relatively close to the lift and centre though. There are pre-bookable ski lockers at both the Olympe station in Brides and the Saulire Express at the Chaudanne.
It is a bit awkward for boarders vs skiers on snow from the Olympe exit to the Chaudanne but you could just go down the steps by the ice rink and walk along the flat road instead.
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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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Thanks all it seems not bad place to be i have walked a lot further up hill at Andorra and Italy think a ski locker at gondola be good idea.
we are looking at GRAND CHALET BRIDES-LES-BAINS has anyone stayed here not the dearest but wont be in there much as you all will know.
Thanks
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Poster: A snowHead
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looking at piste map like you said there is a run from roc de far to les allues if weather is ok
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Boothy5473, haven't stayed there but know the area and looks like fairly standard French 2* accommodation. 26m2 open plan won't be too oppressive. Good location for what action there is in Brides. If you're going in the last 3 weeks of Feb, bear in mind it's French school holidays so book your ski locker early. https://myskicase.com/en/alpes-du-nord/brides-les-bains/
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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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| Boothy5473 wrote: |
| looking at piste map like you said there is a run from roc de far to les allues if weather is ok |
Yes but the upper part Daguet only opens in a very good snow year. Don't think it opened at all last year. You would normally access the Villages track (it barely counts as a piste) off the first section of the Raffort run. Leave a bit of time to walk from the end of the run to the Les Allues gondola mid-station.
The blue Raffort run is a pretty run through the trees and worth doing even if Villages is shut. Finishes right opposite the Olympe mid-station to download and much easier to get to than the Chaudanne station is for downloading.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Boothy5473, It's a quiet village with a few bars and restaurants. If you are after apres, then probably not the best, but if you and your group are happy for a quick beer before heading "home" it's a good place.
If the apartment is a long walk from the lift and you have a car, drive to Les Allues and get the gondola from there or to La Tania for quick access to Courchevel - free car parks at both places.
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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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Hi all thanks for all advice we have ended up booking for La plagne ski in ski out never been so any advice again
we are staying at Le mont soleil much bigger chalet with bedroom piste map looks good paradiski area
Thanks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Was just about to comment but see you have booked La Plagne which is probably better for you. We have stayed in Grand Chalet many times and its fine and convenient. Brides is quiet at night but much cheaper to stay there.
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