 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I’ll just miss you Bram.
You’ll get a range of comments re: lessons on here. I mean sure you’ll probably be able to get around without them. But loading/unloading the lifts and taking you to pistes you can ‘ski’ are additional benefits of lessons. You might not maximize your potential teaching yourself!
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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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Must admit I don't know what the difference is between Xmas Eve and Xmas Day Eve. To me it's the same thing. December 24th. What am I missing?
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@Layne, Xmas day eve is a possible abbreviation of evening, i.e. the night of December 25th, not 24th.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Bram wrote: |
Want people to enjoy it so we go skiing again, me I love it, kids think it's great, the wife is one needing to convince more  |
Without wishing to sound sexist, this is often the case. I've seen a mate get divorced twice because both wives hated being dragged on ski holidays, even as part of a wide ranging "fun" group and in the days when I used to offer private coaching in my free time as a seasonaire for a bit of extra teaching practice, I had far more female "clients" than males. It's very sad to see perfectly competent ladies flatly refuse to ski with their husband/family/group due to anxiety from the peer pressure to keep up etc.
The absolute last thing you want is for an already slightly reticent wife to have a bad fall the first time she tries to use a chairlift because she's had no instruction and then lose whatever confidence she started with. It's spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar IMO and just not worth the risk if you want long term buy-in to ski holidays.
I don't know your family dynamic but one option could be to get a private instructor for the family and if she's struggling, let her continue with the instructor on her own while you and the kids go exploring for a bit, or if you're nurturing types, hang around, ski at her pace and build her confidence by telling her how well she's doing. What's the ability level of the other mum in the group? If she's a little nervous too then another option would be to let the wives go into regular ski school together to build confidence and then ski with their families after meeting up for lunch.
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:[/quote]
Did you get a choice then? I was assuming La Ferme had pointed you towards the 24th instead of the 25th, either because it's the "traditional" day to celebrate in France so you get a special meal and/or more authentic experience or simply because they would be shut on the 25th (as some restaurants do). Would be interested to know for future reference please.[/quote]
I didn’t ask for Xmas day in the end. Asked for Xmas eve. I figured it would be a nice atmosphere and to celebrate in a similar fashion to how it’s done locally would be a nice thing for the family to do!
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| v1cky24 wrote: |
I didn’t ask for Xmas day in the end. Asked for Xmas eve. I figured it would be a nice atmosphere and to celebrate in a similar fashion to how it’s done locally would be a nice thing for the family to do! |
I agree. LM is arguably the most French of all the 3V resorts and I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are more nationals than tourists in there that night. Bon appetit!
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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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| v1cky24 wrote: |
I’ll just miss you Bram.
You’ll get a range of comments re: lessons on here. I mean sure you’ll probably be able to get around without them. But loading/unloading the lifts and taking you to pistes you can ‘ski’ are additional benefits of lessons. You might not maximize your potential teaching yourself! |
All one big learning curve for a first trip that for sure
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| Je suis un Skieur wrote: |
| Bram wrote: |
| Want people to enjoy it so we go skiing again, me I love it, kids think it's great, the wife is one needing to convince more |
Without wishing to sound sexist, this is often the case. I've seen a mate get divorced twice because both wives hated being dragged on ski holidays, even as part of a wide ranging "fun" group and in the days when I used to offer private coaching in my free time as a seasonaire for a bit of extra teaching practice, I had far more female "clients" than males. It's very sad to see perfectly competent ladies flatly refuse to ski with their husband/family/group due to anxiety from the peer pressure to keep up etc.
The absolute last thing you want is for an already slightly reticent wife to have a bad fall the first time she tries to use a chairlift because she's had no instruction and then lose whatever confidence she started with. It's spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar IMO and just not worth the risk if you want long term buy-in to ski holidays.
I don't know your family dynamic but one option could be to get a private instructor for the family and if she's struggling, let her continue with the instructor on her own while you and the kids go exploring for a bit, or if you're nurturing types, hang around, ski at her pace and build her confidence by telling her how well she's doing. What's the ability level of the other mum in the group? If she's a little nervous too then another option would be to let the wives go into regular ski school together to build confidence and then ski with their families after meeting up for lunch. |
Good to know skiing can be an out if needed  Don't get me wrong shes up for it and been doing well so far and does need encouragement that shes doing well. When I say convincing I mean for follow on ski holiday, I think she would be quite happy in and around the nursery and lower level slopes.
The other mum is like me and skied before, so we are a little further ahead of the others.
There is def lots to consider and really appreciate peoples guidance and tips.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Off to Les Menuires the first week of March; group of 4 blokes, mix of skiers and boarders (intermediate)
Apart from learning how to pronounce the place, anyone got any pointers on the resort?
We’re all the wrong side of 40 so some beers and apres, well, it’s welcome, but we’re not going to be in a club at 1am. We’ll get the 3V pass and happy to explore but none of us have been to the region before.
Anyone have any good tips for such a group, it’d be most welcome.
Thanks in advance.
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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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@Reezo, please start a new thread, this one's already been hijacked once...
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@Reezo, phonetically Ley Men-weir
Beers/apres - no clue (I'm a family man  )
Skiing wise: Masse is a small area by itself. Effectively a number of pistes serviced by a recently built gondola. Great views from the top. Great first thing on a sunny morning. There a mass of pistes above LM itself - something for everyone - if you want to stay local. Fun to ski down to St Martin at least once. The bowl surrounding Val T is never ending. Mont Vallon is fantastic, I never get tired of going over there. The rest of the Meribel valley is a bit meh for me and I tend to not do too much there. Courcheval valley is big and lots of great stuff to explore in all corners.
You ski off piste?
Why are 4 blokes going in the school holidays?
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You know it makes sense.
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| Layne wrote: |
@Reezo, phonetically Ley Men-weir
Beers/apres - no clue (I'm a family man )
Skiing wise: Masse is a small area by itself. Effectively a number of pistes serviced by a recently built gondola. Great views from the top. Great first thing on a sunny morning. There a mass of pistes above LM itself - something for everyone - if you want to stay local. Fun to ski down to St Martin at least once. The bowl surrounding Val T is never ending. Mont Vallon is fantastic, I never get tired of going over there. The rest of the Meribel valley is a bit meh for me and I tend to not do too much there. Courcheval valley is big and lots of great stuff to explore in all corners.
You ski off piste?
Why are 4 blokes going in the school holidays? |
Nice one, appreciated.
We don’t go off piste and on the timings, one of the party has some friends out there that week. I was pushing for the second week of March but was out-voted.
Having avoided school holidays the last few years and also skiing in Austria, I have the fear about a French holiday week. I’ve been burnt before. However, I’ve been assured that given the size of the 3V, that week ‘isn’t too bad’ by those friends who’ve done several seasons there.
Apparently.
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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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@Reezo, it's one zone, probably not the worst.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Layne wrote: |
| @Reezo, it's one zone, probably not the worst. |
I’ll take that as a mini win.
We actually pivoted away from France and towards Austria owing to a couple of years where the French resorts were mad busy and it sort of sullied the trip.
Still, snapping out of my British pessimism, looking forward to the 3V and given the size and scale of it all, I’m sure we can find some areas that don’t have several billion French school kids going mental within them.
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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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@Reezo, a very long time ago we naively booked a week in Serre Chevalier during the peak weeks and I do remember some terrible queues, though strangely not always busy pistes. Since doing family trips (15 years) we've pretty much always done Christmas and "Easter" - in different French resorts. Christmas has got a bit busier recent years but it's not a big issue. Easter is generally great. Can always be the odd pinch point in any resort, especially if a lift breaks down or if conditions are iffy. We do go Feb HT once (after the pandemic) and was expecting the worst. But with a bit of strategy it was fine. Perhaps comes down to that and expectations/patience.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Reezo, i can recommend le skilt bar in the croisette area (though not sure if you are staying close to this area or not, have only ever stayed in and around the croisette/preyrand area so cannot comment on apres for the other satellite areas) for a few cheeky après beers in LM.
it is British run and shows sports on several screens, so you may be able to catch a 6N game if you enjoy the rugby, or dates coincide, but will show prem games anyway.
they serve really good food as well, but you may have to book a table in advance for busy times.
for skiing, staying in LM you have several relatively easy/quick options to explore other areas.
would recommend a trip to courchevel and La Tania, with a stop in LT at the ski lodge for their famous burgers!!
also, not forgetting La Masse (in Les M) and over to the orelle valley on the other side of Val Thorens
on another note, we have stayed in LM a few years ago at half term and Christmas, and last couple of seasons spent easters in Val Thorens, i cannot say there were massive queues for lifts, apart from the odd bottle neck (ski school start times), and having worked a few seasons in the 3v's many moons ago, first week of march should be fine.
am sure you will have a great time, and want to go back again to explore the masses of areas you will not be able to get around to ski/board
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks all. Going to go to folie D for Xmas day I think
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| Je suis un Skieur wrote: |
| v1cky24 wrote: |
I didn’t ask for Xmas day in the end. Asked for Xmas eve. I figured it would be a nice atmosphere and to celebrate in a similar fashion to how it’s done locally would be a nice thing for the family to do! |
I agree. LM is arguably the most French of all the 3V resorts and I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are more nationals than tourists in there that night. Bon appetit! |
this is fascinating - why do you say it's the most french ? (not disagreeing - just curious. esp as been there last 2 years)
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| Reezo wrote: |
Off to Les Menuires the first week of March; group of 4 blokes, mix of skiers and boarders (intermediate)
Apart from learning how to pronounce the place, anyone got any pointers on the resort?
We’re all the wrong side of 40 so some beers and apres, well, it’s welcome, but we’re not going to be in a club at 1am. We’ll get the 3V pass and happy to explore but none of us have been to the region before.
Anyone have any good tips for such a group, it’d be most welcome.
Thanks in advance. |
Where are you staying in Les Men ? as others have said it's spread.
Get the 3V pass for the week. So you can dip in and out of VT, Meribel and even Courch.
La Croisette is the central bit. Jacks is new in Les Men this year. (was called L'Hacienda last year) - cheap-ish burgers and beer. Staffed by friendly youngsters. Live music in evening.
There's a lovely Crepe place in the indoor shopping bit.
Roc 1 is a fun place to have lunch and people watch. Great views.
Great views from top of Point De La Masse in the sun.
You'll have a great time. Highly Recommend Les Men.
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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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oh also - deffo worth a visit to Orelle.
Boulevard De Cumin is totally fine to get back to Les Men from VT on a snowboard - but keep your speed where you can and pump the rollers.
(was feeling super pleased with my freshly waxed board as I over-took stationary/poling skiers)
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| UtahGetMeTwo wrote: |
| this is fascinating - why do you say it's the most french ? (not disagreeing - just curious. esp as been there last 2 years) |
Because when it was first built in the late 60s and 70s it was designed as a pedestrian access resort. i.e. by train and/or bus in a time before cheap holiday air travel for tourists existed. It was nearly all small (cheap) apartments so the target market was very much French second home owners. I always get the impression that a lot of those first buyers (or their descendants) are still there. One giveaway is to look at the type of cars and their number plates that are parked on the street and open air parks, they're almost all French.
The lower 3V villages of Courchevel Le Praz and (I think but am not quite so familiar with) St Martin are also very French, upper Courchevel very international (you would have said Russian for C1850 pre Ukraine conflict), VT international but particularly popular with the Dutch and Scandis and Meribel very British because it was founded by a Brit. La Tania is very British.
So of all the "high" resorts, say 1,800m+, LM is easily the most French.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for this. Never really thought about it, but makes sense.
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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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Think the Ruskies were kicked out of Courchevel 1850 a few years before covid, the final straw being a private jet full of hookers being flown in to the altiport. Quite a few then frequented Meribel.
Le Praz and StMdB being the original valley villages, as with Les Allues, will always have a higher proportion of locals than the purpose built resorts. But as the accommodation in the main centres has become even more extortionate, that has also been changing.
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| v1cky24 wrote: |
| Thanks all. Going to go to folie D for Xmas day I think |
Have you booked?
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@v1cky24, ah, I'm really glad things worked out for you.
Hopefully you will now join the ranks of Les Menuires advocates having stayed there. LM has far too many band-wagon critics (unfairly, IMV) so it's good to hear someone describe their holiday as wonderful.
Would you mind expanding a bit on what La Ferme was like on Xmas Eve? Did they do any kind of festive menu? What was the mix of people like: mostly French or still a fair few tourists?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Je suis un Skieur, I really enjoyed staying in LM. I would recommend to anyone. Pretty good for families in particular. I thought it seemed conveniently located for access to the other parts of the 3V.
La ferme had a specials board on on Xmas eve.. we got the sharing Angus steak - it was enormous and very tasty. They had some festive Yule log puddings going on. We had called by the day before just to check they had our reservation and received a lovely warm welcome from the staff there. it was bustling with people - a lovely end to Xmas eve after we watched the show in bruyeres with the amazing fireworks that were like snow! Free hot chocolates and you could visit Santa. Kids happy sledding down the piste after it has finished.
I’d say a real mix of people we came across in LM. Lot of German tourists there as well as French but still plenty of Brits too. It didn’t feel too French more a multinational mix of people.
The only sort of bad side of it was that the skiing in the poor weather wasn’t great. There are virtually no trees here - short of a few over towards the bottom of the point de la masse area. That said, it wasn’t as bad as when I went to chamonix last year and couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
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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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We also just got back from LM for the Christmas week and absolutely loved it. My husband and I (both advanced) skied all over 3V once the storm passed. We loved making first tracks in the powder under pas du lac in Meribel on that first bluebird day and also loved getting across to courcheval and hitting the blacks over there. I think the highlight was the black on pointe de la masse first thing in the morning in the sunshine - such a joy! but also doing the blue with our two boys (6&8, both intermediates) the next day so something for everyone up there. Friends were staying in Reberty (beginner/intermediate) and there was plenty for them too. Like @vi@v1cky24, we also put our kids in Prosneige full days and they couldn’t get enough! The instructors were brilliant and I was amazed by how much they’d come on. I’m American so used to skiing through and around trees and it was the only thing missing for me, but really LM has it all and is perfectly situated. I did not care it wasn’t charming as we were on piste all day with Mountain views but could see how that would bother some who want the traditional alpine village feel.
We ate at Marmite on Xmas Eve in Bruyeres which didn’t have any atmosphere so a bit of a miss for me but we did like Haut in Preyerand. Mostly we enjoyed a few lunches on piste, self catered but really just enjoyed the incredible conditions.
My only question - when do bookings open up for next year?!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Reezo wrote: |
Off to Les Menuires the first week of March; group of 4 blokes, mix of skiers and boarders (intermediate)
Apart from learning how to pronounce the place, anyone got any pointers on the resort?
We’re all the wrong side of 40 so some beers and apres, well, it’s welcome, but we’re not going to be in a club at 1am. We’ll get the 3V pass and happy to explore but none of us have been to the region before.
Anyone have any good tips for such a group, it’d be most welcome.
Thanks in advance. |
Apres - Roc Seven is worth a visit.
Either ski to it and ski down afterwards if not too drunk, or you can take the Roc1 gondola up to it as it’s at the top of this lift.
It’s a restaurant that stops serving around 3pm then has a live DJ, singer or band on.
Great vibe as the sun is setting.
Jacks bar at the bottom of La Croisette, live DJ and bands.
Le Bruyeres has a good vibe also. Again ski in and maybe get the bus back over to La Croisette.
It’s also possible to do La Folie Douce in VT.
You can either ski all the way out the bottom of VT to the bottom of Les Menuires or you can get the 3 Vallees chair to the top and ski down. (Check lift times)
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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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@Abbers, aw nice! I imagine your boys might have come across Fraser and Tilly this week in ski school then 
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Roc seven was a highlight too @Casa, enjoyed the vibe in there.
I want to go back!
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We could have been sitting next to each other on two occasions
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| v1cky24 wrote: |
| The only sort of bad side of it was that the skiing in the poor weather wasn’t great. There are virtually no trees here - short of a few over towards the bottom of the point de la masse area. |
| Abbers wrote: |
| I’m American so used to skiing through and around trees and it was the only thing missing for me, |
Yes, unfortunately the tree line in the 3Vs is mostly around 1,700-1,800m and the Belleville valley is more exposed than the Courchevel end. There's no real comparison with off trail tree skiing in North America. 3V trees are tightly packed firs often with rocks in between them so any route through is usually just packed snow and ice on top of a hiking path, it's nothing like Colorado for instance.
From a 3V veteran's perspective I think it's a common misconception that everyone thinks they should go high (i.e. Val Thorens/Les Menuires/Mottaret) at the beginning of the season. I think that's only true in a low snow year because as you've both said, VT & LM are exposed in bad weather and can be pretty bleak (though VT is far worse than LM). For me, VT is best enjoyed in the spring and for most of the rest of the season there's better snow and less crowds on Courchevel's sheltered north-facing slopes with tree skiing (pistes between the forest) available into Le Praz, La Tania, 1550 and bits of 1650.
I like Les Menuires as a quieter option to VT both early and late season though and you've got La Masse's north facing slopes on your doorstep. Once you know your way around it's also fairly easy to get to Gelinotte in Meribel which gives you the opportunity to do circuits off the covered Legends chair through sheltered tree skiing if the weather's grim. No question that LM is also much better value for money than the other end of the 3Vs, apart from La Tania.
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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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@Je suis un Skieur, I really enjoyed it. It’s almost a tad overwhelming though by the size of it. My hubby got quite annoyed at me as I’m one of these people that likes to ‘colour in the piste map’ so I’m quite meticulous about planning routes etc he quite often commented ‘can’t we just ski’ he’s right I suppose as we had literally no hope at all of even doing 20% of that in a week with the children and ski school pick ups etc. the two days of snow basically limited us to bottom of masse area and up to mid mountain in LM which wasn’t the best, had the second half of the week not been how it was I’d have been a bit more disappointed but as it turned out I’d take the near metre of snow and some snow all the way down to the bottom of the valley and perfect conditions for skiing in for 4 days.
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@blahblahblah, ahhh… well that would have been funny!
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