 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All!
We have just had confirmation that other family will join us on our New Year’s ski trip which we usually take. This means we will have two beginners and two young children so the requirements for the trip need to change to include an accessible snow front for sledding etc, nice village/town, snow sure. As well as say a minimum of 100km of piste to keep us two more experienced skiers occupied.
My first choice would be Val D, however accommodation is now limited and very expensive. It’s a no to places like La Plagne and Les Arc, Tignes, Avoriaz and Val T, they are a bit too manufactured for our liking.
Any suggestions for more alpine feeling resorts with good height, and say 100km or terrain?
Oh and France please!
Any help much appreciated 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hmm. Les Saisies might fit the bill. It's small and attractive and accessible with very good snow record but it will be expensive and crowded at New Year, like EVERYWHERE. Your beginners will need lessons and those need to be booked ASAP (wherever you go). There's a lot of nice accommodation with good access to the front de neige, etc. But yes, getting scarce now, and super-expensive at New Year. Peak Retreats would be a good place to look - they have self catering accommodation in a very good range of French resorts. Are the two children of skiing age? Are you going to be providing child care when the parents have ski lessons?
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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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Possibly Valmeinier?
The ski area, when combined with Valloire should be big enough, certainly for the beginners although you might find it a little small perhaps.
It's very kid friendly, the accomodation shouldn't be as expensive as some of the larger resorts and the lift passes are considerably less expensive. The terrain in general feels very beginner friendly as well. A lot of the reds really would be blues in most other resorts I've been to. Not that there isn't more challenging stuff as well. If you do fancy an excursion when you're there, it's an easy drive 30/40 minutes down the Autoroute to Orelle so you can you buy a day pass for Orelle + VT or a full T3V pass and ski there too.
If budget allows, then potentially Meribel? It's extremely busy even at non-peak weeks but it's hard to argue with the skiing. The area is vast and it has a more trad Savoyard feel than Val Thorens.
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I’d second the above with either staying in Valmeinier or Valloire which is lovely French village, both are about 30mins from leaving the motorway at St Michel de Maurienne.
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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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Valmeinier is definitely a winner for kids and beginners with a big enough ski area that those not having lessons can ski extensively, then still make it back to resort for lunch with the rest of the group.
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| Origen wrote: |
| Hmm. Les Saisies might fit the bill. It's small and attractive and accessible with very good snow record but it will be expensive and crowded at New Year, like EVERYWHERE. Your beginners will need lessons and those need to be booked ASAP (wherever you go). There's a lot of nice accommodation with good access to the front de neige, etc. But yes, getting scarce now, and super-expensive at New Year. Peak Retreats would be a good place to look - they have self catering accommodation in a very good range of French resorts. Are the two children of skiing age? Are you going to be providing child care when the parents have ski lessons? |
I have found great accommodation in Notre Dame de Bellcombe, a small village near La Saises. NDB seems to connect to the Espace Diamant, so a large area - it's just the fairly low altitude and snow coverage I am a bit worried about over New Year. Does anyone have any info on what conditions are usually like at this time of year?
Back up plan would be to drive to Megeve and get into the EMB area, but that is not much higher. Chamonix is a 1 hr drive, a bit too far to drive tbh.
Thanks!
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I don't think there'd be anything to be gained in driving to Megeve. N.D. de B is certainly cheaper than Saisies - the latter would be better. The convenience of the skiing depends on where you are in Notre Dame. If you are within easy reach of the Mont Rond chairlift it should be fine for experienced skiers but if snow is lacking it could be more difficult for the beginners needing lessons. The bottom level (1150) which is where the proper village is has problematical access to the Mont Rond chair - quite a long draglift and then a scary chairlift. Neither nice for beginners, though fine for experienced skiers. That might be why accommodation seems cheap. The availability of anything seeming good value at New Year should provoke a few questions! It would be far better to be up in Saisies.
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Les Deux Alpes might be worth a look, very good altitude (3400m at the top), proper village with a bit of history (Mont de Lans) or the cheaper and less developed Venosc satellite village. The beginner runs start as drags in the village and there is a good progression on to the Cretes area where there are green runs higher up. It is also possible to ski down the whole mountain on blues. From memory there is quite a bit of accommodation so you might still be able to find something. Not as upmarket as Val D if that bothers you though.
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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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| Quote: |
It is also possible to ski down the whole mountain on blues
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Possible - but not necessarily a good idea....I, as a moderately competent skier, was strongly discouraged from doing so, especially at the end of the day, by an experienced local instructor.
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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
It is also possible to ski down the whole mountain on blues
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Possible - but not necessarily a good idea....I, as a moderately competent skier, was strongly discouraged from doing so, especially at the end of the day, by an experienced local instructor. |
Agreed, the flat section on Jandri 2 is best avoided when busy and the last bit can get a bit steep and icy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It always amazes me that some people find it terribly bothersome to download on a lift.
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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’d still say Valloire would suit you, as it’s a proper ‘village’ with year round residents. Has decent altitude annd much higher than Notre Dame and lots of very nice runs for both beginners and the more experienced with its link over to Valmeinier. Not as exclusive as Val D so decide what’s most important.
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Yes, I think Valloire would suit too.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Origen wrote: |
| I don't think there'd be anything to be gained in driving to Megeve. N.D. de B is certainly cheaper than Saisies - the latter would be better. The convenience of the skiing depends on where you are in Notre Dame. If you are within easy reach of the Mont Rond chairlift it should be fine for experienced skiers but if snow is lacking it could be more difficult for the beginners needing lessons. The bottom level (1150) which is where the proper village is has problematical access to the Mont Rond chair - quite a long draglift and then a scary chairlift. Neither nice for beginners, though fine for experienced skiers. That might be why accommodation seems cheap. The availability of anything seeming good value at New Year should provoke a few questions! It would be far better to be up in Saisies. |
Thanks for the advice. From NDB we could also drive to Crest Voland in 8 mins where there is a chair lift, is the access into the mountain better there? Sadly Saises has no chalets available to that’s unfortunately out! 
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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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Sadly no chalets at all in Valloire or Deux Alpes!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Nendaz is Switzerland but French speaking. Siviez, accessible via the ski bus has the excellent Arc-en-ciel ski school and the perfect Tortin blue run for kids/beginners to learn. I think they take kids from 2 1/2.
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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 think you might have left it a bit too late to get something suitable but, more importantly, popular / picturesque / snow-sure for NYE ...
Some excellent suggestions above - I would also look at the following :
- St Martin de Belleville (or possibly Le Praz) for the 3Vs
- Champery (French-speaking, great position under the stunning Dents du Midi + straightforward access to the PdS)
- Ardent / Montriond (Lac Montriond is magical in winter ... as long as there's snow on the ground) for Avoriaz / PdS
- La Clusaz / Les Carroz / Samoens
Personally, our favourite European ski resort for a special occasion is Murren (car free, snow covered paths weaving through chalets and hotels, breathtaking views, great snow record, lovely food ...). Zermatt is not too shabby either.
Hope you find something suitable soon. Let us know how you get on.
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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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@capability, no, there would be no advantage driving to Crest Voland, the "top" there is only the same altitude as Les Saisies village - if there are snow problems then Les Saisies and the top of Notre Dame will be much the best. If your ND de B accommodation is accessible to the Mont Rond chair you'll be fine. And if you were based in ND village and driving somewhere, it would make much more sense to drive up to Saisies.
Are you looking for self catering accommodation big enough for your two families to be together? I've booked one in Saisies, for Christmas, for 10 of us, but when I booked, months ago now, there was very little available, so I'm not surprised it's difficult now. The one I've booked I found on Gites de France, when there was nothing suitable (except some ludicrously high priced luxury pads) on the Saisies website. It's expensive, but nice big places always are in peak weeks.
Using a bus would be easier than commuting to lifts by car. Sounds worth exploring Siviez, especially if they have a recommended ski school.
Good luck with your search.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| capability wrote: |
| Sadly no chalets at all in Valloire or Deux Alpes! |
You’re pretty late booking for that time of year, which is why the lower less snow sure places are only available depending on your budget for Valloire see below.
https://www.peakretreats.co.uk/winter/booking/results
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 3-10-24 9:43; edited 1 time in total
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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.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| capability wrote: |
| Sadly no chalets at all in Valloire or Deux Alpes! |
That's a pain, a few more options below, not sure if they will appeal.
An option is to book a chalet in somewhere like Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (for Megeve) with cancelation and then take a gamble on the snow coming. If you get good snow Megeve would be absolutely lovely I'd expect. If no snow you would at least have the option of canceling and finding a last minute bargain (clearly there's a risk though).
Another possible suggestion is booking a chalet close to the Prodains gondola under Avoriaz. Avoriaz is purpose built but the lower valley has a more authentic feel. Not sure how close you could get to the lift though.
Or you could look for a chalet in Orelle and get the 20 min gondola up to Val Thorens.
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It's really tricky. Almost all worthwhile and dependable accommodation within easy reach of lifts is going to want a deposit right away and payment in full weeks before Christmas. Why, when they get a guaranteed rent, would an owner risk being empty at Christmas?
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Thanks for all of your suggestions and info. We sort of bottled the small resort idea in favour of a really nice chalet in the Chamonix valley, which we know well. Chamonix will suit very well with there being lots to do for the non skier of our party, plus evening restaurant choices etc.
Will definitely make it to ED some time soon, perhaps later in the season when we have a bit more of an understanding of the conditions this season. 
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