 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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@Mariah_pf, welcome to snowHeads 
I’ve not skied Val Cenis, so can’t provide a comparison with the other two ski resorts, both of which I have skied….one quite extensively.
Passo Tonale: absolutely ideal in terms of skiing terrain and easily accessible from the main town. For newbies, there’s little to fault, IMV. Plenty of gentle slopes and pistes that one can progress to as one gains more skill/confidence.
The town didn’t appeal to me, personally….thought it lacked some “alpine charm”.
Serre Chevalier: the natural bowl above Chantemerle (Serre Ratier) is the first station after taking the lift up from the village. It’s high enough to be pretty snow-sure and there are plenty of beginner runs, ideal for learning. The ski schools have a base here so getting to lessons/meeting up is very easy. There are also a number of bars/restaurants in that location.
The next station up the mountain also offers some great beginner/improver pistes.
Downloading at the end of the day would be strongly recommended. The pistes back to Chantemerle can be busy - one is a black, the other a winding track, marked green that can get very chopped up….not easy!
Much as I’m a big Serre Che fan (I learnt to ski there and have returned 5/6 times), it’s a big area and I’m not sure, given your experience level, you’d get the most out the ski pass and cost. However, the villages are charming, Briancon old town is well-worth seeing and the scenery is breathtaking.
I’m sure others will be along with a better insight to the comparison with Val Cenis.
Good luck, whatever.
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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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Tonale is bleak and not the prettiest.
Serre Che has a big of charm - churches and stuff.
Briancon is a beautiful town.
you also get tree lined skiing and a big vertical.
Downside of Serre Che is the lift system wasn't the greatest when I went but that was years ago.
Great terrain though.
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Lots of recent lift upgrades in Serre Chevalier so nothing to worry about there. Good English-speaking ski instructors for lessons. Nice French mountain charm in the older parts of the villages. Spa baths up at Monetier-les-Bains for apres relaxing. There is plenty of snowmaking for lower slopes if the natural stuff is thin on the ground.
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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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I’d certainly rule out PT at that time of year, it can indeed be bleak. VC is going to be cheaper and a little more beginner/family friendly, but SC bigger and much more likely to have a good atmosphere for the festive period.
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Thank you! Now I see it ))
So for this season we expect the ski pass price in PT about 300-310 euro for 6 days.
Unless it promises better snow conditions in late December than SC and Val Cenis, I'll leave it alone for now and put it on my "come back sometime in February/March" list 
Are there any inexpensive resorts in France better in terms of snow guarantee and atmosphere in December, newbie friendly than SC and Val Cenis? Maybe we should look at Montgenevre?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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We’re experienced but not great skiers. We skied Serre Chevalier for a week at the end of last January in mediocre conditions. We’ve skied over 70 ski areas all over the world and for an around experience I would rate Serre Chevalier in the top 5. I hope I get it in good conditions next time.
Go to SC.
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If you go to Tonale stay down in Ponte Di Legno. Nicer historic town. Bad weather/ vis skiing on tap. Easy gondi ride up to Tonale.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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For your 2nd week of skiing ever stick with what you know, go back to Val Cenis as you know the area which will help you progress, it’s cost effective and easy to get to. Have never had a problem with snow at Xmas 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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Tonale use dynamic pricing for their lift passes, though not with Oasis style gouging, so you can usually save a bit if you book the passes in advance. It certainly is uncharming (a road, a few car parks and a scattering of hotels and apartments) but is excellent for beginners. As others have pointed out Ponte Di Legno is more charming.
It does have the advantage of being high but with the exception of the glacier run, which is steep and can be scrapey and shaded, all the other skiing tops out at 2500 so its not really as high as you think.
But I still think its a good cheap option for beginners.
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Serre Chevalier.
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You know it makes sense.
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Having been in all 3, this is a no-brainer.
1. Serre Chevalier. As good as Val Cenis, but sunnier. Bit further driving though, but Lautaret pass is OK under normal circumstances. Jest don't get caught in that 2-3 blizzards per season.
2. Val Cenis. Also nice old town, woodlands and pastures, nice area. Easier to reach, almost entirely motorway, and you miss the endless queues up the Tarentaise.
3. Passo Tonale. I would not know one thing that is better than the previous ones. Maybe espresso is cheaper, but that does not determine where I go skiing.
You missed the best resort though: Valloire.
It has all the positive points on Serre Chevalier, is much easier to reach, AND is in the sun even in mid winter.
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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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| sbooker wrote: |
We’re experienced but not great skiers. We skied Serre Chevalier for a week at the end of last January in mediocre conditions. We’ve skied over 70 ski areas all over the world and for an around experience I would rate Serre Chevalier in the top 5. I hope I get it in good conditions next time.
Go to SC. |
I already want to see it. And I hope we will get some early season snow this year 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Onnem wrote: |
Having been in all 3, this is a no-brainer.
1. Serre Chevalier. As good as Val Cenis, but sunnier. Bit further driving though, but Lautaret pass is OK under normal circumstances. Jest don't get caught in that 2-3 blizzards per season.
2. Val Cenis. Also nice old town, woodlands and pastures, nice area. Easier to reach, almost entirely motorway, and you miss the endless queues up the Tarentaise.
3. Passo Tonale. I would not know one thing that is better than the previous ones. Maybe espresso is cheaper, but that does not determine where I go skiing.
You missed the best resort though: Valloire.
It has all the positive points on Serre Chevalier, is much easier to reach, AND is in the sun even in mid winter. |
Hmm... Valloire... I've heard of this resort, but haven't studied it closely. It looks pretty good. Looks like the choice will determine the range of availiable housing.
And I'm right to try to move my trip from Christmas week to New Year's week, right? Would that increase the chances of good snow? Or am I more likely to get queues at the lifts and crowds on the slopes in the New Year?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Been to all 3. Did not like Passo Tonale at all relatively short runs founf it very soulless. Really like both Val Cenis and Serre going back to Val Cenis for February Half Term it's a quiet town attractive though. I think I'd be happy with either Val Cenis Serre. We go back to Les Sybelles for New Year that will be interesting based on previous years conditions could be great of dire.
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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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Thank you all. We have pretty much decided to stay at Val Cenis and have even made a reservation for an apartment (but it can still be cancelled).
But I'm not letting go of the urge to change places. Val Cenis is beautiful, but we hardly go skiing more than once a year, and we want to see a lot. So I'm still looking at other options. For example Les Menuires (or St Martin de Belleville).
Please, help me to understand if it would be better for a family of novice skiers for Christmas.
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just to prove again that ski resorts are like marmite and views are very subjective....... someone picks Valloire over Val Cenis.
Imho it isn't a patch on VC
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| Quote: |
am I more likely to get queues at the lifts and crowds on the slopes in the New Year?
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Yes. But it's a marginal difference and slopes start filling up towards the end of the already busy Christmas week too. Neither is really a good week to go skiing but often it's a case of no choice. And Christmas in a ski resort definitely beats watching the wretched telly for hours, day after day, whilst eating far too much, which seems to be the highlight of the season for lots of people in the UK!
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@Mariah_pf, the scale of the skiing at Les Menuires (i.e. the whole of the 3V) is on a whole other level to Val Cenis and you can explore and travel is a way that you can't in VC. It is fairly ugly, but that is why its cheap (compared to the other 3V resorts), and presumably you will spend most of the day on the pistes looking at mountains rather than at buildings. For blue and red run level skiers it is pretty hard to beat the 3V and there is a fair chance that you won't want to go anywhere else for a while. It will almost certainly be busier than Val Cenis, but the lift system is very good with only a handful of slow lifts left in the whole of the 3V so even if it is busy queues likely won't be bad
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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FAQ
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