Hi everyone, new here and also new to snowboarding. Me and my partner started learning earlier this year in the UK and we just got back from a trip to Colorado where we did it for the first time on mountain.
We are looking at going away again late March however this time closer to home so maybe France/Switzerland. Spoke to friends and done plenty of research for what will still be half decent that time of year and are mostly drawn to Avoriaz/Morzine or the 3 valleys area. Could do with it not costing an absolute bomb after the cost of the Colorado trip so the Avoriaz/Morzine option seems best as I’ve read it’s quite a bit cheaper there than the 3 valleys?
Now here comes the main catch and reason I’m after more advice. She wants to take her grandparents with us (won’t be skiing), so we want somewhere that they can get around on foot ok both when we’re out, and later on in the evenings with us. They’re mobile but wouldn’t want anything too strenuous for them. I’ve seen a few good Airbnb's in Morzine, which looks like it maybe won’t be covered in snow at that time of year? However would mean more travel for us to get up and around Avoriaz. Also seen some ok looking apartments in Avoriaz but not sure what it’ll be like for walking around for them.
Just seeing what people thought. Maybe there’s a better resort I’ve not looked at. Just fancied the look of Avoriaz but open to anything that works.
Any help appreciated. Thanks
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@SBD_1990,
Without the grandparents I'd have suggested looking at Action Outdoors.
A good resort for pedestrians being able to join skiers/boarders for lunch on the mountain is Zermatt, with a pedestrian lift pass. Not a cheap resort, though.
For late March, of your two choices above I'd recommend the 3Vs as it has higher slopes than PdS.
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?
Pedestrian passes available in 3Vs, and can once more get from Meribel to Courchevel 1850 by gondola and cable car.
Meribel isn't flat though, but does have heated pavements.
Zermatt good for non-skiers, but expensive.
Avoriaz used to have lots of snow parks, but not much for the non-skiers, and Morzine is low, so there may not be much snow down there.
Sestriere is an interesting idea, although I haven't been there end of season so can't speak from experience. It is high, and while it is purpose built (dating from the 1930s) it has the feel of a proper town that would be quite nice to wander round for non-skiing grandparents. There is certainly a quite nice walking route through the trees on the flat leading to a cafe destination.
Opposite the town the runs are northfacing and one assumes will keep the snow. On the other side the slopes are almost certainly too south facing to be skiable late season, but there is a gondola to the top and I assume the runs the other side (Sansicario, and the links to Sauze d'Oulx) would remain open with the gondola download providing a return route.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thank you for the replies everyone. Just going through them now. Not really looked at Sestriere or Les 2 alps. Was kind of basing things off Geneva location seeing as it’s terrible where you can fly to from Newcastle these days.
They don’t really need a lot through the day. Was hoping for even just a cafe or bar that they could walk to fairly easily. Then in the evening we could help a little more.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Also not important for them to be able to access mountain with non ski passes etc.
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.
Just having a look through this and to touch on what has been said on there, they don’t really need entertained through the day. If we had a nice Airbnb or apartment or whatver especially if it had a nice view, then they probably wouldn’t leave it until we got back. They’d quite happily sit and watch tv or read books and be happy that they’re away from home.
That was my thinking for Avoriaz as a lot of the apartments looked like they had lovely views. The concern was how easy it is to get around when we do take them out. We’d probably be going out with them from 4/5ish and going for a few drinks and a meal somewhere. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Through the day it would be great if we could ski back to them and meet for lunch or a drink or whatver but not totally necessary. As long as they had food in and a nice place to stay they’d happily chill til the afternoon.
I had looked a Les Munieres and as someone on that thread stated it does look a bit bland and a budget way of doing the 3V.
Brides Les Bains, below the 3V might work for you. It's at about 600m and may well be clear of snow late March - it was this year, I drove there on summer tyres. There's a gondola up to Meribel centre but it takes a while. Sounds like you need an apartment - I can't comment on those as we stayed at the Hotel des Alpes on HB so we didn't use restaurants. Smallish town, quite attractive, couple of cafes. Nice Riverside walk. Others might comment who've stayed in apartments there.
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.
20 mins - 1/2 hour on bubble gondala from BLB to Meribel centre. (so warm and protected from wind)
It is a thermal spa, so might have activities for elderly who want rejuvination. (and skiers too)
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@SBD_1990, I assume you meant “end of march” title rather than “end of season” which is at the end of April.
Bride les bains may be a good choice for non skiers and it sounds like non active people. The thermal springs may be just the thing, but you’d soon get fed up spending up to an hour a day on the télécabine.
I’ve just spent Christmas in arc1600 in an apartment with spectacular views over the Isère valley to Mont Blanc and the mountains in between. Ok there is not much to do except ski and walk, or getting the funicular down to bourg st Maurice for walks along the river. The bars and restaurants are nice and friendly.
For accommodation I would suggest visiting the resort website
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
At the end of the day the bubble car journey is fine as the queues are small and you can have a quick dram on the way down. On the way up you may or may not find the journey a pain, I actually found it a good time to sort things in my pocket and backpack, and put sun cream on. (play with phone etc)
There are some Youtube videos of what people do in bubble cars for 1/2 hour.
Whilst I like Brides les Bains as a ski base I don't think it offers that much for the non-skier. I find it cold and dark and, other than the casino and baths, there's not much there.
Other, similar but bigger and more interesting places I can think of include:
Aosta
Bagners-de-Luchon
Ax-les-Thermes
However, the last two are in the Pyrenees so you'd want to check the historic snow situation for the dates you'll be there.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
SBD_1990 wrote:
Hi everyone, new here and also new to snowboarding. Me and my partner started learning earlier this year in the UK and we just got back from a trip to Colorado where we did it for the first time on mountain.
We are looking at going away again late March however this time closer to home so maybe France/Switzerland. Spoke to friends and done plenty of research for what will still be half decent that time of year and are mostly drawn to Avoriaz/Morzine or the 3 valleys area. Could do with it not costing an absolute bomb after the cost of the Colorado trip so the Avoriaz/Morzine option seems best as I’ve read it’s quite a bit cheaper there than the 3 valleys?
Now here comes the main catch and reason I’m after more advice. She wants to take her grandparents with us (won’t be skiing), so we want somewhere that they can get around on foot ok both when we’re out, and later on in the evenings with us. They’re mobile but wouldn’t want anything too strenuous for them. I’ve seen a few good Airbnb's in Morzine, which looks like it maybe won’t be covered in snow at that time of year? However would mean more travel for us to get up and around Avoriaz. Also seen some ok looking apartments in Avoriaz but not sure what it’ll be like for walking around for them.
Just seeing what people thought. Maybe there’s a better resort I’ve not looked at. Just fancied the look of Avoriaz but open to anything that works.
Any help appreciated. Thanks
@sbd 1990
IME some elderly folk are prior to falls, especially on snow covered paths etc. It might be worth your grandparents looking at taking some boot walking spikes with them in case they come across said paths or icy patches
I’d say St Martin de Belleville would be perfect place to stay in 3 valleys — lovely French village for the GPs to walk around and plenty of good restaurants at village level. Corbeleys up on the lift if they fancy an expedition. Now has a wellness centre too and some nice coffee spots at the bottom of the lift where they could meet you after the day. You could drive up to Les M or Chez Pepe Nicolas for a special meal. Not generally too snowy at village level late March. Morzine is much bigger tourist town though if that’s what you prefer, with more souvenir shops etc. Depends what they’d like to do.
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?
We are going to Cervinia last week in March - lads trip and selected based on altitude . . .hopefully if the skies clear we'll have made the right choice!
I did a week in Les Menuires and stayed in Les Bruyeres part which is away from the main town bit and has its own little parade of shops and restaurants. It looks much nicer and has nice views and lots of ski in - ski out accom. You can still walk (10-15 mins) or get a bus to the main resort centre if you need to (but we didn’t).
Another bonus is that you are right next to a great lift that takes up high fast and gives easy access to the Val Thorens area which may be important if the snow is not so great.
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Poster: A snowHead
