Chamrousse 3rd time??

A snowHead

I'm in the process of sussing somewhere for a visit 22nd march.. Will be going with my wife and her brother who have never skied before but are getting lessons at xscape(Leeds) beforehand. So pressure’s on to make it enjoyable for both Eh oh!

Haven't been skiing for a few year myself now and the last place was Chamrousse, tempted to go back there again.. Due to knowing the place and not being very good myself and having 2 novices maybe a better plan than somewhere new??

Bit of a pain getting there tho as nowhere do packages etc.. Have done diy package tho, but works out same if not more than some deals on sunweb.

So I've been looking at other resorts Les saybels, Grand Massif, Alpe d'Huez to name a couple I think would suit. But it's all become a bit of an information overload sussing resorts with plenty of blue runs, preferably not too long transfer and I suppose most important skiable late march….

Any help, advice or recommendations or even if to say stick to what you know for 1st timers would be very welcoming

Cheers

A snowHead

I'm at Alpe d'Huez now and was at Chamrousse yesterday. We moved because it was raining at Chamrousse which was a shame as I really liked the topography there and quite a lot of the skiing was in the trees.
It was just about snowing in AdH when we arrived yesterday afternoon though it's also raining here now.
Much bigger ski area, not busy at present. This morning the winds meant only 3 short lifts above the centre were running with ten minutes queues, as soon as another 3 opened the queues disappeared.
AdH has a pretty extensive beginners area served by gondolas and chairs.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi Shaunyski, You say "preferably not too long transfer", but not where from (airport)? How are you transferring? Private, Shared, Car rental, train? 22nd March is not late imho, you should have plenty of choices as long as moderately high, i.e. >1800m and predominantly north facing aspect.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I'll stick my neck out in the meantime... (assuming it will be in the French Alps from your first message).

A lot of people will mention the mega resorts of the Tarentaise, and they would be great, but in reality you probably don't need the mileage or the added expense.

So from Geneva, Les Saisies or Flaine.
From Lyon, Val Cenis or Sainte Foy. You'd also probably enjoy Montgenevre or Serre Chevalier.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@shaunyski, are your wife and brother taking lessons when they get out there. It's very different skiing in the mountains to a fridge.

Nothing wrong with going with what you know in these circs.

If you say in the main station in AdH it's pretty big and takes a bit of getting to know logistically. Staying in Oz-en-Oisans is much simpler.

You'll need to Register first of course.

+1 Flaine, you should be able to get something on the snow face near the beginner runs which will take the load off a bit for the newbies. It also has quite good progression onto easy blues if it all goes well. There's a decent pool and small spa in the centre of the resort that is open to the public too.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I'd echo @Layne's question. I'd strongly recommend you all have some lessons - maybe group lessons in the mornings, then ski together on slopes they can manage in the afternoons. Les Saisies would be ideal, but there are no packages there either and if you fly you will need private transfer or car rental. But with three adults, driving all the way is easy enough. Peak Retreats have nice accommodation in a range of good French resorts and their costs include Flexiplus on the tunnel.

Really, good tuition, or lack of it, could make or break your holiday.

After all it is free

I think La Rosiere or Montgenevre would be better options than the resorts you are thinking of and also better than Flaine which is predominantly red runs with some more tricky blues. Flaine is better for intermediates in my opinion.

Both Montgenevre and La Rosiere have good snow records late March, good ski schools and are suitable for beginners and less confident skiers.

We have been to both resorts with peak retreats several times. I recommend Hotel Aparena apartments in La Rosiere and Le Napoleon residence in Montgenevre. They will organise everything for you apart from flights as they are self drive specialists but they do accommodation only deals at a good rate, ski school bookings etc, lift hire etc.

A slightly shorter transfer than Chamrousse is Les Sept Laux which may fit the bill well. It's just off the motorway from Chambery to Grenoble. I prefered it to Chamrousse. I think this video describes it well but fails to mention it can get busy at weekends with day trippers.

http://youtube.com/v/pxTcZOzixFE

An alternative would be the other side of the mountain range in the Maurienne valley, such as Val Frejus or Valmeinier

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@johnE, the 7 laux is bad for beginners

snow reports

@davidof, the local schools go there for lessons so I thought it ok, but I concede to yor greater knowledge. I'm not always great in assessing beginners needs.

@johnE, This is the best advert ever for Les Sept Laux...

https://www.skipass.com/videos/poudreuse-de-folie-aux-7-lau.html

You know it makes sense.

We visited Les Sybelles in Feb last year and enjoyed it. Lots of terrain to go at. The Maurienne Valley has a lot to offer mostly family friendly rather than party atmosphere, accommodation tends to be quite cheap.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Help!!

Chamrousse 3rd time??

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