 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hello everyone
From Jan 3 to Jan 10 I'm going skiing in the Alps for the first time and I have a lot of questions.
Due to logistics difficulties I'm considering France only and my planning is complicated by two companions, one of whom skates uncertainly, the second will generally start with classes with an instructor.
Ideally, I'm looking for a ski resort:
- with lots of really easy slopes
- with relatively inexpensive instructors
- with relatively inexpensive food and skating in general
- with places with food on the piste for companions who will get enough skiing quickly
I found Les Saisies and Megeve under the criteria, and I really love these places due to forest slopes. I also checked Les Arcs, but there, as I understand it, the slopes are much more difficult. Could you please help me which other places are worth exploring?
But the main criterion is that my girlfriend's birthday will be in the middle of our stay. We really want to spend this day not on the slopes, but in the city to go to a concert or a jazz bar (it’s important for a girlfriend to take off her ski boots and put on a little black dress on her birthday, you know  ). If we're going to Megeve, the closest town is Annecy, but I didn't find many options for activities there. So, for now, it looks like we'll have to ski either Le Grand Massif to go to Geneva (although Geneva is very expensive even for one day), or Alpe d'Huez to go to Grenoble. Help me to understand if I get it correctly: are there opportunities to celebrate a birthday in Annecy or will we have to go to a bigger city? Is it possible to find a suitable place in my resort or in neighboring resorts, for example, in Saint-Gervais or in Chamonix?
Also related questions:
- What are the opportunities for après-ski in towns (Megeve, Saint-Gervais) and in villages?
- Will there be enough snow in early January?
- If school holidays are until the 3rd of Jan, will it be possible to avoid queuing from the Jan 4th?
I'm really counting on the community's help 
Thank you
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@Evod, welcome to SH's.
My take is that you pandering too much. No way I'd be schlepping to a city for a birthday night out in the middle of a ski holiday.
Les Saisies and Megeve should be fine - that week will be fairly quiet everywhere and snow will be decent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@Evod,
What is your budget, especially considering going somewhere for a gig - ski resorts are up the mountains at the end of valleys?
Why skating in your criteria?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Kenzie wrote: |
@Evod,
What is your budget, especially considering going somewhere for a gig - ski resorts are up the mountains at the end of valleys?
Why skating in your criteria? |
I think there's been some heavy use of Google Translate and it has come up with skating for skiing! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Evod, unless you have a helicopter at your disposal trotting off to Geneva for an evening is not practical. Megeve has plenty of posh restaurants and bars you can get dressed up for, so compromise and do a posh dinner on the actual birthday with the show/concert some other time.
Or if that’s unacceptable, either ski another week, or do the big night out another week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd suggest the big birthday night out is kept separate. Getting to and from a city location from a ski resort for the evening (day) isn't really very practical.
Instead I'd add it on at the end. Return from the mountains Sat' morning and add a night in whatever city then fly home on Sunday.
If you weren't set on France (assume the logistical reasons are available flights?), I'd say Turin, Milan, Venice
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| adithorp wrote: |
I'd suggest the big birthday night out is kept separate. Getting to and from a city location from a ski resort for the evening (day) isn't really very practical.
Instead I'd add it on at the end. Return from the mountains Sat' morning and add a night in whatever city then fly home on Sunday.
If you weren't set on France (assume the logistical reasons are available flights?), I'd say Turin, Milan, Venice |
Thank you.
Is Italy better for beginners or why?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Evod wrote: |
| adithorp wrote: |
I'd suggest the big birthday night out is kept separate. Getting to and from a city location from a ski resort for the evening (day) isn't really very practical.
Instead I'd add it on at the end. Return from the mountains Sat' morning and add a night in whatever city then fly home on Sunday.
If you weren't set on France (assume the logistical reasons are available flights?), I'd say Turin, Milan, Venice |
Thank you.
Is Italy better for beginners or why? |
Well there are certainly many ski areas in Italy that would be good for beginners. Many of us snowHeads like the Italian Dolomites, with their very well maintained pistes, stunning scenery and great mountain restaurants with good food and very reasonable prices. A couple of places there I'd suggest. If you fly into Venice airport then Alleghe has a nice lakeside location and is just over two hours by road from Venice Marco Polo airport. Another good resort for beginners would be Colfosco You didn't say whether you were looking to go with a tour operator or make your own travel arrangements, if the former then several tour operators go to Colfosco including Crystal
If you're insistent on fitting in a day trip to a city in the middle of the week for your girlfriend's birthday celebrations then you might consider flying into Turin and going to one of the ski resorts accessible by train from there (although I personally don't have any experience or knowledge of them) : https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/italian-ski-resorts-accessible-by-train You could then have a day in Turin midweek travelling by train.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You could stay in Briancon which might fit the evening out bill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@Evod, if Megeve meets your expectation of "inexpensive" (I don't think it is!) then you have lots of options. But spending an evening at a concert in another town would be pretty hard when skiing.
One question: you say you favour France for "logistics difficulties". Does that mean you only have flights to Geneva from where you are? In that case don't think about Italy.
It seems to me that apart from being in reach of Geneva what you need is skiing suitable for beginners from a reasonable sized town that is likely to have some options for a night out, though not necessarily a concert. The ones that come to mind are Chamonix and Morzine; you would have to take a bus from Chamonix to a beginner-oriented ski area (Le Tour or Les Houches). Both will have restaurants suitable for an occasion, they may occasionally have live music somewhere but probably not every night and possibly not what you are thinking of. Megeve is smaller but pretty in its way with some very high end eating venues (3 Michelin stars); I have seen concerts advertised but I don't know whether there are any in January. St Gervais is a less expensive town for accessing the same ski area, and it does have a Michelin star restaurant though not often live music.
It wouldn't be totally impossible to spend an evening in Geneva from a ski resort, but even from St Gervais which is not much more than an hour's drive you would be thinking of a €500+ return taxi fare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Note: Mégève is by no means generally "inexpensive".
I find Annecy rather over-touristed and the meals we've had mostly uninspiring. And I'm not sure what the music scene would be like. Nor how you'd get there and back again.
But LBDs are not forbidden in ski resorts and there's often live music on ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't think the idea of a night out is completely mental, it just needs some planning and compromise. Somewhere like Les Gets is just over an hour from Geneva by car, so you could ski the morning and then head into the city in the afternoon. The problem will be that you'll almost certainly have to drive or it'll be a very expensive transfer as suggested above....but if there's 3 or 4 of you then hiring a car for the week isn't going to be too much more than a return transfer, especially if you're hiring skis so don't have big luggage issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
There are places in Europe where the spec can be achieved pretty easily like Innsbruck or say Trento or Lucerne. But they aren't in France.
I'd say make do with the ski bar music scene of somewhere like Chamonix etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Evod wrote: |
| adithorp wrote: |
I'd suggest the big birthday night out is kept separate. Getting to and from a city location from a ski resort for the evening (day) isn't really very practical.
Instead I'd add it on at the end. Return from the mountains Sat' morning and add a night in whatever city then fly home on Sunday.
If you weren't set on France (assume the logistical reasons are available flights?), I'd say Turin, Milan, Venice |
Thank you.
Is Italy better for beginners or why? |
There are good ski resorts that'd meet the bill but I was addressing the night out aspect. All three of those are easily accessible from their airports and probably better prospects than Grenoble or even Geneva.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
By their very nature, ski resorts tend to be out of the way, given that they're halfway up a mountain, which cities rarely are. Are you flying into Geneva? Cities tend to be closer in Italy and Austria (Innsbruck, Turin, Salzburg..)
Loads of forest slopes in Les Arcs, most of which are not difficult. Foret in Peisey being the perfect example. Plus you have a Folie in Les Arcs, which certainly gives the opportunity for some dancing, though not quite as refined as a jazz club and it'll be a pain to get out of resort for an evening out. Bourg is only 20 minutes by car, but I suspect the nightlife isn't quite what you're looking for.
Personally, I'd have her actual birthday skiing (sounds like a heavenly way to spend it, drat my August birthday) and have a couple of nights in Paris at the end of the trip. You won't struggle to find a jazz club there, but of course that depends on whether you have travel flexibility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Not in France, but kind of close enough, Arinsal in Andorra is worth looking at:
- Brilliant ski school for beginners
- Loads of blue runs and good chairlifts
- Town is full of great places to eat and drink
- Andorra La Vella (Andorra's capital) is a short bus ride away - thermal spas, shopping, lots of other things to do
- Andorra is cheap compared to major French resorts
The only downside is the transfer from either Toulouse or Barcelona - it's 2.5hrs+ but when you're staying for a week then it's not a major issue.
I've been to Arinsal the first week of January (after the new year celebrations) and the slopes were uncrowded with good snow. Lots of good hotels and SC accomodation to fit various budgets. Loved the fact you could store skis at the top of the gondola so you could do apres in the town in your trainers. It's not the world's biggest ski resort by any stretch but for a week as a beginner, you'll have a great time and the slopes above La Massana are tree-lined if there's a bit of overcast weather.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I suppose that it is a traddition in Snowheads when someone says they want to go to France for a ski holiday the third or 4th reply is to suggest somewhere in Austria. So following that traddition may I suggest Salzburg. It is rather famous for music concerts.
If you are still keen on a resort near a major city in France then may I suggest Isola 2000 as it's less than 100km from Nice, has easy slopes and tree skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Would an evening in a thermal spa, followed by dinner be an option for the birthday meal? Le Monetier-les-Bains (Serre Chevalier) has gourmet restaurants - Le Chazal (for example) and a beautiful thermal spa. There is often live music in the Hotel Monetier, and the Bluebird jazz bar.
Nearest airport is actually Turin . I'm not sure Megeve fits the relatively inexpensive option.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Funnily enough John, I was going to suggest Salzburg. Places like Zell are only 90 minutes away.
We skied in nearby Rauris, which we found reasonable, and if you're willing to throw some money at some nice accomodation, you can't go wrong with the Carpe Solum resort, which is literally next to the main gondola. Tree lined skiing if you want it. Not a massive resort, but more than adequate for beginners, you just need to download at the end of the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| wrote: |
Hello everyone
From [b]JaWe really want to spend this day not on the slopes, but in the city to go to a concert or a jazz bar (it’s important for a girlfriend to take off her ski boots and put on a little black dress on her birthday, you know ). |
I realise you said France is the only option but ever the optimist there might be another way including the jazz and bee bop clubs utop mentioned. Head to Sherwood Forest on a forecast with snow on the ground, Keeps the skater mate happy with Bigfoot small skis through the forest ( balance is pinnacle on them their) and a great introduction for your properly adorned good keep to snow without the possibility of a instructeur or toothy wildlife being a thing to consider wrestling.
Excuse me, have a great time. Long live the croque Monseur et Madam. The madam is a ouef/egg on top.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
or, stay at the Folie Douce hotel in Chamonix, adjacent to beginners slopes, easy to go straight up Brevent-Flegere, glamourous entertainment every evening and no shortage of LBDs?
https://en.lafoliedoucehotels.com/
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 20-10-25 11:50; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Chamonix!
- It is in France.
- It is a big enough town in itself to have good options (restaurants and bars/clubs) for a birthday night out.
- While it is generally renowned for it's extreme skiing and broken up ski area, one of those areas (is it Les Houches?) is more beginner friendly.
- As beginners, you won't cover so much terrain that one area (such as Les Houches) gets boring, so you can probably get a way with a local lift pass, which is cheaper.
- I'd expect there to be lots of instructors available around there that week.
I'd say, base yourself in Les Houches for most convenient access to the slopes there, and jump in a cab to Chamonix town proper for the Birthday.
That said, I also agree with most of the advice above too 
Welcome to snowHeads @Evod 
PS. as it's your first time, it's definitely worth doing an intro session (or two) in one of the indoor snow slopes, the week before.
It gets you familiar with the kit and the sense of sliding and even just a 2hr session, a few days before hand, will speed up learning when you get there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Owlette wrote: |
| Personally, I'd have her actual birthday skiing (sounds like a heavenly way to spend it, drat my August birthday) and have a couple of nights in Paris at the end of the trip. You won't struggle to find a jazz club there, but of course that depends on whether you have travel flexibility. |
The girlfriend could be one of the not so competent skiers, so skiing on her birthday might not be her idea of a great time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
First of all, thanks everyone in this thread for your help, I didn't expect such an involved community on SH
Regarding the birthday celebration, I've accepted all the arguments. I'll be looking for alternatives at resorts; a spa is a really good option.
Apparently, I was indeed mistaken in classifying Megeve as an inexpensive resort, since I was focusing on the cost of accommodation and ski rentals (and it turns out that it’s the same everywhere). Therefore, I would be grateful for the advice of a really cheap resort in France. The need to go to France arises because my girlfriend needs a visa to enter Europe and she obtained a French one. But the main thing is that the cost of living in Italy is significantly higher than in France. In France, there are many variations of apartments on airbnb, even with the option of ski inn/ski out in the range of 500-600 euros for three people for a week from Jan 3 to Jan 10. We don't really care about the type of housing, but a small apartment seems like the best option for me, my girlfriend and my sister.
BTW is Austria really that much cheaper than France? After reading the comments, I think it might be worth considering flying to France (to get visa stamped) and then moving on to Austria
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
BTW is Austria really that much cheaper than France? After reading the comments, I think it might be worth considering flying to France (to get visa stamped) and then moving on to Austria
|
Austria is no more or less expensive than France.
I'm not sure if a visa to France would allow access tpo other Shengen countries. In the past it did not. This of course raises the problem of flying to Geneva, which is in Switzerland
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@johnE, but also not in Switzerland
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
is Austria really that much cheaper than France?
|
No, not across the board, but it depends where you go. There are many resorts in Austria "cheaper" than Megeve, and many resorts in Austria more expensive than Les Saisies. Lunches on the slopes in Italy are (generalisation) better, and cheaper, than either Austria or France but as you've discovered, accommodation is generally in hotels, and more expensive.
But you've hit on an important difference - there is a far greater choice of low cost apartments to rent, with very easy access to slopes, in France. But in the first instance I'd look at the resorts own websites, rather than AirBnB, for rentals.
As for "inexpensive instructors" you could get 5 lessons x 1.5 hours in a group MAXIMUM size 5 (often less) in Saisies for 180 euros in your week (which is a great week to choose). That's around £20 an hour which is pretty cheap. Slopes in Saisies are ideal for beginners and you can find an apartment with easy access to everything.
Some of the more upmarket apartment blocks have their own spa. And there's a big sports centre https://reservation.signal-lessaisies.com/accueil.html
How are you proposing to travel?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| johnE wrote: |
| Quote: |
BTW is Austria really that much cheaper than France? After reading the comments, I think it might be worth considering flying to France (to get visa stamped) and then moving on to Austria
|
Austria is no more expensive than France.
I'm not sure if a visa to France would allow access tpo other Shengen countries. In the past it did not. This of course raises the problem of flying to Geneva, which is in Switzerland |
Schengen visa allows to travel throughout the entire Schengen area, as long as the first entry is to the issuing country.
Moreover that`s allowed to make the first entry with the French Schengen by arriving to Geneva.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I've never found French ski accomodation to be cheaper than Italian on a like for like basis.
To be honest the whole thing sounds mad and contradictory. If you want a cheap ski holiday have a cheap ski holiday. If you want a dressy cultural experience do that separately.
Now you have to work with the constraint of making your Schengen entry in France. Lyon airport?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
| How are you proposing to travel? |
By public transport. I would`t like to ride a car in the mountains in winter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| Quote: |
| If you want a dressy cultural experience do that separately. |
Yes, it has already been explained to me that skiing and the cultural program should be separated
Arrival will be via Paris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
I've never found French ski accomodation to be cheaper than Italian on a like for like basis.
|
No, it probably isn't, but if what you want is a cheap and conveniently located self-catering apartment then there's generally far greater choice, especially of ski in/out, in France. And before anyone starts rabbiting on about hutches, there are plenty with two separate bedrooms so nobody has to sleep on a sofa.
@Evod, public transport will cut down your options - but if you can get a train to Albertville there are frequent busses to and from Les Saisies on Saturday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Evod, on the ADH to Grenoble point, not sure if there's a direct bus to Grenoble or if you have to go down to Bourg D'Oisans first and then switch over.
Grenoble is a lovely city, we enjoyed our time exploring the forts (accessed via. cable car) and wandering the city for a few hours during Summer. Not experienced it as a dedicated day out though... ours was a stopover on the way to Provence.
ADH is great, especially for beginners, it's a pretty big place and I'm sure there are some good spa days to be had (plus other activities) but it's probably going to be resort-based, as it's stuck on top of a mountain and not easily accessible to other towns (i.e. not in valley floor near other towns).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Could you do the birthday celebrations either early or late? That way you could do something like arrive in Geneva, spent a night in town and then head to a ski resort for the rest of the week
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| admin wrote: |
| I'd say, base yourself in Les Houches for most convenient access to the slopes there, and jump in a cab to Chamonix town proper for the Birthday. |
Probably the most practical proposal here.
Le Tour would possibly be a better skiing area in the Chamonix valley for the mixed group, but there is very little (if any?) accommodation near the lifts.
You would need to double check there won't be visa issues if you arrive via Geneva Airport.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
| You would need to double check there won't be visa issues if you arrive via Geneva Airport. |
There might well be, if the visa provides you can only arrive in France. Although Gva has a "French side" it's complicated. I hosted some people with Zimbabwe passports and arranged for a "attestation d'acceuil" from the local mairie. I could only do that because I had a local residence. The party arrived on an international flight (from London) and went through to the "French" part of the airport but their baggage was in international arrivals and somebody with right of entry into Switzerland had to go and get it all. Travelling (with my car and two rental cars) was complicated too as couldn't enter Switzerland. It was all a bit of a nightmare, really.
And the OP has already said they'll be flying into Paris.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Evod wrote: |
| Quote: |
| If you want a dressy cultural experience do that separately. |
Yes, it has already been explained to me that skiing and the cultural program should be separated
Arrival will be via Paris |
Via Paris or via Geneva?
Not exactly sure how your GF's visa would work, but...
If Paris, surely you would have your first entry to France there, validate the visa for onward travel to any country in Schengen?? So you could consider Austria? Or Italy?
If Geneva, which is mostly on Swiss territory and the main exit is via Swiss border control & customs, so does that mean you have to go to the far end of the airport to get to the French Border & Customs to get the visa validated first??
It is very difficult to leave Geneva Airport for French ski resorts without passing through Swiss territory, and with public transport, it's likely impossible as the only way out is via the town of Ferney-Voltaire. But would her French visa be a full Schengen one that covers entry to Switzerland too??
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
