 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi All,
Its been a while since ive been on but im finally in a position to start skiing again!
Both myself and my old man were confident red run skiers although we haven't been in years and I am also looking to take 4 other family members (2 children, 14 & 11) along with us.
I have settled on Serre Chevalier - I have read plenty of good things & found good flights and transfer options. Now for the Questions...
1) Best time to go? I was avoiding February with french half terms. I was considering late January to be safe although I imagine there's more chance of heavy snowfall/fog? adverse weather? Would the first week of March be less or more of a risk?
2) Accommodation - I had read the official site https://booking.serre-chevalier.com/promo-ski-pass-serre-chevalier.html was a good option for booking as they offer additional discount on ski passes. Looking at the ski pass page on the same site, it already shows discount more linked to the period you are skiing in - rather than the accommodation https://booking.serre-chevalier.com/buy-your-serre-chevalier-ski-pass.html Does anyone have any experience of this? where is the discount linked to accommodation?
3) 4 of our group are going to be new to skiing. We will likely give them lessons on the dry ski slope before we go and get them to a good standard. Any thoughts on this vs instruction while they are there? Cost difference/benefit?
4) The ski pass. If it were just me and my old man, it would be a simple 6 day pass. I expect the other family members wont appreciate the way their legs will ache at the end of the day. Anyone got any advice for the best way to approach this with beginners? Do I pre book them all 6 days just to give them freedom? do I pay on the day? If I went the instruction route - can ski passes be packaged together and may be a better option?, then simply upgrade later if they wish to ski all day? If instruction is a good route - any idea on the best/cost effective way of doing it for a group of 4. Or simply book them in with larger groups of others?
5) Equipment hire - Linked to the previous questions really. How much do I simply pre book vs other benefits of doing it there
6) Local Bus - Any advice on daily tickets? is there a weekly ticket option? did anyone find themselves travelling to briancon a fair bit if there was less locally?
I appreciate the answers here will likely come down to my own guess of how much I think the family will dive head first into it Usually I would just pre book and give them the freedom, but for 6 people, 6 day pass and 6 day equipment hire can soon be get quite pricy, but I hate being wasteful and I expect one of our group will be very nervous and not as keen. 1 other adult will likely be supportive which may also pull them away from the slope. Other 2 will be for skiing every day. Kids - who knows, hopefully love it
Were going to base ourselves in chantermerle. Seems to have the best lift access to the most green/blue slopes with options for myself to shoot off to a load of reds when time allows.
Any pointers very welcome
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
There are others who are based there but would aim for second week of March rather than first week to avoid French half term. Look at eurekaski - Mel is v helpful and the apartments at chamriossiere are really nice though they are in monetier. I like that ski area and again it is good for a mixed group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Ok. Information on passes etc may change. Usually everything is online by the end of September for the new season.
1) Do avoid February, and the first week of March. They are French holiday weeks.
2) Late January and the second week of March are good ones and accommodation will be cheaper. Accommodation booked through tourist office will sometimes offer a cheaper pass, but discount depends on season (less discount at peak times, more in lower season weeks and April).
3) Don't skimp on the lessons in resort, skiing on snow is much different to a dry slope. Group classes appropriate to their age will be the cheapest option, or if they are all the same standard, book a private lesson for all 4.
4) There is a family pass available, and also group passes called OuiK. Also Skialacarte/Holiski pass which you can use by the day (no kid's discount or half-day passes though).
5) It is much cheaper to book for a week than to hire by the day.
6)Use the bus if you need to you, it's about 2€ a single journey. I think you can get a book of 10 tickets in advance. You might want to go to Briancon once to see the old town, but not necessary as there is plenty in Chantemerle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Thanks for the great info! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Regarding (3), we've just taken our kids for their first ski trip. Ours had 3 lessons at a dry slope before we left the UK. Our friends' kids (similar ages) didn't have any lessons before we left.
I don't think there was any difference in their abilities after their first morning of lessons on the snow. That might be because they didn't get a lot of actual ski time in the group dry slope lessons. Or it might be because dry slopes are very different to real snow. But I probably could've saved myself some money!
The main benefit for us was in getting our kids (who are not exactly confident, outgoing types) familiar with the concept of skiing, putting skis on and listening to an instructor. I think that will have benefitted my kids, but yours might be different.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just posting an update. Im all booked from 25th Jan to 1st of feb!
Thanks all for the input. Flights and accommodation sorted, Serre Chevalier here i come! Just taxi transfers from oulx and equipment hire/passes still to resolve which i will likely need to sort later in the year.
Thanks all
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I wouldn’t worry too much about the dry slope training. Unless they go loads they won’t make that much progress.
They will get the benefit of knowing how to put boots on as sonmi451 says, but there’s also they risk they fall over a fair bit and that’s less fun on a dry slope than it is on snow. Not sure the benefits outweigh the risks of putting them off before you even go.
If you live near a snowdome that would be good of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hi all, back and in need of further help.
So as can be seen above, I'm all booked for serre Chevalier. We were planning on getting the train to Oulx, and then public bus to serre Chevalier.
Typically, it now appears the trains aren't running in the weekend we are coming home. Since there is 9 of us - we all do not fit in a single vehicle.
I can still get the public bus to Oulx, and could re pick up the trains from bussoleno. But Im not sure theres any transport to bussoleno from oulx (half hour away).
There is a flixbus from Oulx to Milan which is 3 hours on a bus (trying to avoid)
Does anyone have any great advice? Must admit even that public bus to Oulx looks sketchy! There only one at 6:35 ish in the morning and then nothing until midday.
This has turned into a right pain in the rear end. Typical they cancel trains when you plan a flight! And I thought times might be tight in Turin with the train so specifically went for the return leg from Milan to allow more time - doh!!
In short. Any mini bus advice or advice from getting to bussoleno?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Admiralgpt, ami I correct that you were planning to get a train to the airport for your flight home? Which Milan airport ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Milan Malpensa. Flights at 16:30. Original plan was to eat to Oulx and get 08:30 direct train to Milan which would have given us a few hours in Milan. But that's now not running.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Admiralgpt, have you tried calling the booking line on trenitalia ( +442080730228)-just wondering if there is any rail replacement service in operation instead. There does seem to be trains running to Turin on the 1st February. Could you change there for MIlan and go direct to airport if necessary ?
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Wed 10-12-25 17:28; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've already confirmed it all. From Paris nothing running passed Lyon. Italian side nothing running at Oulx. And no rail replacements service. Usually I would give up and just stay in Milan the night before - except nothing is running all weekend. Trains run regularly from Turin to Milan, it's just getting to Turin, which I can only do by getting to bussoleno. The group size being what it is just isn't easy the flix bus is probably the easiest but it's pushing it for time as we've got 4 kids plus luggage etc. the flix bus doesn't go direct to the airport
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
These folks were recommended to me on this forum:
https://www.snow.cab/
You could get a transfer to Turin then train to Milan or look at full transfer to Milan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Admiralgpt, you might need to book 2 cars/mini buses ? Book Serre Che to Busseleno if that suits, or Serre to Turin Station.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@Admiralgpt, I know the mainline to Milan isn't running from Oulx, but are there local trains running to Turin from Oulx? Seems odd there is nothing at all if there is no replacement bus. It is likely to be the rail tunnel that is being worked on in the Maurienne valley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Nothing from Oulx. Bussoleno is the first station on the line running to Turin which is 30 mins from Oulx. So frustrating the week before peek season they don't run any trains all weekend with no replacement. Even the bus service from La salle Les alpes - 1 bus at 06:35 and then nothing until midday. Public transport seems hard work in the area
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 ma guessing it is essential work before the peak season the following weekend? It is also a Sunday, main changeover is Saturday, and there are 6 busses a day to Turin airport then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@Admiralgpt, try an enquiry with https://www.snow.cab/ we used them two years ago to Serre Chevalier and they were excellent and decent price too. We booked a shared transfer (coach) well organised and dropped us right in the centre of Chantemerle almost outside our apartment. They do transfers from Turin and Milan.
Chantemerle is a great spot and I hope you enjoy SC as much as we did, cracking area, nice variety of runs, easy to navigate and I recommend it highly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
What about renting two cars, might be the better solution. Many more people are now flying to Milan given the better availability of flights and way cheaper (especially in high season), and car hire is ridiculously cheap as well!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Car hire could be an option although I've no experience with snow chains/tyres. Any company recommendations in the area?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Admiralgpt, renting from the airport on arrival is easiest, but as you are coming in and out at different airports (I think) it makes things more complicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I could start and return to Turin and then train to Milan maybe. With having zero experience of snow chains (or even snow driving!!) would this be asking for trouble around serre Chevalier?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@Admiralgpt, the roads are usually kept clear, as it is a main route into Italy. It would only be a problem if there had a been a very heavy fall overnight.
It sounds like it might be your easiest option in the circumstances. What a pain ! D
Driving in the snow is OK, there's plenty of advice on here if you need it on hiring, tyres, and chains.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Admiralgpt, if you rent with one of the big Co's Sixt, Europcar etc then I'm sure you can pick up and drop off at either Turin or Malpenza, and like @Hells Bells, says no issues with the roads, though we'll be more than happy for you to be a sacrificial lamb as it were, if the conditions were such that when you're travelling it will be the heaviesy snowfall of the season 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
There are local trains from Oulx to Turin. You change in Turin. You may have been searching outside the availability window for your return dates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hi,
I would find that very strange that there are no trains from Oulx to milan. The cheapest option is for sure to rent 2 cars for the 9 of you. The roads are very well cleared, if you do get a big snowstorm it can be slow going, chains have got really easy to put on, just remember to put them on before it starts going up hill  , and real cars out of milan have snow tires fitted. Otherwise these guys do do up to 16 people on bigger busses.
If ever you are still looking for an instructor in serre che, I am an independent and am bilingual. Here is my website if ever you want some more info.
Have a great stay
William
www.serrechevalierskischool.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
