 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi all (particularly seasoned Serre Chev people!),
Less than 4 weeks to go til our trip so getting excited and everything booked in!
I wonder if anyone has any opinions about which is the best (or worst!) ski rental shop? We have our own boots but my skis are practically wooden they’re so old.
I’ve had a rec from the hotel (Melquiond)? Looks like SkiSet is just over the road from hotel though.
Also …any places we must eat? Usually stay in self catering but this time being in a hotel with 2 other families as a group of 12, we’ll be having to eat out. I’ve booked tables for every night in case couldn’t all find somewhere but would love any must dos.
Of course any other recs for whilst we are there. One non skier is coming with us and I’ve heard the thermal baths in Monetier are good?
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Bump in hope!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@Travelmum, Hells Bells is your best person for help, as she has a place there and is frequently there. In fact she is there now so may not have seen this yet.
Which base are you staying in, is it Monetier itself?
In all honesty I think most ski hire places are the same, however if it helps, when we were there recently one of our group hired from Intersport in Monetier and was pleased with them.
We walked past the thermal baths and they looked worth a visit, but very busy! Mind you it was peak week and just after lifts closed. Briancon would be worth a visit for non skiers and I think you can use the free buses to get there.
Can't help with eating out as we self-catered
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Thanks so much!
Ok will wait to see if hellsbells sees this!
We are staying in Chantermerle .
Ah yes fancy a visit to Briancon myself!
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Travelmum, not hired gear for a while and to be honest I'm a bit out of date with eating in the evenings in Chantemerle. La Cabassa was the best place for family eating. Pizza etc. If it is half term then you are wise to book everything. Baths are well worth a trip. Which hotel are you in?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I can highly recommend Riquet Sport. Very very nice people. I've only ever eaten out at night once whilst staying there, at a burger place called Happy Days and it was great - you can have your burger wonderfully undercooked in a way that UK places just won't do. For lunch the pizza place at La Grotte is very good. Can't remember anywhere else sorry. Either way you're going to have a great time, Serre Che is simply awesome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Travelmum, what week are you out, the Monday 16th Feb one?
I know first hand that things get ridiculously booked up in advance as I have my French niece and her daughter out that week (they're London based with her Mom in Grenoble) and she's left everything way too late, I gave her all the details she needed for lessons back in November and she did diddly squat and there's hardly any decent group lessons at a sensible time in the whole valley, in the end we did ESF groups at Noon with a couple of privates as well.
Ski hire not too bad it would seem but I'm talking basic beginner stuff.
Best option is to hire as close as possible to your hotel/lift so you maybe able to leave the rental gear there, hence the question which hotel are you in.
There are numerous rental shops close the main plaza/lift so check these out on Google maps and then contact them.
As for restos the best by far in Chantmerle is Tryptique, and our favourite bar, which is like an old school wine bar is Caveau and the Floucat opposite is meant to be good, lunch time the LPM bottom of the Luc is a good popular place.
Other SHs rate Le Petite Chalet but none of our lot have ever used it as far as I know.
The buses in that week are plentiful so you can go to the other villages for the evening and all the restos in La Salle / Villeneuve are good, but will be very booked up as you're not the only one booking them up!
It's going to be quite an eye opener for us joing the high season hordes, and after yesterday and reading this post, today I've now booked our favourite cafe resto every day for lunch at 14:15 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Hells Bells, @greengriff, thanks so much! We are staying in the Grand Hotel so close to the gondola by the looks of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@Weathercam, thanks!
Yea we are heading down on 14th arriving in resort 15th.
We are going with two families of friends of one of our sons . And as travel agent I’ve organised it despite only ever having visited SC once on a day trip from Montgenevre  but it seemed to suit everyone’s requirements form
Boarders to skiers and differing levels and price. (And what I could find in October!)
I live a real village as opposed to purpose built so like the look of all the different villages.
Also very glad then that I have booked dinner for every night for 12 of us in case! Some of those mentioned I’ve booked!
You’re right…our friend struggled to get lessons for his son but has now managed but he’ll be with adults.
Ooooh any tips for lunch spots? I imagine we’ll be all over place as a group but good to know any nice recommendations even for just my family .
Thanks so much!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Travelmum, The Grand used to have it's own ski rental shop in the building, but you're slap bang in the centre so no issues.
We don't do lunch too often, cheap and cheerful and loads of space the Bivouac, top of Casse de Boeuff chair, you can book but that's a la carte.
Aravet La Cabane tad more expensive and must book
Bottom of Aravet by the lift, Heidis, cheap pizza but no ability to book and then over the road from there Mama Mias.
Chazelet, at the bottom of Casse De Boeuf, is advisable to book, and then the Equilibre is not too far from there, and again book.
There are loads of others up the hill Pi Mai lovely, expensive need to book, and @Hells Bells, canteen, Peyra Juana tiny and need to book, most of the biggies you just turn up and hope you're in luck.
There are also loads of others, Echaillon very nice
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@Travelmum, there are several above Chantemerle, which is possibly most convenient if you are meeting people after ski school.
We like Le White, but there are self-service options there too at Café Soleil, and Relais de Ratier. Check out the interactive piste map if there are any others that take your fancy and I am sure we can let you know if they are worth visiting. Our favourite is always the Peyra Juana, as you come down piste Rochamout to Monetier. Big shared tables inside with a log burner, a lovely sunny terrace if the weather's good, and hearty local food, all home-made.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Chalet de Serre Blanc, on the Chauvet piste from the top of Col du Propel, has great views. Peyra Juana is great, and on a lovely run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| dobby wrote: |
| Chalet de Serre Blanc, on the Chauvet piste from the top of Col du Propel, has great views. Peyra Juana is great, and on a lovely run. |
Yes indeed, how could I omit that one, daughter's favourite, though not too sure what it's like in the height of high season, though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Weathercam, I think it will be Billy Bonkers in February
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I would recommend Ski set opposite the grand hotel and Frederique and Thibault who run it are lovely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@jirac18, recommending the Rooftop for a family of 12 should maybe come with a "wallet" warning!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Hi everyone, reading this and wondering how busy SC will be first wee in March
Looks like we’ll avoid most school holidays but thought I’d ask here as the above answers so many of the questions I had.
Is it necessary to book only during peak weeks or is it advisable anytime?
Never been to SC but having read up and what I’ve read here, really excited about discovering a new mountain
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@nomadicbry, went that same week in 2024 which is the last week of French school holidays(Marseille region) but didn’t really clash with other major countries It wasn’t particularly busy and wouldn’t put me off booking that week again. There’s the odd choke point end of day depending which routes you take and to where but we really enjoyed SC and the slopes were far from crowded.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Weathercam, ha ha yeh fair one but it was nice!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Travelmum, for places to eat with a big group at Ratier there’s Café Soleil. It has always been a sound fave for us and there’s plenty seating outside for big groups to meet up. They do range of stuff from made to order pizza abs snacks and more fancy plats. (The Pluma…oooo). Also there’s the Relais de Ratier next to it which is more self service (but I haven’t been for a while). We have however enjoyed the self service cafe the Caribou which is just above the Casse de Boeuf lift off Fangeas run. We ate there a couple of times last week and the self service was good offer. Again big space for large groups outside and there’s also a posho table service bit inside. Finally we ate well at Pre Chabert self place at the bottom of Monêtier - However- it will be carnage there at half term with every flying flea ski class and the mamans taking up all the tables
Have a great trip. It’s a special place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For your non-skier the old walled town of Briancon (up the hill from the modern town) is very worth a visit. The defensive walls as they are now were part of the fortifications started in the 1600s to defend the French border regions, so there are a string of forts on the mountains around there, some clearly visible above old Briancon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the very end of our 2 weeks. We've been to a couple of the local restaurants this week in the evenings. Tonight we went to Pizza Nono in Monetier. It's right at the Col du Lauteret end of the village. Very quiet although it deserves to be so much busier. To be fair a lot of places we passed on our way home were also quiet, but many seemed to be leaving early due to incoming snow. Nono had a great selection of pizzas with thin crust bases, fresh pasta and also a selction of bao buns, noodles etc. Extremely reasonable prices and a beautiful café douceur/gourmande with home-made brownie, chestnut mousse, apple crumble and a macaron.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Le Tryptique Chantmerle
Six of us had a disastrous/diabolical meal last evening. And we think it was because we were on the later 21:00 sitting as we've not encountered the truly horrendous service that we endured last evening on previous occasions, and a good friend who owns a hotel in Chantmerle frequented by many a Brit, said she'd heard similar reports about the later service.
We can only think the manager left the premises after the 19:00 leaving two young girls to manage things, but even then the food took so long, and then was not that good.
Arrived 21:00
Ordered two bottles of wine, one white & one red @ 21:25 white appeared 21:35 and red eventually @21:55
Tapas arrived about 40 mins after we ordered and our mains 22:20 cold plates for steaks etc
By then there were a fair number of locals who had come in some worse for wear/stoned and a few inter social rucks occurred, not exactly the ambience one would expect.
So not a good experience and I used to rate it as one of the best in the valley!
So maybe if going, book the 19:00 sitting.
Maybe we were just unlucky, but as our friend said, she's heard similar stories.
As an aside just had great service and lunch at La Cantina which was the old Per Noelle more or less opposite the Grotte. Place Aravet.
Further Edit
Some of you may have heard about our seriously bad experience at the Tryptique last Friday at 21:00. Tonight I bumped into Fabienne (Tim's lady) and her daughter Lorraine, and told them how bad it was, considering in the past I rate it as one of the best in the valley. They told me how one of the partners (front of house) lost his father on the Tuesday before, and how he had gone to Paris on the Friday for the internment, so that might explain it a little, though not quite everything; it was nigh on a case of the school teacher being out of the class and the kids running riot!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
