 Poster: A snowHead
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Just starting to consider options for next season. Will be taking the teenagers away for the first week of April (2nd week of Easter) and am wondering about Les Arcs as a destination?
Will probably self-drive, and self-cater, and would be looking for a mix of intermediate runs with some off-but-near-piste bits (for the snowboarder). Ski in/out would be nice, as would a few nearby bars and restaurants (but don't need a lot of them).
Les Arcs 1800 seems to fit the bill and looks a good bet for late season snow. Any got any recommendations/warnings? A good S/C chalet with three bedrooms would be ideal.
Thanx in advance! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thinking about Les Arcs
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me too, 4.5 months to go...
Its ticks all your boxes, you could conside Vallandry where there are lots of small s/c chalets and its quicker into the Paradiski if you want to cross away from Les Arcs for some slow lifts and easy runs
Les Arcs is a good choice if you like to spend time on the snow, I recon this resort has one of the best lift time to snow time ratios anywhere in the Alps, although I'm not sure how one would measure these things comparitively without a serious 3 months of anoraking. Any volunteers?
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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?
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Have skied Les Arcs 3 months in a row now and don't think I will tire of it in the near future.
Always good snow when I have been there and quite good for dipping your toe in a bit of off piste
Also easy to avoid queues and the ski area is vast
Bon Ski !!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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1800 doesn't have much by way of chalets, lots of s/c apartments though - I've been twice and loved it both times - highly recommended. aj xx
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I think it's a great ski domain, although I'm probably a bit biased! You have a great range of skiing: high altitude, tree-lined runs, lots of off-piste including some classic routes, endless motorway cruising, lots of bump runs, etc. There is terrain to suit all weather and snow conditions.
Access to La Plagne via the Vanois Express lift is very easy from all the Arc villages. I think JimW timed it last season as less than 25 minutes from his place in Arc 2000 to be skiing in the La Plagne domain.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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(I'm a snowboarder, 19yrs) Visited Les Arcs 1800 about 2 years ago and thought it was fantastic. We went early April and the snow conditions were fab, highly recommend it particularly if your looking for somewhere to satisfy your teenagers. Plenty of good bars and places to eat in close proximity and the slopes are excellent. Again lots of apartments, not sure about chalets but.....definitely worth a visit 
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Thanks everyone, sounds like it's well worth a visit, now I just need to find a 3 bedroom appartment (or Chalet) neer the slopes and village... rob@rar.org.uk, Yours sounds ideal (I checked your site) but not quite big enough for all six of us  Do you have any neighbours with larger ones?
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| AxsMan wrote: |
| rob@rar.org.uk, Yours sounds ideal (I checked your site) but not quite big enough for all six of us Do you have any neighbours with larger ones? |
A few of my neighbours rent their apartments out via My French Chalet, and I think they have a couple of 3-bedroom apartments available.
PS I have no connection with this company.
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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.
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I stayed in those last time and (sorry rob) I wouldn't recommend it if you want to go out in the evenings, especially if you want to let the teens out solo - I'd be a bit worried about them going up and down on their own as the apts are quite a way up the road from town (there is a bus) or straight up a bit of blue piste...absolutely fab for skiing, and great spec apartments but we found going out for a quick drink or two in town was just too much hassle to be enjoyable. That said if you want 3 beds s/c in 1800 they may be your only choice? I don't think the maeva or p&v go that big and both are very 'effcient' in terms of space anyway so wouldn't want to be fully occupied. If you don't mind a walk back up in the snow (it's about 200-300m I guess but steep!) or a wait for the bus then it's not a problem, but I prefer easy access to the shops/bars if possible! If you are interested anyway I can vouch myfrenchtravel were fine - smoothly organised and no probs with apartment. Sometimes a little tricky to get hold of but they are only small!
If you want a chalet what about vallandry? http://www.ernalow.co.uk/accommodation-overview.aspx?qs=productid_e_74765
You could also consider the big apts over in 1950? http://www.ernalow.co.uk/accommodation-overview.aspx?qs=productid_e_73762
http://www.ernalow.co.uk/accommodation-overview.aspx?qs=productid_e_73761
If you find any decent sized chalets or aprtments in 1800 I'd love to hear about them. I want to go back again in '08 but always find getting suitable accomodation the hardest part!
Good luck with the search,
aj xx
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ajhainey, Yes it is a bit of a short but steep walk up the piste, or a quick ride on the free resort shuttle (runs every 20 minutes I think, until late). It's never bothered me, although we're not into late night apres every night of the week. I think you're right that all of the apartments closer to the centre of the resort are shoe-box sized.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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ajhainey, Thanks for your comments. Will checkout the links. Not too worried about a bit of a walk into the centre, I'd rather walk in the evening and stagger back pi$$ed, than walk in the morning carrying Skis and wearing boots. (of course no walk at all would be ideal, but is often difficult to achieve!
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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.
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Yup, I know others have thought the location fine (the apts came highly recommended to me from someone elses previous visit) maybe my friends are just lazy  And in my case at least terminally unfit! Going down was ok, it was coming back up that was the killer! aj xx
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AxsMan, thanks for starting this, I was thinking of Les Arcs too for next season. Not sure what dates though as I don't know exactly what I'm doing next year. Keep the info coming then folks!
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You know it makes sense.
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Late season - not convinced I was there in early March and I got fairly proficient at skiing on grass lower down. Actually liked the ski area apart from that. No big nights out to be had.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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skisimon,
As Rob says, you can get from 1950 to Vanoise in about 20 mins from boot-room to lift-line, just one lift out of the 2000 valley, (Bois de L'Ours) and then all downhill from there...
Interesting comparisons now with prices being announced from Eurostar - 1950 is coming in cheaper by the day than the new 1800 MGMs which is a bit disappointing for us owners who are relying on others to rent our places for us (oh how I wonder how the swear filter would really translate what I think of that...) , but fantastic for anyone thinking of going out there...
We are now booked for a week in Jan and first two weeks in April (school holidays don'cha know): last year the late season in the 2000 valley was fine, as some of the regulars here will attest.
Night life in 1950 is getting there, with the night club under Luigi's open until 2am most nights, live bands in the Belle Pintes at least twice a week, and street entertainment early evening for those who like a post-ski beer but not a complete blow out.
Of course I'm going to recommend it - but then we wouldn't have bought there if we didn't like the skiing on offer in the region!
PS just got back from a week of summer activities in Tremblant (amongst other things in Quebec) , which is a far more 'sugary' experience and OTT chocolate box 'disneyfication' than Intrawest's offering in Europe. A bit too much methinks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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AxsMan, I stayed at the 1950 set up last year and agree it's a good spot.
This year we're off to Vallandry stopping at the L'Oree des Cimes which also looks nice.
Both would seem to tick all your boxes.
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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?
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Thanks for all the info guys. I have now booked with MFC. Cheers.
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