 Poster: A snowHead
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Anybody been here?
looking at the bottom of this page click this
Can anybody offer any advice / experience from from skiing/staying here?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not stayed there, but 2 minutes from the Jandri Express is a good location. The Jandri Express is the main highway, as it were, up the slopes.
When are you planning to go? You'll often find snowheads at LDA - especially in the Lutins hotel bar 
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 9-10-06 13:31; edited 1 time in total
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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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Can't help with your request Renry, other than to echo achilles' comments but I like the way you've worded the title of the thread. It makes sense and should show up well to other  searching for either France, LDA or the chalet in question, good thinking.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We are deff' going somwhere 3rd Feb for 1 week. 4 adults (3 ski , 1 boarder  )
Budget for flight inc transfers and half board accomadation is about £450, the above seems good value to me but would be open to other suggestions.
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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 should point out here that the Brunerie is a 160-bed clubhotel, so if you're expecting a cosy chalet you may be in for a shock.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Not really Lizzard, we just want somewhere half decent to lay our heads, be fed and watered and have a pool/sauna to relax in after a hard day on the slopes.
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Renry, fits the bill then, I'd say. The pool is only a small one though - no good for doing laps if that's what you had in mind. They're refurbishing a lot of the rooms at the moment, removing drab '70s decor and installing flatscreen TVs. Bathrooms were all new last year, nice and modern, clean-looking. Catering is Crystal's standard clubhotel deal - big buffet breakfast with hot options, cake etc for afternoon tea, choice of menu for dinner with 1/4 litre house wine, plus paid-for bar lunches - nice bar terrace with views of the Muzelle glacier. Beware if you don't like kids - the hotel houses two creches and is popular with families.
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Nice report
Thanks Lizzard,
Whats the loaction of Chalet La Brunerie in relation to the Jandri Express jumbo gondola.
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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'd say their estimate of two mins walk is an exaggeration - more like five in ski boots. But Easiski could probably give you a more definite answer.
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My apartment is a couple of doors up - we had fiends stay in the Brunerie there last season - favourable reports - only a bit noisy if you're on the road facing side. Lizzard, yup about 5 is fair. Good central location for apres ski.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
we had fiends stay in the Brunerie
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Really? Do Crystal allow that? 
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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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.. no they were regular punters... they're not that charitable!
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ChickenDhansak, you may have missed the point here ............ unless you really did have FIENDS over rather than just regular friends. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Lizzard, which of these ski hire shops is nearest to La Brunerie and how near.
Rouard Sport
La Skirie
Noel Sports
Jacques Sports
Alpha Sports
And which would you recomend
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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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i stayed there with crystal and i swore i'd never book with crystal again.
It was a dive. My sons snowboard got stolen out of the locker room provided (supposedly safe!!!) on the first night. The only good thing about it was that the food was ok and the staff were lovely.
Its a small walk to the piste as its up near the climbing wall, but i've done worse walks with snowboard in hand.
I remember that everything was broken and our room wasn't ready when we were sent into it, it was a stinking flee pit!!!
then to top it all off my little girl who was 13 months at the time got very very sick due to all the staff being sick. It was a scary time for me as her temp got up to 42.
I'm sure you can find somewhere better in 2 alpes and i would avoid crystal like the plauge
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Poster: A snowHead
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oh and i reckon its more like a 10 to 15 min walk to the lifts not 5!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Renry, the only thing I can say about that is that as far as I know Noel Sports has been knocked down! Never used the others, suggest you ask Easiski.
snowangel., I'd be interested to know when you stayed there - the Brunerie has been managed by the same couple for the past six seasons (and well managed, from what I hear). They left last summer and the hotel has new management this season. Having seen the place, I would certainly take issue with the phrase "stinking flee (sic) pit".
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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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Lizzard, we were there in the winter of 2001 and it was nasty horrid place.
it was filthy dirty, nothing worked.
i wouldn't recomend my worst enemy to stay there.
as i said there are far better in les2alpes.
i also would never go anywhere with crystal either
personal opinion ok true but when somewhere is dirty it sticks in your mind
if the hotel i worked in was that dirty i'd leave!
funnily enough every day when hoover the resteraunt after breakfast i think of that place. they made us sit at the same table for every meal, and with a 13month old you can imagine the mess that was under the table. WE used to joke about when they would actually clean it. They never did the whole week we were there! WE had to joke about how bad it was, esp after spending the first 2 days in tears trying to sort out the stolen board. Had we not joked about it we would have spent the whole trip crying
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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snowangel., I think that was just before Nico and Suzanne took over. They've done a lot since then. As Lizzard, said they're currently refurbishing the bedrooms, but this is the second time in 6 years that they're doing it (not counting the bathrooms last year). I reckon 5 mins in skiboots to the Jandri Express and about the same to the Belle Etoile chairlift (the "no queue" option).
Renry, I've had lots of clients staying there in the last few years, and they've all been happy, but personally I find the hoards of screaming kids all over the place a bit wearing. Food varies from year to year of course, all very happy with it last year.
Nearest ski shop is La Skirie right opposite - why those shops in particular?
Lizzard, Noel Sports is supposed to be being rebuilt in time for the winter season.
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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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[quote="easiski"]Nearest ski shop is La Skirie right opposite - why those shops in particular?quote]
www.snowrental.net offer cheap hire deals through those perticular outlets
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Renry, We stayed there in 2003 as the changes were beginning to improve the hotel. The owners were keen to improve things (and clearly have based on the reports from easiski, ). The road was really noisy though. We had a room on the front and general cars and people noise well into the night. The rooms at the time were basic to say the least but the childcare was excellent so we have good memories as that was the first ski holiday with proper childcare (my daugther was two at the time).
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easiski, you mention that La Brunerie has hoards of screaming kids all over the place, can that be said for the time im going (3rd Feb) its out of our school holidays (I think).
Please anyone feel free to offer any alternative package at Les 2 for arround the price quoted by Crystal (in this link)click this
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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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The hotel is home to two creches, one for babies/toddlers and the other for older anklebiters (see Crystal's website). These facilities serve all of the company's guests in resort. Outside school holidays you'd expect to see lots of under-fives. How much it bothers you depends on what you want to do - you won't find kids in the sauna, and they can't go in the pool without their parents. They might go in the bar during early evening, but the games room is separate, and I'd think that would be more of an attraction. Kids eat at 18:00 (ish) and should in theory more or less disappear after that if they're small.
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Renry, It may be out of school hols but there will be lots of kids there of any age! Childcare in Crystal is a big draw
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Renry, can i suggest you contact www.doublehigh.com its self caterd but it would be much better. unless your relying on the childcare of course!
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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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Picked up this one a bit late so hope Renry you are still checking.
Went with Crystal to Le Brunerie last Feb half term. Hotel accommodation not bad typical 3 star, staff excellant, food adequate. We had our kids with us and so used their child care facilities, they ( the kids) didnt complain, so happy kids equalled happy parents! It has a small pool and jaccuzi which were good, unfortunately the sauna never got hot due to an ill fitting door.
Its good and central and the main lifts are a five to ten minutes walk away and you can board/ski off piste all the way to the back of the hotel!!
Fortunately on the first day we had a huge dump of snow so the pistes were in excellent shape. Our only gripe was it was very busy on the main pistes above cretes( still what do you expect at half term). The mountain behind the hotel was better.
Avoid the green back down from cretes, take the gondola or if they are not too mogully or icy try the blacks back into town, valentine was my favourite. 
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Hey guys, I'm bumping this up again as this is where we are staying in late Feb. Are Nico and Suzanne still there and is it still good value. We have two little ones 2.5 and 4 years old which is why we booked with them - for the childcare. Hubby and I can't wait to be alone on the slopes again. Last time was our wedding 5 years ago. We'll actually be there for our 5th wedding anniversary.
My other question is that I've read varying reports on the transfer time from Grenoble Airport. The majority say a 2.5 hour journey but someone said their transfer took closer to 5 hours! Any comments????
And how many Snowheads plan to be there around that time?
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You know it makes sense.
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Leis, I guess it depends how you transfer. We got a shared (though it turned out to be private) transfer just before Xmas through www.abcibus.com and it was just under two hours
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks guys, much appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Leis, Depends on the route taken! Some coaches will take the N roads, to avoid toll charges, and will be dropping off at several other resorts en-route.
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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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Bumpty-bump.
Planning on going here in Feb 2010. Does anyone have any experiences from the last year, good or bad, that they'd like to share with me?
I have 2 young kids, so the hordes of screamers are fine.
TIA
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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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I have just booked a week in LDA, staying at La Brunerie!!
We arrive in resort 2nd Jan... At the moment, looks like some snow has fallen...
Its out first weeks skiing in France.. we had 3 days in Austria, local resorts last year, lots of trips to Castleford Sno-zone in UK.... now embarking on a trip to the real slopes for some fun........ this is practice for a family group trip to val thorens in late March!
Advice / Tips / Experiences welcome.
Ski hire booked from Ski Republic... doesnt look too far from this hotel, 10 mins walk maybe!
Happy Skiing
Paul
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PaulW,
Please post your observations/experiences after you get back.
Been to La Rosiere for the last 2 years, so very excited to take the family somewhere else, but a little nervous as La Ros was soooo nice.
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Swirly, its a great place, i worked there last season too
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Hi my daughter and her friend stayed at La Brunerie last year. they had a great time, food was ok, lots of families/children, a large hotel rather than small chalet, centrally located for everything, its bang in the middle of shops, restaurants, 2 mins from the lift. The ski area was fantastic for them, both experienced and for us beginners (we had a weekend there a couple of years ago, not at that hotel). The only downer was that my daughters skis were stolen from the locker room along with many others on their last night, apparently it wasnt a 'one off' , it spoilt their last day as they spent most of it at the police station, getting reports etc, the hire shop insisted on my daughter paying 400 euros for the skis but she doesnt have a credit card, I tried to pay over the phone but it was not possible, fortunately I'd booked ski hire through www.snowbrainer.com who were brilliant they paid the shop, I paid them, then we claimed from the insurance. It would be worth locking your skis together or to something in the boot room, just in case, enjoy your holiday.
Oh we have been to La Ros too, LDA is much bigger, more going on, etc etc, but we enjoyed both resorts very much.
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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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[quote="bealsfive"]PaulW
Sure thing, I'll post something on our return!!
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Bumpity bump.
Any recent experiences please? 
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FAQ
, right road but wrong direction) but it took less than 3 hours. Should have been about 2.