 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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When you planning to go. Timing is the key as much as the resort.
We go to Les Arcs/La Plagne first week of Jan and its very, very quiet. Kids back in school (ok not ours  ) but that is the quietest week of the year.
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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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gwaelod, I'm off to Norway (again) early January - so I'm probably looking at late-Febrary to early-March.
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jonflat2, I think timing to avoid the crods is very important. Forget 2nd Feb - 8th March.
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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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Frosty the Snowman, oops - must have posted at the same time.
Right. Maybe mid March is the way to go then? When does Easter fall next year?
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Hmm .. so it's quite a small window of opportunity really ... 8th March - 22nd March.
Is there nowhere that is quiet for more of the season (outside of Scandinavia)?
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If I was going for a quiet resort I'd look at staying in Gressoney.......
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I wonder if Les Crosets would meet the bill? Some years since I went there - and then only for the odd day when skiing across from Chatel. My impression was that it was very much quieter than Avoriaz - and very good. Maybe someone who has been that way recently can comment further.
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Went to Pila in the Aosta valley a couple of seasons ago and it was very quiet mid week (the Italien weekenders arrived in hordes on the Friday evening). Even at the weekend we didn't wait too long for the lifts. It is better known now though, so I don't know if it is still quiet. Did anyone go last season?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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jonflat2, or the last 3 weeks of january are always quiet.
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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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jonflat2, we bought our apartment in a satellite of Les Saisies because it is uncrowded, traditional French (no package Brits getting pissed and thinking they're clever), with magnificent scenery and an excellent snow record despite low altitude; Mont Blanc is just up the road and the main village is 1650m. It is lift linked into a new area called Espace Diamant, which includes Notre Dame de Bellecombe, Crest Voland and Praz sur Arly. Mainly blue and red runs, and if you start on 8 March you will have many of them to yourself. 175 km of piste, and plenty of variety. A few blacks and bumps, but not the sort of place for heroics. No French kids, they'll be in school. We don't rent our place out, because we spend most of the time here ourselves, but we know the local scene and could advise. Our apartments are piste side, but in a very quiet hamlet with two restos and a ski hire shop. Even the main village is quiet, and about 15 minutes drive. There are a few Snowheads who know the place, but most people have never heard of it. A hidden gem? We think so. Don't know why I tell people about it, really!
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pam w, Whoops!!! Cats out of the bag now, for us package pissed brits with calculators!!!
Seriously are there places to stay, or are they all privately owned apartments?
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You know it makes sense.
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pam w, sounds like the stuff!
Is a complete lack of French (language) going to be problem? From previous, non-skiing, trips to France I know it can be a bit hit and miss with the locals.
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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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blytht, jonflat2, there are plenty of privately owned apartments to rent, including some in our development (recent MGM). There is also a nice but not inexpensive hotel. Erna Low has links to a couple of the bigger MGM "residences" with pools, both near the pistes. A complete lack of French doesn't make life too easy, because English in the village is limited. Not by any means impossible, though and because there are few Brits here, local people are pretty nice to us - especially in that week, because they'll be completely p*ssed off with the Parisians! Group ski lessons are all in French, though private ones are not expensive, and several instructors speak good enough English. Anyone seriously interested PM me, and I can send some details and pics.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I went to Pila mountain biking this summer and really liked it (sorry, not sure if this helps!). A French friend has promised to take us out in Beaufort and Areches this season, this is where you are isn't it, pam w? It sounds great 
I agree, it's often more about when you go. We always go the week after New Year and Chamonix is lovely and quiet then, so I wouls have thought pretty much anywhere would be. If you can't make that then try going late season somewhere high up? Tignes in late april/early may can be great...
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 10-10-07 10:46; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jonflat2, as pam w suggests, why spoil somewhere quiet by telling anyone about it? So I'm not going to broadcast my favourite hidden gem.
But - think later season - most places will get much quieter after Easter which is irritatingly early this year (knocks a few weeks off our season which directly impacts my pocket  )
Think less well known (as pam w also suggests (which means you may need to DIY). Or think a little out of the box. So, for example, book flights to Geneva (example only as I know it well) and go to the Jura rather than the Alps - although they're low, you can sometimes get lucky. Don't book your accommodation until you know there's snow (and that it's likely to last).
Bacqueira in Spain can be quite and I think is well organised liftwise.
There are loads of small Swiss and French resorts that no-one other than the locals go to.
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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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X marks the spot...
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jonflat2, check out La Thuile in Italy, linked to La Rosiere in France. Large ski area should keep intermediate occupied for a week. I've not been to Norway so can't compare, but I've never been anywhere as quiet in the alps. You can stay in the village itself, or in a large concrete monstrosity at the foot of the lifts called Planibel. Reliable snow.
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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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| firebug wrote: |
A French friend has promised to take us out in Beaufort and Areches this season
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Been there a couple of times, courtesy of the the French PTT. Nice and quiet - a few pissed up, curmudgeonly Jocks one year, who insisted on calling themselves 'Ecossais' - but you cannot have everything.
Les Karellis is also quiet, or Font Romeu in the Pyrenees but it would help to speak a bit of French.
Apart from that if you are used to Scandinavia you are not after huge resorts so the world is your lobster.
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| Quote: |
| A French friend has promised to take us out in Beaufort and Areches this season, this is where you are isn't it, pam w? It sounds great |
I hope you make it. Areches-Beaufort is a separate area, a drive away, but in the vicinity. It's very nice, well worth a visit, but not a lot of pistes down there. We go once in a while and always enjoy it, very quiet outside the holidays. The Espace Diamant is a lot bigger, though not in the "mega ski" bracket! The small town of Beaufort, which gives its name to the "Beaufortain", is down in the valley, too low to ski, but a good place, with real shops. Part of its communal grazing was drowned by the EDF to create the Roseland barrage for HEP, so they get "rent" and as a result Beaufort often seems a bit more prosperous than other similar sized towns. There are plenty of quiet places in the French Alps - many of which are definitely quieter than La Thuile. Les Contamines, better known, is about 30 minutes drive from us - to their back door, not the Contamines village. That's another good place, though better known to UK skiers.
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Gressoney La Trinite sounds perfect for you. In the week you'll have some of the pistes to yourself.
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There are lots of great little ski areas in the alps that most Brits don't even consider.
Serre Chevalier for example might fit what your after... Nice ski area and not many tourists.
However I would argue that with modern fast lift systems, and large vertical descents, you could go to most mainstream resorts in Europe and not really have to worry about queues.
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| jonflat2 wrote: |
Hmm .. so it's quite a small window of opportunity really ... 8th March - 22nd March.
Is there nowhere that is quiet for more of the season (outside of Scandinavia)? |
Yes, Cortina in Italy. It's the quietest European resort I've been to by a long way!
The advantages are:
Most winter visitors are not skiers and so the slopes and lifts are very quiet.
Fantastic chic town with great restaurants and hotels.
Breathtaking scenery.
Great for intermediates.
It's not France.
Just be aware that the snow record isn't the best (although we had loads when we were there)
And be sure to avoid the world cup event when they close some of the best runs to the public. It's mid Jan I think.
My wife and I loved it and will be going back
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jonflat2, why not have a look at www.tracksvacations.com if you click through to our gallery you'll see some photos taken at Feb half-term in La Rosiere, empty pistes and lots of snow but then you could always listen to the pundits who've been somewhere for day or who went mountain biking in August.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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jonflat2,
You say you've never been to the alps, I have never skied in Norway so cannot really compare. The majority of alpine resorts that I have been to in recent years have not had many queues particularly if you can avoid New Year and the Feb holidays. I think the problem is far less than it was 20 odd years ago when I started. Having said that the larger resorts do tend to generate a few queues in points where people are trying to get from one area to another.
If you avoid the larger resorts and particulary in France the February holidays you will avoid most queues. Places I have been to recently which have been very quiet on my visits have been:
Zauchensee
Montgenevre /Claviere
La Thuile
Bonneval Sur Arc
In all honesty most smaller resorts other than those near cities which can get mobbed at weekends tend to be quiet outside high season. With the exception of Montgenevre I visited all the above at reasonably high seaon periods and they were far quieter than average. I have not visited them on multiple occasions though so may just have been lucky.
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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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achilles, I'd have thought anything along that sector of the Portes du Soleil would fit, (Champoussin/Les Crosets/Champery). Les Crosets very well linked in to Avoriaz, but everything on the swiss side has been fairly quiet each time I've been there, and even in dire conditions last year, the bit between Avoriaz and Les Crosets was best imho.
I usually stay in Les Gets, but we always make an effort to spend at least 1 or 2 days on the Swiss side. I always find it amazing that there's the most peaceful scenic "moonscape" only 2 lifts/runs away from the heaving commercialism of Avoriaz.
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Thanks guys!
I was expecting a lot of "I know a great spot, but I'm not telling you 'cos it's a secret" - but I've got quite a selection to look at now 
I haven't been skiing long (5 years this year) - but I really think this is the season that I should get myself to the Alps - so thanx for the advice so far!
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You know it makes sense.
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As an avid fan of quiet ski resorts, I strongly second (or third) the recommendation for Les Crosets. It has a wonderful graveyard atmosphere, with only two hotels and very little going on after the lifts stop. It's the highest resort in the Swiss part of PDS, and you can be on the magnificent ridge that overlooks Avoriaz, ten minutes after you've set foot on the snow. They have night ski on Wednesdays and Saturdays (IIRC), which I find to be a big plus. Oh, and last time I was there, I found a working pinball machine in the hotel.
La Thuile also fits the bill, altho it isn't as peaceful as LC. Plenty of runs and short to non-existent queues.
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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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Latchigo, pam w, thanks, sounds like we'll have fun!
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Poster: A snowHead
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jonflat2, ( & dfl, achilles, ), as in so many things remember that TANSTAAFL applies. Resorts are quiet because no-one wants to go there. Which may or may not be for sound reason. Some places are hideously busy for no reason that I can fathom - other than great marketing of a less than great area.
Les Crosets isn't an area I would have considered unusually "quiet" - it's part of the PDS for goodness sake and next door to Avoriaz. How could that possibly by quiet?
In particular, Les Crosets is possibly (although I have seen it far from quiet) quieter than some places because
* the slopes are southfacing (or thereabouts) and lose snow way faster than many of the other PDS sectors
* the uplift in the Swiss direction is diabolically outdated and badly organised
* there are a handful of not entirely gourmet restaurants (although I understand there's a new development going in) but nowhere I could recommend in the evening.
* there's nothing to do at night
* and not a lot of accommodation
But, if you're there during the Vacances Scolaires, the local queues and those to get back from Avoriaz/Champoussin are every bit as bad as anywhere else in a major ski domain.
jonflat2 - you might (if you fancy the area) be better off in Champery, which is at least a pretty village. Or Morgins which is a very pretty village.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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David Murdoch,
I'm sure that the original poster, took into consideration the potential tradeoffs for tranquility and short queues. Indeed, Les Crosets has no night life to speak of, save the enchanting activity of watching the giant fiery eyed bugs combing the slopes at night. The food scene is pitiful, with one decent pizzeria and three other places that convert protein, fat and carbohydrates into an edible lukewarm melange.
However, on my 3 vacations there, all these were non-issues to me. I went there by myself to ski and program, or with my girlfriend to ski and spend some quiet time together. The solitary village at the edge of the narrow mountain road, fit the bill very well. We didn't notice any outstanding problems with the lift system. It ran smoothly, tho admittedly there were no plexiglass hoods.
As for the site being part of PDS - no argument here, but the periphery of PDS is much less crowded than the main axis of Avoriaz/Chatel. You can spend a decent half day above LC and even ski down the picturesque path to Champery when there's enuf snow. Then you can join the crowds in Avoriaz and break out on the other side, at Morzine. And when the day is over, you ski on nearly empty slopes back to a quiet village, rather than slowly shuffle your way down in a huge clanking herd.
Finally, regarding Morgins: I don't find it pretty at all, but that's obviously a matter of taste. To me, it's a dense pile of houses, sectioned by busy (and usually muddy) roads. There are some brilliant red and blue slopes around the village, but I wouldn't stay there.
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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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No be honest - you might think it's odd, but I can live without night-life and quality restaurants in a ski resort.
It drives my GF mad, but I'm that idiot that is first in line when the lifts open in the morning, and on the last lift up in afternoon. By the time I get to the evening it's game-over as far fine-dining and Apres-Ski is concerned - all I want is my bed!
It might seem dull, but I really want to get the absolute maximim time I can skiing - rather than queueing. I guess it's why Norway suits me so well.
Having said all that, the scenery in Norway has a little to be desired - and a resent trip to Whistler has opened my eyes a little to what I've been missing as far as real mountains are concerned!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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As myself and another suggested, Gressoney is defo worth considering
It is quiet because (IMHO)
a) nobody has heard of it!
b) not many UK tour ops go there
Cons? Seems to get windy, based on 2 weekend trips I've had, and early season snow has not been great, but by March is usually fine.
Regards,
greg
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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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jonflat2, Austria - Ski Amade - 45 mins from Salzburg airport, loads and loads of quiet places even at peak times. If you want night life then we have that too. Its great here!
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Austria sounds interesting. I'll google Ski Amade.
A friend mentioned Obergurgl and Hochgurgl as being worth looking at. Does anyone know much about this resort?
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Obergurgl is a lovely place, but it's not as quiet as Gressoney.
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I too agree with David Murdoch, and would go for Morgins, it is a beautiful village. Skiing down from Champoussin side to Morgins is beautiful,dfl, I am suprised you do not find it so Les Crosets is indeed relaxed and quiet but lack of good restaurants would put me off. I appreciate the OP does not want hectic nightlife and may suit him.
Les Croset reminds me of Borgata in the "Milky Way", a quiet place with everything not too far away, so could well be a good choice. I would however go for Morgins over LC for a picturesque village but accessabillity to the slopes LC is a better choice.
This region, the PdS is a great area and not massive queues except Le Tour at the end of the day.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Hi
New to the forum, but would agree with previous poster and also add in Puy St. Vincent (small ski area 30 mins away from Serre Chevalier) and Sainte Foy, close to les arc and la rosiere and tignes if you desire long lift waits. PSV is a purpose built concrete wheas Sainte foy although purpose built looks a bit more traditional.
HTH
Denise
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pam w, a quiet hamlet with two restos and a ski hire shop? I think I know where you are, it sounds like the place I lived in last year before moving a few kilometres down the road, to Flumet! Would have PM'd you but have now discovered that no such thing appears to exist on this message board...
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