 Poster: A snowHead
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Spent all day to day trying to book my feb half term trip, but just cant make my mind up. I like the looks of La Plagne and Les Arcs. My worries are;
1. Which resort to stay in
2. Is the linked ski area a 'gimmick' will we be able to ski the area or will it just be skiing from one lift queue to another.
3. Can anyone recommend an independent company in the area. (via PM)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Based on my experience there last Feb half term, stay in Les Arcs. We stayed at Arcs 2000 where the snow was miles better than it was in La Plagne, which was extremely patchy near the Vanoise Express.
Keep in mind that last year's season wasn't brilliant, though.
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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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In February half-term the area will be at its busiest. The quietest parts of the domain are likely to be the outer areas away from the main villages, so for Les Arcs this tends to be the slopes above Villaroger. I don't think there will be much difference between Les Arcs and La Plagne, and the link between the two resorts does enable you to ski the entire area as one ski domain, so in that sense I don't think it is a gimmick.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Jonpim, good point, but the Les Arcs side was far better, even at the Vanoise Express.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jonpim, no flak from me as it depends on your definition of linked resorts. These days I see Les Arcs and La Plagne as one (large) domain in exactly the same way as I see Tignes and Val d'Isere as one domain. I have a Paradiski pass so can decide each day where to ski - favourite parts of the domain are at the opposite ends (area above Villaroger and area above Champagny).
In Feb half term Belle Plagne, and the other central villages, are going to be very busy. If you had the choice I'd stay somewhere on the periphery (Villaroger, Montalbert, Champangny).
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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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To make full use of the whole domain you need to stay close to the Vanoise. Plan Peisey/Montchavin or Les Coches.
I don't think the Vanoise is a con. We use it every day and find the skiing both sides very different so its great. However to make full use of it you need to stay close to it but at half term it may just be to busy to bother. We go off season.
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| gwaelod wrote: |
| To make full use of the whole domain you need to stay close to the Vanoise. |
I don't think that's the case. It's less than 30 minutes from Arc 1950 to the Vanoise Express, for example, which doesn't really have much of an impact on the time you have to ski at the opposite end of the domain.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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| gwaelod wrote: |
rob@rar,
Thats fine if you know the domain. |
Yes, that's a fair point, although I think the improved signposting makes it easier to find the Vanoise Express from that side of Les Arcs than it was a couple of years ago. From Arc 2000 and 1950 it's just one lift (Bois de l'Ours) then follow the blues across to Peisey (Arpette, Villards, Plan Bois, Retour Plan Peisey).
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If you want to use both areas I would dfinitely consider one of the lower villages. Certainly cheaper and prettier, but still with good access.
I stayed in Plagne 1800 whichis fine for access to La Plagne slopes, but it took 1.5 hours to reach the Vanoise and back - makes a big difference in time available.
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar,
JimW likes that route to. Much prefer up to Transarc and a blast down to Vanoise from there. Lovely run and a nice stetch of the legs. 
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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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We've normally stayed in Plagne Centre and it is possible for good skiers to get to the Vanoise Express for opening time at 9:30 ( if it hasn't changed). Therefore staying in Les Coches or Montchavin isn't much more advantagous.
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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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boredsurfin, I really enjoyed my ski from the top of Transarc back to the VE. Its a lovely area.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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jtobin03, I think you can pick the drifh that this is an area with lots of modern fast lifts, so to an extent it doesn't matter where you are. BUT For Feb half term I agree about the lower village advice but would point you to Peisey Vallandry for quiter tree skiing on the Les Arcs (I initially typed French, because it does feel so much more French tha La Plagne in general) side. I have just looked and my favourite company is fully booked at that time but Ski Hiver who I have also stayed with have availability in the old village of Peisey.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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You can of course ski both Les Arcs and La Plangne using the link and planning carefully. But IMHO, there is enough in either resort to keep you happy. Therefore pick the resort you like the look of/best accomodation or whatever and go with that
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Boris, Well said.
boredsurfin, well you will just have to do it all again at a more leisurely pace this season
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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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La Plagne is great to ski but if your looking for night life as well look else where.... When I went at least (April time) there wasn't much happening.
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gwaelod,
The main reason for my preferring Bois de L'Ours and not going down to Marmottes, then up the lift, across to Arcabulle, up there, and and over the Transarc top is purely one of time.
I agree tis a great run down that way, and is probably preferred as "ski trip" rather than as a route to get somewhere else .... if that makes sense! If I just want to get to Vanoise, the route as per Rob is at least 7-10 mins quicker (or at least, feels it...).
jtobin03
In some senses the Vanoise link as described as a 'bus in the air' is a perfect analogy, since you ski to the cable car, then a session / day over "the other side", then come back. And that's the same, which ever side you start from.
I guess the difference between it and say for an example from slightly further away, the bus from Keystone to Breckenridge, is that you can choose to return at almost any time: we've been over to La Plagne for the morning from 1950, then back to Peisey for lunch.
It also can be reached (relatively) quickly from most of the resort (well, certainly Les Arcs side) so it can be a spontaneous decision to go.
But as for the "why it was built": its purpose, IMHO, was to be able to 'sell' Paradiski as a mega-resort with global clout in the marketing world. And as importantly to attract people to return for more than just 1 visit.
But if you think that you will spend a lot of time crossing between the two, then you are missing out on a lot that either resort has to offer - you won't find all the gems in either, in just one week, and especially not if you are heading down the main drags to get to the Vanoise, just to go in the other direction all the time!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| gwaelod wrote: |
| [Much prefer up to Transarc and a blast down to Vanoise from there. Lovely run and a nice stetch of the legs. |
Isn't that two lifts rather than one?
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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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rob@rar, No, just the one. I like to buzz down to Vagere and up again and then on down to Peisey just to get a few more turns in, and it gets you on to the Bosses, or down Rhodos on the way.
I'm looking forwards to not riding the Plan Bois refrigerator this year as well.
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| Martin Nicholas wrote: |
| rob@rar, No, just the one. |
How do you get from Arc 2000 or 1950 to the top of the Transarc?
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You know it makes sense.
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jtobin03,
I suspect I'm not adding a lot in this post but I think either resort should keep most skiers entertained for a week and most skiers would enjoy either. A subjective impression (Based on hearsay for Les Arcs off piste) is that for Piste skiers Les Arcs has more challenges but for Off Piste La Plagne shades it on the variety and extent.
As far as the Paradiski pass is concerned most people I have met have not really wanted to ski the other resort more than once in a week as there is plenty to do in the 'home resort' and less faff travelling. So unless you want to rack up the miles in the other resort I would tend to go for the option that gives you just one day away.
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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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rob@rar, Martin Nicholas,
Its two. Down to Marmottes lift at the bottom of 1950 beside the Bos de L'ours lift. Up on that of an up on Arcabulle to Transarc. Only takes a few minutes.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thank you all for the information. I am now much clear on the linked aspect of the resorts. I have done most of my skiing in the 3Vs and PDS which are very much interlinked.
The info from all has given me more to think about as most people appear to suggest to stay on the edge of the resorts, while I was thinking of going to the main resort centres.
My next point is the transfer I am used to long queues into resorts at half term but with so many villages in one area is this going to be one of the worst!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you all for the information. I am now much clear on the linked aspect of the resorts. I have done most of my skiing in the 3Vs and PDS which are very much interlinked.
The info from all has given me more to think about as most people appear to suggest to stay on the edge of the resorts, while I was thinking of going to the main resort centres.
My next point is the transfer I am used to long queues into resorts at half term but with so many villages in one area is this going to be one of the worst!!!
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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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Spyderman, Race yer! 
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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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| Quote: |
| My next point is the transfer I am used to long queues into resorts at half term but with so many villages in one area is this going to be one of the worst!!! |
Road from Moutiers (3-V turn-off) > Aime > Bourg is slow, thin and windy, and will always be busy on a 1/2 term weekend. you've got, La Plagne, Arcs, Rosiere, ValD'l / Tignes all trying to get down one little road.. doesn't take a lot to cause a hold up.
Try to get there early if self-driving, either all the way, or from an airport. - say aim to be at Moutiers by 10:30. Aime is about 12km closer than Bourg (and the turn off for Plan Peisey about 6km) so if that's your criteria for a successful holiday, choose La Plagne!
TO will usually allow 3 1/2 from an airport, maybe 4 on 1/2 term (any of Grenoble, Lyons, Geneva, Turin, Chambery)
OTOH, the train will take you straight to Aime or Bourg, and your only transfer concern is the taxi or bus up the mountain.
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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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| JimW wrote: |
| Quote: |
| My next point is the transfer I am used to long queues into resorts at half term but with so many villages in one area is this going to be one of the worst!!! |
say aim to be at Moutiers by 10:30. |
No way - I'd aim to be on the slopes for 10:30 - otherwise you will be sitting in traffic. You want to be driving upto resort from about 09:00 on that weekend surely? - I'd rather have an hour less in the overnight hotel and an hour more on the slopes or even just in resort on that weekend...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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jtobin03, I've stayed in Plan Peisey twice (Feb 2005 and Feb Half Term 2007) with Ski beat. They have several chalets with most of them ski in but not ski out. Both stays have been good in nice modern chalets.
We used the Vanoise Express both times on two days each time. If you only go over for one day then I think it's cheaper just to upgrade for that day. Due to the nature of the link, you need to give yourself plenty of time to ski the other side and get back because of lift times and queues in the centre of La Plagne.
In 2005 I missed the turn off for the Vanoise on the way back and nearly ended up in Montchavin. I had to climb uphill 200m to get back on track. I was 15 minutes late for the last Vanoise back to Les Arcs. Fortunately my friends had persuaded the Vanoise lift guy to hold the Express for me.
I like Les Arcs for the wide tree lined runs above Vallandry. These are great for intermediates and beginners alike. But I also like the more challenging runs in La Plagne and it also feels bigger. I think the La Plagne side is a harder ski IMO. The runs back to the Vanoise have always been icy on my two visits. Also if you stay in Les Arcs and go over, it seems to take quite a while to get into the main La Plagne domain.
I have also been to the 3V's three times now and do prefer the normal type of "linked" resorts, as there is usually more than one way to go and come back. That said if you go to Les Arcs I would definitely go on the Vanoise for the experience, whichever side you stay on.
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Once again thanks for the help, but I think other half has but a spanner in the works as she has found a place in La Rosiere which has more luxuary extras (pool suana etc). I want a ski holiday not a trip to the leisure centre.
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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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| jtobin03 wrote: |
| Once again thanks for the help, but I think other half has but a spanner in the works as she has found a place in La Rosiere which has more luxuary extras (pool suana etc). I want a ski holiday not a trip to the leisure centre. |
You need to study this thread in that case  http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=17956
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FAQ
In La Plagne where possible the pistes are made wider and every single lift is open all day.
