Poster: A snowHead
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Been there last two seasons, and stayed at Prince de Cimes - HMC chain. But a bit bored with terrain and food choice. Where can a family of 4 go that is better? Looking for:
Good snow at Easter
Good ski tuition for 7 and 9 year old kids - private if necessary
Good size 2 br apartment with balcony view of piste
ski in/out
Indoor pool on site or close by
Sledging for kids nearby when piste closes
Good food
Great Scenery
Short airport transfers if possible or overnight option
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There are few, if any.
Arc 1950 is very well designed and built.
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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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there's lots of places that would tick most of those boxes with the exception of the pool.. and it does depend alittle on your definition of easter...
Avoriaz will give you most but not the swimming, not the guaranteed snow in mid-april and not neccessarily a good size apartment (can be a bit shoe-boxy IIRC)
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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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The locations of most MGM and CGH aparthotels fill these criteria. Arc 1950 does have the cute Hansel & Gretel feel but the novelty can wear off, as there's no history and every poor shopkeeper is likely to be struggling with Intrawest's rent tariffs.
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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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If you wanted hotel rather than s/c Champoluc ticks all the boxes bar ki in ski out, but you leave skis and boots at the lift station. English instructors with www.ski-2.com as well.
Les Menuires has good family MGM apartments, as does Val Thorens. Having said that we're skiing new runs in Les Arcs 6 years after our first trip here. Different snow each year, huge variety.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Flaine.
Residence de la Foret.
Not quite ski in/out...about 1 minute walk.
Ticks all the other boxes.
The bowl shape of Flaine means that all runs lead home, so if (IF) your kids get lost there is no risk of them being stranded on the wrong side of a valley or lift system.
Add: traffic free, swings and slides.
Kids ski school deliver/collect/office/lounge with bean-bags TV and refreshments....on the ground floor of the same building.
We used to go there for several years when our kids were that age.
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Edwardoplunkett, there most certainly is and it's just across the valley - La Rosiere, it's sunnier and has some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps, it's also a real working village where generations of Tarins have lived. You could try either Les Cimes Blanches or Le Panoramic in Les Eucherts or Le Planica in the village, all have indoor swimming pools. Cimes Blanches is ski-in/ski-out but you could have problems getting availability for Easter.
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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 Norma or Puy st Vincent
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Edwardoplunkett, glenshee?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Edwardoplunkett, MGM apartments Hameau du beaufortain in les Saisies. Tuition would have to be private unless your kids speak French. And there's a limited choice of restaurants. Ticks all other boxes but you need a car.
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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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Edwardoplunkett, we did Easter for years with young kids, doing all the after skiing activities you mention.
Belle Plagne: if you want pool on-site go for Les Balcons. Slightly better quality go for Montagnettes.
Val Thorens: Montagnettes or Oxalys.
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Les Saisies looks interesting and has availability. Has anyone been there recently? Any trip reports?
Cheers
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You know it makes sense.
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Chalet de Neige in Oz en Oisans or Alpe D'Huez itself?
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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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Edwardoplunkett, we have an apartment in a satellite of Les Saisies, past the Hameau. I think it's a great place, and have no commercial interest as we don't let our apartment (because we are always in it!! ) It is known for gentle skiing, though lift linked Notre Dame de Bellecombe has more challenging skiing - some good, quite stiff, reds and some interesting and easily accessible (and to me, very challenging looking...) off piste. It's a very French area. There are two MGM places with pools - the Hameau, up at the top of an easy slope down into the village, but need to use the free ski bus, or a car, to get to the village. There's ski hire and an expensive traiteur at the Hameau, but nothing else. The Village de Lapons is in the village, very close to everything, including the ski school meeting places. Good snow record - village is on a col at 1650 - though, of course, nobody can guarantee anything! It's not a place for people who want lively night life in the "let's all get pissed and dance on the table" tradition, or who like the streets to be full of party animals at 11 o'clock. In Les Saisies a very high proportion of visitors are families, and they are all asleep in their apartments by then! There are some pleasant, rather than outstanding, restaurants except for an excellent (an expensive) piste side restaurant in Hauteluce (reachable only by a red piste) and an well renowned restaurant in Notre Dame de Bellecombe, skiable to on blue runs from Les Saisies. The Espace Diamant has about 175km of lift linked skiing, including tree level runs, though those might not be too clever by Easter. PM me if you want more specific info.
For piste maps etc. see http://www.ski-espacediamant.com/
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Poster: A snowHead
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Edwardoplunkett, another thought, skinutter has stayed in the Hameau, and knows the resort very well - you could PM him, too.
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