 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello Everyone,
I wondered if anyone could help?
I am trying to book for Feb 2009 (half term) for 2 families. Me & my husband have been a good few times, but are going with another couple who have only skied once (last week with us in Flaine). Between us we will have two six year olds & a 4 year old (who again have done 1 week ski kindergarten last week).
We loved Flaine (in the Clubhotel) as it ticked all the boxes - great skiing for all of us, hotel with kids club & evening club, & really near to the slopes, but typically the hotel is full!
I have looked at the Crystal Club hotels & the only ones with availability seem to be Claviere & ADH. Claviere looks better in terms of proximity to slopes, & is considerably cheaper, but I have read that it's not brilliant for beginners. I'm really more concerned about the kids as it would be lovely to have some easy greens for them? Also is Claviere a snow sure resort? ADH is a little further from the lifts, but obviously high with a greater variety of runs.
The other option would be Flaine at Easter (3rd April), but am concerned that we may be disappointed with the snow.
Any help gratefully appreciated.
Thanks
Kate
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Claviere has brilliant snow even at the worst of times ie last year.
It is not a begginer resort I'm afraid. It has one drag with 1 begginer slope, there are not many pistes to progress onto for skiiers in their first week unless they progressed rather quickly.
I wouldnt reccomned it, Montgenevre is a much better begginers resort with about 6 nursery slopes and 2 runs from the top of the moutain suitable for complete begginers. if you can find accomodation there. If you want any help ask. Esf ski school at montgenevre is excellent.
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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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Claviere has brilliant snow even at the worst of times ie last year.
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A rather sweeping statement! I don't believe there is any ski resort anywhere which always has brilliant snow. Sorry.
As you know you like Flaine it might be worth looking at other things there - other operators, maybe. I'd agree that Flaine might be fine in early April too - I've skied there in early April, just for a day, and had good snow, and it would probably be both cheaper and a lot less crowded. But snow is the luck of the draw, obviously. Or maybe Easter somewhere with higher skiing, such as Val Thorens?
Can't help with Claviere or ADH.
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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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Kate0, there are not a lot of greens and blues at Claviere. so you would have to go over to Montgenevre for some variety. There are blue runs there and back but it may take you a while with little ones. Once in Montgenevre there are plenty of easy wide greens and blues plus some reds running parallel. To be honest I would chose to be based in Montgenevre rather than Clavier in your situation.
Sorry don't know about ADH.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, stop being so pedantic! I was trying to prove a point.
There is normally always enough good snow to ski from halfway through December to the end of April. Last year (a very bad year for the whole of the alps) the majority of pistes were still open the last week of April.
I agree with MarkBe, Montgenevre is the place to base yourself with begginers.
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Christopher,
As a matter of interest how many times have you skied there? I have driven passed on several occasions when the snow has looked pretty ropey, though I think the snow record is probably better than average.
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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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Christopher,
When the weather systems are coming from the south west Montgenevre/Claviere benefit considerably and are indeed often in better shape than the resorts further into Italy which lie in a slight rain shadow.
In some years though the more northern French alps get more snow and Montgenevre can miss out and look fairly poor. In 2000 for instance the skiing was in very poor shape, with some of the worst conditions I have seen on piste in mid March. I have driven passed on many occasions as Serre Che is a favourite and have often had a days skiing up there. In my experience the snow record is pretty good but probably not one of the absolute top resorts. I like it a lot though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Whoops - I seem to have lost my last message
Thanks to everyone for the quick & informative replies!
Dpoes anyone know how long it would take to ski to Montegenevre & what type of runs you'd need to be capable of?
Feefee - I hope you have a great holiday in 2 weeks - please do post a report as I'm defintely leaning towards Claviere (it still has 1/2 term availability which is good). Know what you mean re beginners - my husband was on Italian reds after day 5, yet my sister still ski's mainly blues after many years of skiing!
Thanks again
Kate
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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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the issue with ADH is accomodation close to the slopes...if you can find that then youll be good to go.. you want to be as close as possible either to the main DMC lift "1er Troncon" on the piste map or the bottom of bergers. Its the bit in green on the piste maps.
ADH is a fab venue for mixed groups including beginners, intermediates as there are lots of easy greens in the bowl above the village, as well as an easy wide blue served by a big bubble (if you get off at the intermediate station). If you get off at the top then it is a bit narrower and can be a bit like the m25 on a friday afternoon.
As to kid friendliness - then the issue is the location of the accomodation as its a bit of a sprawler, with some of the accomodation being 10 minutes walk from the nearest lift or bus... which is pretty useless for kids I would imagine...
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Kate0, http://www.montgenevre.com/fileadmin/HIVER/photos_tn/2_station/domaine/monts_de_la_lune/FA_07_08/plan-mdl-optimise.jpg
To get to Montgenevre from Claviere you need to be able to ski red's. They are not particularly hard reds though, one bit is slightly narrow.
To get to the main area it requires 2 chairlifts Col Beouf and Tremplin. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to the top of Tremplin from Claviere. At the top of Tremplin your in the heart of the resort. You can then ski along a flatish green down to the gondola or ski down a short red to get to Le Brousset chairlift, then you can pretty much get to any part of the north facing slopes of Montgenevre.
To get back to Claviere requires going along the cross country run for less able skiiers from the bottom of Tremplin. The track has some gradient so it doesnt require excessive poll work.
or for more able skiiers, take the Rocher d'Aigle chairlift up and then ski down quite a difficult red or a black if your feeling adventorous at the top into Italy they are both piste 35. The red is steep, but very wide and it isnt very long.
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