 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone have any tips on where is best for Christmas snow with two kids under 5? Looking for ski school and sno sure resort that’s affordable. Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcome to SHs, @OzParent. No such thing as an affordable snow sure resort near Geneva..... you have to decide which criterion is most important! The most snow sure resorts, such as Val Thorens and Tignes, are further from Geneva than, say, Flaine. Snow sure = high altitude = bleak = most likely to have high lifts closed due to wind or too much snow. All resorts will have ski school, various formats depending on age of kids. Christmas is very early in the season - many French resorts will only open that week - but it is less busy and usefully less expensive than New Year.
What sort of accommodation are you looking for? Have you booked flights?
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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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Flights are booked to Geneva, will hire a car and drive to relevant resorts, we have two weeks, so looking for two separate week-long accommodation options
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Its worth having a look at La Rosiere, its very snow sure with a good selection of accommodation at a reasonable cost, especially when compared to the nearby Tarentaise resorts, Les Arcs, Val d'Isere, Tignes etc. Ski school for children is very good, either with the ESF or any of the alternatives. There is a very good creche/nursery in the village who will look after kids up to age 12 all day if required. Have a look at the Tourist Office website for more information. La Rosiere is 2 1/2 hours drive from Geneva.
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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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@OzParent, that means xmas week and new year’s week?
NY most expensive week of the year ...
Not the most snow sure weeks of the season.
Suggest Chamonix, Avoriaz,
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I don't agree with @pam w, Christmas is 4 weeks into some seasons. Yes, too much snow can close any lift but Christmas is no more likely to be too windy than a day in the middle of February.
It's only early for the low resorts. For Christmas, head somewhere high and have a great time.
Have a look at:
Tignes/Val d'Isere
Val Thorens
La Rosiere
Les Arc
All 2-2.5 hours drive from Geneva but all will have snow and be open at Christmas.
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I'd suggest Avoriaz - only a hour or so from Geneva, high enough at 1800 to be snow sure, but lots of lower runs in the trees if the wind does get up. Plus I can imagine it looking very pretty (IMHO) at Christmas with all the lights.
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Snowsure and affordable aren't generally used together re NY as pam says. And yes being "natural" snow sure generally means you are well above treeline with all the weather possibilities that brings. If you have to punt La Rosiere, Avoriaz maybe meet the spec.
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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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If you are going as far as the Tarentaise, head thru the tunnel and check out Aosta valley...
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On a Saturday transfer day at Christmas/New Year the drive timings suggested by @bar shaker are optimistic.
What dates are your flights, @OzParent. If they vary from the usual Saturday/Saturday your question becomes much more difficult to answer.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@pam w, we stupidly drove to Val d’Isere on a Saturday before New year...
7 hours 
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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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@pam w, we stupidly drove to Val d’Isere on a Saturday before New year...
7 hours |
Ouch. Was that in the Snowmoggedon?
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If you can find a good location in a big ski area like the Tarentaise or Espace Killy, just stop there for the whole time. Enough skiing to last you years, and staying off the roads on the Christmas/NY transfer day is well worth it - the slopes will be comparatively quiet. Small kids like familiarity. They will have some favourite spots for toboganning or just digging in the snow with a stick by the end of the first week.
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You know it makes sense.
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you could try this company in La Tania (we went with them many times with our young kids), which although low has always been open over Xmas and you can quickly get into the higher north facing Courchevel slopes.
http://familyfriendlyskiing.com/
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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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Avoriaz good and also Samoens if Christmas, as it would be very atmospheric. 1 hours transfers to both pretty much.
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Poster: A snowHead
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For little kids, snow immediately outside your accommodation is a huge bonus - they can play for hours with buckets and spades etc. I think you'd be lucky to get resort level snow in Samoens village at Christmas - it's quite low, though the ski area (up to Flaine) is a lot higher and Samoens is an attractive traditional 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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@bar shaker, no, just after they’d installed new traffic lights in ? Moutiers? And got the phasing wrong.
We could have waited till the Sunday. No need to rush. Idiots.
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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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@twoodwar, I don’t see Samöens being atmospheric at all.
@pam w, yes, good point. I’d go Avoriaz. With little kids neither they nor the adults need all that much skiing, surely 
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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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Villars
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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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Shame your flights are booked. We did Norway Geilo at New Years just gone and the kids loved it and trying Trysil Norway for Xmas this year. They have a snow guarantee.
When I was looking before deciding on going back to Norway the travel agents recommended the following to me
Dates: 21/12/19 (7 nights)
Group: 4
Rate: per week and excluding travel
Front de Neige - La Plagne
Apartment Type: Standard 1 bedroom apartment for 4
Price: £1161
----------- OR -----------
Le Temples du Soleil - Val Thorens
Apartment Type: Standard 1 bedroom apartment for 4
Price: £1173
----------- OR -----------
Saskia Falaise - Avoriaz
Apartment Type: Standard 1 bedroom apartment for 4/5
Price: £855
----------- OR -----------
Le Constellations - La Plagne
Apartment Type: Standard 1 bedroom apartment for 4/5
Price: £911
----------- OR -----------
Le Rond Point des Pistes - Tignes
Apartment Type: Standard 1 bedroom + mezzanine apartment for 6
Price: £1135
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