 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello everyone,
Pleased as punch I found this site, loads of great advice.
I have booked a break during the February half term for my girlfriend and myself as a surprise (not to me obviously). We get the ferry across to Calais on Saturday 14th February and returning Sunday 22nd but that is where the plan stops. I need advice on which ski resort to book.
We are both intermediate skiers, and need to hire our equipment. We enjoy going out for a few drinks in the evening to a nice restaurant and bars, nothing wild though. Looking to keep the cost down wherever I can.
I could do with a resort that won't be too difficult to access, as I will be driving a standard car. I will be buying some chains for the trip.
I have never driven to a ski resort before and looking forward to the adventure, any advice would be much appreciated.
Neil
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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 loads of resorts around Geneva which are probably the quickest and easiest to get to from calais. Unfortunately keeping the cost down anywhere in France/Europe will be difficult for everyone this season.
One option might be to look at the central massif which is probably around a similar drive time but as the big tour operators dont go there you will probably pay a lot less than the "big" by which i mean household name resorts like Chamonix, Portes de Soleil.
You will find that the roads are all cleared quickly after a fresh fall and are a joy to drive on over the other side of the channel, but you absolutely must take those chains. Buy from Halfords and hope you dont need to use them and return with receipt for a full refund. Except for the peripherique the toll roads are great.
Have a look on the ski club gb for an excellent resort guide that will give you a clearer honest opinion of the resorts that are in the region.
I have a personal favourite area that i feel ticks a lot of your boxes but i will wait for others to give you some of their recomendations as there are people here who have a lifetime of experience of many more areas than myself.
Also the search of the forums will give you a wealth of knowledge.
P.S. A big welcome to Snowheads. 
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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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Flaine is one thought. Easy to get to, not too expensive, and a good variety of slopes for you. I didn't think Chatel, in the Portes du Soleil was all that expensive when I was there - that was quite a time ago, but check it out. A bit more of a drive, IIRC, but Serre Chavalier could be worth a look.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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achilles,
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Flaine is one thought.
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That would of been my recomendation, but i was reluctant because i feel like an employee of the GM tourist board, only difference i would maybe suggest the GM but to stay in Les Carroz as accommodation will be cheaper, with more choice, as will drinks and meals (if only slightly).
Visited LC last three years but this year going to Flaine itself because of kids skiing convenience.
Serre che good shout but after the drive from calais those extra couple of hours could be a deal breaker when there is no great benefit in going that bit further i wouldnt of thought.
Actually went to morzine in PDS last season with cheap hotel so that is also well worth giving consideration to. I think Avoriaz is quite expensive especially for that week i would imagine.
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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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I would avoid Flaine during half term - along with the other "big names". My daughter and her BF (teachers!) who are both very experienced skiers were there last half term and were genuinely frightened on the very crowded pistes. They said the lifts coped well - no big queues - but they just dumped far too many people at the top. Snow conditions were poor, which didn't help (they were poor in most places, that wasn't anything to do with its being Flaine)
There'll be a problem finding accommodation at half term, it's very heavily booked already. Presumably you or your OH are teachers, so no choice about the dates?
You should still be able to have a good trip but you need to start planning immediately, not only accommodation but the journey, which - to be brutally honest - will be a long and frustrating one.
You won't have any problem approaching any resort in your car - if you have chains, and are able to use them (many people don't - you see them standing hopelessly at the side of the road with the instructions).
We have an apartment in Les Saisies, a small French resort in the Espace Diamant, with 175km of linked pistes, many of them intermediate. We won't be there at half term - because it's crowded we lend our apartment to friends with school kids and head home for a few weeks. But it's nothing like as crowded as the big resorts. Les Contamines, mentioned above, would also be a good bet, and maybe La Rosiere (reported by another Snowhead to have been not too crowded at half term). A Snowhead who was looking for an apartment in Les Saisies for half term, several months ago, found that there was little or nothing available and it'll be the same story in other places. You might get some offers of catered chalet places from Snowheads with those sort of connections - and you'd do well to snap something up. But get advice about likely conditions at half term; nowhere is remotely quiet but some places are more crowded than others.
But - you may not have a huge choice of accommodation and will need to think hard about planning the journey to try to avoid the worst of the traffic. Lots of people drive down on Friday, maybe late into the night, and then stay Friday night near the resorts, so they can drive up very early on Saturday. The alternative is to arrive very late on Saturday. But you have to book a hotel (which is usually not necessary) and at this point you will struggle to find a hotel for that Friday night.
Sorry, this all sounds rather negative....... but you need to know what you are up against.
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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, I was going to say that i was there last half term and it was fine and snow was great, then i remembered we went at EASTER i am such a whopper at times.
I thought about La Clusaz but think that it may be a bit small for intermediates for a week.
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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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Drive straight through or around France if you want a cheap break.
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Accommodation may be difficult to find, but in reality it sounds like the world's your oyster. If you have a car, hire the skis and boots in the UK so that you don't waste time and can move around. You can stay in a valley town like Sallanches and use two or three resorts. Austria, or the Pyrenees are similar distances to the French Alps. Stop in the Vosges for a day or two on the way even (if they still have snow there).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
Our entire valley has quite a few resorts that no Brits have ever heard of so again plenty of choice