 Poster: A snowHead
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This is my first experience of a holiday at half term (other than being a kid myself many moons ago) and the first holiday with 2 kids along. I'm really looking looking forward to the trip. I wonder if i'll feel as positive after the event in 12 days time?
If you've experienced holidaying at this time and had to give just one piece of hard won advice what would you say? Other than don't do it! 
I can start you off:-
Be up the mountain early at the start of the week and be off the mountain late on the return.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Find out (before you go if poss) where lift queue bottlenecks tend to be and try to avoid them at key times.
..... And just chill out - accept there will be a few queues - and have a fantastic time!!!!!
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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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It'n not necessarily going to be as hideous as you think. If the snow is good everywhere (as it currently is) French families will spread themselves out over the small cheap resorts which you lot have never heard of, rather than all heading for what they consider to be overpriced 'usines de ski'. Paradoxically, bad snow years are good for the big high resorts because they leave the punter with less choice.
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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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IME Half Term is pretty busy, which means lots of people, which means queues, so a one piece might be a little restrictive if you are in a hurry. Go for a two piece for half term.
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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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Stay away from the mega resorts.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| Stay away from the mega resorts. |
Think we've ticked that box.
| jayne durham wrote: |
| Find out (before you go if poss) where lift queue bottlenecks tend to be and try to avoid them at key times. ..... And just chill out - accept there will be a few queues - and have a fantastic time!!!!! |
There is a grand total of 6 lifts to choose from and two of them are 'bunny lifts', so the remaining 4 will definately have repeat use.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 8-02-09 9:46; edited 2 times in total
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BMF_Skier, X?
1st lift or at least beat the schools.
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Frosty the Snowman, yes 
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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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Focus on the positive. I help a ski company out and could choose any week of the season to heko out on a week with them.
In the choice between a low season week or peak week and the option of skiing on empty pistes without the family or going at peak time with the family, it was a bit of a no-brainer for me. I'm not worried about the crowds, I shall have a great time in Engelberg at half term, I love going skiing with my girls.
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Ski when the French are eating and eat when they are skiing (either early or late). Helps to minimise the time you are skiing when everyone is on the slopes and they are at their busiest.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Ray Zorro wrote: |
| I love going skiing with my girls. |
Like me, i suspect you are able to keep up with the kids...on the lifts 
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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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Colin B, is absolutely right. Ski through the french lunchtime which starts around 12 and finishes around 2 to 2.30. You will find the slopes much quieter over this period. Then stop for lunch.
Reserve your table for lunch where possible. Then you won't have to waste time waiting for one.
The other piece of advice, is if there is a one lift return that is the only lift back to a particular resort, make sure you get it in good time, then you can carry on skiing knowing the only way is down afterwards. The Arpette in La Plagne to Montchavin is one example of this.
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You know it makes sense.
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Start early, with a Mars Bar in the pocket, stop for a hot chocolate about 11, ski through lunchtime, then pack up when the after-lunch ski school groups start and going back to the apartment for a cheap DIY lunch. Then have a bit of a rest, prior to a toboganning/snowman/snowball session immediately after the lifts close.
(though this is based on experience in small French resorts - might not work in resort X).
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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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Get into a chilled frame of mind so that you relax in the inevtiable queues, instead of fretting about their length and the fact that various oleagenous eurotypes are pushing in right, left and centre (this is do I say, not as I do, advice).
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Poster: A snowHead
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1. Stay on the harder runs. If you're skiing blacks and off piste, they'll be fairly empty.
2. If you're driving, get there a day early, and leave a day late, so you get to ski both Saturday's.
3. If you want to book anything - ski school, skis, etc - do it in advance. Particularly in relation to ski school, you may not find space if you try to book on arrival.
4. Link up with another family, if possible. More fun for the kids, sharing the load for the adults.
5. Have a nice time! I've been skiing 1/2 term for years, and enjoyed it! There's usually good snow (seems very likely this year) and good weather. Relax, chill out, you're on holiday.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A more practical suggestion than my previous one; consider ski school or private lessons for at least some of the time, if you weren't anyway; they get to nip to the front of the queue. I'd also 2nd the lunchtime skiing idea.
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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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If possible time your arrival at the lift to miss the 'must be on the first lift mob' but get there before the ski schools hit the first lift. In Montalbert the optimum moment is about 9.25 am. Or after the ski schools have all gone up at about 10.45 
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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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Sorry, I seem to have given three pieces of advice, although one was a duplicate.
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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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In the days of modern chair lifts and cable cars, people seem to hate using draglifts and old chairs.
Often, using the older lifts can mean you avoid queues even at the busiest times (unless that particular old lift is a vital connection in the resort).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Don't overestimate how bad it will be. I went last year, feared the worst, and it was fine.
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Take spare gloves for the kids as they will lose some & the gloves will cost a fortune in resort.
If you can dump the kids at ski school or in a creche & then put as much distance as you can between yourself & the 'home' slopes.
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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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BMF: Hmmm, 6 lifts, 2 of them "bunny lifts"... say hi if you see us around...
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If the ski bus runs on a circuit, consider getting on it going the 'wrong' way so that you're already on it when it goes the right way and doesn't sail straight past. That one is working quite nicely for us at the moment.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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