 Poster: A snowHead
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If you had a day or to spend in the Trois Vallees, where would you spend it? Bearing in mind it not being worth buying a trois vallees pass.
Thinking that in my two week visit to the Tarentaise, to visit the Trois Vallees. Bearing in mind I'm an adventorous intermediate.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 8-09-09 18:59; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How about La Tania - the local pass covers LT and Courchevel and it's all nicely linked for a day trip.
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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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Christopher, Why detour from the Tarentaise? There is soooo much skiing there
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I always like to see new places. Get a flavour of different resorts, for future trips.
For 2 weeks skiing, a day outside of Espace Killey/Paradiski won't harm getting to know them.
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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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Courchevel for me - some nice runs and if you go to the far left (of piste map) its quiet - Meribel being the mid point gets very busy on all runs
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Courchevel for me as well, loads of skiing and some good 1/2 day or longer off piste excursions if you wish.....
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Christopher, how do you plan on getting from your Tarentaise resort to the Trois Vallees? That might have a bearing on where you visit for the day trip.
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Meribel for me I love the place but very busy in feb
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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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Courchevel
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Neither...La Rosiere surely?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Christopher, Courchevel out of the two usually much better snow than much of Meribel and more varied skiing too.
Actually if it was just one day I would agree with rungsp, don't know if he was joking but geetting the best out of a large busy resort ina day is not aoways easy, I would try La Foy or La Ros probably a bit easier to find the best stuff and cheaper as well. Give yourself a bit more time to explore 3V on a full holiday.
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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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That's one long drive for a day out!
Or about 200 euros each way for a taxi!!!
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courchevel
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You know it makes sense.
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Christopher,
If you look at the piste map Courchevel should be the obvious choice. In reality it is because the main area 1850 is an intermediate paradise.
Courchevel has La Tania, 1300, 1550, 1850 and 1650 making it more than a day's skiing for most skiers.
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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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Christopher, it might be worth checking discounts on buying season passes in advance - in some places a season pass bought in advance (often before end November) costs around the same as two weeks, and it might well give you some interesting options on other resorts to visit without paying much extra. Where will you be based?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| pam w wrote: |
| Christopher, it might be worth checking discounts on buying season passes in advance - in some places a season pass bought in advance (often before end November) costs around the same as two weeks, and it might well give you some interesting options on other resorts to visit without paying much extra. Where will you be based? |
I'm not aware of any 'early-buying discounts' for Paradiski - I looked pretty hard last season! Nor have I heard of similar for EK or 3v.
| rob@rar wrote: |
| Christopher, how do you plan on getting from your Tarentaise resort to the Trois Vallees? That might have a bearing on where you visit for the day trip. |
Ski and stick the thumb out/bus surely - Ski to champagny en Vanoise then bus/hitch/taxi along to Brides and up the bubble into Meribel. Reverse when you want to go home (punchy!)
| altis wrote: |
| That's one long drive for a day out! |
Not really - about 45-50 minutes when I did it for a day last season to meet some mates. Parked in Le Praz (free) and had a free day's lift pass.
But I'm kind of with other people on this thread - why not La Ros or Ste Foy for a day. Keep 3v in the bag for another week (or two)- you'll need lots of time to discover it - even with 2 solid weeks a while ago I haven't really covered VT at all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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bertie bassett, yes, I can imagine you did look hard! I think it's more a North America thing, though a good few French resorts also do it. Our season pass for the Espace Diamant would cost 525 euros, but only 345 bought before the end of November. It's on my calendar in big letters not to forget.
I don't know the Tarentataise well - I'd like to visit Ste Foy. But aren't there any other hidden jewels that few people have heard of? Isn't there some tiny little village up a valley somewhere? I can't remember the name.
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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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Agree with Anniepen, La Tania is really nice
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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courchevel
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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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Cheers for the replies, yeah I think if I do manage a day trip it'll be to Courchevel. Planning to be based in Les Arcs for a week and a week in Val d'Isere. What time does the Les Arcs funiculair upto 1600 stop for the day?
I'll be getting my lift pass through the UCPA as a part of their package, so I don't actually know whether I would be getting the Paradiski pass or the Les Arcs one. To be honest the Paradiski would be nice for the occasional day to La Plagne, but I'm not too fussed.
There is a bus from Moutiers > Courchevel. So I'm thinking of taking the train from Bourg > Moutiers and then the bus. If I could be bothered and got the 7am train from Bourg I wouldn't miss any skiing.
pam w, Valloire have done a very cheap season deal in the past. You don't want to go to that unamed windswept nightmare 
I thought St Foy is only worth it for the off piste.
Yes saikee, I realise that the amount of skiing in each valley is well more than a days skiing.
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Christopher, I think the last funicular from BSM is about 7.20pm
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On my limited experience, I prefered Courcheval.
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Based on a week in les arcs with a la plagne visit always possible and then a week in val d'sre think you would be nuts to take time out to visit another resort.
Based on how you describe skiing courcheval and the trois vallees offers fantastic skiing even if they can blow your budget if you happen to call in to the wrong piste side restaurant. Courcheval valley without venturing in to the other valleys can easily keep you busy 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.
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I think may SH like me have taken a car to Tarentaise Valley and ski all the resorts in two weeks.
If one bases at Bourg St Maurice, which is the access point for Les Arc, it is 17 miles out of the valley to trois Valles and 17 miles into the valley to Tignes/Val D. One can knock up La Rosiere, La Plagnes, Ste Foy and Valmorel on any chosen day.
1600km piste in Tarentaise is really spoiled for choices.
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It is going to be so tempting to ski over the top whichever you do. Personally I'd say Val Thorens - not sure why you didn't mention the third (plus 4th) valley. Or if it has to be one of the two you mentioned, then Courchevel.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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saikee, I'm afraid I'm still a learner driver and way below 21, so driving is out of the picture unfortunatly.
snowball, Hadn't really thought about Val Thorens tbh. I know its got some very good skiing, but thought Meribel and Courchevel were closer and easier to get to. Its one for the future definitely as is the whole area. Why Val Thorens over the other two for you personally?
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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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Our Serre Chevalier season pass offers a 25% discount before Dec 1st, and an additional free summer lift pass before Nov 1st.
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Well, it is the nearest of the three to Moutier with fairly regular buses up from the station.
If you consider the skiing off La Masse (by Les Menuires village down the valley) as well as by St Martin de Belleville at the bottom of the valley (good lunch stop) and the runs over the top into the 4th valley, as well as its own big ski area it is the biggest of the ski areas with plenty of challenge - especially off the Cime de Caron, and lots of off piste (long, remote descents down the back of La Masse to St Martin for instance, or more easily to the Lac du Lou).
It is also the highest resort and though this makes the Val Thorens village area a bit bleak because of the lack of trees, it makes it about as snow sure as you can get.
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You know it makes sense.
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| snowball wrote: |
Well, it is the nearest of the three to Moutier with fairly regular buses up from the station.
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Val Thorens is the furthest from Moutiers. Much quicker to get to Courchevel or Meribel.
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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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rob@rar, I just looked at a map and you are right, I hadn't taken into account that the ski valley is so long and Val Thorens is at the far end. St Martin de Belleville at the bottom of the ski area IS closer than Courchevel and Meribel.
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Poster: A snowHead
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snowball, the quickest way to get to one of the main 3V resort centres from Moutiers is to drive/bus to Courchevel 1300 and take the Le Praz gondola up to C1850. Courchevel 1300 is maybe 10 minutes shorter drive than getting St Martin.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I am surprised, SMdeB looks much nearer on the map. Must be the winding roads make it slower.
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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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From Moutiers, Meribel and St Martin are both about a 20 minute drive, ValT about 40 minutes, Courch 1850 around 30 minutes (all assuming not much traffic). Christopher, Im assuming that you want to get a feel for the skiing available, and only have one day, and that you will be staying on-piste. If that's the case, I'd suggest aiming for the top of the Saulire (either from Meribel or Courchevel). This will give you impressive views over much of the three valleys, along with a wide choice of runs down in either the Meribel of Courchevel valleys (mainly reds and blacks)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Yes, but with no 3 valleys pass he will only be able to ski down one side.
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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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Patch, I'm sure I'll pay a visit to the top of the Saulire as from the looks of it and from what I've read its pretty special. As snowball, said I won't be able to ski down to Meribel as I will only have a pass for Courchevel as thats where I've decided I'm going to go.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Christopher wrote: |
| Patch, I'm sure I'll pay a visit to the top of the Saulire as from the looks of it and from what I've read its pretty special. As snowball, said I won't be able to ski down to Meribel as I will only have a pass for Courchevel as thats where I've decided I'm going to go. |
actually some of my most memorable runs are la saluire to courchevel 1500 or le praz ( no stopping)
still think you've got about 750km of skiing available with les arcs, la plagne and tignes/val d'sere so wouldn't rush off for a day trip
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From Saulire you can do the famous Grand Couloir - previously a very steep black, now an itinerary (I think). And the Jockey run is worth a go (further down the ridge) if the snow goes down far enough. Lots of good off piste.
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snowball,
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From Saulire you can do the famous Grand Couloir
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Surely not adviseable for an adventurous intermediate! (Christopher's claimed skiing standard at the start of this thread)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowball, ability wise, how good do you need to be to get down those two itineraries in ok without any major issues? I have a feeling that is about the extent that my skiing ability will be able to get me down without struggling majorly.
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Christopher, I don't think the Gd Couloir would be a sensible option for you just yet, not least because of the narrow ridge you need to ski along to get there (no room for mistakes on the ridge). Jockeys is a nice black though - one of my favourite ever moments on skis was doing GS turns down it in knee deep powder 
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