 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello,
Infrequent poster so hello to everyone... My partner and I are planning on going away 26th/27th December for the week and everywhere is expensive (as it would be at that time), we're considering Val Cenis but will the snow be any good? There are some reasonable half board deals for around £800 for the week there.
Other places we're looking at like Kaprun, St Anton, Val Thorens, Obergurgl... all seem pretty expensive, although maybe if we wait then we might pick up a deal...
We'd like to go half board for around £800 I think for a week, any other suggestions as to how to do it or whether we could go somewhere self catered and do it that way within budget? I'm still on blue runs and my partner does reds comfortably and the odd black but he's not bothered about it being massively challenging. I'll have lessons and my partner may well do to give him something to do while I'm occupied but more important for me. Other than that we're not fussy about what's on offer apres ski wise, we just love the mountain scenery and being able to eat well enough at the end of it! 
Another thought we had might be to hire a car and stay self catered somewhere in France that's not on the main resort.
Any advice gratefully received. 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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St Anton, Val Thorens and Obergurgl are all pretty expensive resorts compared to others in Austria and France. It's anybody's guess what the snow will be like at New Year but accommodation is certainly at a premium - I don't think it would be wise to wait. Self catering accommodation is also pretty full then - certainly everything nice in our area is already booked. But Val Cenis (never been) sounds a good bet if you have no choice but to ski at New Year.
If you want ski school would probably be a good idea to book that to.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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NSB1977, I've sent you a PM
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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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Thanks so much, I have replied.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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How about Les Deux Alpes...?  Managed to find a deal there too....
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NSB1977, snow in Deux-Alpes will be fine, they have a glacier.
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Great stuff, thanks Helen. Hopefully we're getting a bit closer to narrowing it down now!
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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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NSB1977,
'Is it high enough' is not really the right question early in the season High resorts can sufer badly at the beginning of the season becuase there has not been enough snow in their area where lower resorts elsewhere are rolling in it.
Val Cenis is an attractive inexpensive (by skiing standards) area that should suit your needs. How good the snow will be is never sure but they do have a decent amount of snow making on the lower pistes.
I don't think that Val Thorens will be the greatest bail out in December the top can be very cold. If there is only good snow high up Bonneval is much closer and almost as high, cheaper and prettier too.
Don't know what the situation is for self catering for two but the local Maurienne valley web site is quite good for finding local accommodation.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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I think Val Cenis sounds better for your needs - getting back down to town in LDA can be a bit of a mission sometimes, if you just want to go home and crash. It's also likely to be a fair bit busier at New Year with lots of people who don't ski as well as they think. If VC has more French skiers, and loads of families, on-piste behaviour will probably be much better.
if anyone does a catered chalet in VC we always found them ideal - because they provide tea and cake etc at tea-time, after skiing, which keeps you going till supper. Also you can take your own duty frees and it's often more homely and sociable than a hotel.
T Bar, I've long liked the sound of Bonneval - maybe we'll try to get up there for a day this coming season. Special offer adult one day lift pass 15 euros in January.  We'll go on a warm day, with skiing up to 3000m.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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NSB1977, If Raynauds is a problem in the cold I would take Val Cenis over L2A or Val Thorens as there is tree lined protection, my only concern is that if it is a cold winter Val C is very much a north facing resort which keeps the snow good but probably gets rather less sun. I have only been in April where this is not a problem.
pam w,
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T Bar, I've long liked the sound of Bonneval - maybe we'll try to get up there for a day this coming season. Special offer adult one day lift pass 15 euros in January. We'll go on a warm day, with skiing up to 3000m.
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It is very pleasant but I would make sure its a warm day. There are no covered lifts and the only detachable chair is the first one also north facing head of the valley could be cold. I have been in April where this has been a huge advantage and the snow excellent.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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NSB1977, Snow conditions in VC are usually good at the start of the season, with plenty of artificial on the lower slopes. However be prepared for the cold, the valley is sheltered, but gets very little sun in Dec,Jan, so temp's stay very low during the day, and if it's windy it can be hard work.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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NSB1977, have a great holiday. If you'd like some excellent lessons, get in touch with charlotte swift (easiski.com) though she'll probably be very busy at Christmas.
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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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NSB1977,
Have a great time, plenty of good skiing there.
Good advice from pam w, even if Charlotte is busy she will probably be happy to give good advice on which alternatives to use.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Normally the 4th week of December would be just about OK, but it is a bit chancy:
Upper/lower slopes in cm for that week
2009: 230/56
2008: 120/35
2007: 60/30
2006: 40/20
2005: 91/41
2004: 116/29
2003: 105/15
2002: 37/27
2001: 100/20
This is, of course, un-compacted snow. Remember that the resort probably put the measuring points at fairly sheltered spots so this may be a bit better than the average piste (not counting artificial snow-making).
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 29-10-09 9:16; edited 1 time in total
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I see you've just booked elsewhere - but for the record we were in Val Cenis for the first week after new year last season (Jan 2009) and there was no problem with snow, god cover all the way down to the village, all runs open, lots of snow making. We self-catered in really nice (and cheap) apartments at the foot of the slope. www.dhm73.com
It is a very very quiet resort at night but was great for our group of total beginners and low intermediates on a budget. Not much english spoken in the ESF classes though!
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wigan, welcome to Snowheads. Early last season was a stonking time for snow - best in many years. You couldn't always depend on its being like that! It sounds a nice place.
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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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I am sorry, I notice I somehow got two of the figures above wrong (I've changed them) - one being the very low figure and the other last year. Not sure how it happened (though they are all on separate charts. of course) - the rest are right.
wigan was right, last year was especially good - about twice normal.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Val Cenis is nice and very unspoilt you will not queue or see many English people there.The skiing is very limited I wouldnt say we were whizzy I am nervous and slow but we covered the whole resort in a morning .The other options you mention would give you lots more choice of runs.
CLAIRE
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You know it makes sense.
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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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T Bar, Snap 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry didnt do the linked runs and did really like Val Cenis I didnt mean to be misleading.I do hang onto the coat tails of my hubby and two teenage children so we dont mess about and I get told ski lifts are for rests !!!!They are very mean
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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clairec, Don't worry and welcome to , glad you enjoyed Val C, it is not a large resort but I do think calling it very limited is misleading. Overall it covers a decent area there is some very enjoyable off piste and the piste is decently varied even if there is nothing hugely challenging in normal conditions.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| T Bar wrote: |
| there is nothing hugely challenging in normal conditions. |
That's on piste. However, as I've said before, there is lots of off piste, some of it very challenging. For example the above (top left) known as the Rock Garden, which is easily accessed from the Val Cenis lifts (unfortunate a large part of the slope is off the picture and I don't think it should be done without a guide since you are negotiating steep bits of snow between drop-offs)
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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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snowball,
Sorry, should have been clearer, I meant on the piste. Off piste there is certainly stuff well outwith my capabiliites.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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FAQ
Lucky girl. Thanks very much! (again!)
I was looking at the webcams every day and seeing just what I was missing - it looked fantastic! Glad you had a good time.
Which I feel sad/bad about as she sent me a lovely helpful PM, but I think OH felt it was cheaper to book it all as a block (and he's paying LOL). Hopefully the ski school will be okay, not sure which one it is. I will buy you a pint Charlotte if I can find you 
We had private lessons with no stops (moving fairly quickly without being dangerous) and didn't take in even half the resort in a morning! 125km is quite a lot of skiing 
Maybe I'm a nervous skier and just don't know it!!
