 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, what time does this open from B-l-B and what's the last run from Meribel 1450 down to B-l-B?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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First lift, IIRC, is at 8.30 or 9am depending on the time of season. Last lift back is at 17h00 until early Feb, then 17h30 until the end of the season.
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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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How long does the gondola take up to Meribel and whats BLB like?
Sorry to hijack!
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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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The White Stuff
Can't remember exactly how long the gondola takes - but it's not a short trip. 20 mins or more as I recall.....
We spent 3 nights in BLB a few seasons ago. It's got a fair selection of restaurants and hotels - but is not a very happening place if that's what you are looking for. As it's a proper valley town - as opposed to a ski resort - prices are quite a lot cheaper than at altitude. We quite enjoyed staying there and would go back. If (relatively) cheap access to the 3 valleys is your main aim, go for it. We booked digs on Expedia - Hotel Golf. Very reasonable price for a fairly decent standard. A few mins walk to the gondola & quite well placed for nights out.
Also, as the name suggests, BLB has got a thermal baths - which we never tried out.
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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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It's a nice little ski back to Le Raffort gondola station, either on the piste or gentle off piste through the trees on villages-raffort rather than get the gondola directly from Meribel.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Snow line permitting of course! 
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There is a company that does a really cheap (overnight coach from London) weekend package for two or so days to Brides-les-Bains. If based there would it be convenient place for a few days cheeky sliding ?
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| The White Stuff wrote: |
How long does the gondola take up to Meribel and whats BLB like?
Sorry to hijack! |
22 minutes, with intermediate stops at Les Allues and Le Raffort.
BLB is a nice little town, some bars, clubs and a casino, with a bit of life during the season, but not nearly as much as a major resort.
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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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It feels longer. I think, unless the price difference is substantial and really important to you, you might regret the travel both ways every day. And BLB doesn't have any of the feel of a ski resort.
Mind you, I haven't stayed there - I just visited once when there was a huge dump and almost all the Meribel lifts closed due to avalanche danger, but you could ski all the way down to BLB. (Plus I drove through it once.)
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Appreciate the comments snowball.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We like staying in Brides. For the last three years we've used the Hotel des Sources which has fantastic staff and is very French. In fact, the whole village feels very French, complete with grey buildings and peeling paintwork, and is a mile away from the glitzy highlights of a typical resort.
Advantages:
* Only 600m altitude so a good nights rest is assured. Remember the mountaineers maxim of "climb high, sleep low".
* Easy transfer - few access problems.
* Feels like a real place.
* Relatively cheap.
* Quiet.
* Usually warm enough to encourage a walk out in the evening.
* The ride up in the morning gives you chance to wake up!
Disadvantages:
* You have to make it back for the last lift. It's a long way to walk, there is no bus service and I imagine a taxi would be expensive.
* Lounging in a bar in Brides just doesn't feel the same as at the foot of the slopes.
* Quiet.
* Few shops - but there is, just about, at least one of everything.
* Some mention the risk of the lift being closed in bad weather but I've never actually heard of this happening.
Apparently, there was talk of them putting in a dry slope all the way down but I can't see that ever happening. Simpler just to run a bus service up and down the hill - but I guess there are too many vested interests involved.
http://www.hotel-des-sources.com/welcome.htm
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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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A point worth remembering is that once you get off the gondola in Meribel you still have to take another lift to go skiing. This means half an hour on lifts before you get to ski.
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We enjoyed our stay in Brides but didn't use the gondola much, the times just didn't fit with our ski lessons and it was a long and cold ride up/down. As we had a car we drove up daily, parking in Meribel was easy in the covered car park and just a couple of euros a day (although it was a few years ago now so may have changed). It's different from staying in a ski station but good value and if night life is not too much of an issue then well worth looking at as a good value option.
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You know it makes sense.
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| homphomp wrote: |
| We enjoyed our stay in Brides but didn't use the gondola much, the times just didn't fit with our ski lessons and it was a long and cold ride up/down. As we had a car we drove up daily, parking in Meribel was easy in the covered car park and just a couple of euros a day (although it was a few years ago now so may have changed). It's different from staying in a ski station but good value and if night life is not too much of an issue then well worth looking at as a good value option. |
Yep, car is always quicker the the gondola too, unless there is very heavy traffic. We live a few minutes drive from Brides, but always drive up to the stations (usually Meribel), unless conditions are bad. If heavy snow on the road, then its good to have the gondola option
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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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| sideslip1 wrote: |
| A point worth remembering is that once you get off the gondola in Meribel you still have to take another lift to go skiing. This means half an hour on lifts before you get to ski. |
Fortunately, the gondola starts half an hour before the others too 
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Poster: A snowHead
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BLB is cheap for a reason.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Is the Gondola Free?? if not how much does it cost to get up to the slopes etc. (Sorry newbie to skiing just booked my 1st trip to BLB and just registered to this forum)
Any advice on goods bars in BLB or is it a taxi/Bus, up to Meribel every night< Any idea on Taxi costs etc.?
Thanks in advance
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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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I stayed in BLB for a week recently and also chose to drive up to Meribel Village most days (parking free and car park right next to lift). IIRC you can get a bus down to Les Allues (1350?) until quite late if you want a night out in Meribel town, although a taxi from there to Brides will still set you back about 40+ euros I expect.
There are a couple of OK bars in BLB and a casino for later night drinking. Prices are a bit cheaper than resort, but not hugely so - certainly not enough to make it a real selling point. Although it is a really friendly place - my partner spent most of the week in hospital in Moutiers with a broken leg so I left him in hospital and went out a few nights on my own and never failed to meet nice people and have fun - possibly the advantage of being in a resort with only a couple of bars - you meet the same people all week.
For bars - there is a little apres terrace place on your left as you walk down the hill from the gondola (I think it is a small nightclub too), and another straight ahead of you just at the bottom of the steepest bit of the hill - part of one of the hotels I think. The best bar in the evening was the bar / pizzaria opposite the casino complex on the main road - sorry can't remember the names of any of them but they are not hard to find.
Tip for the week - take the bus to the gondola station if you can - the walk up is VERY steep - and take a hipflask for the ride back down - it can be very boring.
The gondola is not free - it is included in your ski pass - not sure which local pass covers it though as we had 3 vallees ones.
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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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Apologies for barging in on this, but I am going for a week early March & have not been before.
Great info from Scampi Dellahanti, do you know if they have a Lift Pass Ticket Office at the BLB gondola, if not do they allow you to ride up for free on your first time to buy a ticket from the Ticket Office in the Chaudanne area?
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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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Yes, there is a lift pass office at the bottom of the gondola (and at the Chair at meribel village if you decide to drive up)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for replying Scampi D, that's great.
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You ned to buy a pass to ride up - ticket office just where you get on. You can get on and ride down without a pass as they never check and there isn't a pass reader machine. Best hotel to stay used to be Val Vert but it changed hands a few years ago. Les Alpes is just next to the gondola and very nice. There is a free bus round the village to/from the gondola. Lots of cheap self catering apartments. We have been going there several times a year for many years.
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Stayed in Brides-les-bains for the last 2 years. It does seem a long journey up to the Meribel in the morning. This is usually the time to plan your day. On the way down it gives you chance to rest & chill out. If it wasn't for the fact I can get a couple of weeks here for the price of 1 further up I probably would stay higher up in the 3 valleys & avoid this hour wasted each day.
Try not to miss the last gondola as it costs 50 euros for a taxi as I found out this year 
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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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As you've all been very helpful so far, I'll push a bit further. Are there any bars in Brides which would show English football games. I know there are plenty in Meribel but getting back after the Olympe Lift closes would be a problem, well costly in fact & would defeat the point of stying in Brides.
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Yes - the pizzeria I mentioned earlier will I am sure - seem to remember them showing the rugby while I seem to remember they had a board outside advertising the footie.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Once again. Thanks for the info.
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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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What time is the last gondala down, and what happens if we miss it????
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| Quote: |
Lift schedules for Brides Les Bains - Open daily from 18th December 2015 to 15th April 2016
Mid December to early February - From 08:30 to 17:00
2nd week February to 3rd week April - From 08:30 to 17:30 |
http://www.merinet.com/lifts/dates
If there's a queue they'll keep it running until everyone's on. In extremely snowy years you can ski to the bottom - apparently. Otherwise you'll have to get a taxi. There may be a bus but I've read that it's for staff only.
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You know it makes sense.
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| altis wrote: |
| In extremely snowy years you can ski to the bottom - apparently. Otherwise you'll have to get a taxi. There may be a bus but I've read that it's for staff only. |
Ha ha - you'd have to be seriously desperate to ski to BlB at last lift time. It's not really a ski, more of an expedition that you should do on your worst skis when they're already booked in for an overnight service. Think twilight would make it super-interesting!
ASFAIK the public ski bus stops at Les Allues and it's a taxi from there. There is a free bus service once a week from BlB to Meribel on (I think) Tuesdays but it's really aimed at BlB punters that want a night out in the big city rather than Meribel après-ers going home. Could be an option for a change of scene though 
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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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Have been many timeS to BlB and never seen enough snow to ski back on.
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FAQ
