 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Could anyone give a little info into this resort, local prices, ease of getting to the slopes etc. Thankyou for any info
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Brides is connected to Meribel by one small bubble lift. The town itslef is more of a summer spa town than a winter ski resort. Haven't been for some years but when we were there there wasn't really an Apres bar in Brides itself although there are a few quite posh restaurants.
I would definately recommend hiring a locker in Meribel and not lugging your skis and boots up and down the bubble every day. Other than that you'll need to check the time of the last bubble down as you'll want to spend most of your Apres time in Meribel.
Obviously the skiing is the same as if you were in Meribel - it just takes you 20 minutes each way to get there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
cathyalltwen, Welcome to Snowheads
Tiger2 has summed it up pretty well really. A snowhead has got some great info about the skiing in Meribel on his apartment page - http://www.skimottaret.com/
Enjoy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
cathyalltwen, Welcome to Snowheads. The Gondola from Brides up to Meribel is very reliable (i.e. it is usually working). Downsides are that it takes over 20 mins to get to Meribel, and once you get there, you have to take another lift to start skiing. Brides itself is a spa town. It gets a lot of elderly visitors in the summer, who go there for "cures". In the winter it markets itself as a ski resort, although it is rarely possible to ski to the village, and even then, there is only an off-piste route. Brides has a number of restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as a casino. Nightlife is more subdued than Meribel. Once the gondola closes in the evening (around 5.30 depending on time of season), you would need to take a taxi between Brides and Meribel. Prices for accommodation are substantially cheaper in Brides than up the mountain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Thankyou so much for your replies, it sounds fine for us for what we want, Skiing Skiing Skiing : ) but i've just found another resort that the group seems more swayed by. It's in Andorra and it called Pas de la Casa, although it's a little lower compared to Brides it's still advertised as high altitude, so we've compared resorts, prices and transfers with the both and have decided to watch them both for another couple of weeks, we've all been skiing twice before, both times to Pomporova and we were prepared to go on this one without joining an instructor, but in the Andorra offer there's quite a good deal for an improvers package that is swaying us. Which would you go for? Andorra apparently is ski in ski out and is only 1min walk to the centre so we won't have to rely on transport to go for a cheaper drink and food away from the slopes  Thanks again for your mega quick replies xxx
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
cathyalltwen, Welcome to  s! If it is for skiing, ie spending as much time on the slopes as possible avoid Brides!!!! It is inconvenient to get skiing, fine if you are spending a season out there and dont want to ski every day but for a one week holiday I would say no! Pas on the other hand is central for skiing and from long memory partying!
I would go for Andorra but be aware of the long transfer!
Have fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cathyalltwen,
I have to think that Ray Zorro, certainly must have suf=fered from half term syndrome
The lift from Brides is 22 mins, and arrives in Meribel at teh time the Meribel lifts are starting, so you are not losing out at the start of teh day.
From the Meribel "terminal" you just put your skis on and ski down to the main lifts - if you want to wakl down the slope in your boots then i accept it can take 5 mins, but otehrwise it's a 30 second ski.
This year in March, i was in the first bubble leaving Meribel to the top of Saulire on both days i was there, after having been in teh Birdes bubble for 22 mins.
Depends whether you ski late and then want lots of apres ski. If you want both it's a prob. But if you ski til 3 to 4, there is ample time for beer and cakes before getting down.
And there are a few good local bards in town - they aren;t Austrian style boom-bars for apres ski, but they are fine if you are a dawn to dusk skier, and just want a few drinks after dinner.
As you can guess i love Brides - it is actually very French, good local boulengerie/pattiserie, etc . Good prices in eth ski shops.
Depends what you are after 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
cathyalltwen, Brides is a (comparatively) cheap way of accessing what many believe to be the best lift-served skiing on the planet in an area generally known as the Trois Vallees. (3V for short). If your previous experience is Pamporovo, then you are going to have your mind blown in a huge way. It may just be best to leave 3V for later in your ski life as it is very expensive.
I do not want to tell you how to spend your money, but the Andorra deal might be best for you. You WILL need the improvers lessons you mention and would not get very much value out of the 3V experience until you can tackle a steep red with confidence. There are some legendary runs, but not a huge amount for people with 2 weeks at Pamporovo. I spent my first two ski weeks at Pamporovo, so I do know! I fear that after Pamporovo you will find yourself at the top of Saulire saying "There is no way I can ski down that!" (Been there, done that, but I am old, lardy and unskilled. You might be young fit and fearless.)
If you think carefully about all this, I think you will conclude your improvers week will be challenge enough. Save the magic of 3V for later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Chris Bish,
Or, i might have been trying to type "birds" 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Zorro,
we must be in very different places, or when you were there may not have been snow along that path perhaps ? The 2 times i have been there you just get off teh bubble, donw a few steps, and then put on skis and then it was (honestly) a downhill gentle ski into the Saulire lift ; the last 1/3 of it via the bottom of teh Stade piste - which is the run you can see coming down on the right.
I guess when Meribel is below teh snow line, then presumably you have to walk the track ? In that case i take your point
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
cathyalltwen, As Chris Bish, says it is a bit of a sclep, you will be on a gondola for about 30 mins plus the walking between them. I would consider it to be inconvenient. When you want to do the 3v's you will know what you want from the holiday! My ideal is convenience, others may want the schlep! Another place that will become a must for a skier is Zermatt, truly a magical place but again very inconvenient to actually getting the planks on the snow!
Enough of this, follow Chris Bish, advice and get to Andorra. You will have a great time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Well that's the bendfit of forums - you get to post your own experience and your own opinions
For me , i'll be going back to Brides this year because it beats hands down for me the 4 times i spent in the 3 valleys staying further up the valley.
I also spent my first ever week skiing in Mottaret above Meribel, and never skid a red Run at all and still had a fantastic time, so i wouldn't suggest you cant enjory the 3 Valleys if yo cant ski steep reds.
Each to their own
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Hmmmmm - I won a week's accommodation in Brides Les Bains and two 3V ski passes at the ski show..... might just consider nabbing the passes and getting a cheap late deal somewhere else in the 3V instead eh!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| Another place that will become a must for a skier is Zermatt, truly a magical place but again very inconvenient to actually getting the planks on the snow! |
Sub 5 minute walk to a gondola straight up when I stayed there. Were you in Tasch or something?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I learned to ski in Meribel, and wouldn't have changed it for the world. The only downside was the fact that starting in the 3V really skews your view of ski resorts generally.
Wouldn't stay in Brides personally - way too inconvenient for me, especially if only there for the week. Both times we're been, we stayed in Mottaret - cheaper than Meribel, and even better connected to the rest of the 3V.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I agree with with what sev112 and Chris Bish have to say. If you don't have a spare 11 grand like the Chancellor apparently has to spend on a ski holiday then Brides offers cheap access to a fantastic area. For me the inconvenience is no big deal, and if it means I can have an extra holiday then it's a price worth paying. It's a wehile since I was there, but I don't remember having to walk far from the top of the gondola up, or anywhere else come to that. However, the Andorra deal sounds good for your situation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
cathyalltwen,
| Quote: |
Which would you go for? |
I wouldn't go for either. I have stayed in Brides a good few years ago. It was liveable for me and my mate at the time but really it's not a great idea if doing a week. Andorra to me is just cheap booze. I know a bunch of guys who go there a lot and that is what they go for. I think the skiing is just OK.
Is it a particularly busy week you are looking at or is there some other reason you are choosing between these two options?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| sarep wrote: |
| Hmmmmm - I won a week's accommodation in Brides Les Bains and two 3V ski passes at the ski show..... might just consider nabbing the passes and getting a cheap late deal somewhere else in the 3V instead eh! |
YAY - congrats
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mr Technique wrote: |
| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| Another place that will become a must for a skier is Zermatt, truly a magical place but again very inconvenient to actually getting the planks on the snow! |
Sub 5 minute walk to a gondola straight up when I stayed there. Were you in Tasch or something? |
When i was in Zermatt i stayed fairly central and i'd say it was a good 10-15 minute walk to the gondola which then involved having to queue for a gondola, then a cable car then either another cable car or what seemed to be the longesst and painful T-bar in the world that would take the best part of an hour to get to any meaningful skiing so i have to agree with Ray on this one.
It was about 4 or 5 years ago now since i visited and i have heard that they've been improving the lift system in Zermatt so things may of improved somewhat-but i'd still guess that unless a lift has been installed in the middle of town then its still a reasonable walk to the lifts from there-fortunately they do have lots of lockers at the lift stations though so at least its not too uncomfortable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Save the magic of 3V for later.
|
I disagree. We went to the 3 Valleys on our 2nd trip abroad and loved it - skiing all 3 valleys.
Once you can ski you can get a lot out of the 3 Vs!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
La tania or le Paz good value for three valleys .You could get local pass instead of full 3v pass that's 150km approx .Pamporovo has 25kms see how u go try chalets direct or ski dazzle .Ski dazzle organised or transfers and also 2 days ski hosting .Great way to get to know your way around this all built into price of catered chalet
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For a two week skier I would take Andorra. Close to the pistes, good instruction and lots of good blues/ reds (although this was going back some years ago I doubt they've changed the gradient!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
