 Poster: A snowHead
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Some of you may have read my thread saying that i was going to Meribel for the season next winter....
HOWEVER....BASI were nice enough to send me a letter yesterday informing me that it is infact self-catered and not catered as they stated at first (a misprint apparently.) This would obviously mean i would need to raise around another £2000 on top of the £6000 that the course already costs-so, it has become a bit unfeasable....
So, i now have the choice of a different course, either in Val D'isere, Courchevel or Vail. There are other resorts, but i felt these were the biggest and best for skiing as well as nightlife and the others (such as Pila, Haute Nandez etc.) would get a bit boring after a while.
So basically, i am just looking for any feedback on any of these resorts-i have been to Val D'isere before and enjoyed it alot and my brother also did the same course there 2 seasons ago so i kind of know what to expect there-it would probably be my 1st choice.
However, i have not been to Courchevel, and have never skied in America full stop. What are either of these resorts like? I have always fancied skiing in America, but i'm not sure either the skiing or nightlife would be any better (or even as good) as the other two.
Any feedback is much appreciated 
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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 used to say that if my liver could stick the pace that Val d'Isere was the place for me.
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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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Chris_5000, if you're in your pre uni gap year then your too young to drink in America - which is social suicide! Stick with Val, Courchevel is great but EXPENSIVE!
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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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Val is great and full of Brits and expensive, Couchevel is Great and full of Brits and swanky Parisiennes and expensive. Because Courch is part of the 3 valleys (adjacent to Meribel) it has access to rather larger ammount of terrain but the combination of Val and Tignes is really more than enough to keep you happy for a season. Skiing in USA is Fab (I'm currently in squaw) and although you can never be certain about these things probably you will get better snow in Vail and I again think the ammount of accessible terrain there would be plenty especially with nearby Beaver, BUT as others have pointed out you will not be served booze out on the razz. If it's any help Base Camp ( www.basecampgroup.com ) run BASI gap courses and I'm pretty sure all their courses are fully caterered (they run in Val and Meribel as well as others) and Natives have a full list of gap year course providers additionally to BASI themselves( http://www.natives.co.uk/instructor/index.htm ) and I think New Generation ski school in Courchevel are starting to run courses.
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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 snoflake....
Is there any difference between the courses actually provided by BASI and the ones on the basecampgroup website (in terms of qualifications etc.)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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re: Courchevel, wot snoflake said. Everything already said about Meribel applies to the rest of the 3V (although for Courchevel subtract a bit of the Britishness & add a bit more Russian. And unless you rent out a top notch chalet, living in Courch needn't be any more expensive than Meribel Nadenoodlee!!!!).
Chris_5000 Good luck finding a good course.
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| snoflake wrote: |
| you will get better snow in Vail and I again think the ammount of accessible terrain there would be plenty especially with nearby Beaver |
My experience is that the beaver in Val d'Isere is much more accessible and less expensive than elsewhere; esp Courch. YMMV.
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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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Chris_5000, Don't stress ! If you are short of money, then the smaller resorts will be fine. You don't need lot's of piste for a season, 'coz that isn't where the fun is..... 
Don't know about night life, but if you're doing a season to ski, then sort that first, being poor in a rich resort is no fun at all.
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