 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello! I've used this site as a lurker before so decided to register and try to get some advice because you all seem like such nice people!
Basically myself and some friends (14 last year) head away on a trip each year and I'm thinking of Val Thorens as a destination for next year. From looking at piste maps it seems like there's not a whole load of greens for the beginners, I'm just wondering would it be a tough resort for people to start in?
Also, how easy is it to access the rest of the Trois Vallées? Like would you make it to Méribel/Courchevel and back in the one day without having to get a bus/drive/get a yeti to help you?
And finally (phew!) what's the best area to stay in the town? I was looking at the Péclet quarter, is it possible to ski-in/out from there? Maps are a little unclear!
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There's plenty of greens and blues around, no shortage for beginners or first couple of week skiiers. The runs in the centre of town can get a bit busier because typically that is where the kids practice and get lessons in many cases, but as long as they are ok with getting on and off a chairlift there's plenty of options.
It may seem like there's not a lot of greens as a proportion of total number of runs, but there is plenty enough to keep them happy.
I assume you mean more experienced skiers getting around the other bits of 3V? If you do, then you can get from one end of the 3V to the other and back in one day fairly comfortably, allowing a 10am start and an hour for lunch. You do need to make sure everyone is comfortable with spending a reasonable amount of time on lifts to do that, and it may require a bit of commitment to keeping speed up at the end of the day, but basically as long as you make it to the connecting lift to get home then you are ok. After a couple of days going to the next valley you will be happy going to the third knowing the route home, by the end of a week you'll be ok wth going from VT to Courchevel and back as intermediates.
I would aim for close to the lifts and town centre (both are basically the same place) and you will be fine. The best place, in my opinion, is the easiest one to get on the slopes in the morning, but they have a bus service that runs reliably through the day.
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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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Hi Monium, thanks a lot for that all that info!
Yeah there should be a few of a reasonable standard going so it sounds like we should be fine with hitting up the rest of the 3V, just didn't want to spend the extra €50 on the pass and find out it wasn't really worth it.
Yeah, I don't really want to have to bother with buses, booking independently you can pretty much choose where you want to go so I reckon we'll go for the centre alright.
Cheers!
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When are you going? There are some significant discounts on lift passes before Xmas, worth bearing in mind because VT is high enough that snow isn't likely to be a problem. But the extra 50 Euros is worth it for anyone who has done more than a couple of weeks skiing IMO, unless conditions are particularly poor in the other valleys.
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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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chillywilly, Good choice of resort, the piste skiing is generally not too challenging, but there are some good adventures to be had for the more experienced skiers. Its a bit more expensive that other areas, but not in the Coourchevel league.
The whole resort is ski in / out pretty much (there are even roller tracks over the roads so you don't have to take your skis off) The best area for liveliness is around the church. We stayed in Le Balcons and felt out on a limb, but fine as our group was pretty self suffiecient.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It'd also be a good option for proper beginners as there are some free magic carpets to get them started (so a couple of days could be free) and a beginners pass with quite good coverage.
There's a Dutch bar that had a pretty good happy hour 4-6 each night this Easter and big beers were E2.50, can't remember the name but it's a wooden building at the top end of the village, just down from Le Frog and Rosbif.
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Hi Mountain Haddock, the skiing sounds pretty good there! I'm hoping to save enough on booking accommodation early and snapping up cheap flights that a bit extra in resort shouldn't matter too much. That's the plan anyway! How long did it take to walk from Le Balcon to the centre out of interest?
TotallyBoard, I'd say there will be a few beginners alright so that's good to know, cheers! Big beers, the best kind, haha!
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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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Its only 10 mins into the centre from Les Balcons, the uphill home at 2,200m was noticeable though!
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I agree with Mountain Haddock, the '10' minute walk up to Balcons at the end of the night was challenging on the lungs due to the serious altitude. Great resort though, bucket loads of skiing, good nightlife and good access to the other valleys. In my opinion it's got everything Courchevel has without the additional 25% of cost..
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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(there are even roller tracks over the roads so you don't have to take your skis off)
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Mountain Haddock, The only place I've seen those is Austria. out of interest, where are the rollers in Val Thorens?
The Red Fox in the Balcons area is also worth a visit. A nice apres ski pub, with large beers at €3.50.
More or less everywhere in Val Thorens is either on the slopes or almost on the slopes, so you won't have far to go to reach the snow. The only exception could be the Balcons area, which is a steep "ski-in" and (depending on snow) is not always "ski-out."
It's a great choice of ski area for a mixed group! 
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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'll steer clear of the Balcons area for accommodation so! Thanks for all the tips! I'm starting to get excited now, even though it's probably 6 months away!
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| chillywilly wrote: |
| I'll steer clear of the Balcons area for accommodation so! Thanks for all the tips! I'm starting to get excited now, even though it's probably 6 months away! |
You don't have to go that route to get back to the Balcons - just get the lift back to the centre of town, and it is a couple of minutes walk at a gentle incline on a quiet road to get up to the apartments. I certainly wouldn't take it off the list on that basis - the less experienced may have a short walk but it is hardly a dealbreaker IMO.
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You know it makes sense.
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I guess I meant it more in terms of not having to walk too far for restaurants and/or beers in the evening. Also, the cheap accommodation I've seen seems to be relatively central so it's all gravy! By the way the Val Thorens websites are great, the reservation one especially! I was looking at some of the Italian ones and they're incredibly bad!
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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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Bergmeister, On the main roads around the resort where an access track to a piste crosses over. I couldn't get my Icelantics into them however so didn't use them, and so cannot tell you exactly where they are. Theres more than one set though
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Bergmeister, There are rollers in Italy as well, somewhere on the sella ronda, maybe Corvara if memory serves
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi All.
The dutch bar is Le Monde.
The rollers are over the road in Montana if you were coming from l'Oxalys towards the bottom of the Funitel de Peclet.
I agree to stay away from balcons. I agree with Bermeister almost everywhere in VT is ski in/out.
There is a new lift this season (as well other things) helping out the Cote 'freeze my @*#s off' Brune lift which should make it quicker to do the 3Vs. Also some in Meribel and Courch i believe.
Stu
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FAQ
Maybe a trip over to suss out the area first might be in order! 
