 Poster: A snowHead
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We'll be in La Clusaz for Xmas (20th-27th Dec). It's the first time we'll have been away on Xmas day itself and I was just wondering how the day itself will be.
Will it be really quiet with lots of people doing family stuff or will there be loads going on?
Also, are restaurants likely to be closed or open (and presumably busy)?
Finally, anyone know anything about the ski schools there? - the accommodation we're in has links to 'SNO-acadamie'. To date we've used ESF group lessons wherever we've been in France for the kids. However, this time, I think we'll get private lessons for the kids, the idea being that (roughly speaking) they'll spend less time in more focussed lessons for the same money. Any views?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Higs, Christmas Day is normally just like any other day on the slopes - everything open, ski lessons as usual. Can't help you with ski lessons in La Clusaz but private lessons might be a good way to go. You might not have much choice on timings, though, at Christmas (our place might not be typical, but at Christmas last year private lessons were only available during middle of the day. I booked in October to get the instructors I wanted for my daughter in law and grand-daughter.
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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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Higs - as Pam w says, business pretty much as usual on the slopes on Christmas Day. We were in Le Grand Bornand (linked by skibus to La Clusaz) last Christmas - the French tend to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with big family meals, church, parades etc. There was lots going on during the evening including torchlight descents by the instructors, music, free vin chaud with a final appearance by Pere Noel in a sleigh throwing out showers of sweets etc for everyone to pick up. All very nice. We had booked a restaurant in advance for Christmas night which I'm glad we did as it was a very atmospheric place but mostly busy with the English. If you want to be sure of finding somewhere good to eat I would say have a look on the website or search the forum for other snowheads recommendations of good places to eat in La Clusaz (I know there have been some threads in the past) and book in advance. At least you know it's done then!
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Higs La Clusaz is a great place to ski and has a large number of restaurants in town. The advice regarding booking is a good idea if you are a large group but most places can always fit in a couple of extra diners.
Although I've never been to La Clusaz at Christmas all other resorts I've been to for the last 18 years have, as pam w and loatie state, operate as normal right through the Christmas period. Indeed, the only way you know it's Christmas Day is the mass of Brits whinging on about where they can get "traditional" Christmas dinner on the slopes 
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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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| Quote: |
the only way you know it's Christmas Day is the mass of Brits whinging
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Hopefully La Clusaz won't be full of wingeing Brits. And, if you're lucky, not too many ghastly Santa hats, either.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, IME during school holiday periods private lessons are often only offered during the break between morning and afternoon ski school sessions ie 12-2 Sunday to Friday. Think I'm right in saying that Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year so that might be an option.
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Thanks, we know Le Grand Bornand pretty well but haven't been to La Clusaz since 'the time before children'. Back then we used to stay near Annecy and ski somewhere different every day so only ever went to La Clusaz for the day. I remember it being an attractive place with some nice restaurants around a square near a church. Will ask here for restaurant recommendations closer to the time.
re private lessons... I think (from what little I've managed to find on the web) that sno-acadamie are primarily a private lessons focussed company who will only do group lessons during the hols. So I would expect that they offer private lessons throughout - I could be wrong though. I'll drop them a.
No santa hats here.
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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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| Higs wrote: |
...Will ask here for restaurant recommendations closer to the time.
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Well we're off on Monday so if anyone's got any restaurant recommendations, they'd be much appreciated.
Interested in nice places to go for lunch on the slopes and also somewhere nice, releaxed and kid-friendly to eat one evening.
TIA,
Higs
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Higs, hope you managed to get away! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Yes we got away thanks.
A 3 hour delay wasn't pleasant at the time (when we'd got up at am) but is now largely forgotten.
Because of where we're staying, reliance on the ski bus and tired kids we've not eaten out in the evenings and almost certainly won't tomorrow or Sunday but we've been taking lunch seriously. Our favourite place so far is 'La Ferme' very close to the piste close to town - a simple menu of pizza and Savoyarde stuff (meat 'n'cheese) but very friendly and tasty.
re lessons:
me and Mrs Higs had a a couple of lessons from Xavier at ESI - he was pretty good and he's definitely given us a couple of things to work on.
the kids did 4 mornings with Renaud from ESF - they loved him, they had fun and their skiing's moved on (which is all you can ask for really)
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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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You know it makes sense.
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La Clusaz will be very pretty, it's a beautiful resort with some great skiing, if you want some more advice I wrote a review on La Clusaz and feel free to have a read to gain any tips...
Hope you enjoy your stay
Jim
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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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Sadly our stay is all but behind us now - leaving noon tomorrow.
On the subject of serious lunching we went to Chez Fonfon at Le Croix Fry today and thoroughly enjoyed it.
We've had a cracking family Xmas here and will come back.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sadly our stay is all but behind us now - leaving noon tomorrow.
On the subject of serious lunching we went to Chez Fonfon at Le Croix Fry today and thoroughly enjoyed it.
We've had a cracking family Xmas here and will come back.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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HIGS, there will be christmas events all week. there is an article on the rhone alps tourism site that will help. we are also in the village christmas week. aravis challenge for lessons, very good, but usually busy. L'outa is a good call for kids and food. Food on the whole excellent. Apart from Balme most mountain restaurants good; try la bercail and telemark on l'etaille (sp?). if you have a car try chalet du lac at confin. have fun! 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Plenty of good eateries in La Clusaz (like L'Ouson previously listed and le Saint-Joseph, la Scierie). For a treat you can eat at Chez Marie-Ange (was started by Marie-Ange Veyrat, sister of Marc Veyrat but now run by Eric Guelpa) at Chalets-hôtel de la Croix-Fry (not far from la Clusaz). Just Look-up the name Marc Veyrat, they were pretty good in that family...
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FAQ
Merry Christmas 
