 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm going to Flaine on Jan 14th with a group of 4 but I can't ski because I've just had a knee op. I've got to try and find something to do for a week while my wife and mates ski all day 
I'll be 4 weeks out from my keyhole op so I'll be able to do moderate activities but not skiing.
I've never been there so I don't know what there is to do there. I'm staying at the very basic hotel Totem so I don't think there'll be much to do there.
Any suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hmm. Depends how much you'll be able to use your legs, but two things which would appeal to me would be doing some snowshoe trips and learning to drive a dog sled - both available in Flaine, according to their website. The tourist office would have the information. Snowshoes can give you a good solid feel under your feet - quite reassuring if you're trying to protect your knees - provided you avoid difficult terrain, obviously. It's very enjoyable, walking in the mountains away from the pistes and machinery.
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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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Thanks for the reply. I think I could do snow shoeing. Might give that a go then. I have done dog sledding before but I'd be up for giving it another go. I think many people in my position would probably still ski but this is my second op in 6 months and I'm determined not to have another setback because I have a trip booked for March.
Thanks for the suggestions 
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At least in Flaine since it's situated at the bottom of a snow bowl it's easy for the other skiers to meet up with you there at lunchtime for you to all eat together if they wish to. 
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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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They've got an ice driving course too I think if you are driving by then (and a cinema and ten pin bowling alley).
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| At least in Flaine since it's situated at the bottom of a snow bowl it's easy for the other skiers to meet up with you there at lunchtime for you to all eat together if they wish to. |
They're all on an off piste course with a larger group so I'll probably not see them. I was wondering if there was a spa or health centre that anyone pay to could use? Might have a go at that ice driving too.
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boris360, My tip is to take some good books or even consider hiring a ski bike if you can. There is precious little in Flaine to occupy a non skier for more than an hour. They closed the pool some time ago, unless they have built another in the last 2 years.
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i expect you can get a ticket up in the gondola, might be a nicer place to read books.
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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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Swimming pool, cinema, ice driving, para gliding, snow shoeing, dog sledding, skidoo driving....... Could you do cross country skiing?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
There is precious little in Flaine to occupy a non skier for more than an hour.
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I think that's a bit harsh. It all depends. A great many people enjoy themselves in the mountains in all sorts of ways which don't require either skis or commercial provision of "entertainment".
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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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If you're OK to drive, then, apart from the ice driving, you might be able to hire/borrow (you didn't say how you are travelling) a car and get out to the surrounding area - Chamonix and Geneva aren't that far; Martigny might not be unmanageable (depending on road conditions, I've only done that in Summer), Samoens is worth a visit as a contrast to a high altitude skiing village.
Do any of the lifts allow downloading? If so then the snowshoeing idea looks pretty good, as you could get high up without much climb or descent.
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| Quote: |
Chamonix and Geneva aren't that far
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I wouldn't really bother with Geneva, personally, but Chamonix could be good. If the weather is OK you could go up the Aiguille du Midi. Unforgettable.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Dogsledding can be quite energetic,pushinh the sled, running along in the snow, are you sure your knee will be up to it?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ice driving is just down the road
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It may be worth asking at the newer hotels if they will allow people to pay for use of their hammam facilities. In the daytime when i guess they will otherwise be very quiet they would probably not have a problem with it.
We are in Les Carroz for that week do you want picking up and spend a day in this lovely village? How are you fixed for some child minding? Tell you what, our apartment has a great pool/sauna area for a small fee you can use our place for the day 
But seriously for a change of scenery if you have a car or can de dropped off Les Carroz is rather nice and a lot closer to get to by car than Samoens.
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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 wouldn't go. Failing that, Flaine is a gloriousyl attractive Alpine village where you can while away many hours looking at the pretty buildings. 
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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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I still think the ski bike is the best idea, if you can get one. You'll be up there with everyone then, or at least on the piste if they are off piste.
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Internet Porn
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I'm in carpe diem in les caroz...not far
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| James the Last wrote: |
| I wouldn't go. |
That was my first idea but my wife really wanted to do the off piste course but she didn't want to go without me.
I'd rather not have the hassle of hiring a car to get to other resorts but if I'm struggling to occupy myself in Flaine,it's something to consider.
Hells Bells, good point about the sledding, I forgot about the running involved.
I will be pretty mobile by then and able to do most stuff. I'm definitely going to do the ice driving and I like the suggestion of doing a different snowshoe trail every afternoon with the ski school. I will be doing phsio pretty aggressively for the next few months so anything that is low impact but taxes the muscles is welcome. I could really do with access to a good gym.
I don't think I'd risk a ski bike because of the consequences of crashing.
Thanks for all of the responses 
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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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boris360, Chamonix bus run services regularly. I've never used it, but the ski bus does seem to depart every 30 mins or so during the day. Wednesday morning market Samoens. Cluses and Sallanches are probably worth avoiding if you have a low boredom threshold. Annecy for a day trip might be possible and as others have suggested Geneva..warm roasted chestnuts, modern art galleries, coffee and some nice markets. Breakfast upstairs at Manor maybe? A day pass for Geneva public transport..bus/boat/train is 8Chf: You probably wont want to be walking around too much on slippy surfaces though so a pair of slip on spikes or shoe grips is something you might want in your Xmas stocking?
Have a good trip
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There is also the indoor climbing walls if your knee is up to it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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boris360, The original swimming pool has closed but I believe there's one in the newer Montsoleil complex just ouside Flaine Foret (the upper part). Check with tourist office. You can get a free lift from Forum (where Totem is) to Foret. The tourist office does a walking tour around Flaine one afternoon. It's also definitely worth a trip to the top in the DMC cablecar on a clear, still day - the view across to Mt. Blanc is stunning. Last year my wife was injured on day 2 and couldn't ski thereafter. However, we always returned to the apartment for lunch - Flaine is ski in, ski-out.
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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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There is an outdoor pool at Montsoleil but is for residents and apart from a small indoor pool (more like a plunge pool) that is it. Much better to try and see if you can use the facilities at one of the newer hotels in the village which have a full spa.
I didnt realise you were staying in Le Totem, you have got so much to do. Face painting, movie day, crafts and painting.
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Big TV & Wi-fi in Totem which is now run by Langley. Tourist office on other side of square has ideas. Wife & I in the Totem same week....you could get a help the aged badge.
We have stayed there a few times.
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You know it makes sense.
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try getting a love film free trial - set it up before you go ( you will need WIFI) - and cancel it after - then you can watch movies for free whilst you cannot ski
other wise from memory the totem is a bit basic, but there was a great childrens creche.
take a walk to flaine foret - thats not too bad
go to les carroz - also nice for a day out
meet up with all the snowheads that seem to be out there, and have a beer or 3
cannot comment on the newer hotels as they were all awaiting build when we went out a couple of years ago.
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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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gazza2, Lovefilm won't download in France though... will it? Have you tried?
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Poster: A snowHead
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holidayloverxx, Might work using ExPat Shield though. But you need to make sure that there are no conflicts such as you experienced. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Samerberg Sue, it's not TV though (or is expat shield just a proxy server? as you know I've had to abandon...). I asked our resident Lovefilm employee if I could use my account in Austria and the answer was a definite no.
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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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holidayloverxx, I've noticed Lovefilm are advertising here, so maybe it just needs another account? I've no idea how Expat shield works. I believe it just hides your IP address somehow and fools the servers in the UK into thinking you are legit. I can watch BBC live on it though through i-Player, as well as all the other channel options! Not tried the Sky one yet though as I do not want to tempt fate there!
I do have to log out and reboot my computer after using it as I cannot log into the servers at work via my VPN link if I have had Expat connected (even after I disconnect something stays there hiding my IP). It also cleans out the cache so I don't get all those annoying advert banners, etc.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Love film allows downloads that expire after a week or so - you can download a good few before you go if necessary
i though it was UK, France, Germany, Ireland that had lovefilm ?
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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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gazza2, It's Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the UK.
Aren't the downloads that expire Pay Per View?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just looking through my Flaine guide - the 14th to 20th is "Flaine Poker Nights" - everyone from beginners to experts - prizes to be won at the auditorium
Other options include snow shoeing, snow mobiling, ice driving, helicopter trips, ice quads, paragliding, parapenting, dog sleigh
Rodrigo also runs indoor climbing lessons at the auditorium most days
Let me know if you want contact e-mail addresses or phone numbers
Sadly the public pool is shut but the ten pin bowling is open every evening & sometimes there are films shown and/or acts in the auditorium
The only spa options I know about are up at the Refuge du Golf (see www.odalys-vacances,com) but I'm not sure if it's open to non-residents
Easy to get to via the shuttle buses though.
Hope this helps
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boris360, Just remembered. If you want to ride the Gondola (cafe at top) or other lifts you can buy points tickets(cheaper) which can be topped up at the pass office rather than a full pass. The lifts between Flaine levels are free.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
Chamonix and Geneva aren't that far
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I wouldn't really bother with Geneva, personally, but Chamonix could be good. If the weather is OK you could go up the Aiguille du Midi. Unforgettable. |
Yesss, go and do the Aiguille, I did it in summer and it was truly amazing. Mind you, even in summer it was -5 up there!
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