Belle Plagne

A snowHead

Going out for a week with 3 friends end of Jan, self catering, rather a good deal with P&V. Wondering about buying food & drink etc. Last time out went to Les Arcs and was glad to have stopped off on the way as EVERYTHING was so expensive in the resort, I take it La Plagne is the same? If so where is a good place to get food, it looks there is a Casino in Aimee, so that is perhaps a useful stop.
The other thing is parking, anyone got any info? Will we need chains to get up the mountain?
How long from Geneva? Google says 2 1/2 hours, but I'm taking that with a pinch of salt as I expect there to be traffic and it take longer.
Thanks guys.

A snowHead

Stayed in BP a few years ago - drove from Grenoble and stopped in Albertville at a supermarche. Glad we did, as it saved us money in the long run and gave us a better selection of food stuff for the week. The shops in BP are fine - typical resorts shops that have most things - but as you say, they can be expensive. I'd stop at the first big supermarket you find on your way. I haven't driven from Geneva so can't recommend.... Smile

EDIT: just looked on the map and you could take a route through Albertville from GVA, although I don't now if that's your preferred route....

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Prices in BP typically expensive, we usually do a 'big shop' in either Albertville or Moutiers on the way up. Main parking is in underground car park, about 80 Euro a week (But height restriction of 1.90m). Good access to all accomodation, or you can park on the street for about 40 euro per week, If you want free parking, take the car down to Bellecote, its free outside and then get the Gondola back up.

Snow clearing is good, never had to use chains in a 4x4, but this year who knows ? You will need to carry them just in case. 2 to 3 hours from Geneva depending on traffic.

Where are you staying ?

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Carrefour De Chambery Chamnord, near Avenue des Landiers, 73000 Chambéry, France
Géant Casino, Chemin du Chiriac, Albertville, France
Carrefour Market, near Rue des Bouleaux, 73600 Moutiers, France
Supermarché Casino, 54 Impasse Prés Roux, 73210 Aime, France

I've used the first one a lot, the second a few times, the third and fourth once each years ago. The first couple are a bit bigger and therefore cheaper.

Google map them, they are all close to the main drag and visible from the road as you exit.

The first has some decent cheap food options aswell.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You can easily get to the the Super U at Albertville en-route towards Moutier. Junction 32B, then left to parallel the highway large (and usually earily empty) super U. Exit on right turn and rejoin the highway about 500m up the road.

If price/costs outweigh time its hard to better Liddle in Bourg St Maurice - its where you'll find the more cost conscious shoppers Smile

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You'd definitely be better off stopping in Albertville or Moutiers for your shop, the Casino in Aime is pretty small.

In Moutiers there is a large Carrefour as mentioned by Layne which is actually relatively expensive (though much cheaper than resort options) but very well stocked with everything under the sun. There is also a Lidl in the same industrial estate (on Faub. de la Madeleine, on the D990) and another large super/hyper marche called Simply Market on Avenue des Xvième Jeux Olympiques. Both of these are cheaper than Carrefour, have a good range and get you a lot more food (and drink!) for your money. We did a lot of our staff shopping in these shops when I did my season out there a couple of years ago. The industrial estate is easily accessible of the N90 which is the road that you are more than likely going to use to get from Albertville area to La Plagne.

I've put them on a Google map so getting directions should be a bit more straight forward:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=203686117198147281682.0004b67d907adaf4495ef&msa=0&ll=45.488298,6.52633&spn=0.004942,0.011362

As Ian Kenvyn points out there is also a Lidl in Bourg St Maurice, as well as an Intermarche and a Super U. Both the last two are based on the roundabout at the bottom of the ascents up towards Tignes and Les Arcs. The only (slight) downside is that these involve going past Belle Plagne to get to them. However Bourg St. Maurice is a nice little town and worth an amble if you want some time away from the slopes.

After all it is free

There are two supermarkets in Aime Casino and Dio, both much less busy than the hypermarkets BUT I guess you could buy all you need in them, the locals seem to be able to! wink

Hi

going to Bp 4th feb for a week, can any of you guys give me some advice on apres, in fact bars and resto's in general both in Belle Plagne and near resorts ?

Thanks

vv

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thanks Bertie

that is exactly what i was hoping for !

speaking of matches though, the 6 nations rugby is on the weekend we arrive where would be the best place to watch that ?

vv

snow reports

VICTORVALASCO When I was there last week, we tended to head down to The Spitting Feathers in Bellecote to watch English football in the evenings. Not sure what the bars in Belle are like for showing rugby.

+1 for The Spitting Feathers, they usually show most of the English football matches and will no doubt have the rugby on. It is not that easy to find but you can find directions and a voucher for cheap drinks here http://spitting-feathers.com

You know it makes sense.

lush/skichamp

thanks a lot

Peroni on draught, well ok then !

1st time in La Plagne for us hence the ?'s, we will be there feb 4th for the week, just cannot wait

we usually have a good dinner midweek so could anyone nudge me in the direction of a good restaurant, m.o.

vv

is there any snow btw ?

Laughing

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Not sure about the best places to eat at night in Belle Plagne but the snow is fantastic, best early season conditions for years.

A snowHead

There are 3 dedicated bars in Belle Plagne plus a few Restaurants that have bars (Matafan etc).

Le Tete is under the Gondola station, happy hour, live music, great atmosphere,standing room only (sometimes not even that !) Empties as soon as happy hour finishes.

Cheyenne Cafe, accross from Le Tete. Happy hour, packed with good atmosphere. Serves food.

Le Saloon, empty early on but cheap drinks, busier later but with eye watering drink prices.

Lots of choice for eating, just some we like:

La Cloche, expensive, even by BP standards, but the meat fondue is fantastic.

Le K2, medium priced, great food, can be full up with big parties.

La Pappogone Pizzeria, probably the cheapest place to eat in BP, but its still 100Euro for 4 people ! Tiny eating area, often end up sharing benches and table with other diners.

A snowHead

thanks Pirate

all info is welcome

vv

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi Again

am i right in thinking that Le Matafan is at the end of one of the runs back into Belle Plagne ?

and how long does it take to get to Plagne Bellecote, spitting feathers bar more acurately

we arrive lunchtime sat 4th feb hope to get on the slopes for a while and watch the rugby starting at 5pm local time

vv

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

thanks once again pirate

sounds like we can ski down there at around 4:30, watch the match and get a bus back up to Belle Plagne around 7:30 ?

vv

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There's no bus up to Belle Plagne, but the Telecabine runs from Bellecote until about 12.30am

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ok thanks wickyb, that should be interesting

Very Happy

vv

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Belle Plagne

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