 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi
I would like some advice please. I am looking for a family friendly resort that isn't too big for the first week in April, so as snow sure as possible. It is for myself (advanced skier but now disabled so ski with crutches - don't ask), my husband (intermediate) & 2 boys aged 8 & 7 who will do ski school for half a day & ski with us for the other half. Last year we went to Sainte Foy & really enjoyed it, staying in an excellent Auberge - family room, bar, games room for the kids & fully catered with early tea for the children, just down from the resort so we drove up each morning.
We would like to stay somewhere similar so looking for accommodation too. We will drive to France from UK so happy to drive up the mountain from accommodation if needs be but must be within 10 mins or so of the lifts/slopes. Often I will drop off the rest of the family near the lifts & I will drive a bit further up the road, park right next to the slope if possible & get straight on my skis as I can't walk very well - skiing is much easier!
Does anyone have any ideas - I had thought about La Rosiere but don't know much about the resort.
Thanks
Lucilla
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
We've just booked with Snowtrex to go to Valfreujus in the Murienne Valley, appartment block looks nice - La Turra I think! - with bar area, pool, sauna etc
we've off in Jan but only paid £195 each for 4 of us in an 8 person appartment INCLUDING lift passes?!!?
Seems like a bargin to me!
might be bit late for you but will post a bit of a review on our return
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
lucillapaull, I know that you're asking about resorts in France, but maybe you are interested in alternatives?
I teach skiing, specialising in disabled skiing, in Zillertal, Austria. I could give you lots of advice for around this area.
If you're interested, give me a shout.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Thanks but I have to drive because I have to carry so much extra equipment. Beside, I don't really need to do disabled skiing - I just ski on one leg perfectly normally! Thanks anyway
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
We went to Val Cenis last Easter also in the Maurienne Valley, and even considering the high temperatures (+ almost all week), and rain at the end of the week, piste were ok, the accommodation was within 5 mins walking distance of the piste, you can ski 4 different areas on the one ski pass, and they did a deal, when we booked self catering, that ski and boot hire, and passes were included in the price.
We were in Lanslebourg, and found the village a little quiet on a night, but restaurants were doing 3 course meals for around 20euro, and there was a supermarket just down the hill a little near Termignon.
http://www.valcenis.com/index-uk.htm
We are hoping to revisit this Easter, and have been quoted £380 each in the same apartments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Hi Lucilla
I would try Portes Du Soleil ski area, easy to drive. The resorts La Chapelle D'Abondance or Chatel are very nice and full of charm, no high rises. If you want t something a little bit special try Les Gets though the snow holds up better on the Chatel side as less exposed to the sun.
Try the Cornetts Hotel in La Chapelle, typical French family hotel with amazing food. You will also find plenty of catered chalets offereing a great service.
You could try the http://www.thesnowtraveller.com/snowlutions/ , just add your holiday requirements and wait for the deals to come in.
Good Luck
Paul
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks everyone, these give me some really good ideas - previously I used to go to the big resorts but am now discovering the benefits of the smaller resorts with a young(ish) family! x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lucillapaull, It is possible to drive to other countries than France in a similiar time 
I've been with this company in La Tania about 6 times when my kids were a similar age to yours:
http://www.familyfriendlyskiing.com/
It's north facing, snow sure and quickly links into the Trois Vallees, but the immediate area we never found to be busy, even going over Easter
The access up is via a gondola though??
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Lucillapaull - We also used to go to larger resorts pre-children and are now trying smaller and sometimes less well known resorts.
La Rosiere is a lovely resort for families. We particularly liked the new Les Eucharts area as a base. It is high altitude but south facing so I'm not sure if I would choose it at Easter. It had very deep snow when we went at New Year a few years ago. There are also two very long drag lifts to get over to La Thuile - you mentioned that you ski with crutches so I'm wondering if drag lifts would be a problem?
Val Cenis - I think Bartezi's suggestion is a good one. We went to Val Cenis in the summer and stayed in the lovely new apartments there, Chalets de Flambeau. They are at the foot of the piste and next to the pre-novel chair lift (between lanslevillard and lanslebourg). They can also be easily accessed by road and there are a couple of disabled parking spaces right next to building B. If any of your family like swimming there is a lovely pool at Chalets de Flambeau - big enough to swim lengths in. We are going back there in the winter and can't wait! The slopes in Val Cenis are north facing and the ski area is from 1400 to 1800m.
Les Saisies - we took our children there when they were 8 and 5 and they loved the ski area. You can easily cruise round on blue runs but there are a few decent reds too. It is very pretty with lots of tree lined runs and some nice mountain restaurants. Pam W would be able to tell you a lot more about this resort. There is a very large free carpark in the centre of the resort. We stayed in Le Hameau de Beaufortain which is ski to and from your door. It is out of the main village but you can easily drive down to the village in the evenings. The ski area is not that high but I think it is usually ok at Easter (might not be so good in the lower linked resorts).
Montgenevre is great for families and usually has good snow at Easter. There are lots of nice new apartments in the Obelisque area which is slightly out of town (they are ski to and from the door but at the end of the season the skiing back might be tricky). I think there is a carpark at the foot of the main north facing slopes. You might have to go down a few steps to get down from the carpark to the slope. Montgenevre is a bit of a trek to get to but if you go through the Frejus tunnel it wouldn't take much longer to get to than Val Cenis.
We booked all these through Peak Retreats - I'd recommend looking at their website as they have a lot of info on some of the smaller french resorts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lucillapaull, I've been skiing late season a number of times with and without kids. The last two April's have been especially challenging! However, by and large, snowmaking coverage is so good these days I've almost written it of as a concern. Year before last we stayed in Les Coches, big ski area and this year we stayed in La Norma, a smallar ski area.
My only experience with kids is self catering apartments. I think you are looking for catered accomodation? So presumably you would stay in either a chalet or hotel? DIY/TO? Budget?
Reports from above trips for a general view of what the skiing conditions were like the last two Aprils:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=88286&highlight=
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=76141&highlight=
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Hi there, yet more great ideas thanks. We would actually prefer to stay in catered accommodation - after some skiing I am not normally in a fit state to prepare the dinner! Last year we stayed in an Auberge with outdoor hot tub, bar, games room & family bedroom - 2 separate bedrooms & bathroom. It was fully catered with superb food and payed around 500 euros each per adult & I think about 300 for each of the kids - we wouldn't want to go much over that amount for the holiday. I prefer a bar for my husband as again, he wants a drink whereas I have to lay down & thats not fair for my husband. Also, the kids den was great as it had a TV DVD games etc - they had early dinner & then disappeared up there so loved the holiday. Thanks x
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
lucillapaull, The hotel near us in Champagny seems to match your requirements.
It has a bar, sauna, billiards room, cosy lounge and it is just 100 metres from the main gondola that takes you up to 2000 metres where the main ski area is.
The resort is very good for families and if you only need a small ski area you can just buy the Champagny lift pass rather than the La Plagne or Paradiski pass.
The food is usually good and they do a half board package for that week at 546 euros per adult and 350 euros per child.
They have just created a family room this year so if you are lucky you may be able to book that. They also offer packages where they include a discounted ski pass and also offer a small discount for families.
You can see more details here www.hotel-glieres.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
