 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi, anyone interested in a trip to La Baqueira? Heard it’s got masses of do-able terrain between marked runs (personal ability/snow conditions-dependent of course!) plus a vastly under-reported amount of piste skiing, so thinking a trip combining the two would make for a good week.
I’m a competent red/black run skier who’s dabbled in a bit of off-piste, enjoy it when conditions are right, certainly no expert. Thinking it would be good to have an instructor/guide initially for the off-piste, then mix that up with some on-piste cruising.
End the day with a few beers, good meal and wine, perhaps after-dinner drinks if we’re not too knackered! Could be tempted into a cheesy disco if there is one, but would ski a bit slower the next day!
Don’t have any dates/accom in mind yet, open to ideas, but do know BA flights London-Toulouse are £70 each way in Jan!
Send me a message if interested in any/all of the above(!) and, if you know the resort and have any recommendations/advice, please post!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
La Baqueira ? Do you mean Baqueira Beret, in Spain? It's a nice little resort, the only one is europe that I'm aware of that follows the US-style "in-bounds / out-of-bounds" approach rather than the more usual piste / off-piste. That's probably becuase they teamed up with Intrawest for a few years. Ski Miquel have a nice catered chalet there and there are a few others, in fact if you search the forum there are a few trip report knocking around
Might have a see about price in march, but getting there from manchester is a bit harder 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Yes nbt, that's the one. Had discounted the Pyrenees until I read some of the good reports that are out there! Be good to go somewhere not overrun with Brits. Thanks for the pointer to skinspired rob, met them at the London show, they seem a good outfit (and doing free transfers on Sundays!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Baqueria Beret is a great resort, skied there earlier this year and even though they hadn't had much snow the pistes were all in fantastic condition and the off-piste looked great, need to go back with more snow and check it out.
All of the staff we encountered were genuinely friendly and helpful made for a really nice experience.
There's a bigger town (Vielha?) at the bottom of the valley with much more amenities, probably a better place to stay. (We were driving from further afield everyday as my dad has a house). If you hire a car for transfers you can drive up in the mornings or I'm sure lots of the hotels do a shuttle service if not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Jude1, I'd second rob@rar's suggestion. They are good guys and have also started to offer self catered accommodation. They can usually offer resort hotel accommodation if you would prefer that. They also run transfers from Toulouse.
We often stay in Salardu, the next vallage down in a nice B&B. The food in the valley is superb and excellent value so eating is not a problem. In the past we've driven down at half term and it works out excellent value for that week.
I spent a season Instructing in the Valley a few years ago and get back most years. A lovely place.
A trip report with pics showing some of the terrain is here. We caught it after a big storm so life was good for a couple of weeks !
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1494016&highlight=baqueira#1494016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks very much for all the info. Great trip report and photos - looks amazing! Haven't had any interest for the trip so think I'll get a car and go exploring the valley, the villages look lovely. Did you need snow chains most of the time when you were there for the season AndAnotherThing, or do they keep the valley roads pretty clear? Let me know the name of that B&B if you have it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jude1, The roads are usually pretty good although the last time we were there I had chains on the car for most of the week, but it just snowed and snowed. The bus service is pretty good if you don't fancy mucking about with the car. I tended to use that for work so that Mrs AAT could drive up later.
The web site for the B&B is here. The lady who runs it is called Nuria and speaks English, better than my Spanish and they are all very nice.
http://www.hostalvaldaran.com/#
claverola (at) hostalvaldaran.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I/we ski there quite a lot and it is great. Very modern, high quality, not normally too busy. Not cheap. We have a house just over the border in France and there is always the option to ski there as well if you get a hire car.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bazerd, roughly where abouts is your place ? I keep browsing the property sites hoping to find somewhere reasonably affordable over that way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Good thread, I had not heard of Baqueira Beret, sounds interesting
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Are there any other resorts close by worth visiting for a few days?
I am thinking of DIY trip Baqueira - maybe for 4 or 5 days + some other Spanish or French resort within easy drive for another 3 or so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom W, On the French side to the West you have Superbagneres and Peyragudes, the closest is maybe an hour away (although I've yet to drive it.)
To the East on the Spanish side, over the col is Espot which I have skied and is a nice little resort. To the South through the tunnel is Boi Taull with Cerler further west.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
AndAnotherThing.., Thanks. It will be nice to mix it with the resort on the French side. Some good representative of Pyrenees 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
