 Poster: A snowHead
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Myself and two friends, each great skiers but no experience skiing in Europe, arrive in Geneva on December 21 and depart Geneva on December 31. We have a rental car and are planning to book our accommodations this week and have tentatively planned the following itinerary:
Dec. 21 arrive in Geneva and drive to Chamonix
Dec. 21-25 - at Chamonix
Dec. 25-30 - at Les Trois Vallees (open to staying in Val Thorens, Courcheval or Meribel, possible day trip to Val D'Isere - we are interested in nightlife, but more interested in skiing)
Dec. 30 - evening drive back to Geneva
I would love any advice or tips with respect to the following:
1. Any recommendations for a specific guide in Chamonix?
2. Any tips on where to focus our time around Les Trois Vallees? Any recommendations for a guide here?
3. We are looking for a self-catered apartment, as affordable as possible. Any suggestions?
4. We are not planning to bring touring gear. Is that a mistake? I assume that we will be fairly limited in any case due to early season conditions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcome to Snowheads 
I'd make your booking pretty quick if you're looking for accom over xmas, especially since there's the promise of good early season snow.
Not much point in having a guide in 3V. There are lots of lifts, lots of skiers, lots of pistes and most people don't go there for the back country. If you want the guided stuff then you'd be better to stay in Chamonix! If you want apartments then try Len Menuires - theres some good off-piste from the Pointe de la Masse.
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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Thank you for the info jellylegs!
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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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If you've got the cash, I think it is worth getting a guide a the 3Vs. There is a lot of cool backcountry to be accessed around there. If it's in condition you could check out the N Face of the Bellecote (access from Champagny, just across the valley from Courchevel) which has some awesome lines - plenty of good stuff around the 3Vs itself too.
I would bring touring gear if you have room. Adds so much more flexibility
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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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jellylegs, There is arguably more easily accessible (and certainly objectively safer) off-piste in the 3V than Cham...
Flaukamite, to answer your queries
1. Jonny Baird (www.jonathan-baird.com)
Guy Willett (dream-guides.com)
Rick Marchant (http://www.bmg.org.uk/index.php/eng/Members/Guides-K-M/Rick-Marchant)
Andy Perkins (www.andypmountainguide.com)
for starters.
2. Meribel or Mottaret are good central bases - easy access to the whole 3V from there
3. Can't help - try skimottaret on here ? (Link to his appartment in his signature) Clients have used his appartment & were very happy.
4. Have you seen the snow reports recently? There will be loads to go at straight off the lifts, but depending what it does between now and then the ability to tour could find you untracked snow still...
Enjoy!
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