 Poster: A snowHead
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Vallandry Trip Report
Haven’t done a trip report for ages, so thought it was about time I wrote another!
Now boys are at Secondary School, the days of cheap mid-January deals are over ☹ The original plan was to go at Easter, but for various reasons we decided we would take our life in our hands and go Feb half-term. However, by a stoke of luck it turned out that the Northants half-term was a week earlier than most of the UK and the week before French half-term! Yay! So was looking like it would be not too busy or expensive.
As per normal Mrs B and I had the usual argument about whether to leave in the early hours of Friday morning or travel Thursday night and stay closer to Tunnel. As per normal, Mrs B won the argument!!! So straight after school/work on the Thursday night we rattled (well crawled) around the M40, M25, M26, M20 to Premier Inn in Ashford. One of the nice things about the kids being a little older and sensible is that the days of expensive family/inter-connecting rooms are gone. Instead we were able to book 2 rooms at £19 each, which was a result!
With a more bearable start of 6 on Friday, we filled the tank at Ashford Tesco and headed for the Burger Van in the holding area at Eurotunnel. The bacon and egg rolls here are far better, and cheaper, than anything the main terminal has to offer!
No sooner had we started to tuck in when our run of luck continued and we snuck onto an earlier train and were off ☺
Pretty much straight after Calais we found the snow!
Obviously we were suitably shod with winter tyres, but nevertheless I was glad we were in a Disco as the snow fell quickly making the roads very slippy and a slower than normal drive past Reims and onto a chilly picnic stop! Once again the Disco proving it’s versatility by doubling as a table.
A non-eventful afternoon meant a smooth trip down to Chalons-sur-Saone for our normal overnight stop. We found this hotel a few years ago and have used it many times since, it’s nothing particularly special but clean, good restaurant and close to the motorway.
Our run of luck took a slight dent here, as my laptop bag jumped out the car when unpacking and graphics became errr interesting! Which unfortunately put an end to any DVD watching for the week.
Saturday morning it was up earlier and rattle down and around Lyons, reaching Albertville around 11, allowing plenty of time to stock up with the essential at Geant Casino. Traffic was busy, but manageable, with only the Chambery toll providing much of a queue. The ‘doofer’ managed to get us through the worst of the queue here – for the record a Disco with roofbox will go through the 2M height barrier. Just!!!
A short way out of Albertville we stopped at our usual bench for picnic lunch and to watch the HUUUGGGEEEEE queue heading away from Bourg. Mental note made to be out of Vallandry early the following week.
Lunch over we rattled up to Vallandry, getting more and more excited at each bend as the snow was looking awesone ☺
We weren’t able to get into Apartment until 4, so spent the afternoon sorting things out such lessons, passes, ski hire etc. Hired skis from Ski Republic this year, have seen a few horror stories on here about them, but they were over €100 cheaper than Ski Set and incredibly helpful during the week. Perhaps one of those occasions when my attempts to speak French paid off?
The next day it was ski time ☺ Or in my case, digging the board out after an 8-year break and hoping I could still remember what to do. Thankfully it came back quickly and (for once) I was slightly better than the boys with their limited experience at MK. Snow conditions were superb and crowds were nowhere to be seen, nevertheless we confined ourselves to the Vallandry Bowl and a few runs around Derby.
The next day we met up with our friends and took a trip over to Arc 1600 to go on Mont Blanc, one of our favourite runs. Unfortunately on the way back for lunch, one of my boys fell over badly and sprained his wrist badly. Application of RICE, crips and favourite teddy bear seemed to do the job at lunch though and we all headed out for a more gentle afternoon.
Tuesday was the day we had booked private lessons – boarding for me and the boys and skiing for Mrs B and daughter – from 12.15 to 14.15. So a morning of sledging and taking it easy was in order for Mrs B and kids and I went out for one of the best mornings I’ve ever had on my board ☺ Rattled around Arc 1800 and over to 2000 for a play in the Arc Bowl.
The lesson on the board was tough but very very useful, the boys found it particularly amusing when during one exercise our teacher said Boris you’re sh*t.
Daughter had an even better lesson! We’d told her instructor she was working towards 3*, as it turned out after 10-minutes the instructor told her she was way better than that, gave her her 3* and went onto test her for her Bronze. Which she duly got ☺
Wednesday – worst morning on board ever ☹ Still had a lot of fun playing around in deep snow to the edge of runs and in out of the trees, but for the life of me couldn’t do anything right and kept falling over. Decided to call it a day and head back early for lunch, took the opportunity to head back to Ski Republic to hire skis for son who was struggling with his wrist on the board and was obviously somewhat nervous about falling again.
Afternoon called for a group trip out to “The Secret Hut” with our friends and theit children. The Secret Hut was a regular afternoon trip when our kids had started skiing , just far enough to be challenging but with plenty of diversions in the forms of bumps etc, and of course the promise of a Hot Chocolate. For those that are interested, the Secret Hut is just opposite the Trans-Arc mid-station.
In the evening, we went out for a meal with friends to Le Refuge in Vallandry, a place we have been to a few times and always enjoyed. A nice mix of Pizzas, steaks and of course Tartiflette. Some of the parents may also have enjoyed the red wine.
Thursday it was skis all round for a blast over to Arc 2000 – while there are some nice cruising runs over there, have to say that I find the runs above Vallandry in the trees far more interesting. Particularly when there is so much snow as it allows for lots of fun ☺
Treated ourselves to lunch at ‘Gobble and Go’, not its actual name but named after Horrid Henry’s favourite place as they also have very speedy service. After lunch we met up with our Niece, who is working a season in Arc, and went for a run down to see the Huskies then up and over for a play in the Snow Park. Where I did fall quite spectacularly on the world’s gentlest rail.
Friday – boooo last day ☹ With loads more having fallen overnight, a day of messing around was called for. Lots of fun had by all, even when it didn’t quite go to plan!
A final stop at ‘The Secret Hut’ for Vin Chaud for adults and then it was back for the worst bit of the holiday i.e. the mad pack and apartment clean. Again I was glad we had the Disco as I was able to get down the very snowy drive to right outside the door to pack the car.
Based on the queues we had seen the previous week we were ready to leave Vallandry at 7.30. It would have been earlier if it hadn’t been for a huge queue of Belgians in the bakery all wanting their bread sliced and then asking for receipts FFS. Still got my own back when past them all putting chains on to get up the small hill out of car park onto main road!
Only encountered a small queue on the road out the valley, due to the traffic (mis)management system, then was a smooth trip up to our overnight stop at Val Moret near Troyes. We’ve come full circle with stops on return journey. When the kids were little, it was essential, but 3-years ago we were getting to hotel by 2pm and thinking “we could get home”. So we switched to going home in one hit. But this year we thought it would be nice to treat ourselves to a meal and to try out the new pool – very nice!
Another early start on the Sunday and a blast up to the Tunnel in plenty of time for train – well I say plenty of time, but this ended up cutting it very close due to the usual incompetence by UK Boarder agency. Honestly a huge queue to get through and 2 out of the 8 booths open – Eurotunnel really have to sought this out.
M25 was kind and we were home early afternoon for a final pig out and relax catching up with Ski Sunday and Top Gear.
Can’t not mention (again) the Disco, or Big-D as we know him. Big-D recently replaced our much loved SEAT Alhambra and provided a comfortable and sure-footed ride to and from Vallandry and managing 28.6mpg over 1600 miles. Pretty good considering this was mainly at 80mph and with top-box.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Fun all round. Like.
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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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Really nice report - will go back and read again later - just out of interest will your schools be having half term in 2014 the week before most others?
I am just setting our prices/availability for next year...
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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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Really fun and enjoyable report 
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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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Boris, smashing report, thank you!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Boris, Great report - thank you  I can't wait to be there again in a couple of weeks
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Pamski, a quick look shows half-term starting 15th Feb 2014, same for all our neighboring counties so I guess won't be so lucky next year.
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Boris, excellent report; great selection of photos which gets the atmosphere across nicely.
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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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Boris, thanks - shame for you though.
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Great report Boris,
Ours was a week early too this year but back in line next. Almost certainly won't matter though as my daughter will be 18 and in the thick of A levels and doesn't want go at half term. So that's it half term battles all fought.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Hi Bro, great report, loved the photo's. You def. had the better deal on half-term week, we were away last week and in the thick of things - though I fancy it may have been even busier in France than we had in Austria.
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Great report, brilliant photos too, especially the 'spreadeagle' one with token dropped pole. Love it!
Looks like you had a wonderful family trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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"the usual incompetence by UK Boarder agency.". Yet another reason to hate boarders!
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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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foxtrotzulu, 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Boris, Great trip report. We had a tremendous week in Plan Peisey (ClubMed) a couple of years ago. There was almost no snow at all, but we still had a lot of fun.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Boris, great report. Which ski school did you use please ?
I too have a Discovery - since 2004 and now on my 2nd - great car in such conditions esp with winter tyres. But they ( the winter tyres ) are complete rubbish off road in mud as I found out last week .
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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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alltnaha, For the private lessons we booked with ESF and were both impressed - have used them before for normal weekly lessons.
HAve also used New Gen there and been impressed
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Boris, great report.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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fantastic.
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Boris, thanks , we have also used ESF at Plan Peisey and New Gen at Vallandry and thought both were very good.
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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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We thought ESF were rubbish for the group lessons, but we had a great guy for private lessons. Given half a chance (which we didn't have) I would always avoid ESF.
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Boris, great report, really enjoyed reading it.
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FAQ
