Well, it's booked!
Firstly, my thanks to everyone for the very informative [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-skiclub-recommendations-please ]thread here[/url]
Have settled on Serre Chevalier, and is all booked up, so who has any first hand experience and advice handy?
Thanks!
Monetier les Bains last year. Large area in 4 parts which are not particularly well connected, nice skiing but most of the villages are a little walk to the lifts. Free(ish) bus runs up the valley all day, but don't miss the last one cause there are very few taxis!
We've been a few times and enjoyed the first 2 holidays, however the last trip was a pain, due to the main road along the valley getting bunged up at rush hour!
There are plenty of runs to keep a large group busy for a week. We've always had good snow.
I also don't think the runs are harshly graded like some French resorts.
Only downside were the unfriendly and expensive mountain restaurants. Things may have changed though, as the French are beginning to realise our £1 is being spent in North America, where the customer service is fantastic.
Have fun.
Only been there on a day trip from Montgenevre so can't comment on nightlife/food/accomodation but the riding was brilliant. We had great snow and more than enough to keep a group of 7 intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders happy. The main lifts were busy and had some long queues but off the beaten track pistes were very quiet and some excellent riding was had.
We stuck to piste bashing (with some park runs) as we didn't want to risk heading off piste without a guide. Being a bunch of skinflint seasonnaires we didn't eat at any of the restaurants (took packs instead) so can't comment there I'm afraid.
Hope you have a great holiday 😀
Thanks, all.
Had heard about the road, but not sure it'll be too much of an issue.
Will be in Chantemerle, which sounds pretty nice all round. Any bars to attend/avoid? 😉
Just got back from a week in montgenevre and we spent the day down there. Snow was good although it was a little busier than monty. Previous year we did a whole week there staying with skitopia. More than enough for a week and u get a day in monty in your lift pass which is well worth doing.
The nightlife was good, but we were with a big group so we could make our own fun. Our favourite bar was le grot as they always had something going on. There was also a Swedish bar that had a live acoustic night where dancing on tables was was encouraged which was good fun.
We ate up the mountain most days, they we ok and not as expensive
as say the 3 valleys.
Beers about 4 to 4.50 euros in town, 3.50 at le grot happy hour 3-5pm that's pints.
Mrs Higgo is there at the moment.
We've been there for a week but it was about 15 years ago so I doubt anything I rememer is either correct or still relevant.
We were in Claviere a couple of years ago (linked to Montgenevre) and liked both of them so they're worth a day trip. Day trips are also possible to Alpe d'Huez (which is one of my fave places) and Les Deux Alpes (which I wouldn't bother with again). All completely subjective veiws, obviously.
Was there about 10 yrs ago and would go back. Chantemerle probably the best town to stay in. We were in Villeneuve which was a bit quiet at night.
Good variety of runs and quiet pistes when we were there. The beauty of the runs is that they seem to develop into a matrix lower down and you can often take a wrong turn which adds variety. A good intermediate resort with plenty tree lined runs and little off piste bits between the runs.
Downsides when we were there was slow chairlifts and a lot of ski tows higher up the mountain, some of which were viscously quick and would lift you right off the ground at the start. This may have been upgraded since then??
Ahh yes I remember the 'lets lift you off the ground' 'poma' tow lifts.
Great info, thanks!
Just back from the Hemel Alps, nice afternoon session..
Long thread on snowheads about current conditions and forecasts. Reading them obsessively at the moment as I'm off to flaine on Saturday.
Yep, am lurking on Snowheads. Seems a really good forum!
Have a grand trip! I have to wait until March....booo! Bult then there should lots of lovely bluebird days, and from the looks of the calendar, nice empty slopes! Woo!