Val D'Isere - Info Please

hachihead

Hi everyone,

Thinking of going to Val D'Isere in February. Probably 3 couples and a couple more so 8 in total probably.

Just looking for info on the place such as:

Recommendations for lessons/instructors, boarding and skiing
Accomodation
Tranfers from Geneva
Equipment Rental

and anything else you think is relevant.

A few of the group are quite skilled and gear is something we find lacks in some places we go so would like to know the best places to get good quality gear.
Accom to suit some couples would be good, possible chalet rental or something if anyone knows.
Transfers seem to be about 150 each for a private bus thing from what ive seen as we're going for 10days so Bensbus is out as they only do saturday/sundays.
Lessons, usually easy anyway but have again come across some crowds that are crap for the beginners and have ended up teaching them myself, which is a balls but has to be done so everyone has some fun.

Also, is the snow usually quite good up this way around then? Mid to late Feb.

Anything you can give me is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

am i bovvered

No reply from anyone ? I'm also thinking about Val D'Isere this year.
We will be there 11th - 18th Jan.
We are 2 adults ( good piste skiers ) 2 mid teenager girls (1 can ski blues comfortably and 1beginner (she has had a couple of lessons here) so we want a place that can cater for all but provide some good apres ski for enjoy... with supervision
It will be our first time Skiing in France, one thing I've noticed is the transfers are much more expensive, there are 4 of us and we are thinking of renting a car. So can go to any resort in the region.
We know Val will be great for us, loads of great piste, a few free lifts for the girls to get going. La Folie Deuce looks good for the girls to get there Face book updates sorted although it looks like they will have to get the cable car down from there.
So like hachihead above, if anyone can give any tips or opinions it would be much appreciated.

Fattes

Transfers, try the below, I have used them for Tignes & Val and are good and pretty cheap it is a 2.5 hour transfer in fairness. You will have no hassle with snow 2 glaciers between it and tignes and a historically good record.

www.happybus.ch

www.bensbus.co.uk

Ski Schools – try Snowworks – Emma Carrick and Phil are top class as are all their crew alternatively Oxygene & Evolution have really good reputations.

The best food on the mountain and a few good places to eat in the village:
On the Hill; The Edelweiss in Le Fornet – On the hill, great locations views and food.

In town; La Vielle Maison in La Daille. They are a little out of the way but very cosy and French, and good value.

The Folie Douce- is the big Apres skis spot the last few years they have had some cracking live music in there and Closest thing to hard-core Austrian Apres you will experience outside of Austria. am i bovvered – I would not be leaving two mid teenage girls unattended in this sausage fest!!!
Skiing:
Some of the best skiing in the resort on piste can be found from Bellevarde sector down to La Daille. Long wide and with plenty of variety, they also tend to be a little quieter and free from ski school snakes.

The first couple of days in the week Le Fornet is always quieter, take advantage of it!!!
The best runs back to the town are the red 'OK' and 'Orange' runs down to La Daille. The runs back to the centre of Val d'Isere are either very steep or very busy, or just mayhem avoid if possible.

From the top of the Marmot lift there is a really nice long red that brings you back to LA Dable, some good opportunities to pop off piste at the top and re-join the run.
Descente run in Tignes on the glacier is well worth the trip, it’s a World Cup Super G run really nice wide and fast, Tignes will be quieter for skiing during the day and well worth spending a day over that side DO NOT MISS THE LAST CONNECTING LIFT AT THE TOP!!!! Taxi back is expensive.

Anything from the top of Toivier towards Tignes is pretty nice in fact doing the marmot run above in the AM while heading towards Tignes and then down from the top of Toiver is really good way to start the day.
Off Piste

I preface all of the below with the fact that Vald is an Avalanche hotspot and a lot of the off piste stuff has plenty of hidden hazard it might be a good idea to book a day with a guide –Snowworks are amazing, Emma Carrick Anderson and Phil Smith are super people and their staff are all amazing. Or Henry Avalanche talks (& Ski school)
Theres a cool little gully / valley just down from the Foley Deuce if you hang as left as you far as you can and you will find it. Its called Piste Perdu

Above the Fornet take the Signal lift to the left and ski over the top, tending left to get back to the top of the cable car. Its a huge bowl of off-piste called the Grand Vallon. (If you don't go left there are small cliffs below the bowl and a river at the bottom of the valley).

The descents from Bellevarde are spectacular. Spatule, Banane and Cugnai valley amazing

Straight ahead from the Cugnai lift (top of Solaise area) and off to the right. Various ways down - fairly obvious. Watch out for the steepish start and extreme left edge of parts of the route can have avalanche danger.

If you’re heading up Bellevarde, the Olympique telecabine is good, but can get busy, use the Bellevarde chairs, it takes an extra 7 minutes, but you save it on the walk & the queue

am i bovvered

Wow !! thanks again Fattes... lots of info to digest.

The Folie Douce- is the big Apres skis spot the last few years they have had some cracking live music in there and Closest thing to hard-core Austrian Apres you will experience outside of Austria. am i bovvered – I would not be leaving two mid teenage girls unattended in this sausage fest!!!

I know... don't worry we will be very much near by :cool:

How is it for beginners ? we probably will have a rental car so options are open regarding resorts.

Fattes

There is a whole beginner area called a ski tranquile at the top of the Olympiqe Belvarde lift tons of options.

It is linked to Tignes, which is well worth accessing on the espace Killy pass and La Rosier is a short drive away and worth a visit if you have the time.

Dr Nic

Going to Val Disere boarding on dec 21. 7 days in the UCPA hostel with lift pass and full board for less than 600eur. Flying to geneva. Not decided on transfers yet but prob will go with bensbus... Return bus will have me waiting in geneva for like 7 hours but its prob the best deal
I'll letyou know how it goes

Fattes

Dr Nic the alternative is you get a bus, lift etc to Bourg St. Maurice and then get to Geneva from there, might get an extra day skiing in!

Dr Nic

Looked into loads of other options but tbh bensbus at 9am is prob the best. after 6 days boarding ill prob have enough by then, with an xmas party to come when i land in dub that night...

Fattes

Got to love UPCA in fairness that price for 6 days in one of Europe's top resorts!

karl83

Im heading to Val on Tuesday for the season. Got a job with highlife. First season and first time in France so can't wait. If anyones out that way give me a shout. I might have contacts in ski hire shops and that so be able to hook ppl up.
Fattes any tips for doing the season??

fannymagee

On Tuesday?! Fantastic!! Best of luck Karl- have a blast :-)

Fattes

Well as you are doing the chalet job thing, I refer you to the most honourable and knowledgeable Belle De Neige. Take some time to read her blog over the next few weeks from start to finish and you will be armed with all the knowledge you will ever need, read between the brilliant jokes and profanity and there is great advice in there. Couple of personal tid bits below as very general advice!

http://belledeneige.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-not-to-run-chalet.html

http://belledeneige.blogspot.com/2013/11/newbie-seasonnaires-stuff-you-might-not_6.html

You will also need an endless supply of WD40, Duct Tape, a Leatherman and Socks! I am serious about the Socks & Multi tool you can never have enough, come February some seasonairres will resort to using them as currency!

- Never turn down an opportunity
- Make friends – Especially with Bar staff, ski rental staff and Instructors!
- Ski/Board with people that are better than you or your instructor friend.
- Learn how to operate an efficient chalet this = more ski time!
- Do your job properly and don’t leave your colleagues in a hole, you may need a favour some day
- Ski/Board and every available opportunity! That is what you are there for
- Socialise but don’t wake up in a heap every morning!
- Do not go off piste without the proper kit or someone who knows what they are doing!!! Especially in Val D’isere
- Have Fun, lots of in fact when you have had it Have some more
- You have 16 – 20 weeks in the mountains soak every second in!
- Wear Sunscreen

Let me know if there is anything I can do for you and have a great time.

Dr Nic

Karl83 - i'll be in val disere in 4 weeks. give u a shout maybe...

karl83

Dr Nic wrote: »

Karl83 - i'll be in val disere in 4 weeks. give u a shout maybe...

Yea cool. Just waiting on a french sim ill put it up then.
This place is beautiful. Hasn't stopped snowing since i arrived. Looking forward to opening day

Fattes

You lucky bastard!! Be safe and enjoy

karl83

Fattes wrote: »

You lucky bastard!! Be safe and enjoy

Yea cheers for the tips mate. Looking forward to the 30th now, hopefully I might get a day off and go to Tignes before then.

Fattes

karl83: Something to pass the time before the punters arrive!! Might see you out there in Jan!

http://whitelines.com/features/comment/illusions-vs-reality-how-to-avoid-first-season-faux-pas.html

Fattes

karl83: Something to pass the time before the punters arrive!! Might see you out there in Jan!

http://whitelines.com/features/comment/illusions-vs-reality-how-to-avoid-first-season-faux-pas.html

Dr Nic

Bit of a nightmare problem here with UCPA val disere.
I booked the wrong week accom with them and now when i went to change week, they nonly have accom from the sunday...
So i can go but i need to find accom on the sat the 14th. unfortunately all the cheap accom is booked up and its crazy expensive from what i can see
Does anyone know of a cheap place i can throw down for 1 night only in val D?
Else i might just rent a car, stay in geneva the 14th and then drive down early on the 15th. about 190eur for a polo for a week. Good idea? Bad idea? Dangerous driving early/late those mornings? Need snow chains?
Appreciate advice!!
Thank you

Fattes

Dr Nic Have a look at Tignes le Lac, its a 20 minute drive to Val d normally cheap enough (Even for that school week!) You could probably use your exsisting transfers etc and just add a cab ride to Val D on the Sunday

Muahahaha

also try Chalet Charadons in Tignes Le Breviere, they have dorm rooms and might be able to accommodate for a single night. It's right at the end of the Espace Killy, I'm not sure about direct buses to Val but there are to all the main Tignes villages and my guess is you'd connect from Tignes Le lac

http://www.chaletchardons.com

Dr Nic

Cheers guys. Just back. Ucpa = best hol ever. Stayed in bourg San Maurice first night. Tenner bus up the hill sorted my probs

Icey the first couple days. Thurs/Fri knee deep in powder.

Going again in march! Woo hoo!!