Oct 15, 2015, 2:55 pm
Last edit by: bodory
The ski areas will be busiest during French school holidays - other times of year will be quieter (and cheaper). France is divided up into 3 zones for the purposes of school holidays. The vacation dates for the 3 zones are staggered over 4 weeks, with each zone getting two weeks off.
Zone A : Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers
Zone B : Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg
Zone C : Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles
2020:
Feb 8 - Feb 28: Zone C
Feb 15 - Mar 1: Zone B
Feb 22 - Mar 8: Zone A
Zone A : Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers
Zone B : Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg
Zone C : Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles
2020:
Feb 8 - Feb 28: Zone C
Feb 15 - Mar 1: Zone B
Feb 22 - Mar 8: Zone A
The French skiing thread
Nov 24, 2009, 3:46 am
#31
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Thanks again Bodory, I guess we will put that trip off until January than, which is equally fine for us .
What about Courchevel ? It made a sensation when the city got 6 hotels crowned with 5 stars this summer, out of 11 on the whole of France ?
What about Courchevel ? It made a sensation when the city got 6 hotels crowned with 5 stars this summer, out of 11 on the whole of France ?
Nov 24, 2009, 5:41 am
#32
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Courchevel really is a great place. There are 4 separated "villages" in the resort.
Depending on your budget and the time you actually want to spend there, I would recommend either a catered chalet in "Les Granges" area of Moriond (Courchevel 1650) or a hotel in "Jardin Alpin" area of Courchevel 1850.
The first mentionned place probably is the quiestest and sunniest place of the whole resort, and has beautiful views to the mountain. Nevertheless, you would definitely need a car there because it is quite far from the shops of Moriond, and even further from 1850's luxury shops and other activities.
The latter will enable you to discover what Dior and Chanel at snow could look like. Be aware (or delighted) of Russian new year around the 10th of January.
Anyway, you should not be late in your reservation process because Courchevel is a quite busy place during winter.
Depending on your budget and the time you actually want to spend there, I would recommend either a catered chalet in "Les Granges" area of Moriond (Courchevel 1650) or a hotel in "Jardin Alpin" area of Courchevel 1850.
The first mentionned place probably is the quiestest and sunniest place of the whole resort, and has beautiful views to the mountain. Nevertheless, you would definitely need a car there because it is quite far from the shops of Moriond, and even further from 1850's luxury shops and other activities.
The latter will enable you to discover what Dior and Chanel at snow could look like. Be aware (or delighted) of Russian new year around the 10th of January.
Anyway, you should not be late in your reservation process because Courchevel is a quite busy place during winter.
Nov 24, 2009, 6:53 am
#33
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I was an English assistant in Normandie during the 07-08 school year and made four weekend trips to the Alps, all using SNCF online specials (including two 30euro rd trip Fri/Sun sleeper tickets).
The first was to Bardonecchia, which is the first stop in Italy and also the host of the Torino Olympics snowboard events, via the Paris-Milan TGV (Artesia?). This was extremely easy to access and absolutely gorgeous. Tons of family run pizza places all around-loved this place.
The second was to Modane, to ski at Valfrejus and Aussois, via Lunea. Valfrejus was also beautiful, pretty high up from the valley that the train travels through. Very affordable, even by American standards even accounting for the exchange rate. Aussois faced the sun most of the day, which affected snow quality, and was also more family oriented. Also, got my empty ski bag stolen there..grr.
The third was to Les Arcs on an overnight TGV (NOT comfortable but only 15 euro each way, until I got to Montparnasse and realized the ticket windows close ridiculously early and I couldn't retrieve my ticket from the electronic kiosk with an American credit card and had to buy a brand new ticket). Les Arcs is amazing...soooo big. I stayed at this rather simple but friendly hostel populated entirely by British guys.
And the final trip was back to Modane to ski at Valcenis and then Val Thorens. This was getting closer to end of season and it was basically raining at Valcenis and it sucked. Val Thorens was gorgeous (helped that it wasn't precipitating at all) but quite overcrowded. We took the gondola up from Orelle and stayed on that side of the resort most of the day. It was less crowded, more in the sun, and had stunning views from the top
I definitely recommend Modane as a stopping off point, esp. since in the winter it has TGV and Lunea service (altho keep in mind that TGV's don't offer any speed advantage once you're in the mountains). There's a ton of places nearby, and they seem to be more affordable.
The first was to Bardonecchia, which is the first stop in Italy and also the host of the Torino Olympics snowboard events, via the Paris-Milan TGV (Artesia?). This was extremely easy to access and absolutely gorgeous. Tons of family run pizza places all around-loved this place.
The second was to Modane, to ski at Valfrejus and Aussois, via Lunea. Valfrejus was also beautiful, pretty high up from the valley that the train travels through. Very affordable, even by American standards even accounting for the exchange rate. Aussois faced the sun most of the day, which affected snow quality, and was also more family oriented. Also, got my empty ski bag stolen there..grr.
The third was to Les Arcs on an overnight TGV (NOT comfortable but only 15 euro each way, until I got to Montparnasse and realized the ticket windows close ridiculously early and I couldn't retrieve my ticket from the electronic kiosk with an American credit card and had to buy a brand new ticket). Les Arcs is amazing...soooo big. I stayed at this rather simple but friendly hostel populated entirely by British guys.
And the final trip was back to Modane to ski at Valcenis and then Val Thorens. This was getting closer to end of season and it was basically raining at Valcenis and it sucked. Val Thorens was gorgeous (helped that it wasn't precipitating at all) but quite overcrowded. We took the gondola up from Orelle and stayed on that side of the resort most of the day. It was less crowded, more in the sun, and had stunning views from the top
I definitely recommend Modane as a stopping off point, esp. since in the winter it has TGV and Lunea service (altho keep in mind that TGV's don't offer any speed advantage once you're in the mountains). There's a ton of places nearby, and they seem to be more affordable.
Dec 4, 2009, 4:31 pm
#34
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Obviously I am not in Courchevel at that time because still at work...
Too bad ORY-CVF flights no longer exist.
Dec 5, 2009, 1:31 am
#35
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Dec 24, 2009, 6:41 am
#39
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Dec 24, 2009, 7:21 am
#40
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Well, in my fuzzy memories, it was TAT in its yellow livery, possibly when it still meant Touraine Air Transport or after it was renamed Transport Aérien Transrégional, in any case, before it was bought by BA and Air Liberté (not sure in which order, though).
It was sad to see CVF upgraded for the 1992 Olympics and, at about the same time, the cancellation of most, if not all, scheduled flights to CVF. It is always nice to see flights arriving or departing, either from Moriond or when you're going down the Altiport track on your way to the centre of 1850.
It was sad to see CVF upgraded for the 1992 Olympics and, at about the same time, the cancellation of most, if not all, scheduled flights to CVF. It is always nice to see flights arriving or departing, either from Moriond or when you're going down the Altiport track on your way to the centre of 1850.
Last edited by JOUY31; Dec 24, 2009 at 7:27 am
Jan 22, 2010, 11:07 am
#42
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Currently en route to CVF!
Currently en route to CVF!
Jan 22, 2010, 2:00 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 950
Send us a pix from there.
i will be heading to Haute Savoie on sunday, hope the snow is there.
Jan 22, 2010, 3:26 pm
#44
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Just arrived. Yes the snow is there!
Just arrived. Yes the snow is there!
Jan 25, 2010, 4:05 am
#45
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Finally a great week end : empty resorts, good weather (despite forecast) and great snow. I have not seen so much snow since a long time. As it is still very cold, dump snow off-piste is also very good. In the resorts, all road except major ones are snow covered.
Also, it seems the Swiss-plated cars have replaced the English-plated coaches this year.
Also, it seems the Swiss-plated cars have replaced the English-plated coaches this year.