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
Feb 9, 2011, 10:41 am
#76
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I'm not sure yet, but this year we may cross through the Mont Blanc tunnel and visit la Val d'Aoste, Italie. We've done this many times and love that area. It's very close to France and you find more people who speak French than anywhere else in Italy. 
Feb 9, 2011, 1:18 pm
#77
Join Date: Oct 2006
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.
Feb 14, 2011, 11:36 am
#78
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I am currently staying in Courchevel and for sure the snow is missing on and outside the slopes. It is nevertheless possible to find some good snow between 10 am and 2 pm. And suprisingly, there are not so many people : the resorts are very quiet.
Feb 16, 2011, 1:57 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 950
no sign of fresh snow so far?
Mar 28, 2011, 2:36 pm
#81
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 950
I just got back from a 3 days week end in La Plagne and it now seems this is the end of the riding season...
: warm weather, too much sun and snow is desperatly melting
Expect some deep spring/summer conditions if heading to the Alps
I hope next winter season will be better than this one.
: warm weather, too much sun and snow is desperatly meltingExpect some deep spring/summer conditions if heading to the Alps
I hope next winter season will be better than this one.
Mar 29, 2011, 10:15 am
#82
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I was thinking of going to Courchevel the next but my friends up there just told me the snow is getting brown at 2000 meters.
Let's hop for some snowfalls before saturday.
Really a season to forget.
Let's hop for some snowfalls before saturday.
Really a season to forget.
Mar 29, 2011, 1:40 pm
#83
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 950
one of the worst season for many years
too bad i bought a brand new snowboard two months ago
Apr 1, 2011, 10:21 am
#85
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Apr 1, 2011, 10:33 am
#86
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Posts: 950
Nov 15, 2011, 10:03 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2005
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I need some advice. I am planning on going skiing briefly this February in France. I have a ticket to arrive in Geneva late on a Saturday evening and am departing out of Paris the following Wednesday morning.
I am debating between Portes du Soleil and maybe Tignes. PdS is, logistically, a lot easier, but I'm not entirely confident about the quality of the snow and skiing. Portes du Soleil is quite large, and I actually went hiking there two summers ago. Most of the lifts seem a bit older, and the elevations are a bit lower. I really enjoyed the above the trees, in the clouds feel of the upper levels of Les Arcs. Is it worth it to head a bit south towards Bourg Saint Maurice? Basically, since I'm coming from the US, I want to get the biggest bang for my buck.
I have skiied at the following places in the area, for comparison: Les Arcs, Valthorens, Valfrejus, Aussois, and Valcenis.
Also, I will be travelling alone, so I'd like to go somewhere where I can get out and hang out with people. I speak French, so that is not a problem. I have a reservation currently at the Logis Gentiana in Tignes and found a room in Morzine at the Ridge Hotel. Anyone have any experience?
I am debating between Portes du Soleil and maybe Tignes. PdS is, logistically, a lot easier, but I'm not entirely confident about the quality of the snow and skiing. Portes du Soleil is quite large, and I actually went hiking there two summers ago. Most of the lifts seem a bit older, and the elevations are a bit lower. I really enjoyed the above the trees, in the clouds feel of the upper levels of Les Arcs. Is it worth it to head a bit south towards Bourg Saint Maurice? Basically, since I'm coming from the US, I want to get the biggest bang for my buck.
I have skiied at the following places in the area, for comparison: Les Arcs, Valthorens, Valfrejus, Aussois, and Valcenis.
Also, I will be travelling alone, so I'd like to go somewhere where I can get out and hang out with people. I speak French, so that is not a problem. I have a reservation currently at the Logis Gentiana in Tignes and found a room in Morzine at the Ridge Hotel. Anyone have any experience?
Last edited by kahuna613; Nov 15, 2011 at 10:08 am
Nov 15, 2011, 10:21 am
#88
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My advice is to avoid vacances scolaires in February. This year they run between February 11th and March 5th across the 3 zones. It would be a bad idea to schedule your skiing during that period.
Nov 15, 2011, 12:46 pm
#90
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