Re: Samoens advice
- From: Excess <xs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:49:11 -0700
On Aug 30, 9:13 pm, "Mike Mather" <mikematherNeSPAM...@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I'm looking at a family trip to Samoens in the Grand Massif for the 1st week
of the Easter break.
We stayed in Les Carroz in early March 2006 and really liked the place, so
thought this resort would be worth a try. I also remember reading some good
recomendations on this newsgroup.
Looking at the website, the village is at 730m and that puts me off a bit as
this late in the season it could be snow-free and raining down there (Like
Tahoe was this year!). Is the valley sheltered, or in full sun at this time
of year, and can you generally ski back from 1600 or is it the Gondola?
Also, how busy is the Easter break in the Grand Massif? I was in La Plagne a
few years back and it was relatively quiet. Les Carroz was very busy at the
weekend with day trippers and there was one lift I remember towards Flaine
that was very very busy.
Any advice welcome as well as alternatives.
Alternatives we're looking at would be Arc 1950, La Plagne, La Rosiere. Cost
is an option and we will be driving from the UK. We are four reasonably
competant Skiers/Boarders so terrain is not a concern.
I assume you mean the week of 22/03/08?
What you have to look at is the height of the ski area and more
importantly the snow record. Skiing starts at Samoens 1600. There is a
fast high capacity gondola from the village to Samoens 1600. There is
no skiing at village height (apart from the old lift at Vercland).
There are quite a few snow cannons at Samoens 1600 and the slopes are
north facing so you get better snow cover than in Morillon or Les
Carroz generally. Then you are onto Flaine anyhow.
With regards to the snow record, the Grand Massif has one one the best
of the whole area despite not being as high as other resorts. See snow
record info on http://www.peakretreats.co.uk/ski/samoens.htm or on Ski
Club of GB website.
Normally snow is never an issue for that week and season runs until
20/04/08.
With regards to weather, Samoens village gets the sun all year round,
so even in December and it is likely there may not be snow in the
village at that time but it should be very pleasant temperature. If
you want guaranteed snow in the village (rather than on the slopes)
then there aren't many places where you are pretty much guaranteed
this apart from thee likes of Val Thorens.
With regards to being busy - it won't. Samoens never gets massively
busy like big resorts like La Plagne even at peak times such as
Christmas or February half-term (even if of course it is busy like
everywhere). Easter is always quieter than the other holiday periods
and the French don't get their holidays until later in April.
That said as it is easy access like Les Carroz you do get people from
the region who come to ski for the day on dates like Easter weekend,
especially if it's very sunny and snow is good.
All the other resorts you mention are good too for Easter but quite a
bit further to drive. Samoens is one of the first major resort to
drive to from the UK. In terms of style of resort it is also totally
different from places like La Plagne. It is traditionnal and very
pretty and not a holiday factory so everything from accommodation to
eating out tends to cost less.
Part of our reservation team was in Samoens yesterday to check some
accommodation so if you need any tips just email reservations AT
peakretreats.co.uk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
XS
Peak Retreats http://www.peakretreats.co.uk
Ski Collection http://www.skicollection.co.uk
.
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- From: Mike Mather
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