January Skiing

[Forum Admin]

A few of us have been chatting about a week's skiing this coming January. Sarah and Greame sound keen to do a bit of ski de fond. I'm itching to get back on my skinny skis too, but also can't do without my fix of downhilling.

So, I'm on the verge of booking a flat week commencing 20th Jan in Peisey. This is in the crack between Les Arcs and La Plagne, so has direct access to the vast (I mean vast) Paradiski domain. It is also a 5-minute shuttle bus ride away from 45km of manicured cross-country ski tracks on the edge of the Vanoise national park.

Getting there is most feasible by train (Eurostar to Paris; cross town on the Metro; scheduled SNCF couchette to Bourg St Maurice). An added advantage is two full extra days of skiing - 8 in total. There is also a direct Eurostar snowtrain, but apparently it's already full booked (and you have to sit in a narrow seat all night, and you don't get a gastronomic supper in Paris).

So... expressions of interest please. Cost for the flat is going to be between £120 and £150 per head, depending on numbers. allow £180 for the train, but remember that although that seems steep you are getting 33% more skiing days than if you fly (which you can do if you really want to)!

Here are some handy links.

www.peisey-vallandry.com/
www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk/home.php3?p=6&rcre=L_AROL_PEISEY_FRA_O_H_2_SA

[Deleted]

I'm in.

[Deleted]

Would love to join you, but being constrained to teachers holidays, that week doesn't fall in half-term. After hours at gym on cross trainer putting it into practce seems a logcal step. Pah!

[Forum Admin]

A few mods to the plan... I have updated one of the links in the original posting, as Chalet Goustin went a bit cold when I tried to actually book. So it's the Residence Arollaie instead, in the next village up the mountainside.

Gonna tag on two extra days myself, to stop in Chamonix and catch up with Kevin & Julene. If anyone else fancies that, then a free lift home is on offer in the car, so you only need to get train/plane tickets one way. Car spaces going fast through... I expect to get back late Monday night / early hours Tuesday so will be at work on the Tuesday morning.

And a few more travel options:

Alternatives to the train are Easyjet to Lyon plus bus transfer from www.altibus.com (Lyon Exupery > Bourg St Maurice). 61 Euros one way.

Or maybe mix and match, with Easyjet to Lyon, and train to Bourg St Maurice... Because of what I am convinced is a cartel, you have to head for www.voyages-sncf.com and buy separate tickets for LYON ST EXUPERY TGV (69) > Chambery and then Chambery > Bourg St Maurice. AND unless you use the website's picklists it won't come back with any available trains! 37 Euros one way if you get through the website's fog. Easyjet starts from £22.50 one way.

[Forum Admin]

Hi Everyone,

I'm guessing we're getting close to needing to finalise things for this trip. Expressions of interest so far from:

Sarah
Graeme
Chris (+1 ?)
Stephen (+1 ?)
Andrew
Myself

That means that if everyone definitely comes, I will need to get on to La Grange and get an upgrade from a 6-person/50m2 flat to a 10-person/80m2 place (they have both in the same appartment building).

However, I'm aware that not everyone was absolutely certain, so would not want to go to the extra trouble/expense unnecessarily.

With little over 3 weeks to go though, we do need to firm things up. I'd like to propose that I work on the basis of a total of 4 people coming through, making it £154 per head. If we get more and have a surplus, then we will have plenty of cash for meals out / stocking up with food / refunds. If we have less, then I have no problem taking a hit, as I would be renting a flat in Peisey for this week whatever happens!

If each of you could reply to me letting me know if you are definite and if any friends/partners are coming with you, perhaps by the end of next week (Friday 5th Jan) that would be great. Let me know when you reply if you would prefer to do a bank transfer or send a cheque. and I can forward details as necessary. Hoping a cut-off date of 10th Jan will be OK for paying, as I am leaving the UK on Friday 12th Jan, a week before our trip.

For travel, I think Sarah is probably the best to speak to to get the latest details. The offer of picking people up from various stations is still on. PLEASE DO KEEP A NOTE OF THESE DETAILS:

1) My personal mobile will be off, so I will only be reachable on 078 0255 0369 ([phone]) which is my work mobile

2) The flat is in Residence L'Arollaie, Peisey-Vallandry, booking in the name of RUSZKOWSKI, File No 157463. In case of any problems, this should be enough to get you to the place by taxi and past reception into the flat! Once you arrive, as you drive through the village, it is the second block on the right after you have gone under the main (massive) cable car.
If arriving by train, ideally, get off at Landry, the last stop but one. But, it's no disaster if you miss it and end up in Bourg St Maurice. Phone me once you have left Moutiers (don't text in case I miss it - it will be early!) and I can be at Landry station as the train rolls in.

Cheers for now; I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to the trip a lot!

Bob.