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We’re Sean, Peter and Felice. Between the three of us, we’ve been to more than 500 different ski resorts in 22 different countries. We’ve written features about skiing in every national newspaper and 100s of UK and international magazines. We’ve talked about skiing on the radio and TV. Our friends know this. So do their friends.
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The Ultimate Easter HolidaysGuideBy Peter Hardy | on February 24, 2014 | 7 Comments
Editor's Picks Ski Holiday
MGM Kalinda Village in Tignes.
Long sunny days and potentially the best snow-cover of the season,
combined with startlingly low prices, make the Easter school holidays in
the French Alps a much better bet for families than half term. Here’s why:
Rock bottom prices
A late Easter – and they don’t come much later than this one – presents
tour operators with a huge headache. How do they sell ski holidays at a
time when our thoughts are veering towards beach rather than snow?
The answer is to slash prices in the weeks leading up to Easter. An April ski
holiday this year can cost almost half the cost of travelling at half-term.
Longer days and less crowds
The British half-term coincided this year with both the Paris and Belgian
school breaks. This led to uncomfortably crowded slopes in all the main
resorts. The usually high-season date of April 5 – the first week of the
school holidays – should be one of the quietest of the season, with the
regional spring breaks for French schools all scheduled for the end of the
month. Longer days and milder temperatures allow for much more
skiing time.
Great snow conditions
After a difficult first half of the season in the lower resorts, snow
conditions across the French Alps have finally gained an A* for excellence
– and there’s every chance that first-class cover will remain in place until
late April.
NAVIGATION
In recent years, winter in the Alps appears to have shifted several weeks
forward. The second half of the season has proved to be snowier than the
first, with some of the best skiing of all to be found in April.
Les Chalets du Jardin Alpin apartments in Val d’Isere.
Sunny weather
Sunny weather means you can eat outside – so much nicer than in a
darkened restaurant. You can also save money and give restaurant
lunches a miss by packing a picnic in your apartment (a filled baguette
and a drink in a plastic bottle or flask) and carrying it in a rucksack. It’s
easy to find a suitable area to sit on near the piste.
Easier driving conditions
Travelling to the Alps through Champagne and Burgundy becomes a
pleasure in April rather than the wintery ordeal at half-term. You still
need to carry snowchains, but it’s less likely you’ll need to use them.
The holiday comparisons
Here are some examples:
Valloire
Les Chalets du Galibier in Valloire.
Valloire on the Col du Galibier in the Maurienne Valley is situated at
1430m with lifts going up to 2600m and extensive cruising terrain. The
resort is popular with French families but largely unknown in Britain.
Where to stay: Three-star Les Chalets du Galibier at the foot of the slopes
offers a choice of self-catered apartments and two swimming-pools. Self-
drive price for seven nights in an apartment sleeping five, including
Eurotunnel – half-term week: £463pp, April 5: £233pp.
Tignes
MGM Kalinda Village in Tignes.
Tignes 1800 is the new name for Tignes Les Boisses, the hamlet just above
the dam. It has been extensively developed into a resort in its own right,
with a gondola link to the rest of Espace Killy.
Where to stay: The four-star Kalinda Village is a brand new complex of
luxury apartments. The residence has a pool and spa. Self-drive price for
seven nights in a two-bedroom apartment for four, including Eurotunnel
– half-term week: £687pp, April 5: £488pp including a free six-day Tignes
lift pass per apartment.
Morillon
Le Buet in Morillon.
Morillon 1100 is part of the giant 265km Grand Massif ski area of which
Flaine is the best-known resort. This purpose-built station is situated
above the old Savoyard village of Morillon and reached by gondola. It has
ski-in ski-out apartments and easy links to the rest of the Grand Massif.
Where to stay: Le Buet houses fairly compact apartments sleeping three
to eight people near the village centre. Self-drive price based on five
people sharing a two-bedroom apartment, including Eurotunnel – half-
term week: £285pp, April 5: £94pp.
Val d’Isere
Les Chalets du Jardin Alpin apartments in Val d’Isere.
Val d’Isere has a superlative snow record throughout a long season. The
lifts don’t close here until early May. This winter pistes have remained in
near perfect condition ever since the resort opened at the beginning of
December.
Where to stay: The three-star Les Chalets du Jardin Alpin apartments in
Val d’Isere are in the Legattaz area at the foot of Solaise. The ski-in ski-out
apartments, are located 800m from the resort centre. Self-drive price is
based on five people sharing a two-bedroom apartment, Eurotunnel
crossings included – half term week: £573pp, April 5: £223pp.
Les Menuires
Le Hameau de La Sapiniere in Les Menuires.
Les Menuires is one of the better-priced resorts of the Trois Vallees, with
swift links to both Val Thorens and to the ridge above Meribel. It used to
be the ugly duckling of this 600km ski area, but has grown into a modern
family resort with some handsome properties at the higher end of the
village.
Where to stay: Le Hameau de La Sapiniere is in Reberty, the most
attractive end of town. It’s ski-in ski-out, and facilities include a spa with
Jacuzzi, sauna and treatment rooms. Self-drive price is based on eight
people sharing a four-bedroom apartment, Eurotunnel crossing for one
car included – half term: £424, April 5: £261pp.
Val Thorens
Le Cheval Blanc in Val Thorens.
Val Thorens at 2300m is the highest ski resort in Europe and snow is
guaranteed throughout the season. From here you can explore the whole
600km of the Trois Vallees, which include Meribel, Courchevel and Les
Menuires. You can also venture off the back into a fourth valley – the
Maurienne.
Where to stay: Three-star Le Cheval Blanc is on the piste in the Soleil area
close to the resort centre. Its l’Espace Yinyang relaxation area has a sauna,
steam room, massage, and even an osteopath. Ski-drive price is based on
four sharing an apartment for six and includes Eurotunnel crossings –
half term: £329pp, April 5: £290pp.
Tags: Ski HolidaySki Holiday
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Author Description
An editor here at Welove2ski, Peter is also the ski
correspondent for The Daily Telegraph and Daily
Mail. He describes himself as a ski gypsy (“well
someone has to do it, so it might as well be me”). He
first put on skis as a child on a family holiday, and
has since been to some 500 resorts around the
world.
7 Responses to “The Ultimate EasterHolidays Guide”
February 19, 2014
@welove2ski
An interesting comparison between half term and Easter prices:
http://t.co/Jd6t8NmYHj
February 19, 2014
@welove2ski
Where to ski this Easter holidays: http://t.co/DX3zoO6a1r
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February 19, 2014
@grettaschifano
Great ideas for Easter holiday ski bargains from @welove2ski :
http://t.co/tk0zqeyhz9
February 20, 2014
Julie V
Actually the Belgian school holidays are the week of 1 to 8 March.
February 20, 2014
Bed & Breakfast Great Yarmouth
Really nice information……….bed and breakfast gt yarmouth
February 20, 2014
@Precisionski
Why Easter skiing is better value than Feb half term. Remember to
book your equipment hire with… http://t.co/LVPfmpm9z1
February 20, 2014
@FionaTrevaskiss
I’m liking this. Our Easter planned trip is incredibly late this year
bring on the spring slush! http://t.co/ddxAUZeBsp
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