Skiing in L'Etale Feb 2008
Review Submitted: March 22, 2008
Date of Stay: February 2008
Five of us hired the apartment in the last week of Feb 2008. Bearing in mind this is the middle of the French school holidays we got a fantastic deal - we paid £350 as we took it for just less than a week. Apartments half the size were going for EUR1000 in La Clusaz for a week, that's if you could find any availabilty. The apartment is set in a quiet, picturesque location with ski in, ski out access to the easy slopes of which are ideal for beginners or early intermediates. The Manigod slopes are never going to keep advanced skiers occupied for long, however they are fine for a warm up and it is easy to traverse across and join the main La Clusaz area. We were very unlucky with the weather and had rain for three days, thankfully the area has an excellent snow record and there was certainly no lack of snow! However from L'Etale it is easy to drive across the Col de Aravis, where there is access to resorts such as Megeve and Chamonix, both reachable in under an hour, in fact one day we even went as far as La Thuile in Italy. The La Clusaz area has very extensive terrain and some good, easily accessible off piste. The mountain restaurants are great. The weakness is probably the lift system, there is a severe lack of modern and high speed lifts, however on the positive side it means the powder shouldn't get tracked out as quick! La Clusaz has produced some of the greatest freeskiers in the World and if you enjoy hitting the park you are in for a treat as facilities are fantastic. If you are getting on a bit like me, you can just sit back and watch the next generation of French freestylers putting on a show - it in incredible to watch. Getting back to the apartment, it is deceptively spacious, incredibly well equipped and has the benefit of a huge terrace ideal for catching later season sun. I think the immediate area is probably best catered for families, the local ski school set up looked amazing, however such is the versatility of the accommodation, as a group of middle aged male skiers on a budget, we were more than happy to stay there. The advice and service we received from the owner before and after the trip was top class, We would highly reccommend the apartment and I would love to go back, probably with my family this time!
Recommended for:
Families with Young Children
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