French School Holidays? Too Busy 2nd/3rd March?

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We are planning a ski trip early March. The flights are cheap departing 2nd/3rd March, but still seems to be French school holidays.

Should we defer to following week? We are flexible on dates and want to avoid too busy slopes if possible.

[rookiemere]

I think it's still school holidays the following week ( French holidays are staggered according to district). Where are you thinking of going - avoid Samoens then as it was a total overrun nightmare when we went and some French idiot skiied right into me causing my back to seize up and stopping my skiing for the rest of the trip.

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@rookiemere That happened to my friend on first run of the holiday in Chamonix! Was run over by a snowboarder and she was really badly bruised and confidence totally lost. Some nutters out there!

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Seems to be Zone C holidays until 10th March. Just wondering if this will be as busy as when UK schools are off?

[rookiemere]

Really depends where you go.

Montgenevre was practically empty at Easter last year and we were told that even at Feb half term it's not particularly busy, ditto have skiied at Serre Chevalier at Feb half term and it was fine, but am never going back to Samoens which is a shame as hotel was lovely.

[stringbean]

Zone C is Paris school holidays - I would expect it to still be very busy for that reason and would personally look to go later in the month.

[rookiemere]

Must depend on the location of the ski resort though. I think you would be safer with the ones nearer to Italy as its a long drive from Paris so Serre Chevalier or Montgenevre or indeed Italy itself.

[stringbean]

Zone C is not just Paris, it also covers parts of SW France (Toulouse, Montpellier) - the French motorway system is far better than ours, so I don't think distance will deter them //grin .

[ForgivenessIsDivine]

It is very hot in the alps at the moment and no snow forecast next week so I would caution leaving it too long and if you do, choose your resort carefully.

[user1494670108]

I went 6-10 March, it was horrendously busy, far more so than our half term

[katieviney]

The first week of March gets really busy, i would aim for the 2nd or 3rd week of March.
This year loads of people book for the first week of March thinking it will be quiet and schools are back.
It was just as busy as Feb Half term.
Hope this helps.

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We ended up in Chatel 10-17 March. Weather was mixed. Windy first day, lifts got closed after two runs. Skied 4 days out of 6, with two sunny days. No queues anywhere!

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It snowed heavily too, so when the sun came out, it was wonderful!