Can someone (quickly) tell me about Esprit and La Rosiere?

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

We always go with Esprit but never here as we've been put off as there don't look to be a lot of runs. I only ski blue and red and am happier on blue to be honest, especially is conditions are bad. Infact last year in La Plagne I didn't ski a red all week as it was so icy.

DH is into much harder blacks, off piste.

We've left it late to book a ski holiday and this is about all thats left.

We could go back to Plan Peisey but DD couldn't ski all day there which she wants to do.

thanks

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I've reserved it, but not booked yet. DH is at work looking at piste maps online and doesn't sound keen on La Rosiere. Thinks its too small.

[greygirl]

you can ski over into italy and la thuile, which makes for a fun expedition (let's lunch in italy darling). La thuile was very nice,, lots of people love la rosiere so i am sure you will enjoy yourselves.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Thankyou, I've booked it now. We had to have a suite as thats all that was left (shame). Haven't told DH that bit yet, but he did OK the resort! I've just read though that the lifts over to Italy are often shut due to the weather. Hope they stay open otherwise it'll be even smaller. Only 8 weeks to go!

[MrLSG]

In good conditions, there are plenty of runs between the pistes in La Ros - we had one of our best powder days ever there opening weekend one year. The runs over to La Thuile do close in bad weather, but it's only happened a few times on our visits (maybe one, max two days in a week).
There is enough in the two resorts to keep a keen skier busy for a week: but don't expect him to want to go back there next year.

[sandk]

I ski only blue and red runs too, and found the reds in La Ros to be on the easier side. Perhaps it was the respective snow conditions but I found them more enjoyable than some of the harder blues in La Plagne. Have a fab time

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Great, I love the sort of resort with easy reds. I have actually skiied a black before but it was quite easy. My sort of runs!

A ski instructor told me that a lot of blues in La Plagne used to be red but the local tourist office said there weren't enough blues and it was putting people off coming so they re-catagorised them.

[greygirl]

i am not suprised at all by the recategorisation thing. I think they just blue to bottom 25% runs and black to hardest 30%. esp when you compare switzerland runs with north america.
at least they realise they need to appeal to tourists!

[born2ski]

I'm sure you will absolutely love la rosiere, I have skied there a couple of times and after spending a season in La Plagne I am well aware that some of their blue runs should definately be reds! La Rosiere is warmer than La Plagne and the Chalets are really nice! have a good time!

[MrsGuyofGisbourne]

La Ros reds very easy compared to other places - and very easy blues down to the Esprit chalets. We had a great hol with Esprit a few years ago - would have gone with them again, but don't need the childcare etc now, so can go for cheaper options
If your DH is a an expert he may find the 'blacks' a bit tame.The liasion to Italy does close when there are high winds, but no difficult runs down - leave plenty of time for getting back tho' if you have ski-school pick up.

[happywomble]

We went to La rosiere at New Year (not with esprit though). It was very cold on the lifts so would recommend buying balaclavas...other than that the skiing was very good. We went over to La Thuile a few times and there are are some lovely blues on the other side there. Some of the reds are quite easy but there is a more challenging one that goes down below la rosiere 1850. It is a great place for children to learn to ski.
Hope you have fun.

[MrsGuyofGisbourne]

Yes to the balaclavas - it can get very cold on the long chairlift up to the fort.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

What if you get across to Italy and then they shut the lifts? Can you be stuck overnight in the wrong country?

[MrsGuyofGisbourne]

Yes

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

What woulkd the Snow Rangers do with DD? Has this happened to you?

[happywomble]

We must have been lucky then. When we went to La Rosiere it was very windy most of the week but as far as I remember the link was open every day (odd run shut on the other side but not the main link) and there were a couple of days of heavy snow.

We only had childcare until lunchtime but managed to ski to La Thuile ski area and back in the morning (not right to La Thuile village but top of first la thuile gondola).

[slalomsuki]

There were 7 people stuck when we were in La Ros last christmas. They taxied it back and the nannies looked after the kids until then. The kids thought it great fun and the staff were not that bothered about what they had to do. They cam back because they only had their ski clothes not even another pair of shoes to change in to.

My kids loved La Ros as gree run beginners and I thought it fine. Liked the green runs for the kids who could ski by themself but with us watching. Mine were 7 and 5 at the time. The only thing was the wind which even on the sunniest of days was bitter.

[TheKingAndI]

When we were in La Ros a couple of years ago a couple of the dads took 3 eight year old boys over to Italy. They left La Ros too late really (after ski school, about 12oclock), skiied right down into Italy and missed the last lift back. They managed to persuade (pleaded) a couple of locals on ski mobiles to give them a ride back over to La Ros. It was dark when they got home and although the boys thought it was 'awesome' we mums werent so pleased.

[cornflakemum]

We were in La Ros last year and had a lovely time (although very late in the season, and it was quite slushy into the resort by the end of the day (and therefore icy in the morning).

The route across to La Thuile is a bit of a drag - literally! It's what seems like a three mile drag lift! I wouldn't have taken the kids (9 & 7) across there because if you fell off you would have to ski down the drag lift slope which is just about a 6 ft wide 'path' through the mountains. I'm sure on a fine day it is lovely, but when we went across a snow storm blew in and I actually found it a bit surreal - just standing there being dragged up and over mountains for about 30 minutes with the snow lashing at my face

[MrsGuyofGisbourne]

Going back to la Ros this year and will take the DC on that drag with me for the first time. They have done it several times with instructors and are gold snowflake level now so am going to go for it if the weather conditions are predicted fair.