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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To never go skiing in France again

128 replies

YellowTulips · 22/02/2014 23:53

Just got back home from a weeks skiing. The food (so much for French cuisine) was awful - routine evening bill was over 120 Euros for 2 adults and 2 children. The menu was the same in EVERY restaurant. I am not a fussy eater, nor is my family but how much fondue, steak or duck can you consume? Came home and had beans on toast - lovely Grin.

The service was awful. Waiting 30/40 mins to get a hot chocolate/coffee.

The bloody pushing and shoving by the ski lifts by the French nationals was awful (the kids getting knocked over and nearly trampled in the scrum).

I appreciate being able to afford to go skiing is a lovely thing. Been to Austria, Italy, the US and Canada Is my experience of France the norm? Was a total shocker for me. Is this the norm?

OP posts:
MargotLovedTom · 22/02/2014 23:55

Which resort were you in?

Original poster
YellowTulips · 22/02/2014 23:56

La Plagne/Les Arcs

OP posts:
Jjuice · 22/02/2014 23:57

I have been to France skiing the last 2 years and loved it. We had catered food. This year was amazing last year was dire! Food on slopes good. Standard everywhere.
Where did you go? Sounds like you had bad experience.

Burma · 22/02/2014 23:58

Skiing in Europe over the half term is pretty grim but agree France can be dreadful.

If I could afford it I would always go to USA or Canada - totally different experience over there, hardly any queues, loads of space, everyone is so polite, no bun fights anywhere, pistes huge and pretty empty.

Twice the price though and you really do need to go for at least 10 days to make it worthwhile flying all that way.

Supercosy · 22/02/2014 23:58

Never been skiing myself but spend alot of time in France and have had brilliant holidays there. Amazing food and lovely people....only exception was Disney Land Paris...fantastic place but the pushing and shoving and lack of courtesy from visitors there really pissed me off!

MargotLovedTom · 22/02/2014 23:59

My friend is going there soon! Would it have been half term in France too, explaining how busy and expensive it was?

I have only been to Tignes and don't remember any bad experiences. It was some years ago though. Sorry I'm not much help!

Jjuice · 23/02/2014 00:00

Try 3 valleys. Have stayed la tania and meribel motteret

Original poster
YellowTulips · 23/02/2014 00:01

In the interests of fairness I should add that the pistes were well maintained and there were many (blue/red) excellent runs.

OP posts:
Boosiehs · 23/02/2014 00:03

Chalet is the only way in France.

MamaPain · 23/02/2014 00:04

2 years ago I said I would NEVER go to France again, sod just never going skiing.

I've stood firm so far. Only the remainder of my life to go.

whereisshe · 23/02/2014 00:06

We went to Les Menuires and it was fine, not like what you're describing. I do love tartiflette though, a menu of French alpine food is fine by me Grin...

SockQueen · 23/02/2014 00:07

I loved La Plagne, but we self-catered and only ate out once, so didn't face the restaurant problem. I can see that there might not be much variety. Also went outside half-term so much less crowded.

I am fully converted to catered chalets now though!

trixymalixy · 23/02/2014 00:13

France can be awful in the French school holidays. You need to perfect the art of the strategic pole plant to stop queue skipping!

We were in Val D'Isere the week before last and had a fabulous time. I do think it is worth booking a catered chalet or hotel ( the food in our hotel was v good) as I'm not a massive fan of ski resort menus.

Original poster
YellowTulips · 23/02/2014 00:16

Thanks all. I think I am blighted by my experience of skiing in Canada.

To be fair the actual skiing in France was good. It was EVERYTHING else.

The shitty surly service, the crap food, the total disregard for anyone in the ski lift scrum.

Worse the total disregard for beginner skiers on the green slopes. I say this as this as it was the way my family got back to our hotel - we all ski well but you slow down on the learner slopes.

It was chaos - and sorry I am not being biased here - "expert" French skiers, flying like a bat out of hell on the nursery slope - assuming they are so good they can get out of the way. Not so given what I saw. Like someone doing 80 in a 30 in a car.

Sigh Hmm

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 23/02/2014 00:22

Canada does kind of shit all over France in terms of customer service. I was amazed by the people handing out tissues and the minute you brought out your piste map someone would be over to guide you. So different from France. Shame Canada isn't closer!

Have to say though that the French bad manners were nothing compared to the Air Canada air stewards. Will NOT be flying with that sgitty airline again!!

Waltonswatcher1 · 23/02/2014 00:31

We had a nice time at the zoo.
I can recommend the food (picnic being a house speciality).
The queue for the steam train was manageable .
The seals obligingly swam past us several times.
We were a bit meh at the bears ;they were hiding in a leafy corner .
Highlight of the trip was the peeing white rhino .
We'd go again . Might to Canada instead for a change .
;)

Original poster
YellowTulips · 23/02/2014 00:42

Didn't fly air Canada Smile

Like most mums am now confined to the school holidays - hence France.

I have - for full disclosure - skied in France before (3 valleys twice) but as a teenager/early 20's and pre "mum".

I remember the lifts being bad - but nothing else. But I guess I had a different perspective (memories of caramel vodka at the Space Bar in Courcheval 1650).....Shock

OP posts:
arabellarubberplant · 23/02/2014 00:44

The Air Canada flight crews are great, unless you get a French (speaking) crew. Bwahahahaha.

I have never skied in France. Nor do I intend to. Austria, Germany, Norway - all fine. Nice kaffee and kuchen, lied to the kids about the reindeer stew. But since we live in a Canadian ski resort it seems daft to go anywhere else... Grin

arabellarubberplant · 23/02/2014 00:46

Waltons - the bears here are much more obliging. They parade over the road in front of the car and stop to munch flowers on the verge.

I don't like being followed by coyotes or cougars though.

Original poster
YellowTulips · 23/02/2014 00:50

Never thought of Norway. Please advise?

Got to book for next year - has to be Europe for the children.

Anyone got some good suggestions? Was thinking Italy...

OP posts:
Original poster
YellowTulips · 23/02/2014 00:52

Ara - just had a great chuckle at your response. Tx Grin

OP posts:
Waltonswatcher1 · 23/02/2014 01:00

Ara , can I buy an annual pass ?
If not I will have to stick with the bad view of the bears behinds here.
Am jealous as hell btw ,I will try to console myself with the 20% discount the season ticket holders get in the cafe at London Zoo !

Anniegoestotown · 23/02/2014 01:01

Gave up on France 30 years ago. I actually cannot ever see a time I would go back. Agree about the shitty surly service and try being a vegetarian there.

Original poster
YellowTulips · 23/02/2014 01:33

Noted about being a veggie. But any food was a problem.

Order a steak - assumption is I want it well done (as a Brit) I then say in my best French I like my steak rare. Again and again. When it arrives it's like the sole of my shoe Hmm

OP posts:
HunterWellies · 23/02/2014 06:29

I'm dreading this. Being stuck with school holidays to ski I mean. I hope they drop the fine system because I would much rather go in January, nice quiet slopes and no queues.

I think half term is a bit dangerous for beginners, especially small dcs.

We always go to France and have never had a problem with the food but equally we always stay in catered chalets. I was a bit sceptical at first that a couple of teenagers could knock out a decent meal but actually, so far, they have been very impressive.

We tend to go for a premium chalet so you can ski to the door and I was a bit Hmm at the price but on the one night we did eat out the restaurants were so expensive I think the chalet is quite economical.

Dh isn't interested in Canada sadly. He loves the alpine black runs and he thinks the Canadian slopes are a bit dull by comparison.