Feb for mixed ability group on the ski trajn

[OrangeSunset]

I’m looking for some recommendations as my knowledge is a bit rusty and don’t know who things stand what with Covid.

We did ski train in Feb 2020 and went to Les Arcs, definitely keen to get the train again. But we want to go either Feb half term or week before, so will France be crazy busy?

Wondering about Club Med if I can persuade others on budget. Would Italy be a better bet? I need to look at trains there

“The ski train” is a closed shop now I think, you have to book through a specific company (compagnie des alpes ) and one of the resorts they offer, unless I’m missing something? here [[https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/17/ski-trains-to-resume-between-london-and-the-french-alps]]

I expect resorts will be busy in french school holidays so you would probably be better off going at Easter which would also be cheaper. If you didn’t want to do the charter train package mentioned in the above post you could book Eurostar to Paris and then another train onto Bourg St Maurice. Then book Club med accommodation only. Alternatively see if Club med can offer a package by train.

Thanks both.

I’ve looked up the charter train. It leaves on Friday night, and no sleeping cabins, just seats. Definitely not for us, although the return leg is day time.

You can go London to Paris then change to Bourg. This actually looks doable especially if you have a night in Paris on the way out ie leave London on Friday, stopover in Paris, early train to Bourg arriving in the Alps mid-afternoon.

I’ve had a quick look at Club Med - prices! But then I’ve also had a look at self catering places (in Val D’isere, admittedly) and they are also more than two years ago.

@myrtilles I’ve also though Easter is riskier due to rising temperatures? Do the French have Easter holidays?

Would Val D’isere be a nightmare W/c 12th Feb with French holidays?

@OrangeSunset It will definitely be busier during the four February weeks of French school holidays. The french tend to ski in February rather than at Easter. If you go w/c 2nd April there would normally be enough snow if you don’t mind a bit of afternoon slush. Pick a high resort with some north facing slopes. I would choose Les Arcs over Val d’isere as accommodation and lift pass cheaper. Ski collection have some good places eg la cime des arcs or la source des arcs in a prime location in Arc 2000. These are ski to and from The door. There is a five minute gondola to 1950 for evening restaurants etc. There is a nice spa in the taj I mah hotel you could go to. These are self catering but you could eat out for some meals. There is a restaurant under cime des arcs. Arc 1950 residences have meal options but having tried both we found cime des arcs better value accommodation. If you are willing to change in Paris there are other resort options listed on the Snow carbon website. I probably wouldn’t do a club med winter holiday this year as you would be mixing with a lot of people indoors although I expect most would be double vaccinated. We did club med this summer and it was great but then it was hot and all meals and activities were outside

Thanks @myrtilles that’s really helpful. We did go to Les Arcs a few years ago but catered, and I was wondering about how many reasonable eat out/self catering options there were as we didn’t find many for lunch/day off. Im going to start a new thread for accommodation recs, thanks again.