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Original poster

So who's going with Esprit this year and where are you going?

38 replies

OneLieIn · 20/01/2009 22:17

I am so nosey, I want to know.

Of course, Iwill be able to identify any MNers because I'll hear them talk about norks and moan there's no wifi to post!

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toomanyprojects · 20/01/2009 22:41

OK - we have now booked Schatzi (La Rosiere) on 1st Feb.

Please can I apologise in advance for my high spirited children in case any other MNers are going!

We are really looking forward to it although Braconnier still remains my fave chalet!

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 21/01/2009 09:15

We are off to Deux Domaines in Belle Plagne on 1st Feb. And ditto "toomanyprojects" with regard to children's behaviour etc etc.

I was wondering if I would hear lots of "fanjo" and "fark" references from fellow mners??

Original poster
OneLieIn · 21/01/2009 10:19

LoL!

We are going to Plan Peisey on the 8th Feb.

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whippet · 21/01/2009 21:34

La Rosiere on 29th March....

DaisyFitz · 22/01/2009 11:00

We want to go to plan peisey on 8th Feb... debating that and deals with Ski Beat with DH at the moment.

Legacy · 22/01/2009 11:05

We went to Plan Peisey with Esprit a couple of years ago and had a gerat time.
The chalets were pleasant enough, but the only thing I'd say is check if the last minute deals are on the chalets at the bottom of the (very long) set of metal stairs. It was a real pain having to go up/down every day in ski boots (and carrying skis) and not great for very small kids.....

Original poster
OneLieIn · 22/01/2009 11:53

Hi DaisyFitz, we went to Plan Peisey a few years ago with Esprit and had a fab time, hence why we are going back there.

The chalets are at the bottom of a long flight of metal stairs which knacker you out warm your legs up nicely for the day

As for skis and boots, you could leave them in a little room at the top of the stairs which made it a lot easier than traipsing them up and down. Get your skis and boots, cross the road, straight on the chair and you are away.

The skiing there is amazing, such a big big area to ski and so much fun.

One of the main reasons we are going back there is that for us it is a known quantity, we know the childcare setup, the chalets are lovely and the outdoor hotties just perfect.

If you go, say fanjo loudly on the plane and I will answer fark.

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BabyHare · 22/01/2009 13:26

We are off to the Chalet Lavachey in tigne with Esprit at the end of March..... any experiences anyone?!!

Legacy · 22/01/2009 13:46

OneLieIn - agree about the hot tubs - fab!!

When we were there the little hut at the top was sooo cold we didn't leave our boots there as they didn't dry out (bootwarmers in the chalet...)

Also I think the Esprit childcare staff kept bringing the kids stuff back down, which was a real PITA!

The skiing was very good though. IS the Vanoise Express open again now this year (closed last year...)

Babyhare - sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we had our worst ever Esprit holiday in Tignes at the Lavachey a few years ago. It was newly acquired by Esprit from Crystal I think, and it was in a shocking state then - really poor quality rooms & furnishings. We also had the Chalet Staff team from hell - a bunch of spotty youths who were both rude and hopeless.
Hopefully the chalet has now been updated, and you will get a better team (I'm sure there is something in the rumour that the better chalet staff get 'rewarded' with the better chalets.....

sunshineandsnowflakes · 22/01/2009 20:17

DH, DS and I are heading off to La Rosiere on 8th Feb.

We are staying at Le Bracconnier.

DS is four and it will be his first skiing holiday.

This is our first time using Esprit. Thanks to all of you who have answered all of my questions (have changed my name-used to be twizzler).

sunshineandsnowflakes · 22/01/2009 20:19

p.s. Hi toomany!

Glad you have booked something. I looked at Schatzi as well-it's in a great spot!

Will look forward to hearing all about it on your return!

toomanyprojects · 22/01/2009 21:57

Hi Sunshine,
Sorry for slight hijack - we were going to go on the 8th to Braconnier but they didn't have the childcare/lessons which we needed so we went back to the 1st Feb instead.

If you look up on arrival at Chambrey you may well see us waiting to come home!

Very excited now!

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 23/01/2009 08:46

Toomany & Sunshine......if my DH hadn't been such a tight-wad then we could well have been seeing each other too. He insisted we fly to Geneva instead of Chambery to save on supplements . Personally, I think it would have been worth the extra £120 to have an hour shorter journey. Am looking forward to observing how he copes with two tired kids on a 3 hour coach trip......I of course will be observing from safe distance, peeking over the top of a glossy fashion mag

sunshineandsnowflakes · 23/01/2009 10:34

Will look out for you chasing your high spirited children around the departure lounge.

MrsJohnSimm, my DH is normally a tight-wad over things such as supplements too but the thought of a long coach journey with DS was enough to sway him and agree to flying to Chamberey!

BTW, is the journey about 2 hrs from Chamberey?(sorry MrsJS!)-can't seem to get an accurate journey time anywhere. They vary from 1 and half hours to 4 hrs!

toomanyprojects · 23/01/2009 10:41

it does vary on whether you need to wait for any other arrivals. There is a stop at a small service station for the toilets - this varies in length as well. Take sandwiches and lunch box stuff for the family as I guess the sandwiches at the service station are very expensive.
Normally just under 2hrs.

wilbur · 23/01/2009 10:46

We're going to Belle Plagne Deux Domaines on March 29th - can't wait. 3rd time with Esprit and first time all 3dcs will be skiing. Yikes.

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 23/01/2009 14:47

sunshine - IKWYM about accurate journey times. Esprit say 3 hours from Geneva to Belle Plagne but other sites show quicker transfer. I thought perhaps they may wait for other flights/drop offs at other resorts which would prolong the travel time.

TMP - thanks for tip about lunches etc. Hadn't even thought about packing food for the journey .....what kind of mother am I??!!

Wilbur - have you been to Belle Plagne before? We are off there on 1 Feb and I cannot wait either

wilbur · 23/01/2009 15:31

MrsJohnSimm - no, haven't been to Belle Plagne before - we've splurged on it this year as its prob the last year we will need the wrap around child care so may not go with Esprit again for a while.

CaurnieBred · 23/01/2009 15:42

Food and either a DS, portable DVD player or spoken story books (I downloaded some onto my iPod for DD (then age 3) last year. This year we are driving for our sins so will have lots of DVDs to watch.

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 23/01/2009 16:02

They already have DS each so will make sure that they are fully charged. Will get DH to make sure some of kids movies are on his Archos (kind of an iPod for movies/tv programmes).

DaisyFitz · 23/01/2009 16:10

oneliein - hermine and renard aren't available, which do you think is better - castor, ecrueil, hibou, ourson?? Ps. Before you answer, if you're staying in one, then you might want to consider that we're bringing an 8½ month old!!

BabyHare · 23/01/2009 16:17

Ohhhh Noooooooooooooooo!! thank you Legacy for the info.... have to say that I have reviewed it on line and the reviews do vary from very good to appalling... so will have to see!

My ds has been skiing since just before he was three and he will be just over five when we go on 29th March so is VERY excited !!

We are going with some Mums from school who I don't know THAT well so lets hope it all goes according to plan !! Could come home not friends anymore... could make for interesting playground gossip!!

Am now hoping for some feedback from someone who went last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again

Original poster
OneLieIn · 24/01/2009 08:32

daisyfitz, all the chalets are the same, all modern, all lovely. All along a single path adn all facing down the valley.

Is there any difference in the rooms that are available? Last time we went we had 2 rooms, 1 for us and 1 for DCs - their room was not that big. It might be worth asking.

Do you want to know which chalet we are in? Or will that just pressure us all to have a mumsnet-tastic time ??

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DaisyFitz · 24/01/2009 08:47

Hiya OLI - I was jut wondering from an access point of view - are any easier or harder to get to? I'm sure any will be fine - loivng the idea of a hottub looking out over the mountain! Just hoping there are still manch-chambery flights still available.
The room is one of hte doubles with sofa bed - but we'd have a cot rather than use the sb.
god I hope we can get one!
a friend has just got back from la plagne and said that one hot choc, one coffee and 2 soups = £30!!!! And that dinner on chalet staffs night off was £100 for one person. Small mortgage maybe needed at this rate! I was on Mat Leave but have gone back early to afford this hol!

Original poster
OneLieIn · 24/01/2009 08:52

They're all quite hard to get to. Down about 30 stairs that are metal and very safe. Then along a path.

Still ask about the rooms when you call tho' - our two were advertised as being the same and one was definitely bigger.

Geez, the prices are massive! It wasn't bad last time we went. I doubt you'd find £100 per head in Plan peisey, its very small!!

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