Belle Plagne Deux Domaines 09/10 season

[usplus3]

Just wondering if anyone has been out there this season - previous reviews appear mixed. We go in a couple of weeks. Wondering what to expect. Thanks.

Me too, usplus3 ! We go on 31 January. How about you?

We were there last season and loved it (except for the fire alarm incident - you can read about my experience there on this board somewhere under previous name of MrsJohnSimm). Oh and the manager was an officious little twonk with a bad shiny suit and no actual management skills .

What made you decide to go back tulpe? The fire alarm incident would have been enough to put me off. I don't think I'd have been able to leave ds alone in his room whilst I had dinner after something like that.

Mollie - the fire alarm incident was extremely stressful. However, the fact is that it could happen anywhere. Despite Esprit saying that we should leave it to the nannies to round up the children, every single parent in the hotel went running after their own children. Yes, it was rather chaotic but there was an overwhelming sense of unity so there was no pushing and shoving and everybody looked after the other. Yes, the nanny on our floor was clearly overwhelmed but the staff generally were great and really looked after me and DCs when we were stuck out in the cold without sufficient layers. Also, having experienced that fire alarm incident, I wouldn't hesitate to haul ass straight up the stairs the minute it started. We were all so relaxed about it when it started to go off - everyone carried on thinking it was just a test or something.

It was our overall experience of the hotel and location - which was very positive - which persuaded us to go back. We also found that the ski area was fab for all of us - from DH who is a Super SKier (!) to me and kids pottering around.

This will be our last year with Esprit, I think. We will probably return to Belle Plagne next year but will do so with self-catering accommodation.

How did you find the skiing in BP? I'm looking for somewhere for next year that can accommodate a rusty (and lazy) intermediate (me!) and a then 6 yr old who will be a third time skier and keen to progress. We went to La Tania this year. Loved it but pretty limited for children my ds's age - some of the green runs required too much poling and you had to do this to get to the blues (could go straight to the top but then left with reds and blacks only to get down, no use for a 5 yr old).

You can access pretty much the entire Paradiski area by blues only.

The runs immediately out of the hotel are blues (DS2 who was 4 last year was fine on those to get down to the lifts & gondola).

Some of the blues are allegedly really reds but were re-graded to encourage more tourists into the area . Not sure if that's true but I am a (nervous and lazy) blue run girl myself and I was quite happy with pretty much all the runs we accessed with our instructor.

DH, as I said before, is a very experienced skier and he had plenty of great runs to choose from. We bought a pass for the entire Paradiski area (which runs from BP to Les Arcs) but we only really used the BP area. We have saved money this year by just buying a local pass.

Overall, I think it's an excellent place to ski as a family.

The reclassing reds to blues is a French thing. They did the same in La Tania and the 'blue' into the resort was definitely a red.

Tulpe: We go on 31st too! WeVe booked a Paradiski suite on a corner apparently - found a plan on the DD website of a typical suite and it looks ok. I did read your note re your last experience and I'm pleased that you liked it enough to go back, it gives me confidence in our choice.Our boy is 9 and twin girls 4.5 - 4th time for him and 1st for the girls. We've used Ski Famille for last couple of years and got there under our own steam but the support offered by nannies at Spritelets won us over this year for the girls. The flying thing means of course that we have to cram everything into suitcases - hmmm...that'll limit my usual over packing for any inevitability! we'll see you there!

Tulpe - my son is wondering how old/gender your kids are! He's desp for mates same age as him!

usplus3 - we have a paradiski suite booked too. We were in one last year and it was lovely.

My DCs are both boys and are aged 5 and 9 My 9 yo will be over the moon! He always complains there is nobody his age and they are all too little to play with him

Are you flying to Geneva or Chambery? We are flying to Geneva. Last year, we were on a very small bus for our transfer from Geneva with an excellent rep. Our DCs were only children on the bus. She asked if we had any DVDs with us and when we said yes she proceeded to put one on for the DCs to watch. Made the 3 hour transfer an absolute doddle.

We shall have to arrange a codeword/meeting place

Tulpe - we're flying to Chambery (hoping the shorter transfer was worth the supplement!)and staying overnight Gatwick at the Hilton on 30th (DH gets good rates through his work!- saw the thread re LGW hotels). Which ski lesson group is your 9 yo booked into? - ours is in Intermediate Plus I think. Don't think we'll be wearing red carnations so we'll have to think of something to recognise - I guess we'll be the family that looks stressed - actually that may describe many on a holiday like this! I'm hoping I get my ski legs back - may be a little wobbly as I broke my collar bone last year in Let Gets!ON THE FIRST DAY!!! Really missed skiing with our boy. I've decided I need to take it easy and avoid the black runs! Any suggestions re a way to recognise each other?

DS1 is booked into Improvers. I think he probably needs to be in Intermediates but I would rather he were moved up rather than down. He has a problem with the muscles behind his kneecaps which means skiing isn't the easiest thing for him. I noticed over Christmas that he was skiing with his legs very straight (which I haven't noticed before). But it doesn't stop him from enjoying it

Ha! Was about to say we will be stressed family too

It's probably easier to recognise us by our DCs - My DCs both have long-ish bright blonde hair. DS1 is surf-dude curls and DS2 straight but always messy!! Are your DTs identical?

There is usually a welcome meeting early evening on the Sunday so I guess we can look out for each other then?

I am always wobbly But poor you, breaking a bone on first day And despite skiing for 6 years now, am not convinced I have ever "found" my ski legs . I'm more a potter around for half an hour and suddenly it's vin chaud o'clock! This year will be the first year I haven't had classes (altho may book a private lesson) so am looking forward to a more relaxed holiday this year.

Tulpe - My DTs are identical (except for the DIY haircut one of them gave herself!) and teeny for their age. DS is tall for his age, dark brown hair. I'm a ginger nut so you should be able to work it out! Which lesson group is your DS2 in? Our DTs are in Spritelets. Hope they enjoy it.

Last year was a bummer for me...we had done a very challenging (for me) black, straight after lunch - exactly the thing they all tell you not to do when you're taking lessons! I'd looked back up at what we'd come down and thought "Wow - can't believe I just did that". Then it became less steep but narrowed and the snow was soft. I think I became a little complacent. I needed to make a right turn and my left ski went the wrong way around a pile of snow, did a couple of somersaults and landed in a rather untidy heap! If you're ever rescued on a stretcher with such an injury ask to go down the mountain sitting rather than lying down! If you're lying down you can feel all the pieces of bone rubbing together over every bump!Had a plate put in it on return to UK and had it taken out in Oct. All seems well but I'm afraid of going through something similar or worse!

re hotel-can you recall if you had a kettle in your room and cups etc, fridge?. Also did they provide any toiletries apart from the soap they mention in the brochure? cheers

usplus3, i had a wrist injury very similar to yours but my plate is still in. did you notice any difference when it came out? i don't get any major problems, and am wondering whether to stay tianium enhanced

greygirl - obviously the collar bone is very close to the surface, resulting in the plate being even more superficial. The plate gave me a great deal of discomfort - I couldn't wrestle with DS unless I was constantly reminding him to stay off my left shoulder, couldn't give the DTs piggy backs because they couldn't hold on with only one arm. The slightest pressure would send me through the ceiling. I was really worried that the op to have it removed would cause as much pain as I had having it put in but a friend who is a physio put it in perspective. She said that usually a person would be off work for up to 4 wks and no driving for 6 wks after the plate goes in but after it's removed people usually drive within a week and back to work in 10 days. So I had it taken out mid Oct and stopped needing painkillers, apart from the occasional paracetamol after only 2 days. Within a week it already felt loads better than it had with the plate in place. I hadn't appreciated how restricted my movement was - the collar bone rotates as we move our arm - now I have completely full movement back and no pain at all unless it's a really hard knock. The consultant had pointed out that it could remain in place indefinitely if I wished but I'm so glad I had it out. I guess wrists are different tho. Did you do it skiing too?

did it boarding in verbier. we'd been off piste, through trees, had a terific day, and i fellover trying to avoid a 'stop' sign on a flat bit of ice 50 yards from a restaurant. my husband kindly tells people i was trying to jump the stop sign, but no, not that glamourous. i skied the rest of the week though, because the guy there didn't pick up on it being unstable. a week later i pitch up in a&e back home and they say 'oh you need an operation...'. and that is a whole other story.
but now i still have the plate, and there's a bit of a funny lump, which the consultant couldn't explain, and i wonder about having the plate out.it doesn't ever hurt, just stiff when i crawl around on hands and knees. (children eh?)

Maybe the stiffness would disappear with the plate out? And perhaps they could see what's causing the lump while they're in there. It may not hurt now but as we get older and our skin gets thinner it may be a bigger problem later on? Have they x-rayed to look at the lump?

Just got back from Deux Domaines - absolutely brilliant week!

Rooms & facilities of hotel are brilliant, food was amazing (although WestCountryMum found some of it slightly fancy for her tastes), & childcare excellent too (the childcare manager Jenny is superb).

No kettle in room & no toiletries apart from soap - there are robes for going down to the pool/spa though.

It was our first time to La Plagne - really nice ski area. Had Paradiski pass but only made it to Les Arc once. Agree with posters above re: grading of runs. There are several blues in La Plagne that are definitely harder than any of the reds we tried in Les Arc - very odd!

We are going to Belle Plagne Deux Domaines next month with our 2.3 year old and debating whether to bring the buggy.

Well, DH doesnt want to, says its a hassle and we ended up waiting for it for ages last year when en route to Meribel and holding the coach up.

DD isnt a brilliant walker, but am wondering what the resort is like etc to get her to toddle with us/be carried for short periods.

She will be in creche anyhow for most of the time i guess, but she is too heavy for mr to carry these days so any advice gratefully received.

maggie we took our backpack for ds2 last year he was 20 months. The shops are about 10 mins walk away so I wouldn't bother with a buggy. We are going in half term week and not taking the buggy this year

Our DCs weren't buggy age so I can't speak from direct experience. However, the centre is 5-10 mins walk away, as AndieM says. It is close enough for a little toddling and a little carrying

WestCountryDad - is David Brent still the manager? I hope not!

I couldn't remember what toiletries/kettles etc were available - I have been emailing usplus3 as we will be there at same time and trying to answer questions from memory of last Feb!

Do you know if the DCs had robes provided by hotel? My DCs think yes but tbh I can't remember and think they may be confused with another hotel we stayed in last April .......

Glad you agree with me re: regrading of runs. DH kept telling me it was all in my (unconfident) mind

no tulpe I don't think there were robes for the dc I took their swimming towels last year
can't wait now roll on half term

Thanks andiem . Didn't think there were but we were also in France last April where DCs definitely had robes (little yellow fluffy ones - they looked like baby chicks ). Will pack swim towels then.

Have fun during half term. I can't wait for Sunday

tuple - definitely no robes for DCs. I'm guessing David Brent's not still the manager - didn't see loads of the overall manager he seemed pretty good from what I saw.

Hope you have a great time - DC1 has asked if we can go back next week but have sadly had to say no...

That's good to hear, WestCountryDad

Glad you enjoyed the place so much. My DCs are very excited about our imminent return too. It is rare for us to go back to the same place twice for holidays but I can see BP being a favourite for a few years to come.