News from Anne in Val

Things are already well under way in Val d’Isère this season, with racing galore, perfect snow and fantastic après-ski opportunities. Here is the latest from resort:

Snow and Ski News
The weather this season has been varying. There have been a lot of snow days and, unfortunately, much flat light to be seen, although this week I am absolutely buzzing from six consecutive days of pure, bright sunshine with snowfall late on Wednesday. The powder has been glorious, allowing for lots of off-piste playing- my favourite has been just under the Grand Pré lift.  The park conditions have been amazing too- worth a look for the breathtaking stunts even if you don’t think you can pull them off yourself. The forecast for next week is slightly less promising however, with lots of snow scheduled; although I am assured that there will be good weather to follow.

Resort News
The resort was relatively quiet this week as the kids have gone back to school and the last vestiges of Christmas and New Year madness have died down. Despite this, the resort is of course still a great place to be- après ski is certainly a highlight of being here- a favourite for me at the moment is Café Face, just opposite Dicks at the bottom of the Olympic Black slope- with beer prices starting at 4,20 euros at 16.00 and increasing by 20 cents per hour, this is the liveliest and best value place to be early on. Away from the social scene, the Polo Masters competition livened things up last weekend, with many freebies to be had from the best of the local bakeries, bars and restaurants. On Friday 29th a skiing by moonlight event has been organised by the tourist office- check out their website for more info www.valdisere.com.

Review
Val d’Isère is an extremely popular and prestigious resort, seeing many celebs and lots of rich folk from all over the world. This of course comes at a price, and you will see prices elevated extortionately in comparison to Tignes, Val’s neighbouring resort. So, how best to cope in Val on a budget? Being a seasonaire, this is an issue very close to my heart. As previously mentioned, Café Face is the perfect place to start a night out, although prices do start to match other places as the night goes on. Blue Note, located just off the main stretch of shops leading up to the slopes, offers a fantastic ambiance and good prices all night. For food, head to Le Canyon, where you can get the cheapest pizzas in resort. Alternatively, there are of course many take out places to head to- or even become properly French with baguette and cheese.

Anne Smellie, Val d'Isere