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Archive for the ‘Customer Travel Diaries’ Category
Staff review: A trip to Vars
A Trip to Vars at the End of the Season
Pierre & Vacances Assistant Project Manager, Jeremiah Lejade is the winner of our London Calling competition. He tells us about his trip to Vars with his girlfriendin April.
“Last April I decided to make a quick trip to the mountains to satisfy my urge to get some snowboarding in before the end of the season. I researched many spots while keeping in mind personal constraints, such as my late season departure (I was leaving for the last weekend of the ski season) and the fact that I had no car.
Furthermore, my girlfriend was coming from the south of France while I was arriving from Paris. I eventually decided on Vars as the resort was located fairly close to Marseille, and offered a fairly close access, by train, to the resort. I met up with my girlfriend at the train station of Montdauphin Guillestre which was about 6 hours from Paris and 5 from Marseille. I had arranged for a cab to meet us upon our arrival which I strongly suggest if arriving late at night. Calling a cab ahead of time was great foresight on my part as the area is not very densely populated and arrangements must be made so that everything goes smoothly.
The cab ride was very quick but somewhat expensive at 45 €. Most arrive at this location by car which is much easier and thus recommended. Nevertheless the train and bus combo is very doable for those who are on a budget. After the 25 minute cab ride we were at our residence called Pierre & Vacances – Résidence l’Albane.
We arrived late at night so the residence manager had arranged to leave us the keys in the safe outside, which we had no problem finding. Definitely call the residence ahead of time if you have special circumstances as I did. They were extremely helpful and accommodating but this is one of those situations where being prepared is always best.
Once my keys in hand, we found our apartment with little problem and entered our room. The apartment was clean and it had a balcony so I was pleased. I rented the 3/4 person apartment even though we were only two because I wanted some extra space and it wasn’t much more expensive. There was one bedroom but if we had to sleep two more on the pull out sofa it would not have been a problem whatsoever.
The apartment was fully equipped and gave me the sensation of a home away from home. They had clean sheets waiting for us (which are nice as often, when renting, you must either bring the sheets or rent them) and the fully equipped kitchen allowed us to cook a little snack with some of the food we brought, before calling it a night.
The next morning we went downstairs to talk to the welcome desk and make sure everything was in order. They welcomed me and explained where we could rent our snowboards within walking distance. They even gave me a voucher for 30% off all rentals. They pointed out their outdoor pool and explained that once our boards rented we could store them in the locker room in our designated locker (that locked with our room key). I was there to hit the slopes and was ready to get going but I noticed before leaving that the welcome area was bustling with people playing on the pool table while others lounged on couches or played the couple of arcade games available to renters. It looked fun but I wanted to get to the mountain.
As I exited the residence in the sunlight I noticed we were ski in/ ski out. This could not be more perfect, as again, I had no car. We quickly rented our boards and then got to the mountain. I pointed out earlier that we arrived on the last weekend of the season which had many advantages and some disadvantages that I will discuss later.
The advantages came first as we practically had the whole mountain to ourselves. The snow was excellent, but the Alps had gotten a large quantity of snow that year, so maybe we were just lucky. Either way we experienced no lines and seemingly had the whole resort to ourselves. I have to say that this may have been the highlight of the whole trip. Great runs, few people, and great snow left little to complain about. We even stopped for a bite in one of the restaurants on the mountain and had a pizza and beer while tanning on the warm April afternoon (2 beers and 2 pizzas ran us about 30 €).
We even had a pretty funny adventure during the day. I am the type of snowboarder to often go off trail and through the trees. I love the deeper snow and the added obstacles. The slopes are all very well marked but hey, I’m stubborn. I ended up discovering this amazing untouched bowl and was pleased to see that my girlfriend had followed me to take advantage of the great find. Unfortunately my stubbornness to break the rules led me to the edge of the slope on a fairly exposed side of the mountain. The result was that there was no more snow at all after the bowl!
Needless to say we had to unbuckle our boards and walk down the mountain to the road. Our run turned into a fairly difficult hike but it was an unforgettable adventure. Nevertheless, I would recommend simply following the slope signs if you don’t find my adventure intriguing. Check out some of the pictures I have of the bare slope that we had to trek down.
We ended up making it back to a ski lift and as the slopes were preparing to close we headed back to the left side of the mountain. We snowboarded right up to the door of our locker room, locked up our belongings and went back to nap in the room. I initially wanted to relax in the heated pool but exhaustion had set in.
I pointed out that we napped because by the time we woke up we hadn’t eaten and it was almost 9PM. This is where the end of the season disadvantages came in. I had not expected everything to be closed so early, which I was told is not usually the case. Nevertheless the quest to find food was on. We had a kitchen but the SPAR supermarket in the center of town closes at 7:15 PM. We set out anyways in hopes of finding a restaurant.
A quick 10 minute walk led us to the center of town where the tourism office and all the restaurants are located. This would have proved extremely practical except again, everything was closed. We asked around and with a little luck we found the one restaurant that remained open. I only point out this late season disadvantage because when there are few people in the village the merchants and restaurants have very little incentive to stay open late. I find this normal, and if I had at least gone to the supermarket we would have been able to cook in our own apartment.
My mistake soon turned positive as to my pleasant surprise I found a nice little restaurant called la Marmotte. They were not too expensive, although at this point I would have paid anything for some food. They specialized in regional “saveurs montagnards” which is basically flavors of the mountain region. But they had everything from pizza, crêpes and a large selection of meat dishes. Perfect!! We had a great time and walked home content ready for another day of snowboarding.
The next day I realized I had to check out of the residence, and I encountered yet again a problem with the resort closing. The residence could not store my bags as they were also closing. This was a major inconvenience, but the welcome desk took matters into their hands. They called the tourism office and asked them if they would store our bags until we left at night. I believe the residence should have been there for their clients (ie. me) until the resort was officially closed but I do appreciate their active help in this matter.
We walked our bags down to the tourism office in the center of town, which gave us the opportunity to talk to the employees working there. I suggest stopping by their office sooner than later as the office’s sole purpose is to aid people visiting. They have tons of great information and interesting deals as well as complete website that one can consult prior to their trip (http://www.vars.com/). I learned, while dropping off my bags, that there are 5€ busses that provide rides to the train station. This option was not available to me late at night when I had arrived but, after receiving the bus times from the lady at the tourism office, I was very pleased to learn that I was going to save money on my trip home. Definitely get the bus times if you ever go to Vars and are arriving by train. After snowboarding we returned our equipment and ended up catching the last bus down to the train. I grabbed the overnight train back to Paris. It was longer then on the way (9 hours) because sleeper trains are slooooow. But this was a great option as the train has bunks and it is direct!!! I fell asleep instantly and when I woke up I was home and well rested.
Overall, my stay was excellent. I enjoy quick adventures and I always take the good with the bad. In this case I tried to point out the parts of my trip that were complicated but overall it was all good. Pierre & Vacance l’Albane is simple, nice and very well located. When in the P&V apartments you are in your own space and will be bothered by nobody. Just going to the supermarket first thing makes you completely self-sufficient in their apartments. This is a major advantage as the mountain resort is small but overall has everything.
The slopes were great, the people were awesome (which in my experience is not always the case with the French) and the trip was a success. I could easily see myself staying a whole week or two. I would have taken advantage of everything this village has to offer but my time was too short.
I personally like how empty the town was but I was told that when it fills in mid season there are a plethora of nighttime activities such as night clubs and bars. Vars is a true mountain town, so go for the slopes but immerse yourself in the beauty of nature with the surroundings of a fun, little village that provides activities for all ages”
Jeremiah and his girlfriend stayed at Residence Pierre & Vacances L’Albane.
Family Holiday to Brittany
This month we hear from Cecile Pons and her family, who won a competition to visit the Pierre & Vacances Port du Crouesty in Brittany. She shares her travel diary with us.
Taking the family to Brittany
“We live in Norfolk and we are a family of four consisting of me, my husband and our two little boys.”
Getting there
“On Friday 28th May 2010, we left home after a quick lunch and headed south. I had booked a hotel room on the outskirts of Portsmouth, as the ferry would be leaving early the following morning. This was the first time that we had decided to take our holiday during the normal school holiday period. If all went well, we would be arriving in Portsmouth at around 4.30pm. Not only, it was half-term, but it was a Bank holiday weekend. We arrived on the M25 and soon we were stuck there for two hours in a major traffic jam. What a great way to start the holidays!
The following morning, we boarded the ferry as planned at around 8.15am. The ship was full. Our children aged 4 & 2 were very happy running on the outside deck or spending frequent breaks in the soft play area. The sea was calm and lovely and we arrived in Ouistreham (North of Caen) at 15.00. We had another four hours of driving before reaching our destination : Pierre et Vacances resort in Port du Crouesty.”
On arrival at Port du Crouesty
Our apartment
“Our self-catering accommodation at Pierre & Vacances resort Port Du Crouesty a self-catering duplex apartment was spacious and could accommodate up to 8 people. It consisted of 1 x double bedroom ; 1 x single room ; 1 x room for children with bunk beds ; 1 bathroom with toilet ; 1 x shower room ; 1 x separate toilet ; 1 x dining room/living room with open kitchen. There were 2 single sofa beds in the living-room area. Everything was spotless and perfect for families.”
The resort
“The Port du Crouesty resort itself is well designed and lies beside the beach. It is built like a traditional Brittany village with slated roof and has a welcoming feeling. It offers a wide range of amenities ( shop, bar/meeting point ; launderette ; children’s clubs ; outdoor swimming-pool ; play area….). Our apartment was in “Rue de la Plage”.
What’s on-site at Port du Crouesty
“Port du Crouesty is a lovely seaside resort. There are many activities for all age groups ; sailing trips, fishing trips, walking on the beach or sight seeing in the beautiful region of Morbihan. There is also a large thallassotherapy (spa with sea water based treatments) centre for the holiday makers in search of holistic well-being.
There are many restaurants around the harbour ; what a treat to have a galette (savoury pancake) or a crêpe (sweet pancake) with a glass or two of cider.”
What we did during our family holiday to Port du Crouesty:
There are so many things to see and do in this beautiful region. Here is a small selection of what we did:
- Suscinio Castle (built between the 13th & 15th centuries)
- Vannes aquarium ( a fascinating aquarium. There is also a crocodile which was recovered from the Paris sewage that kept my children enthralled).
- Parc animalier de Branféré (This was a tremendous day out, where we could get close to the animals (giraffes, chimpanzees, ostriches, etc… There is also a splendid network of nets high in the trees… the children loved climbing in them and be closer to the sky !!)
- Bouncy castles paradise ( a large play area consisting of 20 bouncy castles of various shapes and grades for children and adults)
- Cider house ( a museum dedicated to cider and its fabrication with tasting)
Families at Port du Crouesty
“Typically, we would begin our days with a trip to the play area, as the children adored it. We then did some sight seeing and usually had lunch out. We would then come back late afternoon for a dip in the swimming pool. And after dinner, the children would go back to the play area one more time before retiring to bed.”
Summary of our stay:
“We had a wonderful time. It was beautiful to be so close to the beach. And as for me, I was delighted to stay in a Pierre & Vacances resort. This company is well known in France and England, and being French I was delighted to stay there. I was very impressed with the quality of the accommodation and would consider staying in another Pierre & Vacances resort in the future!”
Find the latest information and Pierre & Vacances discounts on Port du Crouesty apartments by visiting our website.
Pierre & Vacances currently have a summer sale, with up to 40% off last minute holidays in France and Spain. Find out more here.
Pierre & Vacances: A girls guide to Snowboarding in France!
We recently spoke to avid UK Snowboarder Kylie Jenkins to discuss key places to snowboard in France. In return, she offered us this guide to Val Thorens, her favourite resort. Here are her tips:
The Location:
Val Thorens, or more commonly known as VT is the highest ski/snowboard resort in Europe, at 2300metres there is guaranteed snow right until the end of April. At the top of the Three Valleys VT can be linked with Meribel and Corcheval with a Three Valleys lift pass.
Being one of the liveliest resorts in Europe VT is the place to be for any party loving, jagerbomb drinking snowboarder.
The Slopes:
Whether you opt for just a VT lift pass or a Three Valleys lift pass, there are pistes to suit any level of snowboarder.
In the centre of VT where all the slopes meet there are gentle beginner slopes and numerous snowboard instructors on hand to help.
As any snowboarder will know button bar lifts are a complete curse and not the most glamorous way to travel to the top of the slopes. Luckily these are in very short supply in VT, in fact there is only one on the beginner slopes and can be easily avoided.
The higher up the mountain you travel the steep and quick the slopes become, don’t let this put you off as easy routes can be chosen and this is where all the best mountain cafes and restaurants are!
Many of the mountain restaurants have deck chairs outside providing the perfect place to get some snowboard posing and people watching in. If you have followed the latest trends and bought the newest colour of snowboard pants, here is the place to show them off!
At the top of the Cascades chair lift is Chalet de la Marine which is a great place to stop for lunch and listen to the local DJ!
For those of you adrenaline-seeking girls there is a snowboard park in the centre of VT, kickers and rails can all be tackled here. Most afternoons an inflatable mattress is set up behind the kicker to provide a softer landing and to give confidence to those who will be trying it for the first time.
Apres Ski
Ok so we have spent a hard day out on the slopes snowboarding, people watching and posing in between falling over and face planting, so what next?
First things first snowboard to the door of the Frog and Roastbeef, the highest pub in Europe and quite possibly the most fun! Apres starts about 4pm and numerous drinks deals can be had, the Frog has a live band play every day except Sunday and it is the perfect place to kick start the party.
Be prepared to go partying straight from the slopes in all your snowboard gear, including goggles! But don’t panic everyone will be doing the same at some point during their time in VT.
Dick’s Tea Bar is the newest bar/club in Val Thorens. Dance the night away until closing at 4am.
Some of the other bars to check out are Café Snesko, Viking Bar, Le Saloon and Malaysia nightclub.
Eating out:
Val Thorens is littered with restaurants and cafes to suit all budgets, from the very basic take away burger and chips right up to gourmet three course meals.
One of my favourite places to eat is Le Grange restaurant at the bottom of the village. They offer a huge menu including traditional cheese fondue, tartiflet, and huge pizzas big enough for four people.
The slopes of Val Thorens are full of mountain huts and these are great places to eat and rest between heavy snowboarding sessions.
Snowboarding is the perfect way to stock up on carbs; they release energy slowly allowing you to snowboard and party for longer.
When Kylie last boarded in Val Thorens, she stayed at our Pierre & Vacances Residences Du Soileil. Pierre & Vacances have five properties located all over Val Thorens and you can find out more about Pierre & Vacances ski accommodation by visiting their website, PV-holidays.com
The best of Biarritz by night!
Read the second part of Natalie’s blog – How to live it up in Biarritz for less!
As my friend Allison and I had decided to save money by self-catering in our Biarritz apartment – making our own breakfasts and picnic lunches to take to the beach – we treated ourselves to dinners out.
I was keen to see just how much the French VAT cut would reduce the dinner bill for two girls who like to eat, drink and get a little bit merry. Aside from the final evening when we blew 80 Euro at a smart seafood restaurant with premium wine to wash it down, we rarely spent more than 35 Euro for a meal for two. That’s considerably cheaper than meals out in London!
For those not in the know, this July, the French slashed VAT on all restaurants and cafés in France from 19.6% to 5.5% to boost domestic – and of course, tourist spending. The tax cuts mean that a meal typically costing €15 (£13) has been reduced to around €13.20 (£11.40).
Even better, many establishments in Biarritz have re-printed their menus displayed at the front of their restaurants to feature the before and after VAT cut prices!
The handful of restaurants along the tourist hub of Grande Plage now serve main courses from around 15 Euros but there are plenty of other and equally charming restaurants in town where you can eat for less.
Here’s our pick of the best evening entertainment Biarritz has to offer…
Best Spa time
Enjoying a relaxing spa treatment in the early evening before you go out for drinks and dinner is a superb way to get your night off on the right note.
And when it comes to spas, Biarritz is awash with options, many of which specialise in traditional French style thalassotherapy (body wraps, hydro-massage, and scrubs that use seaweed and seawater based products for treatments).
For those on a carefree budget, the Spa Imperial at the Hotel du Palais is the town’s chicest haunt. We went to the more affordable but still very lovely Accor Sofitel Thalassa Miramar (nr Plage Miramar on rue Louison Bobet). Treatments cost from around 40 Euros.
Top tip: On your first day, book yourself in for an exfoliating and moisturising body scrub. This gets rid of dead skin cells and creates the base for a great tan – that will also last longer. Just don’t forget to slap on the sunscreen!
Best for an aperitif
A neat way to keep costs down, is to enjoy a glass or two of wine and nibbles in the comfort of your apartment before heading out on the town.
While we stuck to this lovely routine most nights, we couldn’t resist checking out some of Biarritz’s swankier watering holes – where for the price of one cocktail you get to rub shoulders with the in-crowd.
Our favourite was the bar at the modern design hotel, Biarritz Hotel Tonic (58 avenue Edouard VII) located near the casino. Here, you can enjoy great cocktails in super chic comfort – and people watching, olives and cashew nuts come free.
Best restaurant with a view
We ate our way through a great selection of Biarritz’s restaurants – moules frites and great seafood are staple fare wherever you go – but when it comes to the best catch of the day at bargain prices, Casa Juan Pedro really rocks.
One of three restaurants clustered in the small but very charming Porte de Pecheurs, Casa San Pedro has tables spread alongside the waterfront. Fresh fish is cooked on a big outdoor grill – and generous plates of local merle or dorade with rice and salad or grilled prawns cost just 13 Euro. The house wines served in carafes are also very good with very drinkable rose wine costing just 6 Euro for half a litre.
Best tapas in town
Biarritz’s proximity to Spain means that great tapas is also widely available. You’ll get sea views and the very best tapas at La Santa Maria (Esplanade Porte Vieux) in the old port, close to the Rocher de la Vierge.
Best bar for people watching
The hippest nightlife area – popular with students, surfer dudes and young locals – is along Rue Mazagran which is packed with bars and restaurants from the top end of town stretching down to the Place du Port Vieux.
The upmarket surfer and young hang out of choice is Caffe Ventillo, a lively DJ bar decked out in red and purple lip and throne shaped chairs and sofas with little tables spilling out onto the street terrace.
Draft beers are reasonably priced, it’s a great place to watch the evening parade of hipsters drift along the street, and it’s the meeting place for the surfing fraternity if you want to experience the scene.
Natalie Walsh stayed at the Pierre & Vacances Haguna residence in Biarritz.
If you’re looking for a late escape, Pierre & Vacances is offering seven nights in a studio apartment for two from just 480 Euros this September. For further information and details of all Pierre & Vacances apartments in Biarritz, visit www.pv-holidays.com.
Pierre & Vacances: Skiers Guide to Les Arcs!
This week, Pierre & Vacances’ guest blogger is Liz Adams, from the smashing, influential ski blog, Ski Concierge.com.
“Les Arc is is one of most affordable ski resorts in France, making it a haven for both avid skiers and families looking for great value winter breaks. Check out Liz’s insiders’ guide to the very best runs and après-ski…
Situated high in the Upper Tarentaise Valley, Les Arcs is a gem of a resort with plenty of accommodation choices and some brilliant skiing for beginners and advanced skiers. It was linked to La Plagne in 2003 via the Vanoise Express cable car and now includes over 260 miles of pistes and 175 lifts. This new area, Paradiski, now rivals the 3 Valleys and Espace Killy for skiing and leisure facilities.
There are five main resort bases, but I’m a fan of 1800, the central hub, and 1950. This new area of Arc 1950 to be linked offers a great new option for visitors to Les Arcs, with a range of well located apartments with good access to the slopes.
In Les Arcs itself there are a good amount of varied ski runs. In fact, I think it is probably one of the best resorts for mixed ability groups with a large amount of entry -level skiing plus some excellent harder runs and off-piste action. The ski area rises to 3,226m giving it great snow sureness and making it a banker for early and late season.
Best ski routes in Les Arcs
There are two major ski areas, and the best choice is above 1800 over to Peisey-Vallandry. The central part of this bowl is great for improvers as it offers a range of blues and reds under the Plagnettes lift. The most testing pistes run down from the top of Aiguille Rouge, though watch out as the cable car can fall foul of the bad weather and be closed sometimes. The Aiguille Rouge Black run is my favourite in Les Arcs, and takes in 7km of twists, turns and fun!
As you head over towards Arc 1800 the runs seem to get harder. Take in the beautiful descents in 1600 of Cachette and Rouelles, a bumpy scenic black recently reclassified from its blatantly incorrect redness! Arc 1800 is the best area for beginners as there is a number of linked blues and plenty of beginners slopes at a high enough altitude to ensure good snow. The skiing around 1600, 1800 and Peisey-Vallandry is mainly tree-lined, offering good shelter in bad weather.
If you haven’t had enough of skiing during the day there is night skiing until 9pm in Arc 1950 and 2000 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s definitely worth a try at least once, especially on a clear, moonlit night!
Places to eat in Les Arcs
The best mountain restaurants to try in Les Arcs are L’Arpette near the snow park, which seems to be one of the more reasonably priced. Alternatively, give the pizza a go at Le Solan near the Vanoise Express (it also has free WIFI.)
Ski hire in Les Arcs
As I discovered on a recent trip to Les Arcs with some beginners, the ski schools here are among the first to recommend and use shorter skis for beginners. The theory is that it’s easier to ski on blade type skis, and means you can start parallel turning straight away. You will need to return to your ski hire shop several times during the week to pick up longer skis as you progress, so ensure you choose a well-located ski hire shop.
Paradiski lift passes for six days cost a whopping 243 Euros or 182.50 Euros for children. Alternatively, a Les Arcs lift pass costs 203 Euros or 152.50 Euros for children. It’s not cheap but prices here are lower than many other resorts, and the fact that it is such a good, well-linked area makes it good value for money.
Apres-ski in Les Arcs
In the evenings, there’s quite a bit of varied entertainment depending on where you are staying. 1800 is a great place to be if you want to explore the busy bars and clubs. For traditional cheesy alpine dancing try the Red Hot Saloon. For proper club action, I recommend Apocalypse or trendy Igloo. Arc 1950 is well supplied with restaurants offering a range of traditional and non-traditional options, including a Mexican restaurant, which is a rare sight in the Alps. Plus Chalet Luigi is a great bar with dancing downstairs if you’ve any energy left at the end of the day. A beer will cost you around £4, which is well under what you’d expect to pay in other more pricey resorts such as Espace Killy.
Getting to Les Arcs
Access to the resort is easy as it’s so well connected. Fly to Chambery (79miles), Geneva (97miles) or Lyon (125miles). Alternatively, the drive from Calais or Dunkerque to Les Arcs will take around 8-10 hours.
Perhaps the easiest way to get to Les Arcs is by the direct Eurostar from St Pancras to Bourg St Maurice, just beneath Les Arcs. The transfer up to Les Arcs resorts from Bourg St Maurice train station take less than 45 minutes by taxi.
All in all, it’s a truly great resort with fantastic skiing and good facilities, with the bonus of being easily accessible by all transport methods. It’s a must visit for mile eaters and beginners!”
Thanks Liz. Visit ski concierge for lots of up-to-date ski news and information.
Affordable short ski breaks in Les Arc
Pierre & Vacances has recently signed an agreement with Intrawest to acquire its lodging and commercial enterprises in Arc 1950. The Arc 1950 Village has eight luxury residences with spacious self-catering apartments in Arc 1950. These comfortable apartments can sleep up to 10 people, offering a perfect base for families or groups of friends looking for a bargain ski holiday this winter. Click here for more information and to book on www.pv-holidays.com
Onsite facilities include outdoor heated pools, fitness rooms and free Internet access. Half-board catering options are also available.
With it’s ski in- ski out access, it is no small wonder that Arc 1800 is always a big hit for ski-mad families. There is also plenty of apres-ski entertainment, with a wealth of bars, clubs and shopping just around the corner from residences. Pierre & Vacances have 7 residences in Arc 1800. The Residences MGM Les Alpages de Chantel is one of the most popular residences on the resort due to its easy access and a swimming pool- a rarity in this resort, and a great addition after a day on the slopes. The Hotel Latitudes du Golf is in the heart of Arc 1800 and was recently renovated. Providing a plush base, the hotel comes with three on-site restaurants, a spa, jacuzzi, sauna and pool.
Pierre & Vacances is also currently running an early bird special offer, where money-savvy skiers can save up to 20% if they book their winter ski break in advance.
For more information on this offer and other ski offers, please visit PV-holidays.com
