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Posts Tagged ‘Real travel diaries’
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
Pierre & Vacances: Family Fun in Belle Dune!
This week, our blog comes from Nick Vowles, the UK marketing manager for Pierre & Vacances.
A family holiday in France with the grandparents – and Aunty Hilary from Australia!
Last time we were in the Pierre & Vacances Belle Dune Holiday Resort in Picardy, France, it was just the three of us, the wife, myself and our then 1 year old Fred.
One and half years later we thought it was time to visit again. But this time we were the double the size, my Mum and Dad and Aunty Hilary came along for the ride plus the newest addition to the family; 8 month old Jo Jo.
Ferry to France
We all decided to meet on the P&O Ferry from Dover to Calais. Having not been on this route for a few years it was a great experience. As the grandparents grabbed a seat in the bar we treated Fred to fish and chips from the restaurant – a very generous portion at 5 quid, and of course some extra chips for Mum and Dad!
We then joined the oldies for some sandwiches and a Costa coffee. There were lots of indoor viewing areas for Fred to see all the boats passing by. A quick 5 minutes on the top for some fresh air and views of the French coast and we were there!
I’lle aux Oiseaux, Pierre & Vacances Belle Dune Holiday Resort
One of the best things about Belle Dune is its only an hour from Calais – so you can get there in no time at all and get on with your holiday.
Back in May 2008 we had a lovely refurbished villa close to all the facilities with a little balcony overlooking the main lake. This time we went for something different. Two adjoining 3 bedroom villas in the I’lle aux Oiseaux area which is about 5 minutes walk from the main centre. This was perfect for us as it was nice and quiet for the oldies, and the kids didn’t wake anyone up in the morning – apart from Granny – who was quite happy to be called upon!
The villas themselves were just what we needed. Ours had 3 bedrooms with a bathroom upstairs – perfect for keeping an eye on the little ones. Downstairs was a nicely laid out lounge, kitchenette and dining table plus a shower room. This worked out really well for the grandparents next door as my Mum and Dad like a bath, but Aunty Hilary, being an Aussie, loves a shower. Both our villas had lovely outdoor spaces and access to a bit of grass. The kids loved the freedom to flip between our two adjoining villas.
Our villas didn’t directly overlook the main lake of the area but a smaller lake overlooking the golf course. Luckily the weather was fantastic so we could lazily watch the local birdlife in the morning – including a patrolling heron who seemed to rule this particular lake. And though there wasn’t room for my clubs at least I could see some other golfers enjoying the course – which apparently is one of France’s top 50 golf courses.
Swimming pools, farms, shops and much more
On the Belle Dune site there’s loads for kids to do. Grandad loved taking the kids to the resort shop in the morning to pick up the baguettes and croissants (including a pain au chocolat for Aunty Hilary!) and Granny was in charge of taking Fred to the water park area in the afternoon, which he loved. Onsite there is a little farm, plus a restaurant, bar, tennis courts, the golf course of course, plus an indoor sports hall, bike hire and much more that we didn’t have time to explore…
Beaches
With a name like Belle Dune you won’t be surprise to hear that the beach isn’t far away. The Belle Dune Holiday Resort itself is located between two small town’s Quend and Fort Mahon. The beach is vast at low tide and nice and sandy, so perfect for kids. We even got a rare chance for a Mum and Dad jog one morning. Of the two towns Fort Mahon has more to offer with a nice selection of bars and restaurants, a couple of boulangeries and other shops.
Out and about
My Dad and Hilary enjoyed a ‘cultural’ (read boozy) day out in Montreuil. And the whole family had a fantastic day trip on the ’Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme’ – a fantastic 80 year old steam train that chuffs between Le Crotoy and Cayeux-sur-Mer.
As the kids are still quite young we decided to drive to Noyelles-sur-Mer and do the half hour journey and back to St Valery sur Somme. This was very fortunate as we discovered a lovely café in Noyelles run by an English couple. Its called Relais de la Baie and is well worth a visit. St Valery itself is equally enticing – we explored the market and old town before settling for a family lunch ‘a la Francais’ with Moules frites for everyone!
See the Pierre et Vacances website for more tips on things to do in the area – there’s lots to do.
Ferry to England
And before you know it, it was time to head back to the UK. We were very lucky to bag a seat opposite the children’s play area, keeping the kids very entertained all the way home. I’m sure we’ll be a back to Belle Dune again very soon!
More about the Pierre & Vacances Belle Dune Holiday Resort
And Le Crotoy
PV-Holidays: Guest Blog: Ten tips for snowboarding in Portes Du Soleil
Our latest entry comes from Laura Berry, a professional snowboarder.
After spending her last two seasons in and around Avoriaz, she shares with us her top ten tips on her favourite area, Les Portes Du Soleil.
1. If you’re staying in Morzine, head to Bar Robinson for amazing apres-ski. This fab bar serves a super strong beer called Mutzig, which makes for fun times.
2. If you’re staying in the French side of the Portes Du Soleil, it’s well worth taking a ride over in Switzerland. Whether you’re into freeriding or freestyle some of the best of both are found in the Swiss side.
3. If you’re out riding in the Avoriaz area, make sure you stop at the popular locals’ favorite ‘Changabangs’ for lunch on the hill. It serves burgers and chips as well as salads and wraps. Oh, and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, they serve killer brownies in there, too!
4. For a cheaper alternative lunch, head to the ‘Shopi’ supermarket up in Avoriaz, where you can buy cheap sandwiches, drinks and snacks.
5. During the busy half terms or other holidays head over to Les Gets instead of the main ski area to avoid huge queues. There is everything you need over there from park to powder and you’ll save hours of waiting around!
6. If you have transport, be sure to head down to Bar National in St Jean D’Aulps. It serves the best pizza ever and is great to go to for a few drinks and food. Definitely worth the 10 minute drive.
7. If on a night out and heading to the clubs after the bars shut, a great tip is to hide your coat somewhere outside – saves a few euros on paying for the cloakroom!!
8. If you’re looking for an Internet connection head to the Rhodos bar in town where there is free Wi-Fi.
9. If you’re staying in Morzine and want to head out for dinner the Clan D’Oeil is a lovely restaurant. It is run by a couple who owned a hotel in the Lake District for a few years and are super friendly.
10. A quicker way to get up in to Avoriaz from Morzine is to use the Ardent gondola instead of the Avoriaz cable car. Just jump on the M bus and you’ll be in Avoriaz just as quick, and much quicker if it’s holiday time.”
The Portes du Soleil resort is situated in Avoriaz. PV-Holidays have nine resorts in the area. Click here for more information.
Please visit the British Snow Tour Website and Laura’s soulsports profile to find out more about Laura and the British snowboard scene. See this profile for specific photo credits too.
