Odd mix of resorts I know, but they’re places we’ve never been before and we like to make sure that we blog about the small resorts as well as the large ones!

Problem is finding self catering accommodation this early on, all the tourist agencies are saying wait until June, but we’d like to get it sorted asap. So….. does anyone know of any (cheapish) accommodation available for 6 (3 bedrooms). When I say cheapish I just mean not luxury, I appreciate New Year isn’t the cheapest time to go! Also flexible dates would be good as we’d like a Monday to Monday, which I notice a lot of tour operators are doing over the Christmas / New Year period so I’m hoping may be possible.

If you can help, can you please leave me a comment and I’ll get in touch.

Thanks
Liz

Surely there are few adrenalin rushes like the ones which come from skiing like a Demon because you have to get back to the chairlift to your own resort before it closes, otherwise you have to climb in the chilly shadow of the mountain carrying your gear and dreaming of the pub on the other side that seems very very far away … This year, we nearly didn’t make it because we were too excited exploring the abundance of runs in Espace Diamant, France.

I first went to Les Saisies Winter 2003 with my mum who had been there the previous year with Classic Ski. At that time, Espace Diamant had not yet opened, but Les Saisies did and still does cater for all skills. Even now, a ski-lift pass for just the Les Saisies area is really loads to explore, especially for those just starting out on green and blue runs.  The red and blacks are also damn fine and there resides my favourite name for a black run to date – Kamikaze!

But hey, why stop at one ski resort when you can have 5? Diamant Space opened in 2005 connecting the Savoyard village resorts of Les Saisies/Hauteluce/Bisanne 1500 in the Beaufortain and Notre-Dame de Bellecombe , Crest-Voland/Cohennoz, Flumet and Praz sur Arly in the Val d’Arly, covering 185 km of slopes and 154 pistes. This past week has been my 4th season at Les Saisies and I managed to explore loads, one day getting as far as the other side of Espace Diamant to Ban Rouge ( – albeit alone unfortunately because Ian had a wipe out that rendered him chained to painkillers and an arm-sling but more about that later) and back to Les Saisies in one day.

The whole week I heard three English voices and a few Germans but that was about it. And note, take that translating dictionary! My french speaking skills were challenged when ordering food, sorting accommodation or discussing products for hygiene at the pharmacy. I assume this is because English just isn’t a language thats come through the door much. I truly love it when my charades skills are used more than my language skills as it makes me feel like I’m really not in Kansas anymore and it livens things up! But in saying that, there was no trouble when getting ski gear or such things. There was always someone around at these places that spoke English and jumped at the chance to practice. And my mum tells me there are ski instructors who speak English if you want to take any lessons, but you have to ask for them specifically.

Taken from my mum’s research, she claims the area is excellent for ski schools and those with children who are learning. Certainly the children’s ski school area was always full of tots and there was a healthy balance of helmeted little puffballs zipping past me with seemingly no fear factor on the lower slopes. I did note a broad spectrum of skiers with snowboarders of all ages to young families and balance of ski levels. The slopes just felt a little more social somehow, unlike my experiences of places like Whistler which often felt like a swarm of wasps in ski googles would cut you off without a second thought at any moment. But I may also have noticed this more because the slopes were simply not crowded – at all. I don’t think I queued once at lifts and there was more than enough room for all. Its that sort of thing that can make that first try at a new black run not so tense.

Snow-wise, I’m not expert of quality but the skiing was glorious bar a few times on the first day when I could hardly see the tips of my skis from the whiteout of snow. This cleared by day 2 and the rest of the week was fabulous. The two heavy snow falls during the week kept the runs as fresh as I’ve ever known them.

More postings of spills n’ thrills to come from this Les Saisies trip for accommodation / getting there / tips / gear.

Lindsay Perth