an "educational" visit to the french alps

With a very early flight on Tuesday the airport Meet and Greet parking serivce was perfect,  and with no worries with parking the car my journey started well. Steve,our rep, in Serre Chevalier was there to meet me outside arrivals at Grenoble airport and just 2 hours later I was trying on my ski boots and with skis in hand ready to head up the mountain. (I think the ski shop man found it quite amusing to measure my feet as size 2 and handed me bright yellow childrens boots, with butterflies, so stylish!)
Staying in the Chalet Ridon I was met by Nick and Verity and spoilt by their great hospitality and very supportive guiding on my first ski run for a few years ...it was amazing!  6 hours earlier I was in the Uk and now I was on a mountain with beautiful blue sky and sunshine. The blue runs suited me fine, the snow was perfect and kept me very happy for the afternoon. If I had had more time I am sure I would have ventured to some great looking reds!  Although I didn't ski back down the mountain, skiing back literally to the chalet can be done. The 3 course chalet dinner was delicious and gave me the chance to get to know Steve and the Ridon hosts.

Wednesday I took the bus to Chantmerle to visit the Best Western and Grand Hotel, the navette bus passes along the main road regularly and  was free with lift pass, the ride from Villeneuve only took about 5 mins.
The Grand is very well positioned, rooms rather tight with space but if you want to walk 1 min to the lift then it's perfect.The Best Western with its pool, stylish rooms and chalet feel impressed me and although a few mins walk from the lifts you can leave your boots and skis in the Ski Set shop next to the lifts saving you the extra hassle!

Next stop that afternoon was my visit to Montgenevre and Sue, our rep came and picked me up and took me to the L'Ours Blanc chalet. The drive took about 25 mins and was it was interesting to pass Briancon and see the fortified walls of the old town.
It was the reps day off but Tom and Chris still managed to show me great hospitality and Chris took me to the lifts, about 5 mins walk, and after 30 mins arriving at the chalet I was heading up the mountain, again blue sky , perfect snow and sunshine.
I took the first chair lift, skied a lovely green (!)  and then took 'Les Gondrans' chair to the the top and could see down to the village and over the 'Bowl' , there was so many runs that looked perfect for me and just a bit disappointed I didn't have more time.
The L'Ours Blanc chalet was very comfortable and welcoming, warm and plenty of hot water.It was nice to have my own ensuite and the whole chalet atmosphere was very friendly even if the rooms perhaps seem a little basic.
Other than at least 4 pieces of homemade pineapple cake I didn't get to try the chalet food, which was a shame as I had heard great reviews from the guests there, so Sue and I ate very locally at Le Grot a newly opened French restaurant and the food was fantastic. €13.00 3 courses and was so much food!

A very early morning start for Steve to come and take a guest to the airport and drop me near Alpe DHuez. Sue who had been such a great source of information and help, saw us off at 6am!

My last day and I was begining to realise that 3 days was not enough!! Snow had been falling over night in Alpe D'Huez and Kate our rep came down the mountain to pick me up and we crept up the mountain, to appear above the clouds over the valley to day breaking it was a beautiful sight quite breathtaking.

Alpe D'Huez had a completely different feel to it than Montgenevre, a little more lively, sprawling and busy but as I walked around the town hopping on and off the bus,  and reaching the slopes could see what a great place it was to ski and then enjoy plenty of great apres ski!
My day was taken with visiting the chalets and other accomodation with local information from rep Sarah so no time to ski today but with a clear and sunny day could see the extent of the pistes and lift system and could see why the chalet saff find it a great place to be. Very tempting to get out there but had things to do!
 
Our three Zenith run chalets all had  a very cosy feel to them and the Chalet Hermione with its great views down the mountain, comfy sofas immediately made me feel at home. Dinner, cooked by chalet host Paddy was wonderful and I was begining to wonder if I could keep my eyes open for the evening! or button my jeans again....
But you can't go to Alpe D'Huez and not enjoy some apres ski so after joining chalet Paulette guests for a drink and game of Pig Goes Pop we headed across the road to the O bar, great atmsophere.
The chalets are a little further out but with the excellent free bus service, bucket lifts 2 mins from chalets to the pistes you don't feel at all away from it, in fact you can almost ski in to the chalet. The ski shop is under the chalets so no need to walk anywhere.

Friday 6 am early start again and having Kate seeing me off we headed back to Grenoble to drop me off and Steve to collect the next group of guests. Transfer seemed to fly by, about 1hr 30, but did experience some Grenoble rush hour traffic.

I was asked to write a blog with both positive and negative points about my visit, as you can see it was hardly just points and could have written so much more! I 'hand on heart' can't think of any negatives, other than a few more days there! The resorts were all made so hospitable by the reps and chalet staff, who all seem to go the extra mile....oh and lots of snow and sunshine!
Zenith reps and chalet people, thank you!

Sara, Verity and Nick in Serre Chevalier (Jan 2010)