*FOR T&CS SEE P147
Val Thorens
need to know
(
3
)
Total number of ski tows installed when
the resort opened in 1971
(
600
)
Kilometres of ski runs in the Trois Vallées,
making it the world’s largest ski domain
(
99
)
Per cent of Val Thoren’s ski area that’s
above 2,000m
easyJet
flies to Grenoble from five destinations.
See our insider guide on page 116. Book
online at easyJet.com
easyJet Holidays
Seven nights room only at the four-star
Residence Village Montana, departing
London Southend 22 Feb, £492pp based
on four sharing. easyJet.com/holidays*
Getting there
Cool Bus operates quick and easy trans-
fers from Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble
aiports to 3 Valleys resorts, including Val
Thorens. thecoolbus.co.uk
almost empty, the rain starting to fall – even up here
– and only Lucrezia there, standing glumly, arms folded.
What’s more, it turns out that her morning’s skiing has
been something of a disaster.
“It is very difficult to learn quickly with these
conditions,” Paul says diplomatically about their
deciding to call it a day early due to the slush.
“Sometimes we have to deal with the randomness of the
weather. It’s best to stop if it’s not enjoyable.” So we find
ourselves sitting on the empty terrace forcing down
vin
chaud
(hot wine), both of us deflated for different reasons.
It’s then something happens and I promise it’s just
like this. The sun, which has been hiding all day,
suddenly bursts through the clouds to spill light on
the wooden decking. Blue skies pop into view and the
mountainside begins to sparkle.
Within 20 minutes, the entire
terrace is full of people and beats
are booming from the speakers.
On one side of the floor, female
Dutch snowboarders in animal
onesies spray bottles of bubbly at
each other, while elsewhere,
German mountain veterans,
wearing what look like the same
brightly coloured ski gear they
had in the 1980s, now have their
jackets open and their chest hair
proudly showing as they glug
pints of beer. Children in
helmets are jumping around and
some particularly inebriated
revellers are dancing on tables
they’ve pulled together.
In fact, it isn’t long until everyone is doing this, so we
join them. By the time the revelry has finished, around
6pm, it’s been one of the most fun afternoons either of us
has had in quite a while.
The next day is another washout – a freak weather
occurrence for this time of year, I’m told – but in some
ways, it doesn’t matter. I may not have convinced
Lucrezia that skiing is for her just yet, but the trip has
done something far more important in my opinion – it’s
given her a taste for après in all its guises. And that’s
something we can definitely work with.
TIP 5
GET
PISTE!
Mountains look great through
beer goggles
0 5 0
T H E C H A L L E N G E
V A L T H O R E N S
