Winter is just around the corner, the leaves are falling off the trees and Britain’s wet weather just won’t satisfy your itchy feet.
Yes, it’s that time of year again where we start to check web-cams and snow reports, buy new goggles and check out this season’s new kit.
But don’t be too hasty; the Pound is worth less than the Euro and the standard price for a pint is €5…with seasonnaire discount!
So here are a few pointers to help you on your way to surviving five months in one of the most famous, distinguished, and not to forget expensive resorts in the whole of the Alps; Val d’Isere.
Before departing to your winter-wonderland, do some research into what your company provides for you. You could get anything from £500 a week with no accommodation or lift pass, to £50 a week, all-in. This will greatly contribute to the amount of money you put aside before your great escape, so plan ahead.
One thing to remember is that there is a ‘Val d’Isere tax’ charged everywhere, causing a price difference on up to €60 on snowboards, ski’s, bindings and even clothes compared to neighbouring resort, Tignes. A quick trip up the Tommeussus chair lift will soon sort that out; even a packet of crisps could be up to €1 cheaper! Take this chance to have a quick run down the Palafour before heading back to Val’ laden with goodies.
The beer situation is one that causes finances to deplete radically and many a confused face when a card gets rejected. Bourg St Maurice is only a 45 minute drive down the mountain; a magical place where 24 bottles of beer only costs €5. It’s also worth getting to know what bars do different offers for us seasonnaire’s; some do 2 for 1 cocktails, others charge €3.50 a pint, (that’s £3.50 so stock up on pre-drinks).
On New Years Eve every pub, club and bar has a minimum of €20 entry charge, and on your seasonnaire wages, €20 on a night out is ill-spent if not on beer! The key, again, is to pre-drink and/or get to know your door-men during your first weeks in resort! However, there is one bar that offers free entry before 11pm.
Your main priority whilst in the Alps, presumably, would be to ride without disaster. We all know, however, that injury is pretty much unavoidable; confidence grows, snow gets thicker, and ‘they make it all look so easy on TV’ persuades you to hit that big red kicker before you’ve even hit the blues. We’ve all done it. We all know it hurts. But buy a Carte Neige card at the beginning of the season and you’ll be safely taken off the mountain without cost; without one you wont make it home without flashing a credit card or painfully making your own way down. This is coming from someone who knows from experience; I had the misfortune of dislocating both sides of my pelvis. I had no Carte Neige and for some reason didn’t have my purse. The decent was more than painful!
So, Play hard, ride hard and don’t work too hard!