Les Menuires v Aime la Plagne

[HKS]

How would you compare these 2 resorts? There are only 2 of us going, 1 advance skiier and 1 beginner. I know there are lots of beginner run in Aime la Plagne and even flat plane on the top which may be good for beginner but a nightmare for all others. I was told that even 志賀高原 would be more attractive to an advance skiier / boarder. And connection to other parts of paradiski is not good, lifts old, no gondola etc. Les Menuires may not be as attractive as the other parts of les toris vallees but at least better than aime la plagne. Any other comments?

[Mike]

As you said, les Menuires is not as attractive as other part of Trois Vallees, so why ..... :confused:

My suggestion - choose another resort other than les Menuires and la Plagne.

Personally, terrainwise, I won't compare 志賀高原 to the Alps.

[HKS]

As you said, les Menuires is not as attractive as other part of Trois Vallees, so why ..... :confused:

My suggestion - choose another resort other than les Menuires and la Plagne.

Personally, terrainwise, I won't compare 志賀高原 to the Alps.

1. Budget constraint
2. I will stay with Club Med as I need to get my wife trained by anyone other than myself.

of course any alps resort will be much much bigger in size than 志賀, but the terrain in aime la plagne as I heard is flat, non-steep, short, unadventurous and may be boring for "survivors". I haven't been to aime la plagne but I myself also feel that some interesting run in 志賀 give me the alps feel especially those rough bumpy ungroomed deep powder run.

[Mike]

of course any alps resort will be much much bigger in size than 志賀, but the terrain in aime la plagne as I heard is flat, non-steep, short, unadventurous and may be boring for "survivors". I haven't been to aime la plagne but I myself also feel that some interesting run in 志賀 give me the alps feel especially those rough bumpy ungroomed deep powder run.

Certain part of la Plagne is bit flat, not everywhere is flat. If you worry about la Plagne, go to Les Arcs or Flaine which are close by. :single_eye:

I have been to 志賀 twice. 志賀 is OK, better than Naeba, but to me - definitely no Alps feel at all. :think:

[saikee]

I think any reference to 3V or Paradiski for lack of "whatever" is a misinformation.
3V, the biggest on the world, has 600km piste and Paradiski has 425km pist. I have only been to one Japnaese resort Niseko and that to me is a resort with about 70 to 80km piste resort. Most recreational skiers will not be able to travel from either of the above Alpine resorts between the two ends in a day even skiing non-stop. La Plagne has several independent areas all fully linked together.
Paradiski is made up by two large reasorts each has over 200km piste. Only recently a cable car has been installed to link the two together. It takes a good part of the day for many skiers to ski from one extreme of either La plagne or Les Arcs to this cable car link at the middle. Thus it is true the the Paradiski isn't well linked between the two, unless you choose to stay near the middle cable car link, but most skiers will have difficulties to explore 200km piste in a week. Within La Plagne (or Les Arcs) the skiing is very well connected to a world class standard.
3V is different in that there are several links between one valley with the next one and the 4 valleys of Courchevel, Meribel, Les Menuires and Val Thoren are arranged in a a row. The best way to described La plange and Les Arcs of Paradiski is they are like the two huge ends of a dumbell with a tiny handle at the middle.
The OP has a big problem of mixing an advanced skier with a beginner especially if the latter needs to be accompanied as the better half. Thus it is unlikely that the two can travel far away from the accommodation point and the large terrain and the huge variety of attractions offered by the resort almost seems irrelevant.

I would regard both Les Menuires and Aime la Plagne are good for begineers. In France Meribel is possibly the most crowded skiing place with La Plagne taken the second place followed by Les Menuires. To enjoy these resorts fully is to visit them when the French aren't. The French operate their mid term breaks between Feb to mid Mar with each province taking a different week. For my money I would spend my skiing holiday outside France during this period. If I do have to go during this period I would be foolish to choose the resorts with the most visitors.
The wife and I got separated only twice in our 10+ years skiing. The first time was in Meribel and the second was in Les Menuires. In both occasions we had to go during school holidays dure to kids in another family. I regard Meribel the best place in the world to take the wife to during the French mid term breaks if your intention is to ditch her! It would be so natural and effortless.

[HKS]

Thank you saikee. Originally my conclusion is Les Menuires and the date is from mid Jan to end of Jan. But then some of my daughter's school interview is in Jan and I have to plan all over again.:doh: