Val d'Isere Resort Information

Resort Information

Here is collection of general resort knowledge compiled from years of responding to email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, your feedback, plus translations of French brochures. We have put this resource together to help you out when you are planning a trip to the resort. Updating this section is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!

Val d'Isere Resort Information - Select a subject:

About Val d'Isere
	E-Mails: Where can I pick up my emails?
	Food: Is there a local market?
	Food: What are the local specialities to try?
	Food: What type of restaurants does Val d'Isere have?
	I've never been to Val d'Isere before - What's it like?
	Left Luggage: Are there any left luggage facilities in resort?
	Money: Can I use the ATMs?
	Money: Where can I change money?
	Nightlife: Are there any nightclubs or late night bars?
	Nightlife: Are there any non-smoking bars and restaurants in resort?
	Nightlife: Where can I go for apr�s ski?
	Shopping: When do the shops open?
	Transport: How do I get around the resort?
	Water: Can I drink the water?
	What is the history of the Val d'Isere Valley?
	When is the best time of the season to come?
Activities & Skiing
	Can I do my own maintenance or should I take my equipment to a shop?
	Do the ski instructors speak English?
	Have recently bought my first snowboard, should I be doing anything to the board (i.e. waxing or the like) before taking it out on the slopes?
	How can I avoid having my skis/board stolen?
	How often should I have my skis and/or snowboard serviced?
	I don�t ski/snowboard - what is there for me to do?
	Is it possible to play football in the sports centre, and is there a weekly tournament? Is it possible to play football at all during the ski season in Val d'Isere
	Should I get ski & travel insurance?
	Should I have lessons?
	Should I hire or buy equipment?
	Should I wait until I get to resort to purchase a new pair of skis or snowboard?
	What are the 10 Rules of Ski Safety?
	What do the different colours of piste refer to on the maps?
	What is telemark skiing?
	What should I do if my skis get stolen?
	What�s the difference between Telemark, Alpine Touring and Regular Alpine skis?
	When should I buy a new pair of skis/snowboard?
	Which ski school should I use ?
Avalanche Awareness
	Are avalanches an 'act of God'?
	Can I get out of the way of an avalanche?
	Can screaming and yelling start an avalanche?
	How can I begin to evaluate if the snow is stable or if it can fail?
	How do I judge if a slope is 'dangerous'?
	How long can you live under the snow?
	I ski on the piste most of the time, why should I be bothered about avalanche risk?
	Is the slope safe after an avalanche has gone?
	Isn't it most dangerous in springtime when there are more avalanches?
	Once I'm out there, how can I reduce the odds of getting caught in an avalanche?
	What causes slab avalanches to fracture?
	What kind of avalanche is most dangerous?
	What kind of weather produces avalanches?
	What should I do if I'm caught in an avalanche?
Children
	Are there any cr�ches / childminding / baby sitting services in Val d'Isere?
	Are there any free activities, or discounts for children?
	At what age should my child start skiing?
	Can I take my baby to a ski resort?
	Do the ski schools have English speaking instructors?
	When are the French School Holidays this year?
Driving
	Do I need a car in resort ?
	Do I need to carry chains in the car (often a paying optional extra in car-hire)?
	How long does it take to drive to Val d'Isere from the UK?
	Parking: Where can I park in resort and how much does it cost?
	What else should I know about driving in France?
Employment
	Do I need a work permit?
	How can I get a job in Val d'Isere?
	What sorts of jobs are available?
Health
	Are there English-speaking Doctors?
	Can I drink the water?
	Can I get sunburnt in winter?
	How can I reduce the risks of injury?
	What are the commonest injuries?
	What exercises should I do before my holiday?
	What is an E111 form and do I need one?
	Will I suffer from altitude sickness?
Lift System & Passes
	Are there any free lifts?
	How can I get lift opening information before I decide to get out of bed, and what is the weather forecast anyway?!
	How much does a lift pass cost for Val d'Isere?
	What dates do the lifts open (and close)?
	What do the different abbreviations for lift types mean on the piste map?
	What lift passes are available in the summer?
	What time do the lifts open?
Ski Area
	Can I cross country ski in Val d'Isere?
	Is snowboarding allowed in Val d'Isere?
	Is there a boardpark in Val d'Isere?
	What are the different ski areas in Val d'Isere/Espace Killy?
	What do the different colours of piste refer to on the maps?
	Where are the quietest areas?
	Where's the good skiing to be had in the Espace Killy?
Travel & Transport
	Can I get to Val by train from the UK?
	How do I find the best flight deals?
	How do I get from the airport to Val d'Isere?
	How do you go about arranging a 'DIY' holiday?
	How far is Val d'Isere from the airport?
	How should I pack my skis and/or snowboard?
	Planes, trains or automobiles - which method is easiet to reach Val d'Isere?
	Saturday or Sunday travel?
	Where can I book flights from the UK?
	Where is the nearest train station to Val d'Isere?
	Which are the nearest airports?