Val Thorens 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 Updating this section is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!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 Thorens Resort Information - Select a subject:

About Val Thorens
	Eating Out: What are the local specialities to try?
	Eating Out: What type of restaurants does Val Thorens have?
	Emails: Where can I check my emails?
	Events: What are the main events throughout the year?
	Money: Where can I change/draw out money?
	Nightlife: Are there any nightclubs or late night bars in Val Thorens?
	Nightlife: Where can I go for apr�s-ski?
	Parking: Where can I park in Val Thorens and how much does it cost?
	Services: Are there any left luggage facilities in Val Thorens?
	Services: Is there a church in Val Thorens?
	Services: Is there a launderette in Val Thorens?
	Shopping: What hours are the shops open?
	Smoking: Are there any non-smoking bars and restaurants in Val Thorens?
	The Resort: I�ve never been to Val Thorens, what is it like?
	The Resort: When is the best time of year to come to Val Thorens?
	Travel: How do I get around Val Thorens?
	Travel: How do I get to and from Val Thorens?
	Water: Can I drink the water?
Activities
	Biking: Where can I go mountain biking in Val Thorens?
	Biking: Where can I hire a bike in Val Thorens (inc MTB/Road Bike/Happy Shopper/etc)?
	Climbing: Is there an indoor climbing wall in Val Thorens?
	Cross Country Skiing: Can you cross country ski in Val Thorens?
	Health & Fitness: Can I go swimming in Val Thorens?
	Health & Fitness: Is there a gym in Val Thorens?
	Hiking: Can you suggest some hiking routes to try?
	Non-Skiers: I don't ski or board - is there anything for me to do?
	Paragliding: What is paragliding and can I do it in Val Thorens?
	Summer: What is there to do in the summer?
	Water Sports: Who can I go rafting and canyoning with in Val Thorens?
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
	Activities: Can you suggest some suitable activities for children?
	Babies: Can I take my baby to a ski resort?
	Childcare: Are there any cr�ches/babysitting/child-minding services in Val Thorens?
	Discounts: Are there any family rates or child discounts on lift passes?
	School Holidays: When are the French School Holidays this year?
	Skiing: At what age should my child start skiing?
Driving
	Do I need to carry chains in the car?
	How long does it take to drive to Val Thorens from the UK?
	What else should I know about driving in France?
Employment
	Do I need a work permit?
	How can I get a job in Val Thorens?
	What sorts of jobs are available?
Health
	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 the lifts open in summer?
	How much does a lift pass cost?
	What date do the lifts open (and close)?
	What do the different abbreviations for lift types mean on the piste map?
	What time do the lifts open?
	Where can I get a copy of the piste map?
	Which lift pass should I buy?
Ski Area
	Can you suggest some itineraries to follow in the three valleys?
	I prefer to ski blue runs but I'd like to explore the whole of the 3 Valleys - is it possible?
	What do the different colours of piste refer to on the maps?
	What is the Three Valley ski area like?
	Whats the snowboarding like in Val Thorens?
	Where is the best off-piste?
	Which are the best runs in the Three Valleys?
Skiing & Snowboarding
	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 do I go about buying the right equipment?
	How often should I have my skis and/or snowboard serviced?
	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 is telemark skiing?
	What should I do if my skis get stolen?
	What�s the difference between Telemark, Alpine Touring and Regular Alpine skis?
	Which ski school should I use?
Travel & Transport
	Can I get to Val Thorens by train from the UK?
	How do I find the best flight deals?
	How do I get from the airport to Val Thorens?
	How do you go about arranging a 'DIY' holiday?
	How should I pack my skis and/or snowboard?
	Saturday or Sunday travel?
	Where can I book flights from the UK?
	Where is the nearest station?
	Which are the nearest airports?