Nightlife Previews and reviews in Val d'Isere

When it comes to partying Val d’Isere is one of the jewels of the French Alps. With Apres ski table dancing in ski boots and nightclubs aplenty, finding the best clubs can sometimes be a bit of a struggle.

As most of us in Tignes try and defrost after the bitterly cold week we have just gone through, more snow is on the way. A change up from the -15 degree days will be a welcome change as they were starting to get the better of my nose, ears and moustache.

For a week early in the season, it hasn’t been looking like it. Heavy snow falls aside, Val has been looking suspiciously like Santa’s workshop courtesy of the Criterium de la Premiere Neige preparations. The media trucks have been moving around town, from the bottom of the Bellevard’s Face over to the OK in la Daille. As we speak, pisteurs and members of the Club des Sports operations team are setting up gates, scraping snow, and placing their blow up sponsorship emblems just so.

Hello everyone, from Val d’Isere, and Happy Christmas to all.

Welcome all to the first Val d’Isere après report of season 2011/2012, and I’m pleased to say I’m looking out the window onto a blanket of snow several feet deep and bluebird skies. This certainly wasn’t the case a few days ago when the mountain was still very green (red and yellow) and autumnal. But, thanks to Hewie, the beloved god of snow, wishes were granted and the white stuff fell from the sky in masses, and apparently more is on the way.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2012, the year that will apparently, according to the Mayan calendar and certain Hollywood films, see the end of the world. One thing for sure is that for most of us the holidays are over and although that may seem like the end of the world, life goes on.

The snow storm finally cleared late last week after three crazy weeks of constant fat snow flakes in Val d'Isere. That made for a couple of special blue bird - knee deep days with the mountain covered in smiles from the Grand Motte tothe Solaise. However with it now being the French half term holidays at the moment, the mountain on piste is a crowded affair so heading over to some secret spots is a must over the next couple of weeks. With the sun out, the kiwis thought it was time to dig out the BBQ, soak up the rays and get some Après wets in us.

The first week of the season can only mean one thing for Après-Ski and nightlife around Val d’Isère - life is good when you’re here early! This week we saw the opening nights of some of our favorite places to eat, drink, and party and with everyone celebrating opening weekend and the confirmation of the Criterium, Val d’Isere was rocking....

With the season ending in two months and our minds drifting towards our summer plans, we’ve been trying to figure out how to save our Euros and even make some extra cash for our next trips. We’ve considered selling grilled cheeses for drunk passer-bys, trading kisses for cash, and even giving our kidneys away. As you all can imagine, we’ve been getting creative. And desperate.

We meant to do a lot more partying in the last couple of weeks, but with the injuries we faced after getting a bit too excited about the amount of snow we’ve had, it's been a little complicated. Crutches, arm slings, and concussions just don’t seem to do so well in the partying circuit. But, we’re back!

It’s been a lovely week weather-wise with clear blue skies everyday and although it’s a bit cold, if you wrap up warm you don’t feel it. The pistes are great and it’s clouded over today in preparation for the snow that’s forecast for these next few days. Life is good here in Val d’Isere.

Last Tuesday was my day off and I have to admit I didn’t make it up the mountain due to a terrible hangover, no sympathy please, it was all my own doing!

Maybe we needed a week for our New Year’s resolutions to kick in or maybe it was the fantastic -24 degree weather we’ve been having this week, but either way, we’ve been behaving. Or at the very least, we’ve been working on it, reminding ourselves that our little Euros could be spent on something other than apres-ski! Needless to say, we could be trying harder to stay in control…

It’s been lovely weather so far this week. It’s warmed up a lot and even though the slopes are busy with the half term holidays, there’s still plenty of snow and the pistes are great.

The end of season is nigh and people are starting to pack their bags and leave. It’s always sad when the people you’ve become close to leave, even after only a season or two and it’s harder still when you know they’re not just leaving the country but the continent too!