Val d’Isere, France

This week was an incredible experience! I flew into Switzerland Saturday evening then took a 3 1/2 bus to Val d’Isere, France. I booked a ski week through a company called UCPA, they are fairly popular through France and the UK and is esentially a camp for adults ages 18-60. We stay in hostel dorms and have 3 meals a day downstairs along with nighly activities. During the day we had 3 hour group lessons then are allowed to free ski or do whatever in the afternoon. I was originally in the level 2 class since It wasn’t my very first time skiing but got bumped between level 1 and 2 the rest of the week, eventually I just started skiing by myself so I could practice at my own pace which was better for me, but it did help a lot to have instruction and have a few real lessons. All the tips I got helped me improve my technique and realize what I need to focus on. The rest of the week we spent at either apres ski or bars at night. It was esentially the last week of season so all the popular bars/ restaurants were either closed or celebrating their last day so even though the town was fairly empty we got to enjoy a few bigger parties with the seasonaires in famous places like Cocorico and La Folie Douce. It also worked out that one of my roommates has an uncle who works there as a bouncer at a place called Le Petit Danois so we met all the employees there who were so nice. I also met a group of seasonal workers who work for an English chalet company, many of them do ski season 6 months then sail season 6 months so we bonded over that and they gave me pointers. I went out to dinner with a big group of them wednesday night and had raclette for the first time. It snowed all night Thursday so Friday morning’s ski was soft powder which made skiing more enjoyable. Friday us 3 ladies used our ski passes to access the resort’s fitness/ aquatic center and had a spa day in the saunas and pool. Overall, I am super pleased with the trip/ program and would sign up with the same company again.