sharing les arcs experience

disclaimer: this post is my own personal experience coming from someone who was not familiar with the area at all prior to going & as someone who is still a beginner snowboarder/skiier.

1. download the paradiski yuge app, it covers everything, it took a little bit of getting used to as i'd never been to such a huge resort before but the more you use the app the more comfortable you'll get with it.

2. we stayed in bourg saint maurice @ hotel base camp lodge. the hotel itself was really nice, good spacious rooms, clean & functional. towels / basic bath gel are provided but advisable to bring your own shower products.

3. in true french fashion, hotels do not have kettles. if you fancy your own tea / hot chocolate in this weather, pls pack your own mini kettle.

4. if you can afford it, i would recommend staying in arc 1950/1800 as a beginner both of those had more green slopes than arc 1600, which was the first village we access from bsm. arc 2000 also had a magic carpet (for the bunny hill) right when you exit the cabriolet gondola.

5. from the hotel its either a 12-15 min walk to the bsm funicular (factor in more time if you are uncomfortable walking in gear, aft which u get the funicular to the top and then set off to the slopes you'd like)

6. arc 1600 has 2 green slopes, accessible by the combettes chairlift followed by the vezaille one, beware the vezaille one is a powa lift)

7. if you'd like to access other villages from arc 1600 & are a beginner and not comfortable skiing down blues yet, you can get the bus to arc 1800/1950/2000 which is a 2 min walk from the funicular stop at arc 1600 (there are signs, just turn left when you exit the funicular)

8. the best green slope was the piste des minis just next to la folie douce, trees are lit up at night, wide spaces, definitely better than the one at arc 1600

9. cheapest place to rent gear is at intersport at the bsm funicular station, only con is you'd have to lug all your gear up. you have the option of renting once you reach any of the villages too but prices may vary & are usually more expensive.

10. add a 30 min buffer to get ANYWHERE. weather has been unpredictable in the alls ( though it seems to finally be clearing up)

11. stay safe! don't go on blues if you have zero knowledge. book lessons early!! (either at esf / evo2) don't be a hazard to others, practice with friends on greens and only go on the blues when you're comfortable. you have nothing to prove to anyone, do it at your own pace!

12. lastly, have fun!! you'll need more time than you think to do things esp as a beginner so if you can have 4 full days on the slopes that would be ideal. we only had 2.5 and it felt rushed especially with the not ideal weather.

happy to answer any questions if anyone is planning a similar trip :)