Briancon or Val D'Isere
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oblio

Original Poster:

5,604 posts

257 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all
Folks

Just carrying on with the planning for my summer trip and could do with some advice on which of the above we should spend 2 nights in.

Just want a relax and pootle around day really.

As it is summer we are not there for the snow either.

Any experiences you could share? We will want a central hotel close to bars and restaurants and will be looking to spend a day locally relaxing (having driven some major roads/Cols in the 2 days before smile )

Cheers

RRS_Staffs

648 posts

209 months

Wednesday 11th January 2012
quotequote all

Not really much help but I found Briancon itself a bit dull in summer

Cracking roads nearby though
The Italian side probably more so than the Galibier

Didnt get to Val d'Isere so cant help with that

cheers

don logan

3,992 posts

252 months

Thursday 12th January 2012
quotequote all
Hi

It all depends what the weather is like, I`ve been in Val when it`s raining and all you want to do is get to a city asap because it`s depressing BUT when the sun is shining it`s fantastic! Don`t expect any sign of life in June AT ALL, the end of July and August are good though, Hotel Ormelune is new (ish, it was the Mercure for ages until recently)

OLD Briancon is lovely and will always have more life because it`s a year round town, a nice, small hotel is the Auberge de la Paix, really helpful owner and he has covered parking if you need it!

Both would make great bases for days out driving, funnily enough the drive from Val to Briancon is one of my favourites that I`ve done lots of times (twice this year)as already said, do Galibier! or a really good drive is Chamonix to Val (over the Petit St Bernard) to Galibier to Briancon in a day!

Last September I did Chamonix to Auron doing that route which was a bit of a stretch!

For Chamonix hotel Park Suisse is cheap and has covered parking (super cramped though) or the upper end Hotel Grande Alpes which is really nice and has a huge underground carpark!

oblio

Original Poster:

5,604 posts

257 months

Friday 13th January 2012
quotequote all
Cheers both

I'v thrown it all into the mix!!

Graham

don logan

3,992 posts

252 months

Friday 13th January 2012
quotequote all
oblio said:
Cheers both

I'v thrown it all into the mix!!

Graham
How about basing yourself in Chamonix (where there is always activity) and going on drives like - north out of Chamonix over the Col De Forclaz (which would suit your type of car) then a right over the Grande Bernard, another right down the Aoste valley and a left over Petit St Bernard, left at Seez to Val D`Isere, stay the night, then over the Col D`iseran, down to St Michel De Maurienne (I think) then left over Galibier and left to Briancon, stay the night then reverse it!

I will be passing through that lot at the end of May if the passes are clear!