Lift passes for beginners in Belle Plagne

We are gong to Belle Plagne on April 12 this year. Three of us are total skiing beginners and so of course will be starting off on the nursery slopes -not exactly sure where they are but we are staying at the new hotel Les Deux Domaines. My husband is a bit better and is prob level 1, he needs a pass from day one. Do we need to have lift passes right from the start, or does anyone know whether there is a "cheaper" option to tide us over for the first few days until we venture off the nursery slopes. I think a 6 day pass for an adult is £195 and for a child is £155. This is a lot to pay if we only need a small section of the lifts for the first two days. Thank you.

Hi

I've been to Belle Plagne twice so I'l try to answer your questions but.............are you teaching yourself or do you have lessons booked? If you've booked lessons you'll need to speak to the ski school but because they might take you to other slopes to learn.

If however, you are self taught then you might get away with the first day or two without a pass. You'll probably be walking up the nursery slope (there is one in belle plagne) to learn how to stand and snow plough etc. Go to PlagneBellecote though and there is a nursery slope with a little travellator thing (a flat escalator) which is great for beginners as it takes the hard work out of it. PlagneBellcote is just below Belle Plagne and you'll drive through on your way to Belle Plagne - from memory Les Deux Domaines is in the lower part of Belle Plagne so won't be far away at all to walk to access that nursery slope. Don't ski down from Belle PLagne though - the blue run down there is great fun after a few days but best not tackled before learning to turn or slow down.

That said if you are getting lessons then ESF do a complete beginners package which is 6 full days tuition and a lift pass (limited for 3 days then the full La Plagne area for the remainder of the week). Can't remember the exact price but it was in the region of what you'd pay for a lift pass alone. As skiing lessons go it's really good value.

I'm sure you'll have a good time - Belle Plagne is pretty small and quiet but still has enough to do there.

Assuming that you 3 beginners are getting lessons, then the ski school will not require you to have lift passes for the first 2 days. You can either sign on with the ESF school in Belle Plagne, or catch the bus into Plagne Centre, where the beginners slopes are more extensive, and sign on with a school there. Bus stop is at the back of Bellecote and free. Oxygene is very good, with lots of english staff. Give them a call. They often arrange their own minibus to collect people from hotels in Belle Plagne, and return them back again. Then 1/2 way through your holiday you'll be able to ski over to Plagne Centre for your lesson, instead of taking the bus.