La Folie Douce.........is it just me.....?

Gareth Fair wrote:I'm sure if I was in my mid twenties I'd love the place but as others have said it just looks far to pretentious for my liking. A few good beers in a good bar after a day on the slopes is perfect and if it has a pool table that's a bonus.

Or a nice game of Beer Pong?

I ventured into FD in AlpD'Huez last week. Not impressed.

Even in my twentys, and ever since, I have preferred playing guitar alongside harp, in Austria, playing Tirol songs.

Also, teaching my Austrian friends the rude words to the rugby songs....

Been to the FD in VDI and the one in VT (that was enough so missed meribel from my set)

I'd agree with much of what has been said: worth experiencing once "for the experience" and then no more - I too prefer a quieter vibe these days and I think Tony captures it well with "Somewhere with a bit of character, some locals, no one in Onesies rolled down to the waist or GoPros on selfie sticks"

The VDI FD at least has the option of a gondola down / multiple runs (green, red, blue and black) to La Daille - the VT one has everyone heading down plein sud back to town at the end of the day - terrifying to me and my wife after she was hit there years ago so we avoid after about 3:30

Dave, like me you have a clear preference for Austria, not that its too obvious ;-)

However, I did find some nice little bars tucked away in old ADH, as long as you avoid the horrible downstairs of hotel type places with no character. Pacific in particular served me well on one visit, with a few other nice places in that area down below the lobster pot lift base.

In Villeneuve village, Serre Chevalier, I also discovered some really cool rustic places full of character and style. Most unusual for France, and especially compared with the purpose built uninspiring architecture of Val Thorens, for example.

Heres the thing though - I didn't take to the Folie Deuce at all, yet found the KK and Mooserwirt in St Anton oddly exciting and enticing. Same kind of thing, but just done differently I suppose. Maybe thats what Austria does better. However, the ski off from there, especially after dark, is helicopter territory. Mental. I understand its the same in Saalbach at the Gothstall......

I guess grabbing handfuls of 8 euro bottles of beer all seems a bit, well, crap these days, compared to a sensibly priced bottle of Prosecco, a nice pint of local craft lager, and a plate full of Antipasti.

Did I REALLY just say that?????