Val Thorens Apres Ski Report: 12th January 2012

Of course, it’s not all a drunken affair and the last few days have seen a variety of activities geared towards children, families and adults. From Tuesday’s gypsy jazz concert at the Polycultural Hall to Wednesday’s organised Snowball Fight at Place Caron, not to mention the regular toboggan and mountain bike days, Val Thorens has continued to demonstrate its varied entertainment programme.

If you are out here with a University however, the places to go for an après ski beer are undoubtedly the mountain bars La Folie Douce and Bar 360. The latter, accessible via the Cascades chairlift or the Peclet cable car, is the more relaxed option. With its two bars and varied layout that offers places to sit and places to dance, it is, in many ways, the superior venue. The reason that it doesn’t attract the same sized crowds as its Plein Sud equivalent is a matter of sunlight. Earlier in the day, finding a free sun lounger can be a difficult task, but as the afternoon progresses the bar is gradually consumed by shadow. Nevertheless, the DJ will help you fight through the cold with party tunes to keep you moving.

Over at La Folie Douce it’s a different story. Blessed with glorious afternoon sun and a magnificent view of the sunset after the party finishes, this is THE place to be for a boogie on the piste. Since this is the case, the dance floor is routinely crammed to maximum capacity and the party spills out onto the slopes itself. At €6, the beer is more expensive here than 360 and getting to the bar can often be an ordeal. The cheaper alternative is to migrate to the front and have vodka poured into your mouth from the DJ balcony or catch a few drops of champagne as it is sprayed into the crowd. A minor drawback is that there is little variance in the actual music and entertainment and the more you go, the more you can anticipate the songs. However, with their fire breathing barmen, dancing girls, live saxophone and dynamic MCs, it’s hard to care that a lot of it is recycled.

One of the strangest evenings of this week was The Frog and Roast Beef’s charity night on Wednesday the 11th. Having tasked punters to suggest challenges throughout the week, the night saw one of the pub’s owners engaging in some rather dangerous activities all in the name of charity. It certainly wasn’t an event for the squeamish, but with good music and a great bunch of people wearing glow sticks around their necks to show their support, it was an unexpectedly fun night which I hope will happen again.

In terms of up-and-coming events, there is some family entertainment tomorrow afternoon at five p.m. at Place Caron where hot chocolate and mulled wine will be served and children will receive a certificate for having holidayed in the highest resort in Europe. On Monday the 16th January Jean Sulpice, the chef of the Oxalys restaurant, is celebrating ten years working in the resort. The high profile evening is sure to book up quickly so reserve your table now on 04 79 00 12 00. The following evening there is a classical performance from opera singer Anne-Marie Beaudette and pianist Mark Davies at the Polycultural Hall. The event is free but welcomes donations (details here). With the forecast remaining untainted by clouds and snow, we can expect another warm week, ripe for après fun and games.