"Excess" wrote in message
...

I'd consider:
(1) Saint-Lary Soulan, which now has a freebie transfer service from Pau
airport - and if you're driving, you can split you time here by adding
Piau-Engaly for a change of scenery and decent high-altitude skiing.
Unfortunately, due to a 'situation' between the respective areas, they
don't
currently offer a combined lift-pass, but maybe one day...

Would agree with Roger that Saint Lary is a really good choice. Snow
is particularly amazing at the moment and The Older Gentleman is right
that it's Eastern Europe prices over there - pretty important these
days considering the rate of the Euro. There are flights to Lourdes-
Tarbes with Ryanass too and I think that the free shuttle may be
extended to that airport.

see http://www.saint-lary.co.uk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
XS
Peak Retreats http://www.peakretreats.co.uk
Ski Collection http://www.skicollection.co.uk

Assuming I had a car (unsure whether there's a coach shuttle from
Saint-Lary) I'd definitely also devote a couple of days to nearby Piau
Engaly. I was there late last April for the closing weekend of the season,
and it STILL had loads of snow. A tad icy first thing in the mornings,
mind...

Further thought for anyone heading to the French Pyrenees: Hautacam may be
best known as a mountain stage in the Tour de France, but it's also a
much-loved ski area for local families. Yes, I know it looks laughably small
on the piste-map, but I can say hand-on-heart that it's one of the most
beautiful places I've ever skied - the scenery is just amazing. Drag-lifts
only, of course, but then low operating costs keep it viable - and it is
VERY cheap.

http://www.hautacam.com/fr/hiver_ski.html gets the vibe across, despite
there being no English text.

Bon Ski.

RM
www.mountainpassions.com - an Online Magazine with Altitude