Our Time in Les Arcs 1950- A Skiing Winter Wonderland

[@_richardaustin]

It’s very cool seeing the best teacher I ever had making these videos and living this life. You more than earned it!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Great to hear from you Richard! We are sat in our little campervan in the snowy Alps and your comment has made my day all ready! You guys were so easy to teach and I still think back to those happy days. Hope the family are all well? Pass my regards onto Mum and Dad. What a beard BTW- legend! You must have been growing that since school😉 Thanks again for the lovely comment- I will be skiing on air today😂

[@_richardaustin]

@ great to hear!! Parents are well thanks, I’ll tell them you said hi! I did actually start growing the beard in my final year of sixth form but it’s a bit more impressive now 😂 Enjoy your skiing!

[@jillchew-tetlaw3388]

What a lovely thing to say.

[@janl7552]

Hi Richard & Jackie! What an amazing vlog in a beautiful location! Glad you had a lovely time with your family! 😊👍. xx

[@Daz5Daz]

Not been to Les Arcs for so long that 1950 didn't even exist then. Must go back some time soon.

[@SharonMcMillan]

What breathtaking scenery! I’m sure you are making wonderful memories with these family ski trips in the Alps!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We had such a lovely week - and we were treated to blue skies all week which is unusual - Lots of happy memories ⛷️☺️

[@annajeram9251]

What stunning scenery ⛷️

[@Paulie44]

Great to see you enjoying the heavy snow downfalls from the week before, and wonderful to see your whole family enjoying the fun! Pity we didn’t get to meet you as we left the day after you arrived. This most recent trip was very expensive for us, so your previous budget video about staying at Les Arcs was thought provoking and I May book mid-January next year. Keep up the good work and keep those ski videos coming!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this, and sorry that our paths didn't cross. We have found the low season weeks in January really good- cost effective, good snow and relatively quite pistes. The later we get into January, the busier it gets and from what we believe, Feburary gets really busy with the zonal French school holidays spread across the month👍 Glad that you are enjoying what we do🙏

[@commuterbranchline8132]

That looked amazing, we will definitely consider Arc 1950 as a holiday destination. Thanks for sharing.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It is a lovely resort and a great ski domain ⛷️🏔️🇫🇷

[@HONMONSTER]

Hi Guys Only started watching your videos about 2 weeks ago. Your videos on KZbin, have been very inspiring. Great video, Lovely scenery looks like you had good weather. I will be looking at Arcs 1950 Thanks

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Welcome aboard and glad you are enjoying our channel. We just love being in the mountains in both the summer and the winter. Arc 1950 and the les arcs resorts in general are great ⛷️

[@tinaharris7629]

Fantastic photography and video footage. X

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Tina- glad that you enjoyed👍🙏

[@alanbenham4139]

A super VLOG as always guys. I hope Nelson is enjoying his rest.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Alan- Nelson is enjoying the rest ATM on the campsite, and so are we😂 The kids are such good skiers, we have to work really hard to keep up. We are enjoying doing things at our more relaxed pace this week from the campsite😂😂😂

[@alanbenham4139]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust From what I can see from your VLOGs you're pretty good skiers. Great to see you guys have quality time in the snow.

[@arthurrafferty4102]

Brilliant, love the enthusiasm and life style.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - we love being in the mountains 🏔️ ⛷️

[@martinhibbert1428]

Had the first week of January in Alpe D Huez 3 bed 2 bathroom apartment superb views less than 1 minute to the lifts free covered parking all for £1000. First time self catering for us which went really well. Looking forward to seeing how your next few weeks of skiing from your van go.

[@paulh5854]

Looks fantastic! Great video.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - we were lucky and were treated to a blue sky week with good snow conditions ⛷️

[@stewartoutandabout]

Really enjoyed this and looking forward to next week as I've never skied abroad (only Scotland) so interested to see the difference between ski to door and what it's like living down the valley. Thanks!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - we have had a week in the valley so far which has been great. We enjoy the 20 minute walk to the funicular which also acts as a bit of a warm up ⛷️

[@simoncollingridge1992]

Super review guys!! We might try that out on our next trip.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It is a lovely resort and Les Arcs is a great ski domaine ⛷️

[@janetbowen7854]

Wow, I feel like I've actually been skiing with you, the filming is so amazing. So pleased you have had a wonderful family holiday. Nelson will be glad to have you back and be on the campsite. Have a great week 😊⛷️🍾❄️🚐

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Janet- we are so pleased that you enjoyed it. It was a real joy capturing the images as the weather was so kind all week- a real rarity in the mountains. Yep- Nelson is glad to have us back, and we are enjoying a slower pace of skiing- the kids are all a bit too quick for us😂 Have a lovely week👍

[@LisaWilliams-jx5zu]

A great review - thank you ❤

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - it is a lovely place 😊

[@PeterKirton-nu9iv]

Great video. I have only had a couple of attempts at skiing without much success when I was very much younger. Impressed with the camera work when coming down the slopes. The resort looks very good

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - the action camera is really easy to hold and use while moving (on the shallower slopes!) I didn't learn to ski until my mid 30's and was always an apprehensive skier but I do love being in the mountains and since we have done the last 2 seasons I will ski most things (but not any blacks - Richard tried that once and quickly regretted it when I sat down and refused to move 😂)

[@jchanning72]

I love Les Arcs 1950 (and the nearby 2000). We have had two wonderful family holidays there and it is probably the best of the "modern" French resorts. I am about the same age as you, however not able to retire just yet (I still love work and have financial commitments...). My Dad retired at 52, but unfortunately died of cancer at 59. Life is short and unpredictable, it is fantastic to see you enjoying life and giving me ideas for what I will do when my retirement time comes.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - we are aiming for retiring at 55 but as you say life is unpredictable and when we lost Richard's brother we just decided to go for it and make the most of every moment! We really enjoy skiing in Les Arcs and make the most of being able to get across to La Plagne as well ⛷️

[@davidrichardson5163]

Twenty years ago I used to ski in Davos, and the best run was the full Parsenn Downhill run - from the Weisfluh down to Kublis - 12 kilometres! We would catch the train up to the top of the mountain to start, and then catch the mainline train from Kublis back to Davos. The numerous Schwendi huts en route made the journey much easier when skiing with mixed-ability groups, and a hot chocolate or gluwein whilst waiting for the train at Kublis was a great incentive for completing the run!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

A hot chocolate stop is always welcome on a long ski - we did have one at the village at the end of the run - Villager. It was also the coldest, slowest lift ever to get back out of that valley 😂

[@russellnewton6660]

Never been skiing and I probably never will, but it does look amazing nonetheless, enjoy 👍

[@magsadams20]

Brilliant video, definitely fancy giving skiing a go especially with the family. Have a wonderful week ⛷️

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We have been doing it years and we all still love it. It is so unlike any other type of holiday. We are all so tired at the end of each day, but love cooking together, getting an early night and then skiing again in the morning. There is something quite special about our time in the high mountains.👍

[@michaelsymes6479]

Loving your adventures guys You’re so down to earth chilled out peeps .. we’re flying to Turin , driving to champagney La plagne in march . Thanks for some great tips 👍

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - Champagney is lovely - we used to ski there a lot when we stayed in Montalbert. We did ski on the Glacier this week which was just awesome as it was a blue sky day and the views were incredible. Have a great week ⛷️

[@alannorman1773]

Looks so nice. Since I last was skiing I’ve had a CVA two new knees and a hernia repair 😂😂. We used to ski in N America each winter so I’m seriously missing it. Plans are afoot for next winter with a few Chill Factor sessions first 😮 Life is for living after all. Thanks for the video guys ❤❤

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Alan- sounds like a plan to me👍 Although you are clearly much braver than us😉 We love our time in the mountains and it really is one of our happy places. Simply being here decompresses us. Thanks as always for the support👍🙏

[@alexwalksinnature]

Really nice that you can night ski in Les Arcs! I thought this was a scandinavien thing because the days are so much shorter here. I hope the rest of your stay you have the same amazing wether 🌄🏔️☀️! And when you leave the alps, please send the sun up here, we have not seen it in weeks 😢.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It is a strange experience skiing in the dark! But we did really enjoy it ⛷️ I am not sure the sun has made it up to the UK either 😂

[@victoriagoodier8209]

Lovely video and what a wonderful comment from your ex pupil. Obviously well deserved

[@AGGA-88]

Hello! Thanks for sharing. I’ve watched hours and hours of video on how to ski before going on a couple of trips but they are only ever just ok. Big ask but a ski lesson would be a great edition to the footage and being x teachers, who better?

[@claireb8858]

I have just discovered your inspiring channel. Downsizing in England and vanlife/travelling in Europe was my future plan, pre-referendum. If you don’t mind me asking how do you manage with the visa 90 day stay limitations?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you ☺️ At the moment we only travel for a few weeks at a time in Europe as we both like to spend time with our mums as much as we can too so it hasn't been an issue really. Last year we used a web based app to help track and work out our allowance because we took 2 ski trips and did a 6 week tour in June/July in the Alps. It showed us how many days we had used and the exact date when the 90 days out of 180 started rolling off our calendar.

[@adammawdesley7913]

Great camerawork in a beautiful setting and I must say, your presenting skills are getting top notch ! Looks amazing and if I wasn’t like Bambi on ice, I’d be up those slopes in a shot. Which brings me to a question….would you say it’s a good base to use for excursions for those who don’t ski ?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Adam- you should see us on ice...it is no indication as to wether you can ski or not😂 The village of 1950 is a lovely base, with lots of walking trails around the village. It also has a couple of excellent Spa's (Georgia had a fab time at the TajMahal Hotel Spa). Loads of coffee shops and bars to mooch around. Hope this helps? 👍

[@adammawdesley7913]

@ perfect ! It’s going in my list ! Enjoy the rest of your holiday and look forward to your next show ❤️

[@DeansGoTravelling]

I loved this video 🥰 I felt like I was there with you! I wanted to go in January but the colder, shorter days didn’t appeal to Joe so we’re going in March. Do you have a preference?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this👍 We love January for the unbelievable snow conditions. It is the best for skiing, but as a result it is colder and the nights are longer. We loved our March skiing last year, it was an absolute revelation- longer days, much warmer, lazy afternoons in the sun, but....the snow did deteriorate later in the day and got very heavy. With the freeze overnight, this made the early morings quite icy. On ballance I probably love January, but just because I am obsessed with the snow quality😬 If I had to guess, I think Jackie would vote for March?

[@DeansGoTravelling]

@ I’m with you on the snow quality in January! I hate the icy starts in March but being able to sit outside in the afternoon with a beer and apple strudel in the snow and sunshine…priceless 😁😎 The answer, of course, is to do January and March!

[@johnpilgrim926]

Hi in one of your previous videos you were talking about your headlights on your van I saw another video with a guy who just changed his balls. It didn't replace a whole unit. And the cost was about £29. I think this will solve your problem.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this - we will have a look 🚐

[@gcsScotland]

Excellent resort review and great to see the return of ‘Rate my Shower’. The weather and snow looked superb 🎿 ⛷️👍

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We had a whole week of blue sky days - the kids couldn't believe it! We have loved our time with the family but were glad of a quieter week down in the valley where we could go to bed early every night 😂

[@gcsScotland]

@ Always the best weeks. I used to run school ski trips and we had one or two grim ones with awful weather and snow. Enjoy the rest of your trip.