I had an email from Sarah asking for a bit of advice, so I’ll add my bit and if anybody else would like to comment to agree, disagree or make further suggestions then please comment below. This is the first part of her questions, I’ll answer the rest tommorrow.
Sarah: “We came skiing in Feb and loved the place.
So we bought a tiny studio apartment in Chantemerle – and will be coming out next week to pick up the keys and see what needs doing etc
I’m a copywriter and Jim has a tree surgery business so one of our first priorities would be to sort out a wi-fi broadband connection – so that we can come more often but still work! Jim is a very good snowboarder (I’m a totally rubbish skier and our daughter who is 6 learned for the first time this year – so we hope to come more often to improve) but also to discover all there is to do in summer too. I crave the sunshine! Also would love to horse ride think I saw a stables when we got the bus to Monetier? Also have friends who are passionate and hard core mountain bikers so need to find out more about that too.”
Rick: “Hi Sarah and welcome to Serre Chevalier, We have been here permanently since 2003, but did our first season here in 2001. I first visited Serre Chevalier in 1997, just doing 2 weeks of gigs with The Harper Brothers. So some of my knowledge may be a little dated now.
Now then- I know one of your questions for tomorrow is about banks, but you probably need to do that first. It’s very hard to do anything without a french account. The main banks charge a monthly fee for just having an account (welcome to France!) typically around 5€, but if you want to avoid this, go to any post office and get a ‘La Poste’ account as they are free. The disadvantage here is that La Poste will not automatically give you a bank card (carte bleue or CB) straightaway. My personal favourite bank is ‘Banque Populaire des Alpes’ in Villeneuve, mainly because they gave us a mortgage as a new customer whereas Credit Agricole said NO, even though we had been good customers for 7 years! If you do go to Banque Populaire des Alpes’ in Villeneuve, they are all pretty good there but my favourite is Fabienne Faure, mainly because she approved our mortgage and was really helpful.
So broadband: the sad thing is that I don’t know how to do it without a phoneline – but I believe it is possible now. Otherwise you need to get a phone line from France Telecom – as far as I know there is no other choice (although see below about SFR). Internet is so flaky round here I would suggest just using Orange.fr as an ISP, because they are part of France Telecom (or the other way round or something) – in my experience if you use anyone else they will just try and blame France Telecom if something goes wrong.
Having said that, I have many friends who are very happy with the service provided by SFR, but I have no experience of them. It does look like you can set up both phone and ADSL broadband with SFR here. If you do that let me know how you get on.
If you need WiFi meanwhile, go down to ‘The Station’ in Chantemerle which has free 8Mb WiFi – you just need to buy a drink (hint: Ask to speak to Gary and you will get a free shot).
- For ski lessons in Serre Chevalier go here – tell Davina I sent you!
- For private ski instruction by the best bloke in the valley go here – tell Darren I sent you! Darren also knows everything there is to know about mountain biking too.
- For horse riding see a post written by my wife 2 years ago: Horse Riding in Serre Chevalier.
I think that will do for today, more tomorrow.
BTW both Orange and SFR shops are in the main street in Briancon – if you look at this Street View – you can see SFR on the left and Orange further down the street on the right.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so much for sharing your experience that is a huge amount of information. Really look forward to digesting in detail later today.
PS. I remember Gary – wanders round the village like he owns it and looks good in a bandana, right?
No worries Sarah, I’m not sure how much use it is. Gary – yeah I think you got him – a furry fellow:)
Hi Rick/Sarah,
I came across this(on the other site!) if it helps although I don’t think it will be free wifi;
WIFI news
29 July 2010
Works to extend the wireless have been committed in recent weeks. The first and second phases of this expansion are in service on La Salle les Alpes.
Coverage estimated on 29 July : Prélong shopping center, carpark Rozé, Concorde, Area south sides, Northern area between the former UCPA center and the petrol station “Total”, Grand Sud Building, Pierre & Vacances south side, Plaine Alpe South side.
The Wireless Network Connection “Internet-ici” is available with payment by credit cards. The terms and rates of access are posted at the launch of your browser.
Neptune company, in partnership with municipalities and the Tourist Office has invested on Serre Chevalier to allow access to the WiFi in greater numbers
Expansion coming on in La Salle les Alpes: Northern sides of the buildings between the Chazelay and the aravet place.
Later : Works Phase III, extending wireless for nearly all the buildings on the snowfront
Thanks Howard – I saw that myself – but I wasn’t massively interested as there is no way it is gonna be free.
Just to be a hippy about it, before putting wi-fi in a house with kids check out the health aspects.
There are three boradband providers, Orange, SFR and we’re exploring Free, which is supposed to be very good.
SFR must be hungry because they phone us everyday to try and push their products, these are often rolled in with a mobile and a land line.
There is tonnes to do in the summer, it’s just not very easy to find out about it, the four municipalities in the valley don’t work together and are in fact quite jealous of their territory.
Good luck with getting anything done in this place, we have been waiting nigh on two months for the leccy to be put on in the apartment we’re doing in Monetier.
Thanks Ferg for the comment there. Personally I think the only way to avoid WiFi is to live in a lead box in a cave in a very remote place. I do agree about SFR though, the only reason I don’t have anything to do with them is the fact that they phoned me up everyday insisting they can get my internet faster than Orange. They can’t because the lines in my area are physically not capable of faster than a very crappy 1Mb. FYI I believe 20Mb is now possible in Chantemerle.
Thanks so much for this guys. I had no idea wi-fi had any health issues attached. I work on it permanently in my office and at home, but will turn the router off now when not in use.
I think initially we could get by working in the apartment on what I need to, picking up emails from my phone etc and then popping down to the Station to send, receive and get online. What’s not to like about that?!
Hoping we still have leccy! But will find out next week!