Ski resort advice
Discussion
Help!
Just getting back into skiing and we're looking for a resort for early March.
The last two times (last Feb and Dec - just returned last Saturday) we've driven to a friends apartment in Switzerland, so we didn't have to make a choice.
Just looking on teletext and the web - and there are so many bloody places to choose from I feel I'm drowning! Of course, none of them say anything other than that they are wonderful places.....
So, I resort to the fantastic resource that is PH.
Can anyone offer an resort advice?
We're intermediate skiiers, and are ideally looking for somewhere with ski-on ski-off accommodation. But the important thing is that the skiing is plentiful. I guess this is every skiiers requirement.
So any help out there????
Just getting back into skiing and we're looking for a resort for early March.
The last two times (last Feb and Dec - just returned last Saturday) we've driven to a friends apartment in Switzerland, so we didn't have to make a choice.
Just looking on teletext and the web - and there are so many bloody places to choose from I feel I'm drowning! Of course, none of them say anything other than that they are wonderful places.....
So, I resort to the fantastic resource that is PH.
Can anyone offer an resort advice?
We're intermediate skiiers, and are ideally looking for somewhere with ski-on ski-off accommodation. But the important thing is that the skiing is plentiful. I guess this is every skiiers requirement.
So any help out there????
Hotel Sports Village Soldeu. Andora. gondola out of the hotel , ski back to the lift in this 5 star gem, and for any one who says not enough ski ing to be had , they have now opened up your lift pass to cover Pas La Cas and surrounding area. enough for any intermediate and advanced skier , you get a good tan in March too
If you have the luxury of being able to book late then you really need to check snow reports and go where the snow is best. That should narrow things down a lot. Then have a look and see where the best deals are, should be some cheap hols this year. With the low pound dont mess about with B+B or self drive it will cost you a fortune. As long as you dont want a week in school hols i would think £300ish should be acheivable for a week in a catered chalet (should inc wine aswell)with flight etc. Plenty of chalet companies will be offering late deals, pick a ski in/out chalet/hotel and jobs a goodun!
I've had some good deals with SilverSki who have chalets in 3vallees, LaPlagne and others.
Good luck..
I've had some good deals with SilverSki who have chalets in 3vallees, LaPlagne and others.
Good luck..
Val D'Isere or Courchevall if money isn’t a problem are probably your best bets for good snow at that time of year, plenty of hotels/chalets that you can almost ski into and vast area that you can explore. If budget is a bit tight then wait until the week before and then check the snow reports Austria and Italy often represent really good value for the intermediates if the snow is good enough.
Of course intermediate covers a vast range of sins.
I know people who have skied one week and have linked half a dozen parallel turns together on an easy slope who think they are intermediates. You see them day one if your out with the ski guide for about half an hour by which time there legs have melted and they have eaten snow on a dozen occasions.
Then you get the likes of my dad, he is quick enough and capable of going down just about anything without falling but his style, technique and body shape would still put him firmly in the intermediates group.
If you or any of your group are in the first group then you need to be thinking about the ski school as one of your priorities, look for a resort where you get 20 hours ski school instead of 10.
If your capable of skiing any think then somewhere offering a ski guide (most of France wont formally allow this service although I think Neilson have a tie up with ESF where they provide a guide) would be a good idea and perhaps look at a couple of hours of tuition mid week to iron out some of your bad habits.
If your in the middle then look at a mix of the ski school facilities and the ability to cruise the pistes on blues and reds, Austria is exceptionally good for this as there grading of pistes is a fair bit milder than certain places in France. Of course the problem with Austria is the lack of altitude in many of the resorts.
I know people who have skied one week and have linked half a dozen parallel turns together on an easy slope who think they are intermediates. You see them day one if your out with the ski guide for about half an hour by which time there legs have melted and they have eaten snow on a dozen occasions.
Then you get the likes of my dad, he is quick enough and capable of going down just about anything without falling but his style, technique and body shape would still put him firmly in the intermediates group.
If you or any of your group are in the first group then you need to be thinking about the ski school as one of your priorities, look for a resort where you get 20 hours ski school instead of 10.
If your capable of skiing any think then somewhere offering a ski guide (most of France wont formally allow this service although I think Neilson have a tie up with ESF where they provide a guide) would be a good idea and perhaps look at a couple of hours of tuition mid week to iron out some of your bad habits.
If your in the middle then look at a mix of the ski school facilities and the ability to cruise the pistes on blues and reds, Austria is exceptionally good for this as there grading of pistes is a fair bit milder than certain places in France. Of course the problem with Austria is the lack of altitude in many of the resorts.
eightseventhree said:
We have just booked in deux Alpes for W/C 28th Feb. Was something like 400 + 160 for lift passes for week fully catered and wine, with flights and transfers.
That sounds pretty good - per person I assume. Can get there from Bournemouth; definitely on my list. Have you skiied there before?HiRich said:
Presuming it's still published, the Which Good Ski Guide is quite handy. It categorises the resorts by the sort of things that matter, and gives a decent heads-up of what to expect when you get there.
Good idea Batman! I subscribe to Which online, so I'll check that out.IanMorewood said:
Of course intermediate covers a vast range of sins.
I know people who have skied one week and have linked half a dozen parallel turns together on an easy slope who think they are intermediates. You see them day one if your out with the ski guide for about half an hour by which time there legs have melted and they have eaten snow on a dozen occasions.
Then you get the likes of my dad, he is quick enough and capable of going down just about anything without falling but his style, technique and body shape would still put him firmly in the intermediates group.
If you or any of your group are in the first group then you need to be thinking about the ski school as one of your priorities, look for a resort where you get 20 hours ski school instead of 10.
If your capable of skiing any think then somewhere offering a ski guide (most of France wont formally allow this service although I think Neilson have a tie up with ESF where they provide a guide) would be a good idea and perhaps look at a couple of hours of tuition mid week to iron out some of your bad habits.
If your in the middle then look at a mix of the ski school facilities and the ability to cruise the pistes on blues and reds, Austria is exceptionally good for this as there grading of pistes is a fair bit milder than certain places in France. Of course the problem with Austria is the lack of altitude in many of the resorts.
We're in the second group. I'll get down most things messily, and am strong and fit enough. My wife is slower and much, much more controlled. SO I reckon true intermediates. Tuition mid week will be on the menu; we're also going to take a couple of hours on the local dry slope here to focus on technique. I know people who have skied one week and have linked half a dozen parallel turns together on an easy slope who think they are intermediates. You see them day one if your out with the ski guide for about half an hour by which time there legs have melted and they have eaten snow on a dozen occasions.
Then you get the likes of my dad, he is quick enough and capable of going down just about anything without falling but his style, technique and body shape would still put him firmly in the intermediates group.
If you or any of your group are in the first group then you need to be thinking about the ski school as one of your priorities, look for a resort where you get 20 hours ski school instead of 10.
If your capable of skiing any think then somewhere offering a ski guide (most of France wont formally allow this service although I think Neilson have a tie up with ESF where they provide a guide) would be a good idea and perhaps look at a couple of hours of tuition mid week to iron out some of your bad habits.
If your in the middle then look at a mix of the ski school facilities and the ability to cruise the pistes on blues and reds, Austria is exceptionally good for this as there grading of pistes is a fair bit milder than certain places in France. Of course the problem with Austria is the lack of altitude in many of the resorts.
I like the sound of the Austria blue/red cruising. That's what we were used to in Thyon a couple of weeks ago. Great meadow pistes, blue and red. The only thing puting me off going back is the transfer from Geneva if we build a DIY. 17 hour drive (which SWMBO won't share the foreign leg of!) or trains and buses or very expensive taxi from Geneva!
I've just had Tignes recommended to me, so looking into that too.
Edited by T40ORA on Monday 12th January 16:07
Edited by T40ORA on Monday 12th January 16:09
Tignes is ugly and the run down into the town can get a bit hairy thanks to ice and the bodies littering the piste in the evening, that said once out into the Espace Killy your in a massive ski area that’s hard to beat.
You could try and find Saalbach Hinterglemm if you fancy a far prettier alpine resort with ample cruising. The night life there was pretty good from what I remember although that’s about ten years ago. At 2100 (top) though its not as snow sure as Tignes. Piste wise the whole ‘ski circus’ there is about 200k and there's plenty off piste to ski if there's enough snow.
You could try and find Saalbach Hinterglemm if you fancy a far prettier alpine resort with ample cruising. The night life there was pretty good from what I remember although that’s about ten years ago. At 2100 (top) though its not as snow sure as Tignes. Piste wise the whole ‘ski circus’ there is about 200k and there's plenty off piste to ski if there's enough snow.
IanMorewood said:
Tignes is ugly and the run down into the town can get a bit hairy thanks to ice and the bodies littering the piste in the evening, that said once out into the Espace Killy your in a massive ski area that’s hard to beat.
You could try and find Saalbach Hinterglemm if you fancy a far prettier alpine resort with ample cruising. The night life there was pretty good from what I remember although that’s about ten years ago. At 2100 (top) though its not as snow sure as Tignes. Piste wise the whole ‘ski circus’ there is about 200k and there's plenty off piste to ski if there's enough snow.
Looking at the Austria thing. Do you know of Niederau? CrystalSki says it's good for 2nd and 3rd year skiiers, which I guess means my wife and me.You could try and find Saalbach Hinterglemm if you fancy a far prettier alpine resort with ample cruising. The night life there was pretty good from what I remember although that’s about ten years ago. At 2100 (top) though its not as snow sure as Tignes. Piste wise the whole ‘ski circus’ there is about 200k and there's plenty off piste to ski if there's enough snow.
Seems to tick boxes; from Bournemouth, 2 hour transfer,skiing ends near accommodation (maybe not quite ski-on ski-off).
T40ORA said:
eightseventhree said:
We have just booked in deux Alpes for W/C 28th Feb. Was something like 400 + 160 for lift passes for week fully catered and wine, with flights and transfers.
That sounds pretty good - per person I assume. Can get there from Bournemouth; definitely on my list. Have you skiied there before?I board and my wife has just learnt to ski. 2alpes i think has everything from really easy stuff to challenging runs. (and there is a good park for me when she gets bored / tired / injured)
The Town is a decent size with lots of good places to eat / drink.
//ETA
I booked the above through http://www.igluski.com/
Edited by eightseventhree on Monday 12th January 18:25
T40ORA said:
Looking at the Austria thing. Do you know of Niederau?
No not been there myself but;Niederau - Wildschonau is a small, traditional Austrian resort with a small network of pistes (suited for beginners and early intermediates) that links with the two other resorts of the Niederau - Wildschonau ski area: Auffach and Oberau. There are 11 lifts at Niederau - Wildschonau and 13 groomed trails. The terrain is suitable for all abilities. The nearest airport to Niederau - Wildschonau is Innsbruck.
That and the lack of altitude (1600m) would suggest to me its only suitable if your a novice and/or they have had a huge dump of snow just before you get there.
2Alp as suggested is another big ski area with lots of mixed ability skiing, again not a pretty place though.
IanMorewood said:
T40ORA said:
Looking at the Austria thing. Do you know of Niederau?
No not been there myself but;Niederau - Wildschonau is a small, traditional Austrian resort with a small network of pistes (suited for beginners and early intermediates) that links with the two other resorts of the Niederau - Wildschonau ski area: Auffach and Oberau. There are 11 lifts at Niederau - Wildschonau and 13 groomed trails. The terrain is suitable for all abilities. The nearest airport to Niederau - Wildschonau is Innsbruck.
That and the lack of altitude (1600m) would suggest to me its only suitable if your a novice and/or they have had a huge dump of snow just before you get there.
2Alp as suggested is another big ski area with lots of mixed ability skiing, again not a pretty place though.
A slightly controversial off the wall suggestion but as I live here...
Sierra Nevada in Spain is experiencing absolutely incredible conditions this season, accomodation can be had relatively cheaply and of course flights into Malaga are always cheap as chips.
I'm a beginner but go with experienced people who find the place challenging enough, went up just before Xmas and am off up there on Friday for the day. Aside from the weekends the place is empty and it's not stupidly expensive. We pay 48€ for car parking, equipment hire and liftpass
Of course you could combine it with a bit of sunbathing on the beach when you're done (if it warms up a bit!)
Sierra Nevada in Spain is experiencing absolutely incredible conditions this season, accomodation can be had relatively cheaply and of course flights into Malaga are always cheap as chips.
I'm a beginner but go with experienced people who find the place challenging enough, went up just before Xmas and am off up there on Friday for the day. Aside from the weekends the place is empty and it's not stupidly expensive. We pay 48€ for car parking, equipment hire and liftpass
Of course you could combine it with a bit of sunbathing on the beach when you're done (if it warms up a bit!)
T40ORA said:
IanMorewood said:
T40ORA said:
Looking at the Austria thing. Do you know of Niederau?
No not been there myself but;Niederau - Wildschonau is a small, traditional Austrian resort with a small network of pistes (suited for beginners and early intermediates) that links with the two other resorts of the Niederau - Wildschonau ski area: Auffach and Oberau. There are 11 lifts at Niederau - Wildschonau and 13 groomed trails. The terrain is suitable for all abilities. The nearest airport to Niederau - Wildschonau is Innsbruck.
That and the lack of altitude (1600m) would suggest to me its only suitable if your a novice and/or they have had a huge dump of snow just before you get there.
2Alp as suggested is another big ski area with lots of mixed ability skiing, again not a pretty place though.
All these should offer you plenty to cruise about on without getting too nasty (in the most part).
The idea of the Serra Nevadas appeals in some respects to me but the snow is a little hit or miss from what I understand, If you put it on your list its got to be a last minute have they got snow then I will go booking I think.
Last season here was terrible, think we got about a weeks worth of snow. This season is superb, it started in November and all the signs are that it's going to be a nice long season. All the pistes are open with great snow depth and the best conditions they've seen there for many many years.
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