Where is easiest/ best to go for a 2 day ski break in Feb?
Discussion
We have never skiied in Europe, but I'm thinking of a cheap last minute break sometime in February as a surprise for my other half.
Needs to be easy to get to from Glasgow/ Edinburgh airport, reasonable standard accommodation on the slopes, decent apres ski, and likely to have good weather.
Intermediate skiing experience would suit best, and we have all our own gear to take with us.
Any ideas appreciated please
Needs to be easy to get to from Glasgow/ Edinburgh airport, reasonable standard accommodation on the slopes, decent apres ski, and likely to have good weather.
Intermediate skiing experience would suit best, and we have all our own gear to take with us.
Any ideas appreciated please
I can see this being good advice, but still doesn't help with where to go...
http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/ski-ho...
http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/ski-ho...
For just 2 days you'd want a shortish flight, short transfer, and a variety of ski areas as you can't hang about waiting of the conditions to come to you...and Chamonix fits the bill. Even if you'd skiled Europe loads of times, Chamonis would still be a 'must do' location.
EasyJet (and I think Jet2 also) do Geneva out of Scotland. You'll find plenty of mini-bus style transfer options on the net that'll do airport to hotel door-to-door. Transfer is maybe 1.5 hours, and on the EZY flighta out of Edi it meant you could ski a few hours on the day of arrival.
Bad news for Chamonix is there's no real ski to/from door; good news for you on a short break is that altohugh you need to get a [free] bus, there are different areas pointing in diferent so something will have decent snow. Les Houches has lots of tree-lined runs [glades for our US friends] so a decent choice if it's foggy...but there are better areas when the weather's fine.
Maybe do Brevant day 1 AM, then Flegere PM - get the cable car across; then ski back to the town last thing. Day 2 do Grands Montets...unmissable. Pleny accomodation options, but as you have to bus-it to the ski areas and I'm a lazy sod I'd rather be on a bus route than town centre. Stayed at the Alpina a couple of times - sort of 80s time-warp and a bit characterless but bus stops outside and easily walkable to town centre. On a 2 day trip probably not worth considering he Valee Blanche - great 'been there/done it' experience, but takes the best part out of a day with a guide/group and there's a fair few flatish sections; only do it of you've skied-out the rest of the valley.
Chamonix is not the typical European quaint ski resort - it has an atmophere all of its own and none the worse for it. There are of course loads of other great places to ski easily do-able from Scotland, but if you have to start somewhere, start with Chamonix I'd say.
...and I can vouch for the quality of surgery and metalwork at the local hospital in Sallanches
EasyJet (and I think Jet2 also) do Geneva out of Scotland. You'll find plenty of mini-bus style transfer options on the net that'll do airport to hotel door-to-door. Transfer is maybe 1.5 hours, and on the EZY flighta out of Edi it meant you could ski a few hours on the day of arrival.
Bad news for Chamonix is there's no real ski to/from door; good news for you on a short break is that altohugh you need to get a [free] bus, there are different areas pointing in diferent so something will have decent snow. Les Houches has lots of tree-lined runs [glades for our US friends] so a decent choice if it's foggy...but there are better areas when the weather's fine.
Maybe do Brevant day 1 AM, then Flegere PM - get the cable car across; then ski back to the town last thing. Day 2 do Grands Montets...unmissable. Pleny accomodation options, but as you have to bus-it to the ski areas and I'm a lazy sod I'd rather be on a bus route than town centre. Stayed at the Alpina a couple of times - sort of 80s time-warp and a bit characterless but bus stops outside and easily walkable to town centre. On a 2 day trip probably not worth considering he Valee Blanche - great 'been there/done it' experience, but takes the best part out of a day with a guide/group and there's a fair few flatish sections; only do it of you've skied-out the rest of the valley.
Chamonix is not the typical European quaint ski resort - it has an atmophere all of its own and none the worse for it. There are of course loads of other great places to ski easily do-able from Scotland, but if you have to start somewhere, start with Chamonix I'd say.
...and I can vouch for the quality of surgery and metalwork at the local hospital in Sallanches
Chamonix all the way-mainly as there is plenty of short stay accomadation availible otherwise unless you have a car to commute to the slopes staying in out lying towns etc then you'll struggle to get none weekend to weeekend accomadation.
Tbh mate I think 2 days skiing abroad from the UK carries a high ski cost per hour-lot of time wasted travelling and in airports, If only things were a little more reliable in Scotland I'd 100% say stay put and enjoy Nevis or Cairngorm..........
Tbh mate I think 2 days skiing abroad from the UK carries a high ski cost per hour-lot of time wasted travelling and in airports, If only things were a little more reliable in Scotland I'd 100% say stay put and enjoy Nevis or Cairngorm..........
http://www.holidays.easyjet.com
Search for Gatwick to Barcelona or Toulouse, 2 days. Flights and accommodation only, prices vary a lot based on hotel but if you didn't mind going mid-week the cheapest on there is £81...late Wednesday flights and early return flights on Friday would be a bit knackering for a day of skiing though.
£132 and you can ski in Soldeu on Sunday and Monday with these flight times:
Dep: 07:00 Sat 25 Feb 2012 (London Gatwick) Dep: 21:40 Mon 27 Feb 2012 (Toulouse)
Arr: 09:45 Sat 25 Feb 2012 (Toulouse) Arr: 22:30 Mon 27 Feb 2012 (London Gatwick)
Search for Gatwick to Barcelona or Toulouse, 2 days. Flights and accommodation only, prices vary a lot based on hotel but if you didn't mind going mid-week the cheapest on there is £81...late Wednesday flights and early return flights on Friday would be a bit knackering for a day of skiing though.
£132 and you can ski in Soldeu on Sunday and Monday with these flight times:
Dep: 07:00 Sat 25 Feb 2012 (London Gatwick) Dep: 21:40 Mon 27 Feb 2012 (Toulouse)
Arr: 09:45 Sat 25 Feb 2012 (Toulouse) Arr: 22:30 Mon 27 Feb 2012 (London Gatwick)
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