Weekend Ski Resort - Drive from the UK
Discussion
I'm a keen to get my kids and missus into skiing as I'm boarded for many years.
Over the next few months I plan to take the kids for a few lessons at the dry slopes with the aim of doing a long weekend towards the end of the session, early march, somewhere in Europe.
I'd like to know a half decent, begineer resort within a decent drive from the UK. I plan to do around 4/5 days and will be on a limited budget so if one country is cheaper than the rest that would be ideal.
If anyone can also recommend cheapish accomodation that would also help.
Look forward to your comments
Over the next few months I plan to take the kids for a few lessons at the dry slopes with the aim of doing a long weekend towards the end of the session, early march, somewhere in Europe.
I'd like to know a half decent, begineer resort within a decent drive from the UK. I plan to do around 4/5 days and will be on a limited budget so if one country is cheaper than the rest that would be ideal.
If anyone can also recommend cheapish accomodation that would also help.
Look forward to your comments
Skiing + Family + Cheap = nigh on impossible.
You can do skiing cheap as a student/group of mates, but I suspect most families would require slightly more comfortable accommodation.
For resorts within driving distance of the UK, I guess you're looking at the Chamonix-Mont Blanc area, but there's nothing really cheap unless you take a risk on early/late season. A flight + transfer + accom + lessons + lift pass deal with Neilson or similar may well work out cheaper and easier than driving (sadly).
You can do skiing cheap as a student/group of mates, but I suspect most families would require slightly more comfortable accommodation.
For resorts within driving distance of the UK, I guess you're looking at the Chamonix-Mont Blanc area, but there's nothing really cheap unless you take a risk on early/late season. A flight + transfer + accom + lessons + lift pass deal with Neilson or similar may well work out cheaper and easier than driving (sadly).
Chatel in the Port du Soleil used to be dirt cheap...no idea how expensive it is now. Eight hour drive from Calais or so. I once stayed in a hotel about a 15 min drive down the valley from Chatel it was ludicrously cheap....£15 a night for full board and it had an indoor pool! That was 10 plus years ago though.
Chatel's a bit low so if it's a dodgy season the snow can be iffy but it links into Avoriaz which is quite high. Avoriaz might be woth a look but it's not everyone's cup of tea as it's a purpose built resort.
Chamonix is very popular with Brits and there are a couple of very beginner friendly ski areas. Les Houches being the main one.
Chatel's a bit low so if it's a dodgy season the snow can be iffy but it links into Avoriaz which is quite high. Avoriaz might be woth a look but it's not everyone's cup of tea as it's a purpose built resort.
Chamonix is very popular with Brits and there are a couple of very beginner friendly ski areas. Les Houches being the main one.
MIGHT work out better to fly and go somewhere like Bulgaria, people are always going on about how cheap it is!
Also, if you are on a tight budget have you factored in the price of some basic gear? When I say basic I don`t actually mean cheap because SOME cheap gear can ruin your skiing experience particularly as a beginner, on top of that, if you do really like it you will probably end up buying better stuff for your next trip and buying twice!
I bought some gloves YEARS ago that were quite cheap so there ARE some exceptions but bear it all in mind!
As previous people have said, the action starts about 6.5hrs from Calais (ONLY stopping for fuel and driving at a speed that won`t cause you too much trouble with the Police)
I think you will have fun no matter what though!
Also, if you are on a tight budget have you factored in the price of some basic gear? When I say basic I don`t actually mean cheap because SOME cheap gear can ruin your skiing experience particularly as a beginner, on top of that, if you do really like it you will probably end up buying better stuff for your next trip and buying twice!
I bought some gloves YEARS ago that were quite cheap so there ARE some exceptions but bear it all in mind!
As previous people have said, the action starts about 6.5hrs from Calais (ONLY stopping for fuel and driving at a speed that won`t cause you too much trouble with the Police)
I think you will have fun no matter what though!
The cheapest option when you factor in the costs for ferry, fuel, refreshments en route and two days lost is to fly into Geneva then a 1.5hr bus transfer into Portes du soliel, somewhere like Les Gets/Morzine/etc. The skiing there is excellent.
It's close enough to get a morning flight and be on the slopes before lunch.
Flights can be had for about £80 and hotels are cheap if you go outside half term.
It's close enough to get a morning flight and be on the slopes before lunch.
Flights can be had for about £80 and hotels are cheap if you go outside half term.
Edited by 897sma on Wednesday 2nd October 16:50
897sma said:
The cheapest option when you factor in the costs for ferry, fuel, refreshments en route and two days lost is to fly into Geneva then a 1.5hr bus transfer into Portes du soliel, somewhere like Les Gets/Morzine/etc. The skiing there is excellent.
It's close enough to get a morning flight and be on the slopes before lunch.
Flights can be had for about £80 and hotels are cheap if you go outside half term.
Seconded, I did that for my second ever week of skiing, Morzine & Les Gets are great for beginners but big enough for you as an intermediate. I'd choose this option over Chamonix, where you really need a car to make use of time available. It's close enough to get a morning flight and be on the slopes before lunch.
Flights can be had for about £80 and hotels are cheap if you go outside half term.
Edited by 897sma on Wednesday 2nd October 16:50
We normally do lads weekends in Soll, Austria. We are all married with kids so can only really justify 3/ 4 nights away.
Get a cheap flight from UK to Munich (we have used Easyjet from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stanstead, Lufthansa from Birmingham, probably others available). You can get a really early flight from the UK and be in the resort by 12:00. If you get a 21:00/ 22:00 flight back it is possible to have 3 and a half days skiing with three nights accomodation. Hire car from Munich then an hours drive to Soll.
Accomodation is fairly cheap (we have paid anything from £40 B&B to £150 D,B&B per night). Beer is relatively cheap. Restaurants aren't too expensive. Lift pass is reasoanble just not sure what the beginners slopes are like. Plenty of people in the ski school though.
Not sure how long it will take you to drive to Munich from where you are, then add an hour to get to the resort.
Like others have said, it is one thing paying for yourself to go away with the lads. Multiply that by four, it is then quite a lot of money for 3/ 4 days. I supsect you won't spend as much money on beer though !
Get a cheap flight from UK to Munich (we have used Easyjet from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stanstead, Lufthansa from Birmingham, probably others available). You can get a really early flight from the UK and be in the resort by 12:00. If you get a 21:00/ 22:00 flight back it is possible to have 3 and a half days skiing with three nights accomodation. Hire car from Munich then an hours drive to Soll.
Accomodation is fairly cheap (we have paid anything from £40 B&B to £150 D,B&B per night). Beer is relatively cheap. Restaurants aren't too expensive. Lift pass is reasoanble just not sure what the beginners slopes are like. Plenty of people in the ski school though.
Not sure how long it will take you to drive to Munich from where you are, then add an hour to get to the resort.
Like others have said, it is one thing paying for yourself to go away with the lads. Multiply that by four, it is then quite a lot of money for 3/ 4 days. I supsect you won't spend as much money on beer though !
Edited by Powerkiter on Thursday 10th October 21:14
Weekend accomodation can be tricky to pre-book as most operators like to offer weekly packages.
However I have frequently used these two operators for long weekends and can thoroughly recommend either.
Both have packages geared at coach travel from the UK, but you can negotiate the diff if you travel DIY - fly or drive:
Skiweekends: http://www.skiweekends.com/
Their main base is Brides les Bains, beneath Meribel. Huge area, being a part of the 3 Valleys.
Cheap as chips, but the lift pass is pricey. disadvantage is the 20 minuite gondola ride up to Meribel before you start ascending the ski lifts.
Snowcoach: http://www.snowcoach.co.uk/
They are happy to take bookings for short breaks, mainly in their club hotel in La Fayet. This is a short drive up to St Gervais which is a fantastic and little known ski area, just around the corner from Chamonix Mont Blanc. Easiest drive from Calais, being under 1 hour from Geneva.
St Gervais is a traditional village and very pretty by French standards, but your Evasion Mont Blanc lift pass covers 400km of pistes including all of the satelite resorts (Les Contamines is a favourite of mine).
Why not go for a week though? A friend of mine has an appartment in St Gervais which costs about £600pw depending on time of year. Sleeps 6, but 4 comfortably. I've been several times. He might be persuaded to rent for a long weekend, if bookings are light, but I imagine would only commit much nearer the time as it scuppers 2 weeks bookings.
Both options have the usual ESF for kids lessons, and both have the usual Intersport to prebook your equipment if needed.
However I have frequently used these two operators for long weekends and can thoroughly recommend either.
Both have packages geared at coach travel from the UK, but you can negotiate the diff if you travel DIY - fly or drive:
Skiweekends: http://www.skiweekends.com/
Their main base is Brides les Bains, beneath Meribel. Huge area, being a part of the 3 Valleys.
Cheap as chips, but the lift pass is pricey. disadvantage is the 20 minuite gondola ride up to Meribel before you start ascending the ski lifts.
Snowcoach: http://www.snowcoach.co.uk/
They are happy to take bookings for short breaks, mainly in their club hotel in La Fayet. This is a short drive up to St Gervais which is a fantastic and little known ski area, just around the corner from Chamonix Mont Blanc. Easiest drive from Calais, being under 1 hour from Geneva.
St Gervais is a traditional village and very pretty by French standards, but your Evasion Mont Blanc lift pass covers 400km of pistes including all of the satelite resorts (Les Contamines is a favourite of mine).
Why not go for a week though? A friend of mine has an appartment in St Gervais which costs about £600pw depending on time of year. Sleeps 6, but 4 comfortably. I've been several times. He might be persuaded to rent for a long weekend, if bookings are light, but I imagine would only commit much nearer the time as it scuppers 2 weeks bookings.
Both options have the usual ESF for kids lessons, and both have the usual Intersport to prebook your equipment if needed.
As an alternative to Portes du Soleil, you could consider Alp D'Huez. A not unreasonable transfer time from Grenoble which has Ryanair flights (you said cheap, right?!), resort is generally cheaper than PdS, a bit more snow sure and has loads of easy runs while still having some challenging stuff if you want to go off on your own. Basically, the higher you go the harder it gets so all the easy stuff is nice and close to the resort. Fairly lively in the evening like Morzine if that's a consideration too. The resort is not the prettiest but you can't have everything.. Bens Bus and similar provide transfers. I can't be sure how easy it is to book flights and accomodation for part-week holidays but worth a look.
ewenm said:
Skiing + Family + Cheap = nigh on impossible.
sadly.The alps are a 1-day drive each way, especially with kids. Therefore for long weekends you're restricted to flying. And flights are brutal during the season*.
So if you're driving to go for a week, it'll need to be in the school holidays, when accommodation is brutal.
Either way you're stuffed.
- Actually if you book now they're not completely bonkers: I've just booked a ski weekend and the flights with BA were £230 . But multiply by 4 and add car hire you're way over the £600 I reckon it costs me to drive to the alps (and back).
PdS would be a consideration, as would be les deux aloes/alp d'huez. We did a cheeky second family week lda last Easter and made an effort to see how cheaply we could do a family ski holiday. Apartment, shuttle, fuel, ski hire and lessons for the kids, restricted lift passes, food, tolls still came to over £2k.
Another one to consider which, as a student, I did for the weekend regularly as a housemate's family had a chalet there is Thollon, just above Evian
Another one to consider which, as a student, I did for the weekend regularly as a housemate's family had a chalet there is Thollon, just above Evian
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