Best Place to go Skiing in April?

[Dogbash]

Hi everyone, I've been skiing once before and my partner has never been. I took to it fairly well so shouldn't have too many problems picking it up again.

I would like to take her Skiing for 4 or 5 nights, hopefully some time in April. Where is best to go at this time of year? Will there still be snow on the ground as I know its getting late in the season?

We need somewhere which is suited for beginners. We love good restaurants so it would be nice if it was somewhere with nice restaurants and a bit of night life.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[CAPP0]

Hmmm….

Couple of things spring immediately to mind:

1. If you go in April, particularly this year, you will almost certainly be spending a lot of time in very slushy conditions. If you don't like/don't cope well/don't take to this scenario, it could knock your (and especially your OH's) confidence quite severely as you are very new to the sport.

2. The way to avoid this to some extent, although not completely, would be to head for high resorts (so, for the French Alps, this Val Thorens or Tignes) but IME the higher resorts tend to be more purpose-built and you're not going to get so much character or the decent restaurants associated with older, more villagey places. Not a hard & fast rule, of course, but it's an indication.

I was away a week ago and things were very slushy even then, in Avoriaz which is reasonably high. North-facing slopes in the mornings were the best bet. I'm OK skiing in slush (and my skis help a lot) but the snow was running very slowly by lunchtime every day and parts of it were less than enjoyable. I think this year is far worse than usual; I have a provisional booking for April and I am very seriously considering cancelling it. For reference, I'm an experienced skier (20 years or so with multiple trips each season). HTH.

[deckster]

Scotland very much worth a look at this time of year - as said above, the daytime temperatures on the continent in April are just too high for good skiing, which isn't the case a bit further north. Glencoe in particular is looking fantastic at the moment... http://www.winterhighland.info/publicreports/index...

I'm heading up on Friday for Easter and whilst it's a bit blowy at the moment - there's more snow forecast for the first part of the week followed by a high coming in for the weekend so there should be a good chance of some clear calm days. And it's very true what they way...if you can ski in Scotland you can ski anywhere

[russy01]

Val disere / Tignes and spend your time high up by the grand motte.

If you are going in April be prepared to get out early and ski hard all round the resort first thing. Then either retire to the grand motte for the afternoon or just have a beer and enjoy the sun. Or if you like a drink and party take a trip down to la folie deuce after lunch and party/drink the rest of the afternoon away!!

[a311]

Short answer wherever the snow is best......

High and perhaps more importantly north facing slopes are the way to go late season, plenty of places remain open well into May and offer reliable skiing throughout April. It can still get 'wintry' in April, it does depend when you plan on going in April as 'the majority' of resorts close after Easter regardless of much snow is about. Expect 'spring' conditions and you won't be disappointed, if it's particularly warm plan your day with a bit of forethought and follow the sun-even if it's particularly warm above a certain altitude the conditions will still be very good.

Personally I love skiing in the spring, slush can be great fun-poor mans powder! Skiing in a t-shirt if it's warm is awesome as is sitting on sun drenched balconies sipping cold beers. If you're not up to it or more importantly not enjoying it call it a day and/or use the lifts/gondola to download.

I'm taking the Mrs to Obergurgl in Austria the week after Easter. It's the highest parish in Austria and one of the most snow sure non-glacial resorts in Europe. Very high and lots of north facing stuff. It's quite limited for piste skiing but has a large selection of wellness type hotels with spas etc and Solden is within easy reach offering 2 glaciers and 150 KM's of pistes.

High and charming villages don't really go in the same sentence. The obvious answer to your brief is Zermatt IMO, high, nice village, large glacier, cracking restaurants, but bloody expensive. For beginners depends on if they're absolute beginners or not. If so then a nursery slope up the mountain would be desirable. Obergurgl might be a good shout actually but it's mostly hotels which offer half board.

I get 3 sometimes 4 trips a season in these days if I'm lucky. As a holiday skier you have to just accept conditions will be what they will be. You can mitigate against this by booking last minute and/or choosing your resort carefully.

[krallicious]

Late and last minute is the way to go. Have a look at the skiclub GB website for snow conditions and the predicted snow fall for the coming week to help.

[IainT]

Cervinia, Italy is looking really good at the mo. Benefits of glacier at the top and access to Zermatt at significantly lower prices.

Just had 40cm+ snow too. I can recommend the Mon Reve - ski in/out and pretty cheap.

[lordturpin]

Les Deux Alpes - same reasons as above

[Lost soul]

Val Thorens , have been there around easter time and was not too bad conditions in the mornings , afternoons will get a bit slushy but its about as high as you can get in Europe

[renmure]

I had a week in Val Thorens in January and just returned from a second week 2 days ago. Whilst the second week was still fantastic you did have to pick your runs later in the day to avoid, or at least delay, the softer slushier conditions.

Edited by renmure on Wednesday 1st April 21:56

[p1stonhead]

60cm of snow in the last 3 days in Tignes.

A lot still closed however due to avalanche risk but the open pistes are glorious. More and more opening every day though. Furnicular open today and good conditions all the way down. Lovely.