Snowboarding late March/April
Discussion
Bit of a broad question OP. What level are you, where have you been before what do you like/dislike in a resort, do you want some nightlife, Budget?
Flights to Geneva tend to be pretty inexpensive and that puts you close enough to several resorts. Getting short(er) i.e. <1 week can be difficult in terms of accommodation, so I’d recommend staying in a real town as opposed to a resort where accommodation should be easier to come by.
I’ve done a few cheap weekends in Chamonix but while it’s good for advanced skiers/riders it’s a right pain if you don’t have your own transport as it’s very fragmented. For Austria plenty of flights in an out of Salzburg and Innsbruck. Innsbruck has some decent local hills.
Flights to Geneva tend to be pretty inexpensive and that puts you close enough to several resorts. Getting short(er) i.e. <1 week can be difficult in terms of accommodation, so I’d recommend staying in a real town as opposed to a resort where accommodation should be easier to come by.
I’ve done a few cheap weekends in Chamonix but while it’s good for advanced skiers/riders it’s a right pain if you don’t have your own transport as it’s very fragmented. For Austria plenty of flights in an out of Salzburg and Innsbruck. Innsbruck has some decent local hills.
Been to Morzine start of year and been several times before so looking at somewhere new, also mrs will be a beginner skier.
Not really fussed about nightlife so long as there's a few nice restaurants to eat in.
Main thing is the place has to have good snow, not sure where to go as it will be late in the season.
Budget wise everything for under a grand.
Not really fussed about nightlife so long as there's a few nice restaurants to eat in.
Main thing is the place has to have good snow, not sure where to go as it will be late in the season.
Budget wise everything for under a grand.
The higher the resort the better, and access to glaciers is always nice. Solden, Zell am See , just google sure snow resorts:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/mar/15/best-...
A few years ago we flew into milan, hired a car and drove to saas fee in switzerland. We stayed just outside of town, the town itself is closed to traffic and is quite quaint and romantic which will win you bonus points with missus. The no traffic thing makes a massive difference to the air quality too. I remember nice local restaurants and not a huge amount of nightlife but a few bars/pubs. We went at the start of april and it was knee deep powder off piste with bags of sunshine. Not quite sure if it fits into your 1k budget though, the roads are epic so a nice fringe benefit.
Let us know what you decide and how you get on, i've done 2 holidays already this season but have the itch to get away late for a cheeky weekend somewhere.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/mar/15/best-...
A few years ago we flew into milan, hired a car and drove to saas fee in switzerland. We stayed just outside of town, the town itself is closed to traffic and is quite quaint and romantic which will win you bonus points with missus. The no traffic thing makes a massive difference to the air quality too. I remember nice local restaurants and not a huge amount of nightlife but a few bars/pubs. We went at the start of april and it was knee deep powder off piste with bags of sunshine. Not quite sure if it fits into your 1k budget though, the roads are epic so a nice fringe benefit.
Let us know what you decide and how you get on, i've done 2 holidays already this season but have the itch to get away late for a cheeky weekend somewhere.
honest_delboy said:
The higher the resort the better, and access to glaciers is always nice. Solden, Zell am See , just google sure snow resorts:
Those who stick to the high moonscape resorts are missing out on some great skiing. High altitude comes at the cost of a lack of trees and are exposed to high winds. Granted we don't have a cyrstal ball to help us with the weather so it's difficult to tell far in advanced. I've had great conditions in Saalbach at the end of April and sketchy conditions at the same time of year in L2A and Tignes.As always if you can wait I'd wait until closer to the time you can judge on where has good conditions. As honest_delboy says having a glacier as back up is nice to have as a back up but I'd be more concerned towards the end of Aprila nd into May. Thing with glaciers are if they're needed they'll be mobbed and their very nature makes the terrain pretty flat and uninterting. I'd go expecting Spring conditions get up early and ski with the aspect of the slope in mind, i.e. ski the slopes which will become exposed to the sun first then move onto what would be the morning shaded areas in the afternoon. Stay higher in the afternoon and with a begineer keep away from the home runs at the end of the day and don't be afraid to download on a gondola or lift last thing or give up early afternoon if it's really warm and enjoy the sun on a terrace with a beer......
If I was going on a late trip again I would wait till a week before and book a last minute snow where the conditions are good. Was in Les Arcs end March 2 years ago and it was diabolical.... melting and warm - ice and slush. Never seen anything like it and it was worse over in La Plagne. You should get some cracking last minute deals at that time (avoiding kids holidays of course).
Look at www.snowheads.com for lots of condition reports and general info
Look at www.snowheads.com for lots of condition reports and general info
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