2 night ski trip - which resort ?

[WindsorRob]

I'm planning a quick ski trip in the early 2010 season - probably just two nights. Any recommendations on which resort to head for to minimise lost time travelling / transferring etc and get most time on the slopes ? Also which airport to fly into ?

Any info appreciated.

[dbroughton]

Depends how early in the season.

Chamonix via Geneva is always a good call for a weekend but a lot depends on taste as chamonix is more of a town than a ski village.

If you fly into Geneva or Lyon you can be pretty much anywhere in the French alps in 3 hours.

We have been doing long weekends in Ste Foy for the last few years. Small, cute cosy. A couple of nice restaurants and plenty of off piste.

[Not Ideal]

Agree with Chamonix. Is ideal for a weekend as its only 50 mins to Geneva but it is quite big and a task to get the lifts in the morning.

I do several weekends in Verbier every season - 2hours by car to/from Geneva.

[over_the_hill]

How do you find things accommodation wise. I would imagine most places want you to book for a week not just a few days.

[TonyToniTone]

When are you going?

Geneva - Chamonix, Argentiere, Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets
Chambery - La Clusaz, Tignes, Meribel

If you are driving you can get to most resorts in under 3 hours from Geneva if you miss transfer traffic.

[Nimbus]

TonyToniTone said:

When are you going?

Geneva - Chamonix, Argentiere, Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets
Chambery - La Clusaz, Tignes, Meribel

If you are driving you can get to most resorts in under 3 hours from Geneva if you miss transfer traffic.

What he said ^^^^^

fly to Geneva, then a taxi to Morzine... takes about an hour if that.

Good skiing for a couple of days, nice little resort.

Not ideal early/late season, but the rest of the time its fine.

[WindsorRob]

I'm fleixble about when I go - can do midweek ot weekend, probably go late Jan, or into Feb, but again flexible. I haven't been skiiing for about 10years, so I forget when the busy times are - is there any particular time to avoid i.e. european hols etc... ?

[snorkel sucker]

i did santa caterina in italy a couple of years ago. dirt cheap flights into bergamo, about an hour and a half drive to resort. slopes were north facing and reasonably high up so snow was good. very very cold though - loved it!

village was small and quiet mid december but slopes were empty and there were a couple of decent bars with good atmosphere

its a shame that the most direct route - the passo di gavia, is closed due to snow, as im led to believe its a riot for a summer hoon!

[FPC]

WindsorRob said:

I'm fleixble about when I go - can do midweek ot weekend, probably go late Jan, or into Feb, but again flexible. I haven't been skiiing for about 10years, so I forget when the busy times are - is there any particular time to avoid i.e. european hols etc... ?

Avoid Christmas / New Year and half term hols in February. I generally find that later in the seson is best - nicer weather, a decent foundation of snow and smaller crowds. January can be freezing!

Another vote for Morzine - 1 hour 15 from GVA and much cheaper than Chamonix.