Skiing - Outside of the Euro, suggestions please

[cramman]

Right then.

I'm looking to book up skiing for the winter and after last year in Corcheval 1850 (I know this is expensive).
This comming season I would like to look at the option of skiing somewhere outside of the Euro zone but can't afford America, Canada, Japan etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions - not Scotland tho.

Just Europe is far to expensive now the pound is on it's arse.

Cheers.

[telford_mike]

Switzerland is less expensive for skiing than France as long as you avoid the glitzy resorts like Verbier, St Moritz and Zermatt, and much better value. Sterling/CHF isn't that great either, but on the whole it's better than Euroland. Don't write-off euro destinations completely though, some of the Italian resorts still offer good value for money.

[anonymous-user]

Living in Asia I've looked at a few places, but there apears to be problems, and we end up going back to the Alps.
NZ, very, expensive.
Korea, infurstructure is small.
India, looks good but travel logistics apear very difficult.
So we are on a plane to Austria again this year.
But I'd be interested to read, any ones opinion on S Americia, and India

[Silver993tt]

What about Turkey or Bulgaria - both without the Euro.

[Mattt]

Lebanon?

[russ_a]

I went to Slovakia (Jasna) about two years ago. Ok for a week and pretty cheap just dont expect it to be like 1850 and you won't be disapointed.

Though I found because beer / food was cheap you just brought more and spent around the same.

List pass was £60 compared to £180 I paid at 1850 last year!! Though I think the lift pass has just gone up to £90.

I felt totally ripped off in 1850 last year and won't go back. £11 for a take-away hamburger and few fries, £8.50 for a beer is just too much, even for 1850. The Russians can have the place for me

[snorkel sucker]

somewhere like bulgaria, although cheap(er) doesnt offer the variation in skiing that you would crave as anything other than a beginner. Likewise, I would imagine, the other resorts.

There are many ways to make your skiing trip more cost effective which may range from booking now to get the best chalets, close to the slopes, or much closer to the time to get some good last min deals.

You could look at driving to resort or getting the train? Also, when you are out there, take a trip to the local supermarket and stock up on food etc so that you dont have to eat on the slopes - over a week, that would save you in the region of £50-100.

As has been said, not everywhere is expensive - you could try finding a nice chalet somewhere quiet and inexpensive, and just take a big group of you and make your own entertainment

[johnfm]

Saalbach-hinterglemm was brilliant when I went. I reckon prices were 3/4 of the prices at Chamonix, food and hotels were better. Snow was great. Tyrolengrostel mit spiegeleign beer and chips on the mountain was about 7 euro. Probably more now, but still less costly than France and less chavworthy.

[Marcellus]

you can still ski a lot in Euroland for not a lot of Euros.

That said the key weeks are stupidy busy already as there've been some notable ski companies go to the wall and others not taking their usual allocations of chalets so there might be some good bargains later!

This year avoid Whistler for most of the season because of the winter olympics.

[schmalex]

Breckenridge. Without a shadow of a doubt. I never used to believe the people who said "one you've skied the US, you'll never want to ski EU", but they are 100% correct.

No queues
Quiet pistes
Deep, dry powder off-piste
Cheap, high quality food & drink

The nightlife isn't as good, but I can live with that

[fatboy b]

Lake Tahoe for me please. Make sure you have a car, there's loads of different resorts within an hour drive of the main town (if you like doing that) with some superb scenery and skill variation.

[Whoozit]

Marcellus said:

This year avoid Whistler for most of the season because of the winter olympics.

As an apartment owner in Whistler, please don't!!!! It's a huge misconception that the Olympics will in any way negatively affect the skiing, village or any other services. In fact, many businesses, large and small, are gearing up simply to survive. The place is expected to be very uncrowded for the entire season. If you ever wanted to go to Whistler but were worried about crowds (lol . . . as if that is ever a problem compared to Europe) this is the season to go.

I'm going on Boxing Day for two weeks. Can't wait!

[jamesc_1729]

You say that you can't afford US/Canada, and yet:

In the last 5 years I have skied France, Switzerland, Austria, and Canada.

By far the cheapest, best value for money and best conditions/atmosphere was an 11-day trip to Fernie, Canada.
It cost me 380 quid for flights, transfers, accomodation (B&B), this was via lastminute.com but an Inghams holiday. Booked in December for a Week One February trip. (Virtually the most snow-sure week of the season in europe or northern america).

If the exchange rate is ste against EURO (i.e. last 2 years) then it tends to be ste against USD so no difference there, only in the price of trip.

Go to Canada...the snowpack was 10 metres deep when I was there. Fernie had a great atmosphere as well. Loads of Brit/Aussie/NZ seasonaires.

[Marcellus]

Whoozit said:

Marcellus said:

This year avoid Whistler for most of the season because of the winter olympics.

As an apartment owner in Whistler, please don't!!!! It's a huge misconception that the Olympics will in any way negatively affect the skiing, village or any other services. In fact, many businesses, large and small, are gearing up simply to survive. The place is expected to be very uncrowded for the entire season. If you ever wanted to go to Whistler but were worried about crowds (lol . . . as if that is ever a problem compared to Europe) this is the season to go.
I'm going on Boxing Day for two weeks. Can't wait!

Is the whole resort really going to be open fully during the Winter and Para Olympics? I heard that one of the areas will be closed off for most of the season.... good to hear that businesses are gearing up but at the moment as far as I can tell there's going to be a massive shortage of "Seasonal workers" as property owners are holding out for a silly deal.....

Edited to add
BTW if you do know of any property owners who are looking for a tenant for the whole season please point them my way

Edited by Marcellus on Wednesday 9th September 08:17

[h0b0]

Marcellus said:

Whoozit said:

Marcellus said:

This year avoid Whistler for most of the season because of the winter olympics.

As an apartment owner in Whistler, please don't!!!! It's a huge misconception that the Olympics will in any way negatively affect the skiing, village or any other services. In fact, many businesses, large and small, are gearing up simply to survive. The place is expected to be very uncrowded for the entire season. If you ever wanted to go to Whistler but were worried about crowds (lol . . . as if that is ever a problem compared to Europe) this is the season to go.
I'm going on Boxing Day for two weeks. Can't wait!

Is the whole resort really going to be open fully during the Winter and Para Olympics? I heard that one of the areas will be closed off for most of the season.... good to hear that businesses are gearing up but at the moment as far as I can tell there's going to be a massive shortage of "Seasonal workers" as property owners are holding out for a silly deal.....

Edited to add
BTW if you do know of any property owners who are looking for a tenant for the whole season please point them my way

Edited by Marcellus on Wednesday 9th September 08:17

I have looked at booking hotels a couple of times and they are blocked out. I assumed this was because they were all booked up. In the past we have stayed in a house in the Northern lights which was a bit of a walk but we had 10 of us and the last time we had a flat in the center that worked out great. Just fancied trying the four seasons or similar this time. Being a dollar earner and having just come back from Italy (yesterday) I can't imagine how expensive skiing in Europe would be for us!

[Whoozit]

Marcellus said:

Whoozit said:

As an apartment owner in Whistler, please don't!!!!<snip>

Is the whole resort really going to be open fully during the Winter and Para Olympics? I heard that one of the areas will be closed off for most of the season.... good to hear that businesses are gearing up but at the moment as far as I can tell there's going to be a massive shortage of "Seasonal workers" as property owners are holding out for a silly deal.....

Edited to add
BTW if you do know of any property owners who are looking for a tenant for the whole season please point them my way

Edited by Marcellus on Wednesday 9th September 08:17

About 90% of the ski area will be open throughout the Olympic month, and 100% the rest of the time. Seasonal worker shortages are a problem every year, primarily due to the lack of cheap housing within commuting distance. This means many first timers either live in a dorm, or couch surf with friends. Certainly holding out for a good deal may mean many property owners lose out! I rented my place two years ago for the whole of Feb 2010 to VANOC, the Olympic organising committee.

The only fly in the ointment during February will be transportation. From what I remember of the transportation plan, no private vehicles will be allowed north of Squamish unless they can prove they have a parking spot. However, the bus service will be a lot more frequent so not so bad to go to/from Whistler if you are coming for a holiday.

Any questions, post or pm me. If I don't know the answer, I'll try to find out from my buddies in town.

[cramman]

Thanks for all the advice. Think I'll have a look at the options on here.

Defo interested in Canada, always assumed it was just too expensive.

Cheers.

[anonymous-user]

Another Whistler apartment owner here. +1 to everything Whoozit has said.

The Olys themselves (12-28 Feb) may not be the best time to go, not because of the amount of terrain (the 90% that will be open will be pretty quiet), but because accommodation will be silly expensive, if you can find it.

ParaOlys - not sure about that.

Rest of the season - likely to be lower visitor numbers than usual, so v empty slopes. I spoke to a couple of guys out there this summer who were in Salt Lake City for the season of their Olys. Both said it was one of the best seasons for skiing they'd had.