European Skiing Holiday Recommendations Please.

[pushthebutton]

Hi,

I'm planning on taking my Dad and Sister away for a week of skiing / snowboarding in Europe. I have a few pre-requisites and so i'm turning to PH for good recommendations.

1) My Sister prefers Italy, but would be happy with most places, except France
2) My Dad has just retired and will be a first-time skier. He has minor hearing problems and needs instructors with good English.
3) I'm getting increasingly fed up with half-board hotels and I'd quite like a self-catered apartment or chalet.
4) It'd be nice to have ski in / out, but as long as it's fairly close to the slopes that's fine.

I've been looking at Cervinia. We've been there before, but apartments / chalets are hard to find. If anybody knows a good website for ski chalets, I'd love to know. I've used Google, but I'm having trouble finding anything good.

Thanks

[Stu R]

when are you planning on going? some places get decent snow before others.

Why won't your sister like france? IMO it's got some of the best resorts on offer. Tignes and Chamonix have something for everyone, novice and expert alike.

For beginners Andorra is supposed to be pretty good. I've yet to go there myself but a few of my mates learned there with english instructors. December before you get any decent powder though afaik.

Italy has some good stuff for beginners, I started in Cortina and loved it.

Bankso I've yet to try but keep hearing great things about, supposedly great for beginners and a cheaper alternative to some of the more premium resorts but with plenty of good aprés ski and decent slopes from what I'm told.

[pushthebutton]

It will be the end of Jan / beginning of Feb. My Sister doesn't like French people or French food very much ha ha.

[ianqv]

Cervina is pretty good! and v snow sure.... although it's v close to the French border, so there could be the odd infiltrator!!!

Have a look at Livigno, Have been there a few times, it's snow sure and has skiing for most standards. Although, if you are die hard black run brigade - you could find it limiting (but if conditions allow theres some great off piste there).

Oh it's duty free shopping there to!!!

Hope this helps

[Robwhite]

Have you tried Iglu.com or ifyouski.com? I've used both pretty often, and there're OK. If I were you I'd not take you Dad to Tignes (too high, wild and scary for a beginner) or Cham (too fragmented and expensive, even before the £ went in to free-fall). What about Austria - Soll's pretty and has a decent area and a beginner could get about OK. Valmorel in the Tarentaise is a "family" orientated resort, which is 1st class for beginners, has chalets (we had a good one) and a decent size ski area. One of my favourites is Serre Chevalier, it has a big area, lots of high and demanding stuff if your good, but some really good nursery areas as well. It's also cheaper than the biggest resorts. We've been there a few times (crap hotel, excellent chalet, crap and bloody good self catering). You need to talk the missus round about France. PM me if you want to know more.

[astroarcadia]

http://www.skiingholidays.com/

[pushthebutton]

Thanks. I'm checking them out now. I'm going to tentatively work on my Sister.