Who's going skiing and where 2020
Discussion
The_Doc said:
Welshbeef said:
What is Morzine like for ski congestion at the base Gondela?
3 feeder lifts going up and out. Super Morzine
Pleney
Prodains Express
All three get busy at peak times, but are modern fast transport. If there's a queue go and have a hot-choc and come back in 15.
Half term is a real pinch point, so avoid.
Similarly Saturday
There are plenty of work arounds, you can drive to the Ardent lift, park for free and skip all the resort-bound people. This also works for the Prodains lift.
There are plans for a direct, single lift connection from Morzine village to Avoriaz, but it would be some lift! They made a video of it, but I think it's a way off.
Ok, a little update from the Engadin (St. Moritz). We've had about 9 days of snow with the next few looking similar. In the village I guess we have 30 to 45cm and on the only opened slopes at Diavolezza it's about 60cm and powder. I have yet to get out to have a ski due to work commitments and was supposed to be marshalling a race tomorrow but that'll have to wait.
We've had the snow cannons on for about 3 weeks and given it hasn't been over zero for the last week they've been on day and night. Season opens for the main areas in the next couple of weeks with the World Cup racing in December.
I believe much of Switzerland has experienced the same weather. Apparently Andermatt has 2m on one of its slopes.
Fingers crossed we're on for a good season.
We've had the snow cannons on for about 3 weeks and given it hasn't been over zero for the last week they've been on day and night. Season opens for the main areas in the next couple of weeks with the World Cup racing in December.
I believe much of Switzerland has experienced the same weather. Apparently Andermatt has 2m on one of its slopes.
Fingers crossed we're on for a good season.
A heads up for anyone thinking of skiing in Bulgaria this season.
Currently there is no rescue helicopter operating in Bulgaria , it ceased earlier this year.
This situation will invalidate most travel/skiing insurance policies as there has to be helicopter rescue .
I cant see it being a problem for long ,as it is an essential bit of kit for all the mountain rescue services around the country.
We have had several tourists go missing this year and every time the rescuers have said the delays in finding people is life threatening, we have a woman missing at the moment in the Rila mountains and the lack of a helicopter has extended the search into 2 days now..
Currently there is no rescue helicopter operating in Bulgaria , it ceased earlier this year.
This situation will invalidate most travel/skiing insurance policies as there has to be helicopter rescue .
I cant see it being a problem for long ,as it is an essential bit of kit for all the mountain rescue services around the country.
We have had several tourists go missing this year and every time the rescuers have said the delays in finding people is life threatening, we have a woman missing at the moment in the Rila mountains and the lack of a helicopter has extended the search into 2 days now..
CTO said:
Any hints for decent operators for a transfer between GVA and La Clusaz?
I always use Ski-Lifts, who are also Getaway Vans. Never had any issues and get them slightly cheaper as the people I go to Morzine with have a deal for pushing their customers towards them.Google will give you loads of others - when you arrive at GVA and exit the baggage area you turn left and just after the tea shop are faced with about 8 little transfer check-in desks. Only been interested in mine though, so the other names have never registered.
Welshbeef said:
What is Morzine like for ski congestion at the base Gondela?
Quite a few options:Morzine/Les Gets
- Main option is Pleney, which is a fast, modern (~4 years old) gondola.
- Assuming it's open and there's a big queue for the Pleney you can yomp across and use the Crusaz/Mouilles chairs.
- If you have a car you can also drive up to the Nyon chair.
- If something's gone very wrong on the Morzine side there's a regular bus from Morzine to Les Gets during the day. Regional bus so costs about 1.50Euro.
PdS
- Main option is Super Morzine gondola. Little or no queue for first lift most of the season though can get busier around 10. Skis and lifts all the way to Avoriaz - but not exciting skiing and queues for Proclou chair start to build quite early as it's the end of a major beginner blue. That said this is the route I normally take.
- As Marcellus said, if you have a car you can skip the S-M - but have the same boring ski/potential Proclou queues.
If queues long/S-M closed for some reason/you can't be bothered with the S-M to Avoriaz traverse there are also a couple of free bus (or drive if you have a car) options:
- Bus to Prodains/gondola direct to Avoriaz. Probably about the same time-wise to the same point as S-M. Sheep route from there is the short drop down to the Lac-Intrets chair which tends to get busy first thing/after lunch. Take the run back down to the bottom of Prodains and hook a right about half way and you can catch the Grandes Combes chair to get to the same place with much shorter queues.
- Bus to Ardent/gondola to the Lindarets bowl. Slightly longer on the bus but there's a lot of early morning traffic on the runs down from Avoriaz to the Lindarets bowl that you miss so can be quicker route if you're heading Chatel way that day.
Getting back to Morzine is similar. While it's usually OK getting back out of the Lindarets bowl (couple of chair options) from the Avoriaz side there's a real pinch point catching the Tour chair. Either way you're going to end your day with a dull traverse/occasional queue for Seraussaix chair, and why end your day that way when you can end it with some fun skiing.
- Ski to bottom of Ardant bubble/beer in one of the bars at the bottom/bus back to town.
- Ski to bottom of Prodains/beer in the little hut/bus back to town.
Aaggraa1 said:
A heads up for anyone thinking of skiing in Bulgaria this season.
Currently there is no rescue helicopter operating in Bulgaria , it ceased earlier this year.
This situation will invalidate most travel/skiing insurance policies as there has to be helicopter rescue .
I cant see it being a problem for long ,as it is an essential bit of kit for all the mountain rescue services around the country.
We have had several tourists go missing this year and every time the rescuers have said the delays in finding people is life threatening, we have a woman missing at the moment in the Rila mountains and the lack of a helicopter has extended the search into 2 days now..
Can I ask what your source for this is, please?Currently there is no rescue helicopter operating in Bulgaria , it ceased earlier this year.
This situation will invalidate most travel/skiing insurance policies as there has to be helicopter rescue .
I cant see it being a problem for long ,as it is an essential bit of kit for all the mountain rescue services around the country.
We have had several tourists go missing this year and every time the rescuers have said the delays in finding people is life threatening, we have a woman missing at the moment in the Rila mountains and the lack of a helicopter has extended the search into 2 days now..
So I've been commenting on here about different resorts, and I am fairly familiar with quite a lot in Europe. But my turn to ask for some input.
Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
The_Doc said:
Aaggraa1 said:
A heads up for anyone thinking of skiing in Bulgaria this season.
Currently there is no rescue helicopter operating in Bulgaria , it ceased earlier this year.
This situation will invalidate most travel/skiing insurance policies as there has to be helicopter rescue .
I cant see it being a problem for long ,as it is an essential bit of kit for all the mountain rescue services around the country.
We have had several tourists go missing this year and every time the rescuers have said the delays in finding people is life threatening, we have a woman missing at the moment in the Rila mountains and the lack of a helicopter has extended the search into 2 days now..
Can I ask what your source for this is, please?Currently there is no rescue helicopter operating in Bulgaria , it ceased earlier this year.
This situation will invalidate most travel/skiing insurance policies as there has to be helicopter rescue .
I cant see it being a problem for long ,as it is an essential bit of kit for all the mountain rescue services around the country.
We have had several tourists go missing this year and every time the rescuers have said the delays in finding people is life threatening, we have a woman missing at the moment in the Rila mountains and the lack of a helicopter has extended the search into 2 days now..
CAPP0 said:
So I've been commenting on here about different resorts, and I am fairly familiar with quite a lot in Europe. But my turn to ask for some input.
Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
You can make both Are in Sweden and Trysil in Norway work for weekends if you know what to do.Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
S100HP said:
CAPP0 said:
So I've been commenting on here about different resorts, and I am fairly familiar with quite a lot in Europe. But my turn to ask for some input.
Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
You can make both Are in Sweden and Trysil in Norway work for weekends if you know what to do.Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
CAPP0 said:
So I've been commenting on here about different resorts, and I am fairly familiar with quite a lot in Europe. But my turn to ask for some input.
Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
for short duration trips i’ve flown in/ out of munich as it gives a good selection of flights and usually cheaper than specific ‘ski’ flights to tradition ski airports on a saturday across winter. Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
i’ve then hired a car and driven to a couple of resorts:
garmisch/ partenkirchen
soll/ ski welt
kitzbuhel
saalbach/ hinterglemm
these should all be under 2hr drive from munich, and should be able to find accommodation by the night instead of booking whole weeks. just look at booking.com for hotels.
obviously you need to be comfortable hiring the car and going diy. but the last trip to garmisch was travel thursday morning, could’ve got a couple of hours on the slope to warm up. ski all day saturday/ sunday (we drove to solden for the day) then monday ski’d until about 1/2 , packed up then had lunch in town, headed to munich and we’re on an 8pm flight home with zero stress and lots of time to spare.
CAPP0 said:
S100HP said:
CAPP0 said:
So I've been commenting on here about different resorts, and I am fairly familiar with quite a lot in Europe. But my turn to ask for some input.
Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
You can make both Are in Sweden and Trysil in Norway work for weekends if you know what to do.Thinking about not doing a full week anywhere this season. I'm getting on, frankly, and my knees are getting on rather more than the rest of me, so the likelihood is I'll be looking for one or two long weekends. Max 3 days on the snow. Notwithstanding accommodation issues (I've used the Solutions Room a lot in the past with some good results) can anyone point at any thinking-outside-the-box resorts? Brevity of travel (from the south east) would definitely be a bonus. I'm still open to the Slovenia option above but I'm not sure whether it's big enough and/or where to stay, either in Ljubljana and "commute" or stay up the mountain where it sounds like it'll be very quiet (or very family-y?).
Might just be two of us, maybe 3 or 4.
Are:
There are only flights from LGW-OSD, and they are on a Sunday/Thursday. I would fly out on the Sunday at 07.05, landing 10.50.
You can book a transfer with Flygtaxi for approx 310SEK (about £30) from the airport to Station Are, which is the central point. You'd get there early afternoon.
I'd book a room in the Holiday Club Are, which is within walking distance from Station Are.
Ski Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
I'd then get the transfer back with Flygtaxi on Thursday morning for the return flight at 11.45 (pickup is around 07:40 from memory)
Link for flygtaxi http://www.flygtaxi.se/products/transfer/are/oster...
Link for Holiday Club Are https://www.booking.com/hotel/se/holiday-club-are....
Trysil:
Flights are more available, as you fly into Oslo Airport (make sure its the main airport OSL, not one of the others) so you could do whatever you wanted, something like a Thursday to Monday, which would give you 3 full days skiing.
Book transfers on the Tyrsil Express coach from OSL to Raddison Blu Resort Trysil.
The transfer takes about 2.5 hours and runs 3 times a day, costs about £40. It runs at 10.45/16.45/19.45 - Make sure your landing time is about 90mins or more before, so you have time to get bags. If you miss this transfer it will cost you a f
kton to get to resort (€1500)I'd stay in Raddison Blu Resort Trysil (not Mountain resort - be careful, they are very similar but the 04.50 transfer mentioned below doesn't go from Mountain resort)
Then take the return transfer from the resort. This departs at 04.50/09.20/14.30 and takes around 2hrs30
Make sure this transfer gets you back to OSL 2hrs before the departure time of your flight, so you can check-in.
Link for Transfer - https://www.nor-way.no/en#
Link for Hotel - https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/radisson-blu-reso...
That's it really. Not tricky as long as you get timings correct.
Edited by S100HP on Thursday 14th November 14:07
wrencho said:
Is anyone else checking wepowder and resort webcams on 15 minute rotation!?
Not every 15min. Am trying to work out if it's too early to pack my bag for my 7th Dec trip though. I'm away with work the week before and don't get back till Friday evening, so can't leave it till the last minute. Probably don't need to do it 21 days in advance either though 
Anyone know of a permanent timed slalom area in Morzine/Avoriaz/Les Gets ?
My daughter is doing GCSE P.E. and we need some video footage on our upcoming trip. The standard skills tests are fine but they need evidence of a "competitive" run and timed and/or competed slalom is suggested. We've not been to the PdS before so would be good to know if there is somewhere we can do it.
My daughter is doing GCSE P.E. and we need some video footage on our upcoming trip. The standard skills tests are fine but they need evidence of a "competitive" run and timed and/or competed slalom is suggested. We've not been to the PdS before so would be good to know if there is somewhere we can do it.
//j17 said:
Not every 15min. Am trying to work out if it's too early to pack my bag for my 7th Dec trip though. I'm away with work the week before and don't get back till Friday evening, so can't leave it till the last minute. Probably don't need to do it 21 days in advance either though
:-) I've started packing my gear and we go on 20th! I usually end up panicking I've forgotten something and unpacking it all again though so this year I'm making a list as I go. Very organised for me!Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff