Who's going skiing and where? 23-24
Discussion
malks222 said:
anyone manage to book ‘cheap’ easyjet flights this morning for next season?? I was £1200 (for 3) for edi>gva for scottish half term!!! and i booked at 6:30am! ouch!!!
if you fly Monday to Sunday EDI-GVA, it's £582 for 4 people in half termEdited by malks222 on Thursday 21st March 08:44
Edited by malks222 on Thursday 21st March 08:45
And of course £280 ish out of half term
Easyjet isn't stupid
audi321 said:
I really don’t understand why you guys book the flights so early. They always have sales throughout the year and an example is I’m going tomorrow for a week from Manchester to Grenoble for £300 (FOR 4 PEOPLE!). Booked it around 2 months back.
I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than £200 per person and I’ve gone twice a year pretty much for the past 20 years of which 12 of these have been in school holidays.
It's school term time, Grenoble isn't a great airport and Manchester has lots of people and lots of flights. =cheaperI don’t think I’ve ever paid more than £200 per person and I’ve gone twice a year pretty much for the past 20 years of which 12 of these have been in school holidays.
If you have to plan 6months+ in advance and you can't take your kids out of school, then you are at the mercy of the market.
Tues to Tues Luton to Geneva return in the middle of January is currently £76 total. For 1350 miles of flying.
Which is insanely cheap.
A single ticket from Newcastle to King's Cross is about £70
Edited by The_Doc on Thursday 21st March 21:45
toon10 said:
We booked up 14th January from Newcastle to Geneva for Chamonix with Jet2 for two adults and a child. £1204.50 all in.
Same dates (presuming 7 nights stay) with Easyjet are now £220 for 2 adults and a child, BUT from Luton. So you could spend £1000 getting to Luton.
Or spend £100 getting to Luton and save yourself £900?
I'll drive you there for £200.
If I wait, there is a chance the price will double or sell out, and then I have 2 sad children, a sad wife, a week of useless annual leave, 500+ emails to do on my return and control is what I like.
That said, I'm waiting now and didn't purchase at 6am the other day.
Everyone does it differently.
That said, I'm waiting now and didn't purchase at 6am the other day.
Everyone does it differently.
Every few years I think, yeah why not give North American skiing a go?
I've skied in the Alps for 40 years and never been across the pond to the snow.
Then I think: 11 hours of flights, 4x flight cost, insurance more, no European culture/food/glamour, snow's the same, gravity the same, and now £100/day for a lift pass!
And I just don't bother.
Which is a damn shame, but just looking now on Crystalski.co.uk, 1 week in Breckenridge in Feb 2025 for 2 Adults **Room only** with flights and ski pass is £6,591. Before food, before equipment hire, before any sort of flight/seat upgrade (10 hours on a United Airlines in Economy anyone?)
so it never gets booked.
4Q said:
It's not just the cost and flight time. I did 10 days in Breckenridge last year and even though I had a couple of days in Denver first, it was really hard getting used to the 7 hour time difference and the altitude with the base elevation being at nearly 3000m and the peaks at nearly 4000m.
Plus the runs and lift network were nowhere as extensive as one of the European mega resorts. The food on the mountain was crap and expensive too. I'm not sure I'll be going back unless I had another reason to be there.
Yes, Altitude sickness on my ski holiday would be aprox 100000% bummer.Plus the runs and lift network were nowhere as extensive as one of the European mega resorts. The food on the mountain was crap and expensive too. I'm not sure I'll be going back unless I had another reason to be there.
"“So many vacationers race off to ski, drink alcohol and sit in hot tubs. It’s a recipe for disaster,” said Sue Purvis, a Wilderness Medical Associates instructor and owner of Crested Butte Outdoors...
So what does Purvis recommend if you feel ill? First, assume you have altitude sickness until proven otherwise and do not go any higher in elevation. This may mean staying in the condo rather than skiing on the first day of your vacation. You also can schedule a layover day in transit at a lower elevation city, such as Denver or Salt Lake City, to aid in acclimatization.
That ‘brutal’ first day
“That first day is brutal,” Purvis said. “You’ve got to rest. Surrender to the fact you might be feeling tired, short of breath, headachy. Rest and hydrate.”
Purvis also added that symptoms can hang around for one to four days. If the symptoms have not improved in 24 hours, then descend in elevation. If symptoms become acute, then descend immediately and head to the emergency room."
Source: https://www.onthesnow.com/news/how-to-avoid-altitu...
My summary: f
k that !Alps: stay at 1200-1800m, best snow 2000m-2800m
I've been to the top of Val Thorens at 3200m and walking from the lift to the piste was tiring and I was short of breath (aged 22 !!) and we quickly retired to the condo for drink and hot tubs as noted above.
1st day in Morzine.
10C in the village and we didn't even bother with the Morzine Les Gets slopes, they look very sparse.
The deal on PDS passes gives you a free child with every adult 5 day bought, so we've spent the day in Avoriaz.
Snow is fine for learners, slushy below 1800 after lunch but plenty of it. FolieD'oux was pumping.
Not too busy, surprising as its a bank holiday weekend, but the French schools haven't broken up yet.
10cm of fresh predicted for tomorrow night, but I still think the MZN/LesG side is all over for 2024. Need a car and drive over to the big boys side.
10C in the village and we didn't even bother with the Morzine Les Gets slopes, they look very sparse.
The deal on PDS passes gives you a free child with every adult 5 day bought, so we've spent the day in Avoriaz.
Snow is fine for learners, slushy below 1800 after lunch but plenty of it. FolieD'oux was pumping.
Not too busy, surprising as its a bank holiday weekend, but the French schools haven't broken up yet.
10cm of fresh predicted for tomorrow night, but I still think the MZN/LesG side is all over for 2024. Need a car and drive over to the big boys side.
andyb28 said:
We have already had our annual family trip to Les Gets. But my wife and I are seriously considering a cheap extra trip in April.
Bit of a concern as the snow lower down in March was pretty bad in France for us. Fine higher up though.
Have been reading up and the recommendations seem to be Tignes and Val Thoren as they are higher up.
Haven't been to either resort and have never been away in April before.
Anyone have any experience of this?
Val Thorens is very very high so in April it's going to the be the safest of the bunch. But the whole season ends 22nd usually, so do you risk the cash? It's a very dull resort because it's all above the tree line, but maybe there will be snow. Bit of a concern as the snow lower down in March was pretty bad in France for us. Fine higher up though.
Have been reading up and the recommendations seem to be Tignes and Val Thoren as they are higher up.
Haven't been to either resort and have never been away in April before.
Anyone have any experience of this?
Harry Flashman said:
In other news, for the non ski nerds and folk who just like want to know how it is out here, been raining heavily here in Montriond, Portes du Soleil, for hours, overnight. Let's see what today brings up on the hill - could be a very lazy day! Hot tub and book?
I hate skiing in the rain.
Put the budgie smugglers away.
Harry Flashman said:
Huge powder day, and looks like a bluebird afternoon. Best day skiing all season, been out since 0830. Been off in trees whem viz was poor, still finding untracked at 1pm. Avoriaz crowded, Chatel empty.
Very lucky and privileged to be out here. Hope the rest of you have a great day too!
.
I saw you today with your phat skiis. I shouted at you, but I was obscured by Jacinta and Ralph who were dealing with a crying child.Very lucky and privileged to be out here. Hope the rest of you have a great day too!
.
I'm teaching/ignoring my kids this week and they aren't enjoying the blizzards. But I am riding my dad's boots and some old Head skiis of his I found at the back of the cave. And they are rotten, but I'm doing backwards snow plough whilst the little ones bend ze knees.
Old skis are awesome. I hate them and I ride over the brown patches with glee.
I really want to dig out my Nidecker board and enjoy le surf. But it's a kids week.
So, yes. Morzine link to LesG is now closed for the season, but the LesG runs are open. We are in Avoriaz and at 2000m the snow is fresh and really really good.
13C in MZN village though. People are in shorts. We are back here in July. I might put my summer shorts on now. Opera has a legendary bikini night at the season end, entry at 22:00 for seasonnairess and free shots for bikini wearers of either gender.
Harry Flashman said:
You were probably shouting "Harry!" - a name I only respond to on here! Damn, would have been nice to say hi.
I've fallen into and out of Opera bikini night, when I was seasoning here. Too old, now. Would not be allowed in, and rightly so.
Which year did you season? I've fallen into and out of Opera bikini night, when I was seasoning here. Too old, now. Would not be allowed in, and rightly so.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 2nd April 18:47
I saw you again today in Changabang.
Your kids look like real sweethearts/totally spoilt, and the blizzard was making everything happier!
There is now 3inches of powder *on the piste* at 2000m+ in the PDS, and we're off home tomorrow. Mostly because the bathroom guys have ripped out our boiler and bathroom, and some supervision is now necessary for the rebuild.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Harry Flashman said:
Did it 2013-14, and again 2018-19. But have also spent a month in resort in Jan 2008, and again in 2020 - went home early as lockdown happened. We're here every year as lots of friends live here permanently.
On Changabang - definitely not me, as I haven't yet been there this year. I'm wearing either a grey camo shell, or an orange and black Planks hoodie, with tan combat style trousers. Either on a pair of olive green Lines, or Atomic S9 SL skis (as I was today, ill-advisedly). Also, I'm of Asian ethnicity, so very obvious in these parts! Skiing isn't a big part of Sri Lankan culture...
If seen with a child, it'll be our 5 year old. 3 year old isn't up on the mountain just yet.
Tonnes of snow this morning, but went home early as was soaking wet and cold. Wind at the top at the Swiis birder was insane - literally howling.
Sorry to miss you - hope the build goes well (been there!). Here for another 10 days - that said I may have to fly home for a few days as a work thing has come up. Lady F is not best pleased, right now.
Yeah, I gathered that you were Asian ethnicity; and so, weirdly, the few people I saw today with darker skin, I think "is that him?"On Changabang - definitely not me, as I haven't yet been there this year. I'm wearing either a grey camo shell, or an orange and black Planks hoodie, with tan combat style trousers. Either on a pair of olive green Lines, or Atomic S9 SL skis (as I was today, ill-advisedly). Also, I'm of Asian ethnicity, so very obvious in these parts! Skiing isn't a big part of Sri Lankan culture...
If seen with a child, it'll be our 5 year old. 3 year old isn't up on the mountain just yet.
Tonnes of snow this morning, but went home early as was soaking wet and cold. Wind at the top at the Swiis birder was insane - literally howling.
Sorry to miss you - hope the build goes well (been there!). Here for another 10 days - that said I may have to fly home for a few days as a work thing has come up. Lady F is not best pleased, right now.
My brother (#2) was seasonnaire(Le Nantegue) /bar keep (LeSherpa) /pro rider for Thirty Two/property manage/alcohol disposal unit/bum for ten years in MZN, I think 2005 to 2015, so I'll bet you share some friends. There was a year when both my brothers were out, Bro #1 overlapped a season with #2. Then my parents retired out here and ran a chalet for 2 years. , I was the only one of my family left in England!
Parents were here Jan-March 2020, and went to Les Contaminés for a few days, only to find the world locking down so frantically drove back to MZN, locked up our property and headed for Geneva, only to be turned back at the border and had to drive the other way (anticlockwise) around the lake to get to the airport. They were on the last of the flights back to the UK. I asked what the fallback plan was? My mother said "go back to Morzine and lockdown in the village! She seemed disappointed this didn't happen.
I managed the top of the Lac Intrets today, looking over to the Wall, but the wind was, as you say, bonkers.
We stayed up until 1630, the snow was easing. I'm on call Friday to Sunday, non-negotiable, so we go home.
A bientôt.
My opinion on off piste skiing is stark, but I'm a surgeon and we are a self believing group of opinionated asshats
Skiing off piste is like mountain climbing. You take the risks and your family and friends suffer.
Why?
People die every year doing it.
Everyone thinks they are safe and well prepared.
The mountain doesn't care. It will kill you if it wants.
Foolish risk tolerance.
Opinions vary of course
Skiing off piste is like mountain climbing. You take the risks and your family and friends suffer.
Why?
People die every year doing it.
Everyone thinks they are safe and well prepared.
The mountain doesn't care. It will kill you if it wants.
Foolish risk tolerance.
Opinions vary of course
We left with amazing sunshine and T-shirts in the village.
My wife went swimming in the big pool in MZN, and wanted to swim outside it was so warm, but they drain it in the winter/spring for maintenance.
It was much colder in the UK when we got back and there was snow on the Fell outside my house !!
Anyhooooo the lifts/pistes close in a week or so, and 2023/2024 Alps comes to an end.
So, I've started a new thread for next year: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
pilez-vous in....
My wife went swimming in the big pool in MZN, and wanted to swim outside it was so warm, but they drain it in the winter/spring for maintenance.
It was much colder in the UK when we got back and there was snow on the Fell outside my house !!
Anyhooooo the lifts/pistes close in a week or so, and 2023/2024 Alps comes to an end.
So, I've started a new thread for next year: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
pilez-vous in....
Mr E said:
Standard knee twist. Nothing broken/displaced. Ligament damage. Couple of days off.
Poor kid is a mite upset.
When are you back in the UK and what is your local city?Poor kid is a mite upset.
I can help with knee specialists.
Hope he's OK.
Don't believe the local doctors, in my experience they are correct about 50% (only) of the time about soft tissue knee injuries.
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