Skiing holidays
Discussion
A'up.
myself and at least 5 mates are planning on hitting the slopes next Easter which is in late March (i.e. after 24th). It has to be be this time due to one of the people going is going to be going for a masters, the rest of us will be working I guess...
Where would be good around this time and who do good deals? Non of us can actually ski either which is going to make it interesting
myself and at least 5 mates are planning on hitting the slopes next Easter which is in late March (i.e. after 24th). It has to be be this time due to one of the people going is going to be going for a masters, the rest of us will be working I guess...
Where would be good around this time and who do good deals? Non of us can actually ski either which is going to make it interesting
If you can possibly go the week before Easter you're likely to get a much better deal. Easter itself tends to be expensive and busy.
Even though Easter is earlier this year than its been for a while, its still getting to the end of the season so you're best looking for somewhere nice and high.
Even though Easter is earlier this year than its been for a while, its still getting to the end of the season so you're best looking for somewhere nice and high.
Hi-
....just got back from a weeks skiing ...slopes are currently quite bare in France / Italy / Switz. I hope you get more snow prior to Easter.
The higher resorts stand a better chance of snow :
Val D'Isere/ Tignes are excellent - and are linked by lifts - the bowl above Le Daille at Val is good for novices and stays in good nick (not plastered by the sun). Snow was better than other areas last week - even tho'hadn't snowed for over 2 weeks in the alps.
La Rosiere (where I was most days)- is also quite high (1850 - 2700 m )-plenty of runs within novice capability , popular with Brits , very nice medium size resort. Has a track record of loads of snow (except last week !)
The ski holiday co. I went with was superb - send me a PM if you want some opinions on good / not-so-good operators.
....just got back from a weeks skiing ...slopes are currently quite bare in France / Italy / Switz. I hope you get more snow prior to Easter.
The higher resorts stand a better chance of snow :
Val D'Isere/ Tignes are excellent - and are linked by lifts - the bowl above Le Daille at Val is good for novices and stays in good nick (not plastered by the sun). Snow was better than other areas last week - even tho'hadn't snowed for over 2 weeks in the alps.
La Rosiere (where I was most days)- is also quite high (1850 - 2700 m )-plenty of runs within novice capability , popular with Brits , very nice medium size resort. Has a track record of loads of snow (except last week !)
The ski holiday co. I went with was superb - send me a PM if you want some opinions on good / not-so-good operators.
Gah at my uni I don't think term finished before the Easter weekend, bit rubbish for skiing really 
I'm off to Valmienier 1800 on the 18th March, been there once before and the nursery slopes are right outside the hotel.
Been to La Plagne several times with different groups of beginners at Easter and all did really well there, so thats probably a good bet too.
Also been with people learning in Canazei in Italy, but that was earlier in the year and you might struggle for snow there by Easter.
I'm a boring sod and apres-ski for me normally consists of a few quiet beers, so I really can't comment much on that side of things
[EDIT as I noticed you said 2006
[/EDIT]
>> Edited by d-man on Wednesday 19th January 19:35
I'm off to Valmienier 1800 on the 18th March, been there once before and the nursery slopes are right outside the hotel.
Been to La Plagne several times with different groups of beginners at Easter and all did really well there, so thats probably a good bet too.
Also been with people learning in Canazei in Italy, but that was earlier in the year and you might struggle for snow there by Easter.
I'm a boring sod and apres-ski for me normally consists of a few quiet beers, so I really can't comment much on that side of things
[EDIT as I noticed you said 2006
[/EDIT] >> Edited by d-man on Wednesday 19th January 19:35
I've been looking into Whistler and that would be an ideal choice, however we are looking at £300 or so each for accomodation for a week, then £200 for food/hiring of equipment for the week and then at least £3/400 flights - we were aiming for £5/600 each.
There are other options but we quite fancy a place with English tendecies...
There are other options but we quite fancy a place with English tendecies...
2006 then the world's your oyster!
I went to Val D'isere for 2 weeks over christmas which was spot on, some friends have a chalet over there so I go quite regularly, going again for 3 days in 2 weeks. It's a fab place, great nightlife, skiing is good, great for beginner or experienced skiier. Anywhere in the 3 valleys is good (Courcheval, Meribel, Val) I went to Courcheval with school which was great fun and also did a 3 month GAP placement ioover there last season, went to Meribel in 2000. All have been brilliant, close and handy for short breaks.
I've also been to Klosters and St.Moritz, they were family holidays and they were BRILLIANT. One warning, Moritz and Klosters are really quite expensive in comparison to france, everything is pretty much 5* and all the restaurants are v a la carte and have all these different cuisines.
If I were you, I'd deffo head for France. It's great skiing whilst being a little more affordable than some Swiss resorts!
I've heard absolutely raving reviews about Whistler, given that someone's brought it up! Plus it's Canada - fantastic in itself. But it is 12 hours away...!
I went to Val D'isere for 2 weeks over christmas which was spot on, some friends have a chalet over there so I go quite regularly, going again for 3 days in 2 weeks. It's a fab place, great nightlife, skiing is good, great for beginner or experienced skiier. Anywhere in the 3 valleys is good (Courcheval, Meribel, Val) I went to Courcheval with school which was great fun and also did a 3 month GAP placement ioover there last season, went to Meribel in 2000. All have been brilliant, close and handy for short breaks.
I've also been to Klosters and St.Moritz, they were family holidays and they were BRILLIANT. One warning, Moritz and Klosters are really quite expensive in comparison to france, everything is pretty much 5* and all the restaurants are v a la carte and have all these different cuisines.
If I were you, I'd deffo head for France. It's great skiing whilst being a little more affordable than some Swiss resorts!
I've heard absolutely raving reviews about Whistler, given that someone's brought it up! Plus it's Canada - fantastic in itself. But it is 12 hours away...!
docevi1 said:
I've been looking into Whistler and that would be an ideal choice, however we are looking at £300 or so each for accomodation for a week, then £200 for food/hiring of equipment for the week and then at least £3/400 flights - we were aiming for £5/600 each.
There are other options but we quite fancy a place with English tendecies...
start saving now chief
It would make more sense for us to head to a German speaking resort as Ken and Teemu speak spot on German and I can just about get away with it as well... We were thinking Austria? Then again, Teemu been Finish stands a good chance of getting us a decent holiday there - garunteed snow at least!
As for saving up, well some of us will be working where as others won't, just need to get the balance and try and make it come to about £500 in total for everyone's comfort. As a result we are thinking of trying something like EasyJet/RyanAir to their weird locations and hiring a car or 2. There will be 5 oe 6 of us in total.
is scoobz scoobyzoom? Have you moved across to USA now or something?
As for saving up, well some of us will be working where as others won't, just need to get the balance and try and make it come to about £500 in total for everyone's comfort. As a result we are thinking of trying something like EasyJet/RyanAir to their weird locations and hiring a car or 2. There will be 5 oe 6 of us in total.
is scoobz scoobyzoom? Have you moved across to USA now or something?
Wherever you go, if its a bigish resort you will have few problems with language. And even if they don't speak perfect english they probably know enough combined with what everuone knows of german/french to combine the two together and make yourself understood
Whistler is, as said previously, awesome But the other poster (sorry i forgot your name and am too lazy to look it up ) is right, the scenery and general "atmosphere" is much better in the alps. Lift to the top of the mountain, off piste, find a quiet patch (quite easy) and sit down, enjoy the view and the quiet. Its wondeful
Whistler is, as said previously, awesome
But the other poster (sorry i forgot your name and am too lazy to look it up ) is right, the scenery and general "atmosphere" is much better in the alps. Lift to the top of the mountain, off piste, find a quiet patch (quite easy) and sit down, enjoy the view and the quiet. Its wondeful In your situation I would start reading the classified ads in the Sunday Times.
I once went skiing on spec in around 1996, just plotted all the resorts south of Geneva on a Map, got a ferry drove to the nearest (Chamonix) and got a hotel room via the local tourist office. Had a great time.
Next year, found an ad in the Sunday Times, went to Verbier, flew in to Geneva, got the train to Verbier stayed in a flat by the lift. Was excellent.
Used the same company the following year, went on their coach, was picked up from the NEC and it was a complete doddle. Super cheap and really great, so I did it again with the same company and location six weeks later.
You can also see good ads on teletext.
I once went skiing on spec in around 1996, just plotted all the resorts south of Geneva on a Map, got a ferry drove to the nearest (Chamonix) and got a hotel room via the local tourist office. Had a great time.
Next year, found an ad in the Sunday Times, went to Verbier, flew in to Geneva, got the train to Verbier stayed in a flat by the lift. Was excellent.
Used the same company the following year, went on their coach, was picked up from the NEC and it was a complete doddle. Super cheap and really great, so I did it again with the same company and location six weeks later.
You can also see good ads on teletext.
got some mates goin t whistler soon ,gits . get ur dollars now while rate is good ,if you dont go you ll still sell nd not lose out. me im off to france on sat YIPPEE, started snowin now got a m8 out there, bout time . end of march in france ur gunna have to be high, val thorens , tignes, but yeh val d'isere is gourmet!
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