Skiing Options 2010
Author
Discussion

MiniMan64

Original Poster:

18,435 posts

208 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
Right ho,

Been thinking about grabbing a weeks skiing with the missus first week of January 2010 and although we’re supposed to be going with family they are procrastinating somewhat. To that end I thought I’d start having a look around for just the two of us, I’m a pretty experienced skier but it’ll only be the girlfriends third time out there so we’re looking at somewhere with a different mix of runs wherever we end up.

We usually head to Villars in Switzerland but it’s a little expensive for us this year for obvious reasons and so I thought I’d cast the net wider and maybe try somewhere new for once. USA and Canada is out so we’re looking at the Alps or Pyrenees and we’ll be flying from Bristol with Sleazyjet so decent airport links are a big plus point. We’d both prefer apartment/chalet style accommodation rather than the usually concrete block hotels, not a big fan of them or the big family style resorts with a million kids all over the place.

Having not skied anywhere else since being a kid I put it out to the PH massive for location suggestions?

Simon Brooks

1,527 posts

269 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
Bite the bullet and fly from Gatwick/Heathrow and take the missus to Colorado (Breckenridge), if she is new to the white stuff the pistes and general facilities are much better then anything in Europe. Personally would do anything to avoid France etc, as you just get ripped off, my son skied last xmas in France 7 euro's small beer and 15 euro for a mingy kids pizza. Suffer the long flight and enjoy the best conditions and much nicer people.

Marcellus

7,191 posts

237 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
If you go to some of the less poncey resorts in France they can be great value.

We're not running one this season so can't help you.. but if the sound of;
> 45minutes from Geneva,
> 4th largest resort in the world,
> better snow record for the past 5 years than Les Arc, Trois Valley and a lot of higher resorts
> not rip off prices

Floats your boat please speak to a good mate Maurice at www.ski-grand-massif.co.uk..... don't just take my word for him... Gruffy also has been a frequent guest there too!!

Edited to add that if you mention me he'll look after you very well!!

Edited by Marcellus on Friday 31st July 16:24

964Cup

1,584 posts

255 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
Courmayeur has a good mix of easy runs for beginners and intermediates, and some of the best off-piste in the Alps, including the South face of the Mont Blanc. Look it up and if you're interested, I'll make some more detailed suggestions. We spend a good part of the ski season there each year, so I may even be around when you're planning to go.

FPC

8,154 posts

240 months

Friday 31st July 2009
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Marcellus said:
> 4th largest resort in the world,
Really? Le Grand Massif?

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

266 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
Tignes?

grumbas

1,076 posts

209 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
Les Deux Alpes usually has good snow cover that time of year, plus less experienced skiiers can still get to the top of the mountain due to the glacier.

<shameless plug> Look at my profile for accommodation </shameless plug>

Silver993tt

9,064 posts

257 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
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Forget France. I went back there after a 20 year break and the prices were horrendous. Minimum €5 for a beer and the food was ridiculous - €12 for a bowl of spag bol! I spent the last years in Austria and did another week there before my trip to France. €3 for a beer, €7 for spag bol etc - so you're talking 40% less and better quality to top that.

Austria also has much nicer villages (as opposed to the concrete filled valleys called resorts in France). I was actually in Les Gets which was visually surprisingly nice but the prices were a complete joke.

Austria or Italy is my choice for the next years.

eightseventhree

2,243 posts

222 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
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IanMorewood said:
Tignes?
While i love Tignes it could be a bit challenging for his mrs! as everything there seems steeper

sawman

5,071 posts

248 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
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I really like cortina, there is a good mix of pistes, and plenty of early intermediate stuff, plus its a beautiful place,

Marcellus

7,191 posts

237 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
FPC said:
Marcellus said:
> 4th largest resort in the world,
Really? Le Grand Massif?
Yes Le Grand Massif is the 4th largest resort in the World with 265km of pistes...

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

266 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
eightseventhree said:
IanMorewood said:
Tignes?
While i love Tignes it could be a bit challenging for his mrs! as everything there seems steeper
Get up/ Come back down on the funicular (sp) from Tignes and theres plenty of cruising up in the middle area.

If you want something less challenging but a big area the Sella Ronda (Italian Dolomites) is well worth a look for, Val Gardena/Selva tends to be where most package holidays are advertised as.

Of course depending on the weather I wouldn’t make a decision on where to ski until mid to late December. If you must book early book somewhere high so your sure of some snow, nothing worse that being on a skiing holiday and having green fields all around you.

theboymoon

2,699 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
MiniMan64 said:
Right ho,

Been thinking about grabbing a weeks skiing with the missus first week of January 2010 and although we’re supposed to be going with family they are procrastinating somewhat. To that end I thought I’d start having a look around for just the two of us, I’m a pretty experienced skier but it’ll only be the girlfriends third time out there so we’re looking at somewhere with a different mix of runs wherever we end up.

We usually head to Villars in Switzerland but it’s a little expensive for us this year for obvious reasons and so I thought I’d cast the net wider and maybe try somewhere new for once. USA and Canada is out so we’re looking at the Alps or Pyrenees and we’ll be flying from Bristol with Sleazyjet so decent airport links are a big plus point. We’d both prefer apartment/chalet style accommodation rather than the usually concrete block hotels, not a big fan of them or the big family style resorts with a million kids all over the place.

Having not skied anywhere else since being a kid I put it out to the PH massive for location suggestions?
ok.....

well the i would say the Grand Massif/Samoens area fits the bill quite nicely. It's easily reachable from Brissle via the BRS-GVA flight, the transfer time and cost is similar to say Morzine (i.e. not too long, about an hour and not too pricey). The ski area is simply huge and is very under-rated by us Brits. Crucially, the area also had a good dose of 'rustic Alpine Charm' while also not being as expensive as say Villars or a Verbier or something like that. The runs are by and large fairly cruisy so if the O/H is a bit more timid and doesn't like the sound of Tignes then you'll be fine.

If you chose the Grand Massif you won't go wrong. Marcellus is a top chap and while i have not stayed at his chalet i have heard good reports. Dont stay in Flaine if you want to avoid the concrete jungle. Check out Samoens itself, very pretty place (and in itself a historic monument dont you know!!). If, however you are looking for Dick's T Bar-esque night life then think again.

Another option would be to head of Saint Gervais. St G is the lower resort that links into the Espace Mont Blanc area which is also HUGE and covers Megeve etc. You get all the great cruisy skiing without the Megeve price tag. The only hesitation would be that if it is not a good start to the season you may have to uplift and down lift on the Bettex at the start of each day - no biggie but somewhat ruins the alpine charm if you understand.

Beyond that La Clusaz and Courmayeur are well priced and offer good non-scary-but-still-interesting skiing. I think a full week in Courmayeur might be a bit much, its not as a big a hill or town - but thats just me.

Morzine/Portes du Soleil itself is not a bad shout. If you like Villars then somewhere in Morzine village or particularly Chatel might interest you.

All of this is a world away from the massing throngs of the 3 valleys and imho all the better for it...

Crans Montana is the Valais is beautiful and has some great piste skiing but is more of a hike from the airport and costwise we are starting to head upwards.

If you choose Zurich as your hub (which you cant fly thru from BRS but you can from London and some years from BHX (allthough i dont know if you can this year)) then Flimms-Laax are worth checking out. Good prices usually and again big ski area. Less of the charm here tho.

I'm afraid i can't help you on the US/CA options as its not my area of knowledge. Whats the exchange rate like this year? I have no idea if its going to be a 'cheap' year to ski in the West or not. Maybe someone else can help you here.

cheers smile

Edited by theboymoon on Saturday 1st August 21:41

Marcellus

7,191 posts

237 months

Sunday 2nd August 2009
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To add into theboys comments... if you're thinking of St Gervais why not go further up the mountain and stay at Les Contamines...... not a massive area (140km iirc) cruisy blues and reds al the way.. great snow records and a real old village charm... if staying there look up John & Jenny Price (chalet Chouette)... there is one chalet there which I would not even recommend to my ex wife so if you are considering going drop me a pm and I'll give you all the info on where to or not to stay!

JQ

6,400 posts

197 months

Sunday 2nd August 2009
quotequote all
Marcellus said:
To add into theboys comments... if you're thinking of St Gervais why not go further up the mountain and stay at Les Contamines...... not a massive area (140km iirc) cruisy blues and reds al the way.. great snow records and a real old village charm... if staying there look up John & Jenny Price (chalet Chouette)... there is one chalet there which I would not even recommend to my ex wife so if you are considering going drop me a pm and I'll give you all the info on where to or not to stay!
I'll second that one, Les Contamines is a great resort. It's very French in nature with very few Brits which is quite a good thing - I'm not aware of any British tour companies going there. Lots of nice restaurants for the evenings, but not the kind of place to go if you want to be partying til 6am. Being so popular with the French it's quite quiet during the week so you're queueing for lifts everywhere. However, it does pick-up at the weekend once they've all finished work. We stayed at Le Grizzli Hotel on a B&B basis - very cheap, clean, basic hotel. It burned down last year, and I'm not sure if they've rebuilt it yet, but there are plenty of chalets and apartments to rent there.

Marcellus

7,191 posts

237 months

Sunday 2nd August 2009
quotequote all
JQ said:
Being so popular with the French it's quite quiet during the week so you're queueing for lifts everywhere.
Queues.... I must have lived in a different resort from the one you're talking about!!

JQ said:
It burned down last year, and I'm not sure if they've rebuilt it yet,
A few rooms were singed but they did manage to see some rooms last season!!

JQ

6,400 posts

197 months

Sunday 2nd August 2009
quotequote all
Marcellus said:
JQ said:
Being so popular with the French it's quite quiet during the week so you're queueing for lifts everywhere.
Queues.... I must have lived in a different resort from the one you're talking about!!

JQ said:
It burned down last year, and I'm not sure if they've rebuilt it yet,
A few rooms were singed but they did manage to see some rooms last season!!
Bad typing on my part - we were at the same resort - I meant it's quiet and you're not queueing everywhere.

Apologies.