Ski Holidays

[glade]

Time to start looking for next year's ski hol.

Want to go in late jan early feb
Hopefully will get at least 8 people.

Have been to pas de la casa in Andorra, Risoul, Val D'Isere and Tignes in france.

Can anyone reccomend any good resorts or companies?

We'd love to go for a chalet but we're skint so self catering apartment is probably more realistic!

Val Thorens for snowsure and ski to door and a huge ski area, connects to Meribel and Courcheval so get all of that. Run down to Meribel used to be a pig in the afternoons tho. I really like it there. Fast and efficient lifts too. High so prone to wind problems.

Serre Chevalier is lovely but not very dependable so better for last minute booking. A lovely proper french village about 1/2 mile from the resort bit too. But its low. If you do get snow though its lovely in the trees.

I enjoyed Les Deux Alps too.

Never been keen on Italy. Went to Cervinia and it was a pain to get around and souless in the village oddly. Only plus side is you could ski over into Switzerland...cant remember the place, but pretty. Always fancied the Sella Ronda (Gardena etc) but have been there in the summer two times and the lift system didnt look up to much.

Some people like Flaine, never been tho.

I fancy Austria next.

You wont go wrong with the Reuters Guide 'Where to Ski and Snowboard' its the best.

Oh and I always went with Thomson or Cyrstal. My ex went with SkiWorld last year and said they were awful. Crystal are pretty good.

[glade]

cheers.. lots ok good things to look into!

just been going through my photos from last year!!

Originally Posted by glade

Can anyone reccomend any good resorts or companies?

Oooh, the mountains, my favourite subject
Can you give us some more info on what you're after.....

What's your experience level?
Whats more important a good resort or a good mountain?
Do you stick to the piste or dissapear off the back of the mountain?
How big is your group?

[glade]

Originally Posted by marcdbl

What's your experience level?
Whats more important a good resort or a good mountain?
Do you stick to the piste or dissapear off the back of the mountain?
How big is your group?

Group size, hopefully 8+ We have the usual 4 people and this year friends of freinds have said they'll come but haven't comitted. Its the chicken & egg problem. Can't get a price or package without numbers, and people won't commit unless they know the price. Happens to us every year!

We will mostly be sticking to the piste. We started venturing off last year but it was hard going and we didn't enjoy it as much.

We will want a decent resort as well as the mountain. I'm not so bothered about going boozing but the others will want a few good nights out.

There will be 4 of us that have 4+ years experience and are very confident on piste on all runs, can flow through mogul fields etc. The others have some experience but i don't know how much. There may be 2 people who haven't skiied before. I imagine they will get ditched though We will prob have a snowboarder too but we've got used to leaving him behind.

Ok....

Well I'd definitely agree with Dr Rich about Serre Chevalier, the area is massive and can suit most levels of skier (although the run down to resort-level is an Olympic standard black so not to everyones taste), it's also very pretty with loads of trees at mid-height which is great during a storm. Make sure you stay in Villeneuve though, the other sub-villages are deathly quiet at night.

Would probably disagree about Deux Alpes , it's quite big but very narrow and not very varied. The town is a bit Blackpool-on-snow, but good for a night on the p*ss, however it's the only resort I've ever been to where I've seen a people fighting. Don't get me wrong, I had a nice holiday but I'll never go back.

Chamonix is my favourite resort in Europe, it's impossible to get around all the pistes in week the place is so big.
It's a town, not a purpose-built resort, so it looks nice, and theres lots to do in the evenings.
However, it doesn't suit groups as it's made up of several different hills which makes meeting up for lunch awkward.
Also, it's pretty damn steep for the most part so beginnners never see much of it.

Zermatt in Switzerland is quite good. Big hill, nice car free town, a few bars. Very civilised. But very expensive (it's swiss after all). Very high up so the snow is good, and if you get to the top you can ski into Italy.

Alpe d'Huez is very good, suits all levels, good snow. Been there twice.

Umm, oh, but if the budget can run to it, forget all the above and go to Canada .

Where was that pic taken? Looks terribly familiar.

Well I'd definitely agree with Dr Rich about Serre Chevalier, the area is massive and can suit most levels of skier (although the run down to resort-level is an Olympic standard black so not to everyones taste),

There's a nother run down on a track, bit narrow but graded green or blue I think. id say a blue as its narrow realistically. It crosse s the fast one.
Lovely tho, as you say. I'd go back if I was doind a last minute and knew the snow ok.

Would probably disagree about Deux Alpes

Ah...I meant Alpe d'Huez!!

Zermatt in Switzerland is quite good.

Ahah..reminded me again, thats where you ski to from Cervinia.


Alpe d'Huez is very good, suits all levels, good snow. Been there twice.

What about La Plagne? I wasnt overly taken with it, but that trip was tainted with bad weather. Might be good for mixed ability tho? Unsure...

Went to La Plagne this summer to search for apartments. Haven't skied there before, but now that it's all joined together, it's meant to be fantastic.

Would def recommend 3 valleys, as there's something there for everyone. Esp Val T.

Also love Chamonix, I used to work near there in a resort called Megeve (quite low, so prob wouln't recommend, just in case!)

I really want to try St Anton though, as I have heard nothing but good from there.

Also check out the Snowheads website, as there's bundles of information on there.

[fizzwheel]

Another vote for Meribel / 3 Valleys.

I've always used Crystal or Thomsen never had a problem with either.

Meribel had some small runs that werent as busy good for geting the dust out of the system / novices. Plenty of stuff to do in the evenings and a great apre ski if thats your thing.

The instructors were good and english speaking. We had some novices in our party and they got on fine.

Of all the places I've been I would definately go back to Meribel again. For the more adventurous they had a board park and lots of off piste stuff to get your teeth into which I really liked. It was great fun on the board. Dont know what it would be like on ski's though.

[Kylie]

Ooh, time for pics, me at Chatel/Torgon, which is in Portes De Soleil.


As marcdbl says, if you have the money, go for Canada, preferably Whistler. Best boarding holiday ever. Biggest credit card bill too...

In France, Val D'Isere/Tignes is huge and has some nice runs, plenty off piste too. Val D'Isere has good range of bars too. Like most places in france your appartment will be tiny but very near piste.

Portes de Soleil is even bigger, masses of resorts linked together (though some buses may be involved). All sorts of pistes. Slopes near Avoriaz get pretty busy but stay in one of the smaller villages and your local slopes will be quiet as anything. If you like long tours, not a bad choice. Its a bit low though, so don't go in April.

Sauze Doux: Drinking resort, I didn't get much boarding in.