 Poster: A snowHead
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Evening all,
Booked some flights for last weekend of Jan to take the missus away skiing. We've skied most of the "named" areas around Geneva, Chamonix, Verbier, PdS, and also the ones further afield, Espace Killy, La Plagne, Trois Vallees, 2 Alpes, Alpe D'Huez, Saas Fee, Zermatt
Looking for somewhere different, needs good off-piste, which doesn't necessarily mean a large resort, often smaller resorts are better IMHO.
Can anyone suggest somewhere? Not worried about night life, a decent bar and a few decent restaurants would be good, if it's "scenic" so much the better!
Would prefer a reasonable hotel, if it has pool/sauna for the missus, so much the better!
Ski in/out would be nice, not a big fan of Chamonix type skiing where you need to "pick" your area, drive/bus it there and ski!
The impossible dream, or not????
Regards,
Greg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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gregh, Try either Leukerbad or Val d'Anniviers (sorry Ise - I know it's your special place). Both look interesting on the maps - clearly more there than meets the eye. Leukerbad is a spa village, and Val'Anniviers is one of the prettiest places I've ever seen (although it was summer at the time).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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thanks Charlotte, Val'Anniviers was on my list, but I thought it was around 3 hrs from Geneva, is that incorrect?
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gregh,
Never been but a friend had a great time off piste in Leysin. Swiss hotels are generally better than French IMHO if that is important.
PS Val d'A is around 3hours by train bus yes.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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gregh, you could always give La Rosiere a try., seems to fit all your criteria and on a good day only 2hrs 20mins from Geneva airport, it's also probably one of the most secnic resorts you'll visit with amazing views of the Mont Blanc massif.
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T Bar, cheers, I'll b driving, how far is Val D'A via car?
David - Looked like you were full 28th to 30th Jan, are there hotels in the area?
regards,
Greg
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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gregh, I think you need to start flying to a different airport - looks like you've pretty well exhausted the Geneva 'catchment'!
Flying to Turin, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Zurich etc. can open a wealth of new possibilities.
Sticking with Geneva, Megeve or La Clusaz are worth looking at. Both have scenic skiing, and are practical places to ski. They're both relatively low resorts, but should be OK in late Jan.
Flaine (which I've not skied) has a very good snow record.
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You could try Les Carroz,
There are some nice hotels & resort links to entire Grand Massif area.
www.lescarroz.com
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
gregh,
Flying to Turin, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Zurich etc. can open a wealth of new possibilities.
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Trouble is not many of the cheaper options are available from "up north" to those airports.
regards,
Greg
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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gregh, we are full and so is my son's chalet but I can ask if there are rooms in the Relais du Petit St Bernard, nice hotel near the lifts. Alternatively there's the Belvedere a few Ks from the village with their own shuttle bus, it's a Logis de france so very good value. I'd call the Tourist Office and ask them to help you, their no. is; 0033 4 79 06 80 51, Le Relais is 0033 479 06 80 48, and the Belvedere, 0033 479 06 83 00, alternatively go to our website and click through to the La Rosiere website, you'll find details of the hotels listed, we don't recommend the Ruitor or Le Plein Soliel. Hope you find somewhere, there is a nice little hotel in BSM run by an English couple called the Petit Auberge, don't have their no. to hand but the BSM Tourist Office are sure to have it.
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I'm using these people (skiweekender.com) for a long week end in january. Haven't used them before but they pick up from geneva have a pretty simple and clear package to maximise slope time and dealings so far have been pretty good. Not ski in/out though.
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You know it makes sense.
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gregh, Allow 2 1/2 hours to reach Val D'Anniviers from GVA. If you go and like it, don't tell anyone!
JT,
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I couldn't get my people to go there in Jan...
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I really believe that you need some new friends, maybe ones who will listen to your good judgement 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| David@traxvax wrote: |
| .... there is a nice little hotel in BSM run by an English couple called the Petit Auberge, don't have their no. to hand but the BSM Tourist Office are sure to have it. |
We stayed at the Petit Auberge and can highly recommend it....although it is quite a way out of the town so not that handy for an apres beer. The restaurant attached to the hotel is absolutely fabulous and the half board deal we got when we stayed was really excellent value.
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Poster: A snowHead
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homphomp, I think, from memory, that I suggested it!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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David@traxvax, Yes indeed you did....many thanks we had a fab time!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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gregh, have you tried Les Contamines it seems to fit your requirements pretty well.
I fancy going there with my wife for a long weekend nearer the end of the season.
It also has good snow records 
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I am with provenjohn, on this one. Les Carroz as a base for the Grand Massif would fit the criteria.
Les Contamines would also be okay, but the main lift is a short trek outside the town IIRC
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| CP wrote: |
I am with provenjohn, on this one. Les Carroz as a base for the Grand Massif would fit the criteria.
Les Contamines would also be okay, but the main lift is a short trek outside the town IIRC |
I went to Les Carroz for a weekend last season, but local boy ise warned me about straying off piste due to the number of holes below the snow. It is a nice resort though, and I did sneak off the marked stuff a little - but only between the pistes.
IIR from my researches, there is a decent Hotel next to the lift at Les Contamines. You just have a short treck into town in the evenings then.
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I know someone who knows someone with a chalet in les Contamines. I could get info if anyone wanted it.
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I'd second the recommendations of Les Contamines for a weekend. Nice skiing on-piste and off. The village is quite small but has what you need: decent hire shops, a few bars (including possibly my favourite bar in a ski resort anywhere) and some pleasant and reasonably priced hotels. Everyone's really friendly too.
For hotels, I'd recommend the Camille Bonaventure
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I wouldn't disagree either! The slopes (but not so much the village) are in a beautiful setting. The village can be very cold, because it doesn't get a lot of sun.
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gregh, The estimates you have had for car journeys are more likely to be accurate than any I can give one thing to watch if you drive though is the last bit up from Sierre is very narrow and windy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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You could try Le Grand Bornand - very close to Geneva, which is important for a weekend.
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gregh,
Have you found your ideal pace yet greg?
Thought about La Clusaz? Good off-piste in La Balme at Etale and always worth a trip to Grand Bornand to ski off the Piste 2000 or Maroly area.
Excellent pool complex with steam room and sauna in the town - swim outdoors (and watch all the skiers) or indoors. They do massages and reflexology too!
Lovely restaurants and not too pricey!
5 minutes from the pitses and cable cars and can take you over to grand Bornand in the minibus.
We still have spaces for weekend at the end of January - only £300pp including transfers and good food!
www.gravite.co.uk
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You know it makes sense.
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Courmayeur is my tip, lovely atmosphere and enough runs on and off piste if you are only going for a weekend.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
Courmayeur is my tip, lovely atmosphere and enough runs on and off piste if you are only going for a weekend.
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but not if you suffer from claustrophobia - nasty expensive tunnel....
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Poster: A snowHead
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hmm, thanks for all the tips, the places "just" over 2 hours away are too far I reckon, just checked my flights, we don't land until 22:30 and the flight back is at 19:10, so I reckon some of the closer places like Clusaz, Contamines are worth a look.
If I wait and check the weather nearer the time, could I get a hotel in such places for a few days, last minue?
regards,
Greg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Greg, seems my post above is well-timed!!!!!!!! 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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gregh, you should be OK to get somewhere last minute in les Contamines
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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As stated above, Grand Massif would be worth a look at. It's between 1.5 and 2 hours from Geneva and gives you aroud 260Km of piste. Not sure what the off-piste is like though. In Flaine ( the hub ) you almost excactly descibe the apres situation, a few decent bars and some nice restaurants but not for the 24 hour party people. Also, worth checking out photos of this resort as it's 70s "modern". Having said that it does mean that everything is very convenient and easy to get to. The outlying resorts in the domain have the nicer look.
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Les Contamines is said by Gervains to have its own eco weather system as it stands in the shadow of Mont Blanc. Certainly worth a weekend visit but I've never stayed there, I've always driven up from Le Fayette. If you are mobile that is a good base for Les C, St Gervais and Chamonix town is about 20 mins away. The hotel we stayed in was Les Duex Gares and Michel is a good host with deserts to die for...
gregh,
Just re-read your initial post and I would say Megeve in good snow would be perfect to take someone to.... Very French, chic and the sking is cruisey.... Apart from Zermatt I can't think of another place that I would go to with the SO if skiing isn't the complete reason...and it doesn't need a great deal of snow depth as the hills are north facing meadows..
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gregh, As suggested, the Grand Massif (Flaine, les Carroz) is great skiing, quiet, undisturbed off piste, but hotels are pretty poor - around 2 to 3 star. Look at Morzine. Some good hotels there, especially the Dahu - all the mod cons the missus would like. Both within 1.5 hours of GVA.
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