 Poster: A snowHead
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Four of us (two couples) are trying to plan a long ski weekend in January (any weekend after New Year), but I teach Wed to Fri, so we are looking for a place to stay from Thursday evening (I can just about manage to get one Friday off by swapping a day with a colleague) through until Tuesday. To get in the most amount of skiing, we are looking at resorts close to Geneva. I am having trouble finding a nice chalet/hotel that will accommodate us from Thurs to Tuesday - ideally in PdS or Grand Massif (have done La Clusaz several times, so are looking for somewhere different within an hour or two of Geneva). Can any of you suggest anywhere for us? Many thanks. Fiona
P.S. Any suggestions for transfer companies also gratefully received. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@FionaG,
Don't worry you WILL find accommodation at that time of year over a long weekend but my suggestion is leave it late.
I've been skiing for a long weekend every January for 20 years and there is always plenty of room to stay but the issue is that hoteliers are reluctant to book a long time in advance because they RISK missing two whole weeks of bookings for 4 nights. Once you get nearer the time (November/December) and they've realised that they still have x rooms available and they won't be able to book them all they are ready to cut their losses.
So I'd book the flights to GVA now and book rooms later.
On transfers - four four of you for four nights at that time of year I'd really suggest hiring a car - think it will be cheaper. We always get a car. Probably worth booking that too.
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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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@FionaG, Have a look at http://mountainsunltd.com/home/ Pick up and drop off every evening at Geneva airport included so ideal for a long weekend break. (I have a vested interest - will be hosting Chalet Mazot in Les Coches for the season.)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Try staying in Cluses and getting the bus upto Flaine everyday if you cannot find anything more convenient.
I will almost certainly have at least one weekend in Les Arcs this winter.
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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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If you are up for the car hire option it will provide so much more flexibility.
Use of a car means you can stay in valley towns - for cheaper accommodation, food and drink - and take your pick from wherever snow conditions are best.
We've stayed in Sallanches (Ibis Hotel - book any duration online now) & skied Chamonix, Lea Houches and ComblouX easily from there; and Cluses for La Clusaz and Portes du Soleil resorts.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany are much more weekend-friendly. Go there.
Or the Vosges mountains in France.
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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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@FionaG, CGH chalet de Jouvance or the new leana do long weekends in January if you want to do self catering (quite a few restaurants as well) in les carroz
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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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Another shout for Mountainsun http://mountainsunltd.com/home/
We have stayed with them three times, twice at Tignes and for a long weekend they are great. Fly into Geneva, they pick you up and take you to the chalet. We haven't stayed with them for about four years but from what I remember it's good value. Not the most luxurious (sorry Mountainsun), but for what you pay and what you get you can't go wrong. Great staff too which is always a bonus.
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You know it makes sense.
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We're returning to Hotel Le Delta in Le Grand Bornand next Easter - it was a recommendation by a fellow SH - and we really enjoyed it. A very short walk to the centre of town - recently renovated hotel with a gym and sauna and a cool outdoor hot-tub.
They have good on line booking and a minimum stay of three days. I picked Jan 12 to 17 for you and they have a choice of rooms €575 for 5 nights which I think is very good value.
http://www.hotel-delta74.com
Dave
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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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The Milk Hotel in Les Carroz is very nice, good grub, nice people, piste side, and certainly do short breaks. For 4 of you, you might as well hire a car to get there. The other plus of that is that you can maximise ski time by not being beholden to transfer companies, get an early flight out, ski from late morning on day one, and at the end ski all day and comfortably still get back to Geneva for a late flight back on the last day (easyjet GVA TO Gatwick last flight tends to be at 9.30/9.45pm for example and the drive is literally an hour)
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Poster: A snowHead
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Book flights book car and wait, you will get somewhere but waiting has the option of you may find some areas are a lot better for snow than others.
From Geneva there are masses of options that remain a short drive away including Switzerland and the closer Aosta valley resorts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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 everyone for your suggestions. We are currently working through all the options and will let you know what we end up booking. Fiona 
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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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I'd definitely hire a car, what about Morzine?
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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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And please consider Lauterbrunnen, there is a total of 195km of skiing pistes to 3400m high in 3 ski fields.. Just over 2 hours from Zurich and Geneva. We have a carport if you hire a car, and a sauna 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Try grand massif very close for long weekends usually good snow. Its only 60 kms from Geneva so short and cheaper transfer times. 2 local transfers companies work from the villages gomassif.com and snow-vans.com offering private and shared transfers Flaine has self catered option where les Carroz, Morillon and Samones could offer catered chalets
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You're doing the wrong nights though. Sat to Tuesday is a lot easier as you only block off a single week in hotel so will find getting accomodation easier. I realise you are losing a day there, no chance of taking a Wednesday off?
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Unfortunately we can only do Thursday pm to Tuesday. I teach three days a week and cannot take the Wednesday off (I have to cover three classes across the day, so no way I can juggle things around). I am only getting the Friday off as I have swapped a day with a colleague and can get off earlier on the Thursday as the head owes me a couple of hours. It is a pain not being able to take leave during term time. We can't even go as a family at half-term this year as my daughter's school has moved their half term to the week after mine. Can't do Easter with family either as she her IB exams early May and will need to revised. Roll on retirement..... (Still some way off sadly).
We have got a few options and are just making a final decision. Will keep you posted.
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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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What about Andorra? Flights to Barcelona are daily and cheap £44pp return for any Thur-Tues in Feb! If you stay in the City the hotels are much more flexible than the resorts. Grandvalira (via Encamp) and Vallnord are just 10-15min away by bus.
Transfer is about 2.5 hours only down side.
DK
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Another shout for Mountainsun (I've stayed as a guest and then also worked for them for an Autumn in Tignes).
What Jedster said was spot on. Middle of January there will be availability all over Europe no prob. Book flights now then book accom a week before if your flexible.
For skiing the PdS, Chilly Powder offer very good quality and ski to the back door (I previously worked for them too mind).
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