 Poster: A snowHead
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If you're looking for a ski resort that offers its own charms, and an escape from the madding crowds, this article from the Daily Mail by Felice Hardy (co-editor of the Good Skiing Guide) is useful.
It covers six resorts in France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Utah and Austria as follows - respectively - St Martin de Belleville (linked into 3 Vallees, near Les Menuires), San Cassiano (in the Dolomites), Champex Lac (near Verbier), Red Mountain (British Columbia) and Zug (near Lech, also with access to St Anton by bus).
Some of the above are linked into the major lift systems of their neighbours, giving you the best of both worlds.
If anyone has recommendations of other resorts of this type, it would be interesting to read them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I stayed in St Martin de Belleville the week before Christmas once. Lovely place, real Savoyard village, quick link into 3V, would definitely recommend it to people looking for traditional appeal and are happy to pass on night life...
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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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This sort of info is really usefull. A list of smaller places and where they link into (or are near) would a great resource..........a definate sticky. I
nfact an idea would be for someone if they could get a screen sized map of each of the main areas and highlight (really well) the main/major resorts so we get an idea of geography. Once i've moved house i'll offer to give it a go..........most of the maps i've seen don't have the detail of "here is a ski resort"
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I think Les Contamines is a beautiful smallish ski area, but with reasonable variety, nestling under Mt. Blanc. The village is definitely quiet. It's quite a short ride to St Gervais which is bigger and livelier and which links into the much larger Megève lift system.
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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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How about Vaujany which links into the Alpe d'Huez ski area at high level via a large, fast cable car. Mind you Vaujany has no real skiing of it's own - it's just a quiet place to stay away from the hordes in Ad'H.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just across the valley is a similar village, a few hundred metres below 2 Alpes, linked by cable car (7 mins) - Venosc. Cobbled streets, old farms, ancient fountains. Who says there are no villages with genuine charm in the French Alps! There are any number, once you start to look beyond the tour operators' brochures...
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Or the original lower villages now incorporated into the La Plagne complex. Champagny en Vanoise is definitely a satellite. Montchavin, Montalbert and Les Coches are slightly more integrated but retain village characteristics. But be careful - they range from 1250-1450m and are much less snow-sure than the purpose built parts of La Plagne.
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Samnaun: A Swiss duty free enclave that links into the Ischgl Silvretta ski area in Austria. Samnaun itself is a bit of an oddity - markets itself as " 50 duty free shops and no airport". No real village atmosphere, but an excellent hotel (Post). Lift system links into Ischgl via the world's first double decker cable car - built to accommodate all the skiers from Ischgl who come across to buy their duty free during the day, so plenty of spare capacity to get up the mountain first thing. From a skiing perspective, the advantage of being based in Samnaun is you are going in the opposite direction to the main traffic flow. In the afternoon queues build up on links to get back to Ischgl - if you are coming the other way, it's no problem. Also has much better runs back to the village than Ischgl
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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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Samoens, Les Carroz or Morillon all linked into the Grand Massif ski area but much much nicer than Flaine.
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Oh I wish i was off somewhere soon 
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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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Allos in the southern alps! Out of the way for even the french, but nice, on a fairly small scale. Easy to get to from nice,about a 2 hour drive from the airport, prices reasonable and out of french half term you can basically have it to yourself!
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Many years ago, stayed in a tiny Italian resort near Milan, MERA--our hotel could only be reached by chairlift from the village: I met some young Italians last summer in the Balearics, who said they have skied there too---and even further back--when I was a child, we skied in Austria, in LOFER---and I went back there 2 years ago with my grown -up son, and fell in love with the place! (no queing at all) ---hope to go there again soon--on a long weekend or a week in early or mid January ---staying in hotel right on the piste--anyone want to join?? 
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You know it makes sense.
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One could almost make a business out featuring small resorts that hook up with their bigger brothers. David I skied San Cassiano 25 years ago with Supertravel - I hope it is still the same. St Martin de Belleville - always a favourite lunch stop on a day tour from Courchevel 1850. We often go ski-ing to Haute Nendaz in Valais Switzerland which makes up part of the 4 Valleys with Verbier. Have been going there since 1986!!
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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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Les Saisies is my top tip, french resort, awesome snow even though its low due to being on a col (read snow trap). Linked to Crest Voland by lift and about 10 mins to N D de Bellcome by car then you can ski into Mont Blanc pass territory (Praz, Megeve, St Gervais etc)
Pretty resort, low rise, trees for the bad weather and good place for beginners/Intermediates...never had bad snow in 6 visits.
Cheers,
David
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Poster: A snowHead
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skinutter, welcome to snowHeads!
I've been to Les Saisies a few times. I have mixed feelings about the place. By implication, you suggest there's not much in the way of steeps, moguls, off-piste opportunities. I think you'd be right. On the other hand, there are some longish blues and reds where you can let rip, and there's ample areas for beginners. There are quite a few pistes that are very rolling. I was there one day after heavy snow when nothing had been bashed: it was impossible to build up enough momentum on the downslopes to get over the next rise -- very frustrating!
Not impressed by the big restaurant at the top of the main hill (Panoramique?), but they do great omelettes at the restaurant at the bottom of that hill.
You're right about the reliable snow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have stayed also in the past stayed at Haute Nendaz which gives you excellent access to the 4 Valleys>Verbier . Thouroughly recommended.Also Veysonnaz is an excellent location
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Agree with comments re Les Contamines. No, wait change that - it's rubbish, dont' go (there, that will keep the crowds away!)
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FAQ
Its hard to go wrong 
embarassing or what, my excuse was the deep snow....
