 Poster: A snowHead
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Any ideas for family friendly ski resort not too dear..My criteria:
Kids are 2nd time skiers so i need mainly blue and poss red runs
Nice wide slopes
preferably not far from ski lifts as it is a nightmare carrying three sets of skis
Europe or Canada
Some shopping clothes/leather/gadgets/electrical etc for hubby... or something to do when we on slopes
Dont want much do I?
Thanks in advance!
PS I'm going Feb half term 19-26th 2006
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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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Courmayeur. Good for intermediates and non-skiers. Not that cheap though. Could be hard to meet all the criteria!
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Possibly some of the Italien resorts ? They seem to be more fashion orientated 
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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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badgerdot, What kind of thing would your husband like to do in addition to shopping ( I am still trying to get over this, I hate shopping  ).
We have the reverse problem, in that my Wife can't ski ( leg broken in three places then infected non union of the tibia ). The most acceptable solution has been to go where there are facilities like swimming pool and hot tubs. So Stowe has been visited a couple of times, but slopeside accommodation is not abundant. However resort hotel/motels like The Golden Eagle and the Stoweflake have very good facilities. Better, however, was Panorama in BC, the outdoor hot pools and tubs are slopeside, as is the accommodation ( mainly ) and was just brilliant. Skiing would suit your needs as well.
CP
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 14-06-05 19:44; edited 1 time in total
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The shopping thing is very weird. Still, takes all sorts.
badgerdot, if you can be bothered to travel so far for a week, Banff might do the trick. The skiing would suit you fine, Banff is a very pleasant spot indeed, with shopping and loads of other (hugely preferable) things to do. The Banff Springs Hotel is a great place to stay if you like big hotels, with excellent facilities (pools, spa, skating). You have to drive (or bus) to lifts, but the old man can drop you right by the gondola at Sunshine (the main skiing near Banff) prior to hitting the retailers.
BTW, our kids' half term is 13-17.02.05 (I know it varies, but I'll mention it anyway).
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CP, unless they've emerged in the last couple of years, there aren't a lo of shops in Panorama.
How about Andorra - plenty of opportunity for electrical shopping there?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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badgerdot, Dubai. Great sand skiing and plenty of shopping.
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Shopping= Milton Keynes and apparently one can Ski there as well 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Whistler was great for shopping.
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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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badgerdot, Megève has lots of the type of skiing you require, and is a charming village / small town with excellent (but expensive) shops and restaurants, etc. The lifts queues aren't all that bad at half term, if you know when / how to avoid a couple of pinch points. You might even bump into yours truly, not that I'm claiming that as an advantage.
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Madesimo in Italy would do you for a resort, send the strange bloke to Milan and Bergamo for a days shopping each, then send him on a snowmobile day trip over the Splugen Pass to St Moritz.
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You know it makes sense.
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Lyon charter terminal is excellent for shopping. Earlier this year I was able to buy a Toblerone there.
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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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Frosty the Snowman, with or without a second mortgage?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Check out Whistler!
Hey but I am biased I live here.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hassle Free, you lucky thing you!!! Had a great time there at Easter, although we were worried about the snow (it all fell hte daybefore we arrived!!!)
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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laundryman,
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with or without a second mortgage?
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Having bought a house ooop north 20 yrs ago we didnt need a mortgage coz it was only 2s 6d. This was considerably less than my Toblerone
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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badgerdot,
Take my advice with a pinch of salt, I would rather have my toe nails without anaesthetic removed than shop when I could be skiing but here goes.
I would avoid French resorts at this time as they are usually very very crowded particularly the childrens ski school and arranging family meetings with a none skier could be difficult.
Traditional shopping resorts like Zermatt are expensive and dont have the kind of shops most blokes are interested in.
A couple of places I would consider are Innsbruck and Aosta they are traditional towns with skiing a relativly short distance above them.
If you want to be near to the slopes you can stay in the resorts attached to them and your husband can travel down to them whilst you and family ski. To find the accomodation nearest to the ski school meeting place contact the tourist offices.
The resorts attached to them are Igls and Axamer Lizum for Innsbruck and Pila for Aosta. A further caveat I have never been to either place and know them by reputation only. The skiing is said to be good at the level you require. Hope this helps.
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badgerdot, Innsbruck is a good suggestion. The skiing in Axams is probably exactly what you are looking for. It's not a huge resort, but there's a couple of interesting runs there even for advanced skiers. Never tried Igls. Lots of possibilities just a 30-45 min drive away in Stubai (glacier and non-glacier) and in Kuehtai.
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Thank you for your warm embrace all.. (I would add some little smiley guys here but I am not sure how).
slikedges - I can put up a family of 6 quite easily. in fact I cam give you a number of options based on your comfort levels, location to the lifts, private or common hot tub,..... you name it I will find you the ideal spot!
Helen Beaumont - thanks for the welcome - you timing this year could have not been any better. If I am correct you came in on a Monday, becasue that big dump happened on the Sunday. I was up for First Tracks on Monday.. sweetness all day long with no big line ups
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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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Hassle Free, Sunday night actually.
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Hassle Free, for th smilies, just click on the ones below the reoly box!!!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hassle Free, I'm not shy. I meant with you!
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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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badgerdot The suggestions of Innsbruck and Aosta by T-bar are good. I know the Aosta area quite well, its well located, easy to get to with excellent resorts and lots of history although I think the shopping is probably better in Innsbruck. You can stay in Aosta and take the gondola up to Pila each day. have a look at this website to get a feel for the area http://www.regione.vda.it/turismo/stations_e.asp . Its also not too far from Turin so hubby may like to see a bit of of footy at the Stadi di Alpi if he like football. Bear in mind, the Winter Olympics are in Turin next year.
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Ha ha thanks everyone....yes it is unusual, the shopping thing....its not just mens clothes either, he's happy to trudge for hours looking at womens stuff with me!....sounds a bit gay doesn't he? Actually in his defence, he would rather ski, but he has an ankle problem and is waiting for an operation.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Greg Capper wrote: |
| You can stay in Aosta and take the gondola up to Pila each day. have a look at this website to get a feel for the area http://www.regione.vda.it/turismo/stations_e.asp . Its also not too far from Turin so hubby may like to see a bit of of footy at the Stadi di Alpi if he like football. Bear in mind, the Winter Olympics are in Turin next year. |
Ha ha ...this sounds really worrying in addition to the shopping thing...but he doesnt like footy either! He's an ice hockey man...hence Canada being on my list, but I've since heard that Canada is way too cold so that's a no go now...thanks for all your suggestions tho I will check that out
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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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badgerdot, It's not just Canada that gets cold - the season just passed in the Alps had some extremely long cold spells. I would not pass over Canada because of temperature, when we were in Panorama it was scorching - admittedly it was the end of March but is was unseasonal weather.
CP
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Poster: A snowHead
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badgerdot, it depends when you go to Canada; at Easter it's not usually particularly cold, although the hockey season's over so unless the Flames or the Canucks (depending on where you're skiing) make it to the play offs, you won't see any then. February can be bloody cold, but with thermals and a face mask, you'll be fine.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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badgerdot two words: Courchevel 1850. It's got eveything on your list barring, plus it's driving(ish) distance to Bourg where your hubby can [sighs, rolls eyes] shop for any electronic stuff wot's a bit scarce in Courchevel.
But lets face it, there's really nowhere in the world that's going to fully satisify your skiing needs AND hubby's current shopping needs. At least until his ankle's sorted, something's gotta give and I suspect it won't be your skiing needs.....
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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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Erm Manda, think you should check out your map again, Bourg is not the nearest place to Courch to visit for electronic gear (Moutiers and Albertville are), and anyway there's bgr all in the way of decent stores for that sort of thing in Bourg. You really need to visit the place before recommending it for one of the few things it doesn't have for tourists.
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Are there regular tourists in Courchevel (eg people without a bodyguard) who actually go shopping and buy things there?
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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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I'd have to say I think Courchevel also misses out on the not to dear, in spades. It is the priciest resort I have been to. It will also be crowded mid Feb.
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It has to be Innsbruck, it's the only city I can think of with skiing nearby, one of my abiding memories is catching an Innsbruck city tram to go skiing. Super city, lots of history and great facilities. I can't believe Manda's suggestion for shopping in Bourg, she's obvisously never shopped there, even the locals go to Albertville and that's not exactly the centre of the universe.
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Can he drive with his bad ankle?
If so you could always stay in Italy or Austria and get him to run you round to the various resorts. He drops you off, goes shopping, picks you up later. He gets to see a few different shopping places you get to ski a few resorts. With it's high density of ski resorts Austria would be ideal.
If he can't drive then get to somewhere on a main railway line so he can train it to various places (Innsbruck would be a good base).
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| David@traxvax wrote: |
| I can't believe Manda's suggestion for shopping in Bourg, she's obvisously never shopped there, even the locals go to Albertville and that's not exactly the centre of the universe. |
How can you say that, haven't you seen the massive furniture store being built next to the MacDonalds in Bourg?
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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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Wow, a furniture store, that's an attraction that's hard to ignore.
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| PG wrote: |
| Erm Manda, think you should check out your map again, Bourg is not the nearest place to Courch to visit for electronic gear (Moutiers and Albertville are), and anyway there's bgr all in the way of decent stores for that sort of thing in Bourg. You really need to visit the place before recommending it for one of the few things it doesn't have for tourists. |
there's a Darty isn't there near Super U? and Super-U have got a extensive range of batteries and light bulbs & you could pre-order other stuff from Redoute and pick it up at the post office.
Innsbruck was a great suggestion, Bern & Lausanne maybe as well. Maybe Interlaken although I don't know it personally.
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FAQ
Invermere was a bit lifeless too, so SP and I only got dragged down there once as well 
