Advice needed

A snowHead

My wife and I want to go skiing for the first time next season - probably mid Feb.

Any suggestions about what type of accomodation we should choose and any suggestions as to where in Europe is a good place for beginners that want to advanc quickly

Cheers

Sid

A snowHead

kosciosco, welcome to snowHeads.

How old are you, and what is your budget? This makes a difference as to where to recommend.

One thing to do in the meantime, to get the best out of your first skiing holiday is to go to either a snowdome or a dryslope and do a learn to ski course, which will make your time in the mountains more productive and fun.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Bad Gastein, Austria - Hotel Wildbad - friendly; beginner/intermediate resort

www.hotel-wildbad.com ask for Gerhardt. Or PM me if you need more.

BTW welcome to snowHead

You need to Login to know who's really who.

kosciosco, hi and welcome to snowHeads, in addition to Kramers,questions do you want a place with good scenery ,or what about a place with lots of nightlife or maybe both !

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Hi kosciosco, welcome to slushnuts snowHead

, There are few places in Europe that won't provide you with a great experience. Age and budget do make a difference to your choices. So is it skills development or party . . . of both?

PS . . . how did you find us? just curious

You'll need to Register first of course.

Welcome to snowHeads, kosciosco,

Mrs H and I started ski=ing about five years ago, I can only give you a personal opinion rather than a statistical overview on the best way to learn to ski.

Type of accommodation is more to do with your personal preference than learning to ski. You can make your life easier by getting accommodation close to the nursery slopes, walking around in ski boots and carrying skis on an icy surface is an interesting experience for the beginner. We've preferred to go for half board hotel, on the grounds that after a day of ski-ing we wouldn't be too keen on cooking and we didn't really fancy sharing a chalet with a bunch of people we didn't know.

We learnt to ski in Westendorf in Austria doing group lessons for four hours a day. We went with the standard Austrian Ski School which the tour op pre-booked for us. We took 5 weeks of lessons in Austria, Switzerland and France before striking out on our own. Our ski=ing is functional, we could do with some more lessons probably private. If we were to do it all over again then I think we'd do group lessons for maybe three weeks then strike out on our own but with a more persistant attitude to continued education. Once you've got the hang of moving around the mountain and using the lifts it feels like a bit of a drag going back to lessons and learning to ski with more skill. If money is no object then I'd go for private lessons (i.e. the two of you with one instructor), but this would probably cost you ~£150 per day and you'd miss out on the social aspect of learning to fall over with other people.

I'd agree with Kramer - getting some lessons at a snowdome or a dryslope in the UK will give you a good head start and at the very least get you familiar with some of the equipment. My experience of the rental equipment at snowdomes is that it is not too hot, one of the things we learnt early on is that when you are renting ski boots it is worth going back to the rental shop if you are having any problems with the boot fit. The other thing you can try to do is get fit, if you aren't already. Learning to ski is very tiring!

Be prepared to be cold, wet, hot, sweaty and scared, but completely obsessed snowHead

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Welcome to snowHeads! Mid-Feb is peak season (school half-term) when prices are at their highest and resorts are at their busiest. If you are able to go at another time you would have a much better intro to skiing experience.

I think Courchevel (either the village at 1650 or 1850) is a great choice for beginners. Two fabulous British-run ski schools (New Generation; Ski Supreme), great range of nursery slopes and gentle runs to progress to and a fair range of nightlife (from reasonably priced, to very expensive).

After all it is free

Wow - what a quick response

OK - more detail. My wife and I are 33, we want a place with some good restaurants and want to meet people like us - couples who don't necessarily want to be up all night partying in clubs but don't mind being up until the small hours getting plastered on good wine.

What I was wondering is whether we should try and join a larger group in a catered chalet or should we get a hotel room to ourselves?

We are intending to do a ski course at the Milton Keynes snow dome. Time of year isn't too important - cheaper is better, but I'm not worried about paying out for good accomodation at a good resort. I'm thinking between £700 and £900 per person all in - is that realistic or is it too much?

We were thinking about La Plagne, but only because a friend recommended it.

I found this site on Google - along with a couple of others, but this is by far the best in terms of response, so thanks to you all

Sid

kosciosco, we have availability in our chalet le Mouflon in La Rosiere 1850 for w/c 5th Feb and w/c 19th Feb. La Rosiere is a great resort for improving skiers with skiing in France and Italy. Check out our ad in snowShops with some reviews by fellow snowheads or have a look at our website www.tracksvacations.com you'll find you'll get a good deal of change from your budget.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

kosciosco, Once you have taken a Snowdome/zone course and had some practice, you will no longer be beginners, so avoid any Tour Operator's beginner packages- you will be too good snowHead

snow reports

kosciosco, La Plagne is probably a good idea. Mark Warner have a chalet hotel there which is quite social from what I've heard.

kosciosco,

Welcome to Snowheads.com

As first time skiers there will be 101 + questions you will think of. Do not be shy! Most here are very friendly and esp. tolerant of newcomers to our 'sport' so ask away and please do not think that you are asking a stupid beginners type question! The people here cover everything from the real beginners through to adventures that most can only dream about Very Happy

You know it makes sense.

Would you recommend booking through a package company like Inghams or trying to do it independently?

If through a package company which are best?

I have checked out Courchevel and it looks good

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

We went package co. first until we found our feet and now go totally independent.
Which package co.? All are as bad as each other! Again depends on budget. Usually what you pay is what you get! (nothing new there then!) But don't overlook the small operators like David (above) and the medium size ops. like Silver Ski where one of our posters Nadenoodlee will be running a chalet this Winter.

Courchevel is good but read up on the various 'Villages' that make up the resort. 1850 being probably Chic and expensive to stay in. Smile

A snowHead

kosciosco, if you don't go for David@traxvax's, idea or rob@rar.org.uk's, or even Ian Hopkinsons, might I suggest my favorite of Wengen in Switzerland, so long as you avoid half term week it should be possible to stay in a reasonable hotel on half board for that kind of cash, A 3star hotel such as my favorite Hotel Alpenrose would charge from arround £63 per person per night half board (thats dinner bed and breakfast) buffet breakfast, five course evening meal almost every night, thats in a north facing room with not much of a view, up to about £81 per person per night in one of their Southfacing (great view) superior rooms, so long as you depart by the 11th of Feb, prices go up by about 20% after the 11/02/06 likewise airfair shoots through the roof during half term. Ski and board hire would come in at about £115 for 6 days useage and a ski pass about £130 ish for the same time, total cost less travel a little under £700 but you could do it for less

For a first time ski holiday I'd say go with the hotel, you will meet more people and have an easier time getting away from people in a reasonably sized hotel plus you should get better food than a chalet

For more on Wengen have a look at my website Jungfrau Pages

A snowHead

kosciosco, Welcome to

snowHeads

In the most general of terms Austrian resorts lack height (not so snow sure) and ski convenience (ie you usually need to catch a ski bus to get to the slopes) but gain in alpine atmosphere and the friendliness of the locals.

French resorts offer the opposite. I ski mostly in France because I go to ski. I want pretty much guaranteed good snow and near enough ski-in ski-out convenience from my door. Toofy Grin

The big resorts in France are Val D'Isere/Tignes (Espace Killy), Les Arcs/La Plagne (Paradiski) and Val Thorens{-Les Menuires}/Meribel/Courchevel (Trois Vallee). These are the ones in France the average skier in the street mention most often and are the most popular. There are a zillion others though and many experienced skiers favourites are often not the big ones I've listed above!. The other famous one is Chamonix/Argentiere largely because of historical climbing connections.

If you do a learn to ski course at MK, you'll enjoy your first ski holiday a lot more. You'll know the basics, be faced with less unfamiliar stuff and you'll be able to get up the mountain quickly and won't waste so much of your precious holiday time. It'll whet your appetite. Look on it as skiing foreplay wink

. After that, I'm told that if you reinforce by continuing with good quality lessons on the mountain, your progress will be smoother and quicker. I went down the Ecole du Ski Francais group lesson route (many years ago) and largely just got miles under my skis, which allowed me to develop and reinforce my very own bad habits, which later needed deconstructing rolling eyes

. I've never witnessed this but I'm told that if you continue on with good instruction you'll never fall into these very common bad habits and progress quickly. All this is a long-winded way of telling you that in your position, personally and imho, I'd prefer to go somewhere with a ski-school largely staffed by native English-speakers (I can expect to get flamed for this rolling eyes

, so be grateful NehNeh

) as that's the only way to be sure you'll get an instructor who's got a good command of English (unless you happen have a command of an appropriate European language sufficiently advanced to understand subtle nuances). Such schools exist in Meribel, Courchevel, Val D'Isere, Tignes, Les Deux Alpes, Avoriaz, Vallandry, Verbier (Switzerland), ?Flaine (not sure about this one - not all "international ski schools" are at all anything other than a very much non-international or split-off rival to the main local one!). All of these are relatively big and high resorts. "British" ski schools also exist in Chamonix, Morzine, Les Gets.

Finally, as a couple, I'd go to a chalet. Easier to get to know people and more convenient to spend time together. Very Happy

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

kosciosco, you should definitely avoid half term weeks, which I think are the weeks of 11 and 18.02.06. Austria would be a good choice for beginners, because there are usually plenty of reasonably attractive boozers on the mountain if/when you feel you've had enough skiing, and because they tend to be rather pretty. You should be fine for snow in Feb.

The 3 Valleys, (Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens) would also be good; they're pretty charmless although perfectly pleasant, but there is miles of skiing. If you get the hang of it quickly, you'll be able to ski to other resorts in the 3V area, which is always good fun.

As well as the well known resorts in every brochure, there are lots of smaller ones less favoured by Brits which I'm sure would be great; a web search should find some, and no doubt people on here can tell you of some. You'd need to make sure that your language needs for instruction would be met.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

slikedges,

Where have you skied in Austria? Please give a list of resorts if poss.

kosciosco,
http://www.cntraveller.com/Special_Features/Ski_resorts_for_beginners/

You'll need to Register first of course.

kosciosco, I've not read and digested all the responses to your base note and may offer advice already given. Anyway my 2d's worth.

I would go catered chalet, not too small so that you get a reasonable mix of folks to socialise with in the evenings and not so large that you are just a number. David@traxvax chalet in La Rosiere comes well recommended, I have not stayed there but did go to La Rosiere with Ski Olympic last February and loved the area.

I have stayed at the Mark Warner chalet in La Plagne and it's okay, too big for my personal taste but very well located as you can easily ski to the door. Other MW chalets that may suit you would be the Toviere at La Daille ( Val d'Isere ) as it is dead handy for the funicular or telecabine.

Another alternative, IMHO, would be to go to the Dolomites, stay at Arabba - fairly quiet but there are a couple of bars and I think Neilson/Crystal have catered chalets there. Atmosphere and scenery are just great here.

And finally avoid half term week(s) like the plague - but I am sure this has been said already.

CP

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

DB, ise, guys, not playing today, feel free to list for me major resorts in Austria with mostly ski-in ski-out accommodation based at 1600m or more rolling eyes

. I'd be happy to be corrected. When you live out there you can pick and choose when you go to those ski areas great but for reliable snow. When you live here you just pick high resorts so as to minimise the risk of getting crappy snow. And if you're lazy you go somewhere where for most of the accommodation you just need to roll out of bed and into the ski school.

After all it is free

slikedges, I think the root of your confusion is you're under the impression snow sure starts at 1600m in Austria.

I notice you've avoiding answering DB's question though, so I'm guessing we're mostly assuming the answer was nowhere.

Welcome to SnowHeads
La Clusaz is a nice resort for beginners and it's easy to navigate with the skibus - well I didn't get lost so it must be! All the brochures say it is family friendly too and there are lots of other activities to do as well as skiing. But then I'm biased, I love the place!
Julia

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

ise, if you want a quarrel look elsewhere. rolling eyes

If you want to inform kosciosco and everyone else, this is the place to do it. Toofy Grin

I haven't spent anywhere near as much time on pointless arguments here compared to some but I'm certainly already going to try to spend even less, I'm afraid. rolling eyes

What I am prepared to say is that re-reading my original post it would sound like I think France is the only place worth skiing. I don't think that. I just think as I don't have a lot of time a year when I can go skiing, France is the most expedient and efficient for my requirements. It's nearer, has big, high areas and generally more ski convenient accommodation so I can choose more easily without having to try too hard. I appreciate that I could go to Obertauern, Obergurgl, maybe Ischgl, Lech, a place with a glacier Hintertux etc but France is just easier for me. I apologise for appearing to be dismissive of what may be your favourite areas. snowHead

DB, you can probably go when you know there's snow. I'll stick to high, snowy and soul-less buildings, I'm afraid. Very Happy

snow reports

kosciosco, Most snowheads mostly ski in France, from what I have seen - and there is some really good skiing there. You might also enjoy Saas Fee, in Switzerland, though. It's worth looking at - a lovely village, snow sure, hospitable locals, and great slopes to learn to ski on, I think.

You know it makes sense.

Nick Zotov, I'll 2nd that-Saas Fee is visually stunning, is self contained and has snow sure skiing suitable for 1st and 2nd year skiers. It would be a great 1st destination. snowHead

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

A snowHead

kosciosco, to try to clarify matters for you.

Many Austrian ski resorts are lower than many Swiss and French ones, but in Feb, that shouldn't be a problem because it's a snowy time of year; later in the season might be a bit dodgy. Because the Austrian pistes tend to be on pasture they are less rocky than the higher French and Swiss slopes, so less snow cover is required to make them skiable. These are generalisations. There are high Austrian resorts, and generally speaking, the higher the resort, the less likely you are to be short of snow.

Few Austrian resorts are ski-in, ski-out, whereas the newer, high altitude French resorts usually are. Ski-in, ski-out is great, but it is often accompanied by rather bleak architecture and limited 'apres ski', which some people dislike (I rather like it; the high valleys are bleak places). Austrian resorts are often down in the valley, often pre-date downhill skiing and can be pretty. Lech (or at least Oberlech) is the only ski-in, ski-out Austrian resort of which I know, but there must be others. The non ski-in, ski-out resorts usually have most if not all of their accomodation within walking distance of at least one ski area, so bussing is by no means inevitable (and not the end of the world anyway). Often, there are lockers available at the top and/or bottom of the main lifts so that you don't have to schlepp around in your ski boots, carrying your skis.

For first timers, I'd advise, FWIW, somewhere pretty, with plenty of good mountain boozers, decent restaurants and a bit of your typical alpine atmos (false though it probably is); Austria has plenty of these, but so do France, Switzerland and Italy. Courmayeur in Italy is a good spot, but it can get very busy.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Now what's happened to this nice welcoming friendly thread to newcomer kosciosco (welcome! snowHead

) I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill ise. I knew what slikedges meant - and it was only one opinion amongst all the others that has suddenly got blown up out of all proportion. A lot of Austrian resorts are less snow-sure - and if you need to book well in advance that may not be so good. On the other hand, French resorts too can be short of snow (as they were of times this last season) - in fact if you wish to have guaranteed snow, go to a snowdome snowHead

You need to Login to know who's really who.

DB, as always, had some very sensible things to say. I took the Mickey out of him because he's got a crazy sense of humour, but on matters of snow and finding it he's definitely the man.

He's out there, he's mobile, and he's on the case.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

kosciosco, I highly recommend La Rosiere for your requirements as you've listed them, (although it does pain me to recommend another resort than here)! Shocked

David@traxvax, has space, the village is small and very friendly, the nursery slopes are right there, the ski-ing is very easy, and the snow record there is excellent. I've also heard nothing but good things about the ski school, (even if you do a course at MK you should take 6 x half day lessons) and the lift system is modern and efficient. It's not a long transfer if you go either Geneva or Chambery and I'm sure you'll have a great time. Very Happy

brian

I'd ski more in Austria if they had more French restaurants Smile

After all it is free

easiski, Spot on recommendation, and you can go to the Rascard in La Thuile for Lunch ( at least once ) Very Happy

CP

Hmmmmm - has a raw nerve been touched? snowHead

Ise - I must go and tell all my ski guide books that they're wrong - but I should count yourself lucky you don't get the 'British punter en masse'.

I'm not keepin this going any further now.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Cathy Coins, you've got a book that says "Austrian resorts are less snow-sure" ?

Which one ?

Help!!

Advice needed

snowHeads Forum Index >>> The Piste