Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
If you travel from Munich Airport to wherever, you'll need to change at Munich Hauptbahnhof or Munich Ostbahnhof too.
edit: and conveniently that 77mins doesn't include the 45mins train ride from the airport.
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
In my world, with a maximum of (reasonably) 64 hours in which to work, every hour counts.
And extra hour flying takes two from the budget. Lkewise transfers. To a point, likewise in-resort transport.
If the point is ski time, you want:
Reasonable snow confidence
Reasonable weather confidence with options ("") if necessary
Shortest flight
Short(est) transfer
Easiest transport from accom to skiing
Bearing in mind this is supposed to be fun, not a military exercise.
Struggling to see much past Chamonix myself.
And minimum dicking around re lift passes and any required kit hire.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Fly to Innsbruck. Take the 10 minute bus from the airport into town, then the 15 minute bus (line J) up to the Nordkette lifts. Stay at this place http://gramarthof.com/pension-frau-hitt/, which is RIGHT next to the lift, so you can chuck your stuff behind reception and then immediately go skiing. Next morning, get the bus back down into town, and catch the bus up to Axamer Lizum or Stubai (or train to St Anton, Zillertal, etc) and get a full day at one of the bigger resorts. Depending on what time your flight is, on your last day either ski a half day at one of the nearest resorts (Nordkette or Patscherkofel), or if it's not 'til evening a full day at somewhere like Schlick2000, Axamer Lizum or Stubai. Bus back to hotel, bus to airport, etc, fly home...
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
clarky999, great plan but I don't think Innsbruck flights work, sadly.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Innsbruck isnt an option for me due to flights, Geneva Airport is the best flights i can get, out early Sat morning back late monday night for less than £80.
The decision now is where to go from Geneva, i opted for Chamonix as its seems the easiest as loads of firms offering shuttles running every 30 mins.
I like the look of the Grand Massif, but getting there doesnt seem as easy, shared transfer says you can wait up to 90 mins for other connecting flights and private transfers are very pricey.
I dont want to be hiring a car and driving. So like under a new name said, im struggling to see beyond Chamonix.
Morzine is as easy to get to i believe but ive spent years in Portes Du Soiel so really wanted to try somewhere different.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quote: |
I dont want to be hiring a car and driving
|
Then definitely go to Chamonix and, given a tight budget, stay in a hostel. Much more sociable, apart from anything else, than a lonely hotel room.
|
|
|
|
|
|
pam w wrote: |
Quote: |
I dont want to be hiring a car and driving
|
Then definitely go to Chamonix and, given a tight budget, stay in a hostel. Much more sociable, apart from anything else, than a lonely hotel room. |
Im not really on a budget, cant spend stupid amount of money, happy with cheap and chearful. All the hostels seem to be full though
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
thestoney6, what dates?
|
|
|
|
|
|
under a new name wrote: |
thestoney6, what dates? |
10th Jan, 2 nights
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
That's why I tend to stay in places like Accor group hotels, and drive up to resort. Costs a bit more, but they're the kind of hotel that has 24hr reception (handy when you arrive at 1am), and tend to be aimed at random length stays rather than sat-sat holiday hotels/chalets, etc.
Sure driving is faff, but you are in control. You specify when you get to the lift station, hotel and airport.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
thestoney6, Gustavia still have some availability for those dates. Very friendly hostel/hotel, with great live music for apres ski most days. Bit further for walking to slopes, but there's a bus stop close by.
It's good value for money, my friends have always enjoyed staying there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
except, fixx, you want to make sure your room is nowhere near the bar, unless you are fixated on staying up as late as the latest person.
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
under a new name, true, lol! Though a quick search suggested it's one of the cheapest places available for a short stay, with availability.
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Thursday 07.05 LPL - GVA. Loads of places to try. Morzine is the old perennial. You should be there by midday.
Sunday 21.25 GVA-LPL.
2.5 days on the slopes.
2h drive home though on the Sunday night.
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
shockingmoment, The 2hr drive through the night from York to get to LPL for 5am will be a bit of a shocker too
thestoney6's, big problem is living in York and finding return flights to anywhere from an airport within reasonable travelling distance and even Liverpool may be too far judging by the time constraints imposed by Mrs thestoney6. Off the top of my head suitable airports will be Newcastle, Leeds/Bradford, Grimsby (is this East Yorkshire/East Riding?), Manchester or Liverpool. Manchester will offer the best range of operators and destinations but will still take about 1.5hrs to get there (home to check-in desk).
Whilst Innsbruck sounds great for proximity to the slopes it may be difficult to get a return flight in the space of 2 or 3 days. I tried this from Liverpool last year and couldn't do it and for 2015 there is a flight on 11/1/15 but none returning until the following Sunday (EJ flights).
I would say destination airport GVA and ski in Chamoinix or Morzine or La Clusaz. However, Leeds Bradford flight on 10/1 is at 3pm and the return on 12/1 is at 10am so only 1 day skiing. If you can swing it fly Friday 9th, Ski Saturday and Sunday and fly back Monday at 10am but it means you have to swing 3 nights away.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Tolerable with the thought of 2.5 days on the slopes though! A little doze on the flight will sort that out.... Shuttle from GVA - 60E return - another little doze, then hit the slopes!
I've tried the Innsbruck route for long weekends but always struggled to get reasonable times for a weekend.
We do the LPL/GVA Thursday / Sunday route regularly - even extended jaunts to Italy on occasions....
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
thanks for the suggestions guys. I need to stress the only option is to be away from home for 2 nights, thats needs to include travelling and everything. I can get a train from York to manchester airport to get me there for 0430. so the 0655 flight to Geneva still seems my best option out.
The new spanner in the works is the friend i was going with has now dropped out due to his wife not letting him go as he is of to Val D'Isire in Feb. SO the cost of accomadation has now doubled for me. And as much as im OK with travelling alone, i want it to be as easy as possble.
So as ive been to Avoriaz/morzine/PDS many many times im thinking of just going there as i know the set up rather than trying out a new resort on my own.
Im also starting to chicken out a bit and just get Euro star to Les Arcs friday night and come back staurday night as it only costs me £50 and have 1 full day on slopes i know?
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Les Houches Chris-Tal hotel, €64 for 2 nights....
Unless you like sleeping in trains.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sat 16-08-14 9:42; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
That is a great find thanks, seems like there is a train connection from Geneva to La houches but websites not very clear...hmmm anyone done geneva to la houches before?
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
allthough i have just been looking at L ahouches and noticed this on one of the information sites
"Attention boarders - there are a lot of drag lifts in this ski area and you'll be doing a bit of pushing as there are lots of flat sections between many lift links."
That doesnt sound ideal
|
|
|
|
|
|
thestoney6 wrote: |
That is a great find thanks, seems like there is a train connection from Geneva to La houches but websites not very clear...hmmm anyone done geneva to la houches before? |
Don't do it, an airport transfer will be much quicker. Just talk to the normal Chamonix transfer companies, they will all drop off in Les Houches before heading into the rest of Chamonix. And pick up after on the way back.
thestoney6 wrote: |
"Attention boarders - there are a lot of drag lifts in this ski area and you'll be doing a bit of pushing as there are lots of flat sections between many lift links." |
That's true, it's not ideal for boarders, but I have spent a few days there easily with good boarders who had no problems, and liked the snowpark etc.
If you stay in Les Houches I'd recommend catching one of the buses on your middle day to ski in Brevent/Grands Montets etc rather than all the time in Les Houches. Note it's a different ski pass though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
+1 for Scotland. Wait for a good weather forecast on the weekend and take the family with you. She may still let you away on your own for a chase to the alps on another weekend later once she has seen the smile on your face after a day on the slopes, hell, it may even be enough to get her curious herself
|
|
|
|
|
|
dode, halfhand, appreciate the thoughts guys but trust me, ive spent 7 years trying to convince her. however there is breakthrough, she has been coming round to the idea of us all going and staying in a nice lodge somewhere snowy with the kids and letting me sneak off of some slope time in the morning.....but there are some conditions that go with that.
So this is the next quest, where can we all go? Needs to be somewhere set up for a weekend break, that has enough to do for her and 3 young kids (all under 5) sledging, ice skating and such? But also need to be able to drive to.
I have been thinking of going to somewhere like aviemore?? if we went there begining of december would there be enough snow on the ground for the kids to build snowmen? i know the slopes might be hit and miss but are they guaranteed some snow even if its a litle?
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
thestoney6, the problem with Scotland is that even although the Cairngorms are in part a sub-Arctic climate, the snow often arrives with wind, so it deposits where you don't generally want it to (the A9 or the Cockbridge-Tomintoul road).
Short answer, no.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
under a new name, thats a shame, trouble is with my work i work shifts so have to book time off well in advance. so only have a select few dates through the winter that im off for more than a couple of days. Might just have to hope i get lucky and we see loads of snow arrive on one of those dates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
thestoney6, from up north Scotland probably cheaper but from anywhere mid England almost as cheap to get to France.
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
As someone has already said there should be no problem getting 2 1/2 days skiing for 2 nights. The secret is getting a very early flight out and late flight back on the last day, such as the 21.45 easyjet from Geneva, plus a short transfer bus so you can get to the resort soon after 11.00am and ski a full day on your last day.
This skiing weekends makes for the most expensive skiing per day and I doubt that you could self cater for 2 nights which would have kept the price down. Mind you, I suppose there might be the possibility of something like a refuge with bunk beds if price is a problem.
Actually after looking at your last posts it sounds like you only have 2 days, as well as only 2 nights, so i assume you are leaving direct from work on the Friday so 2 days skiing is all you can get. As far as Scotland is concerned you are no better off really.
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
snowball, You're based in London thestoney6, is in York. You have much more choice for getting to the Alps
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Elizabeth B, thanks for this
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
thestoney6, Hilton Coluymbridge is good for families (Aviemore), there is also Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge near Aviemore (can use Tesco vouchers for tickets). My 7 year old loves it, and went when he was 5, loved it then also. Www.landmarkpark.co.uk. As for snow, very often there is snow in the ski area with absolutely nothing in town, so I wouldn't rely on that.
Reading this thread with interest as would love to get a short break to the Alps in addition to our usual ski holiday, but even less choice from Scotland. We can get the Edinburgh Geneva flights, but doubt I'd get any commitment just now from friends and to multiply it by 3 for us as a family to go, we just can't afford it afford it at the mo, so prices will just go up I was always put off by the transfers as well, as they always seemed to be more than the flights but if there are shuttle buses to Chamonix that would be an idea. Are there shuttles to Morzine as well? Any others? If it was myself and friends I doubt we'd drive.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Quote: |
Are there shuttles to Morzine as well? Any others? If it was myself and friends I doubt we'd drive.
|
Yep, one company who do regular shuttles is http://www.alpybus.com/home - same price as Chamonix, only slightly longer.
|
|
|
|
|
|