 Poster: A snowHead
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@Baron von chippy, this conversation has been had a thousand times.
I think the problem with your statement is that it's definitive and it says "much" cheaper.
In our case for example the no 2 and the last 3 on your list don't apply to us. Supermarket, we shop in the valley before we drive up so normal prices. What does matter for us is availability of cheap apartments, accessibility to the skiing and the skiing available (off piste oriented). But everyone is different. Hence you can't be definitive.
Bulgaria and Andorra are "much cheaper" than Austria - if you want to generalise.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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When skiing as a family it's difficult to beat the slope side accommodation that France offers virtually everywhere. Sometimes we go to Italy and love it but there aren't as many resorts that offer 2 bed apartments at reasonable prices. In Austria it's definitely more hotel based accommodation, so whilst being H/B is great the downside is usually having the one bedroom with an additional sofa bed (or two) for the kids and for us that's unsatisfactory when being charged an arm and a leg.
As beginners (improvers) I'd stick to France in March 100%.
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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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@Layne, Sorry I hate to disagree, but Andorra isn't "much cheaper" (I prefer the term less expensive) than Austria. I've only skied in Andorra once. The rental flat was about the same price as Les Arcs for the week and the lift pass actually slightly more expensive. Drink was a bit less and an evening meal in the local curry house amazing value at 11€ for all you could eat and drink but that was swamped by the increased cost of getting there.
I found Zakopane in Poland an inexpensive place to ski and imagine the same could be said for the rest of the Tatra. I haven't skied Bulgaria for some time but at the time Romania was supposedly cheeper. In Italy (as in France and Austria) less well known and smaller resorts can be good value. Somewhere like Alto Sangro may be an excellent choice during Febuary as IIRC Italian schools do not have a half term holiday
As to the statement that Austria is "much cheaper than France" this is simply not true. The drive may be a bit less expensive if you avoid the toll roads and save a couple euros by going through Luxembourg but it does take a lot longer 11:30 from Calais to St. Anton as opposed to 9:30 to Les Arcs. Accommodation is about the same as is eating. However, a flight to Innsbruck will cost a lot more than Geneva.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Choices about the kind of accommodation you want, how many expensive drinks you have in bars, and whether you want to "eat out" all the time will have a far greater impact on your budget than which country you go to.
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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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Having just mentioned the Alto Sangro ski area. I thought I just check up on prices in Febuary and it does look very good value. So I'm now thinking of putting a trip together: fly to Naples, have a couple days in the area sightseeing then go skiing for a couple days. I've never been to that part of the world.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@johnE, I was being facetious to some degree. I've never been to Andorra but I knew a group of lads who went - because it was cheap, particularly the booze. Their priorities were very different to mind. Which was kind of the point.
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| Quote: |
I was being facetious to some degree
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I guessed so.
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@Dpetchey, especially for your pre-xmas weekend, although equally interesting for March, a wee bit left-field but you could look at Monterosa.
The skiing generally opens up for the first December weekend (it's an Italian bank holiday), most things are a bit cheaper than France, perhaps just better quality/value (I think although I haven't really analysed).
The fooding and drinking definitely better, to my mind.
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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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| Layne wrote: |
@Baron von chippy,
Bulgaria and Andorra are "much cheaper" than Austria - if you want to generalise. |
why didn't you mention that to the OP then? Maybe the OP would like to visit Bulgaria or Andorra and save some money. how many times you been to bulgaria or Andorra to make the comparisons?
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@Baron von chippy, the OP didn't seem particularly budget orientated.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Layne, if that's the case. May I present Lech, Iscghl or kitzbuhel, each have hotels at the lift stations bottom of the runs.
and are a complete polar opposite to Flaine. In terms of culture, architecture and skiing
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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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@Baron von chippy, you may.
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Val thorens this Easter was great. A day when the resort was closed due to too much snow and wind!! But otherwise great skiing. And ski in / out apartment via air bnb.
Did Courcheval La Tania at Easter in 2022. Also awesome skiing but three valleys again. Just different end of the valley.
Highly recommend new generation ski school in VT. Excellent instructors and set up
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You know it makes sense.
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| Baron von chippy wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| I don't think you can say Austria is "much cheaper". It depends how you do it. |
I think you can when you make like for like comparisons.
No toll roads and cheaper fuel in Luxembourg (if you drive.)
public transport in to resorts from airports is better and cheaper.(if you self book)
super markets are cheaper(if you self cater)
ski school is cheaper(if you have kids)
Food on the mountain is cheaper
A Bier at apres is cheaper
I'm not say one is better than the other. |
Personally I've found Austria more expensive, struggle to find any sensibly priced self catering accommodation over new year and half term France always turns out cheaper as they specialise in self catering granted some are a tad small but but all. Also by in large any self catering I've found you need a bus or drive to slopes not ski to door or very short walk as in France, considerably more faffage particularly with a smallish family on tow. I love the Austria vibe but it's much more of a hassle and if you're trying to keep cost down by driving and self catering everything is further away.
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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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I agree on La Plagne having lots of blue runs, some quite easy, others with a few steeper sections to test your skills. My two daughters had their first week lessons there with ESF and got on fine but there are plenty of other ski schools depending on which village you stay in.
Last year we went to Serre Chevalier (2nd week skiing for my girls) and we all had a great time, so much so that we're going back again this Feb half term. For context, we're a similar age to the OP and skied before kids but only did our first family trip when they were 11 and 14 respectively. Depending on the ages of your boys, your needs could be similar or quite different.
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FAQ
