 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone,
Always had good advice from Snowheads so hope yous can all come up trumps again.
We are looking for resort suggestions for the dreaded half term ski trip. I say dreaded as in previous years we have managed to take dear daughter out of school to avoid the crowds and high costs. Unfortunately it's exams soon so this is no longer an options.
We are looking for a resort that fulfils as many of the following criteria as possible and would appreciate all suggestions.
Accessible by train
Not full of brits 
A proper town, with stuff to see/do for non-skiers, not a purpose built resort preferably
Possibly of the main radar so quieter as than other resorts
Ski lifts from the town centre, we'd prefer to avoid ski busses
Facilities for pre-school children.
Good snowboarding
I know, I know, lots of requirements!! We've found Morzine ticks most of these boxes, although it is full of Brits!!!, so this gives an idea of what we are looking for, but have been here 3 times now so would like to try somwhere else. We've skiied Kitzbuhel, St Johann, Are, Argentiere, Sauze D'oulx amongst others so are not fussy about country, we just would like a nice resort with accessible skiing and with a bit of atmosphere for those who don't want to ski from dawn to dusk!!!
Thanks in advance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Go non French, go non brochure, be prepared to compromise of the ski bus thing - lots of Austrian/Swiss places are accessible by train but not particularly easy from Britland.
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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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Ischgl?
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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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kyoto49, by accessible by train, do you mean all the way from the UK?
In which case you can do Bourg St Maurice in about 8 1/2 hours with 2 changes. Zurich (and thusly other places thereafter) in just over 9 hours. NB This is on current timetable which only goes out as far as Dec 14.
If you mean train after flight then many places easily accessible from, say, Geneva, for example, mostly in Switzerland. Some may require the use of a Postbus for the last leg.
E.g. Mürren, Wengen, Grindelwald, Saas Fee, 4 Vallees, Crans Montana, et al.
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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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kyoto49, by accessible by train, do you mean all the way from the UK?
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Either really, either a flight then train or train all the way !! I'll check out the swiss resorts, Thanks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lots of Swiss resorts will fit the bill; Davos/Kloster, Murren/Wengen/Grindelwald, St Moritz, Zermatt....
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kyoto49 Austria is generally a lot quieter than France in Feb school hols. Based on Bergmeister's Feb half term 2013 report of empty slopes, no queues and big beers at €3.5, Mrs MA and I are to give the Gastein Valley a whirl next January - we've just booked digs in Dorfgastein  .
Other possibilities for you would be:
- Resorts in the Ziller Valley (other than Mayrhofen as lots of Brits) - Lots are accessible by train.
- Resorts in the Ski Amade region (860km of piste) - We loved Flachau. Unsure re. train access though.
- Solden (last bit of travel by bus).
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Serre Chevalier - stay in Briancon (TGV station).
I reckon that ticks all the boxes on your list, plus being well-regarded by snowboarders.
Might be busy with French at half term. Its close to the Italian border, so may well have weekend visitors too.
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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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Zermatt. The train goes right up into the resort and this year you can do it on Eurostar changing in Lille to a TGV which goes all the way to Visp, from where you change one last time for Zermatt.
The town's a proper town and traffic free. Loads to see and do when not skiing and lifts come and go from three main spots in the town itself. That said, most of the skiing is well above the town but it's brilliant ski area.
Main downside is going to be the price as Zermatt is a little on the high side but if you can stretch then it's the best bet by a long way!
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Zell am See is a proper town. It's even accessible all the way by train if you really need to (e.g. fear of flying) as a journey beginning with a Eurostar London to Paris at around 07.00 will get you to Zell am See by about 20.30 (via Paris, Munich and maybe one or two more changes). Plenty to see for the non-skier, including train trips to Salzburg, Innsbruck or Kitzbuhel if Zell proves too small. Restaurants at the top of the mountain are accessible for non-skiers if you want to meet up for lunch/après. There is a fabulous Spa centre at Kaprun if your hotel doesn't have spa/pool facilities.
Alternatively, fly to Salzburg and take the Postbus (rather than the train) from Salzburg Airport, or book the Holiday Shuttle from the airport directly to your accommodation. This option opens up all of Salzburgerland if you don't mind doing a flight plus Holiday Shuttle (or similar) minibus transfer. Zell am See and Bad Gastein are proper towns. Saalbach, Maria Alm, Leogang have great skiing but a bit less for non-skiers to do.
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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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Thanks for all the suggestions, they are duly noted and I'm off to investigate them all!! Particularly like the look of Dorfgastein. Thanks again
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