 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi folks,
We're going away from January 18th/19th 2014 for a week. Usually go to VT, although have previously been to Les Arcs (twice) and La Plagne (once, as a novice). This year several of us are taking first timer other halves, and we had originally planned to go to Hotel Tango in Val T, but it sadly no longer has sufficient rooms left - there's around 10 of us on the trip.
This has led to us looking at other resorts.
Key criteria -
beginner friendly without being dull for those of us who can ski
plenty of mileage
decent apres ski - found VT good but La Plagne and Les Arcs a bit lacking
as little bussing around/walking in ski boots as possible
package from Scotland
budget of £600 or less for flights, transfers and half board hotel/chalet board, preferably ski in, ski out or close to it.
Realistically I think this leaves us a choice of La Plagne/Les Arcs, Tignes, or somewhere else in the 3V's?
Considering Hotel Terra Nova in Plagne Centre - anyone been?
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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Tenerife
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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 could also consider alpe d'huez as its fairly compact around the middle so if you have beginners you can go off and ski and the come back and buzz them occasionally. Crystal will do you a HB in your budget.
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| bobalexander1983 wrote: |
Realistically I think this leaves us a choice of La Plagne/Les Arcs, Tignes, or somewhere else in the 3V's?
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I note that you are excluding any resorts in Switzerland, Austria and Italy. It is possible to ski there as well you know 
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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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Not excluding them Alistair, although I think the selection of resorts available from Scotland due to flights is a fraction of what you can get from down south without breaking the bank. I've always fancied Arabba, but it's the thick end of £1000 each for even low season weeks like that one.
We like French skiing and at that time of year there is a massive surplus of accommodation and therefore bargains to be had. I think it's also fair to say the big french resorts are, overall, better linked than anything else in Europe.
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bobalexander1983, Plagne centre is an absolute shy toll.
I would rather go to Tignes with Lily Savage than Plagne Centre with Lindsey Vonn
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I've been to La Plagne before, so I'm aware of how repulsive the resort and lift hub are to the discerning eye. As a fan of Val Thorens, I can't really say appealing architecture is high on my list of priorities!
I think Tignes may be the answer, just slightly worried that the home runs may be a bit of a nightmare for the beginners.
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bobalexander1983, fair point... LP would be far better for the greenhorns and let's face it Tignes is no oil painting itself
Years ago I went to Montgenevre and perhaps that might suit you? Turin is the usual airport - not sure how that suits you
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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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Had a quick look at it there, only one S/C option and one shabby chalet on offer with Crystal (usually the best for holidays from Scotland unfortunately) and I'm not sure if there's enough challenging skiing to keep the more adventurous members of the group busy without abandoning the beginners every day to explore the milky way!
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bobalexander1983, Tignes is good for the beginners if you are in the right place - there are two beginner lifts, and they just need to get used to the idea that they will need to get the bubble home. If you go for Le Lac or Lavachet you get the convenient lifts near town centre for breaks/lunch, if you go for Lavachet the runs home are much easier than Trolles. When we went there some of our beginners were very happy with the "ski tranquille" area at the top of the mountain, not too hard to get to but can keep a first week skiier happy for several days.
If I was you I'd look at Morzine - I've always found the apres to be pretty good there, fairly close to Geneva so tends to be easier to find transfers to suit your flights if you go that way, and there is skiing for just about anyone around the PDS, the beginners will probably stay on the Morzine/Avoriaz runs, others can go off and come back to meet them easily enough.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think for what you want hard to beat Val Thorens. Tignes fine but can be difficult for beginners to progress there. Much more suitable slopes for this purpose in VT
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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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You should look at Avoriaz, has everything you have requested. I have been 3 or 4 times, for europe as an overall resort i have found it hard to beat.
beginner friendly without being dull for those of us who can ski - yes and yes
plenty of mileage - Port due soil one of the biggest ski areas in the world
decent apres ski - found VT good but La Plagne and Les Arcs a bit lacking - there are quite a few bars/clubs and restrurants to keep you entertained, live bands, bowling, all sorts
as little bussing around/walking in ski boots as possible - purpose built predestrian, ski to door resort
package from Scotland - flights to geneva
budget of £600 or less for flights, transfers and half board hotel/chalet board, preferably ski in, ski out or close to it. - defo get all that on self catering, not sure about half board without looking
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| Quote: |
Port due soil one of the biggest ski areas in the world
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are you implying it isn't very snow sure?
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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A quick search on crystal brings up several places in the Val di Fassa for under £600pp. Canazei and Campitello both have lifts out of the towns that link into the Sella Ronda. Flights from Edinburgh.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Scarlet, Thanks, I'll check it out. Canazei looks pretty good at a glance. 
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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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Risoul, with link to Vars? Or Vars with link to Risoul? Bit quiet on the apres ski front, though.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hyst, Alba is lovely - and will improve further when the planned lift onto the Canazei Belvedere is installed.
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FAQ
, like them both but 2 places are very different, so this year one week Dolomites (Alba di Canazei) and one week France (Tignes). 
