 Poster: A snowHead
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Guys,
how many of you have been to both? and which do you prefer. I'm trying to arrange a trip for a small group for a week somewhere between mid feb and first week in march and its come down to Saalbach hinter or Courchevel. the ability ranges from fair intermediate through to one at the very good end of intermediate (not me). We all like good nightlife, high standard of accom, fast lifts, convenience etc.
Whats your thoughts? and any feelings on whether the start of march is a bit risky for saalbach given it is pretty low?
Cheers
Ad.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Adamski, I can't comment on Courcheval but will say that early March will be fine for Saalbach. If it gets a bit warm, you have the advantage of skiing the north side of the valley. Don't be put off by the altitude, it's pasture land so you need little snow to ski on it and it was really cold at that time of year this year and last year.
It is a great resort with good quality hotels and good lift access from the town centre. There are 3 lifts in total, all within a couple of mins walk from the centre.
I have a feeling that Peter B visited both last year or the year before so he may be worth PMing just to check.
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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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Adamski, There's absolutely no reason to suppose that snow will be lacking in Saalbach in March - Everyone's season goes to roughly the end of April. Just because British TOs stop selling so ridiculously early doesn't mean the ski-ing stops!
IMO Saalbach would be infinitely preferable to Courcheval (but then so would almost everywhere). 
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Adamski, I've been to both within a month of each other in 2004. Courchevel has an edge in relation to the amount of good upper end skiing available. Other than that I'd choose Saalbach. The reasons are:-
slightly cheaper lift pass
excellent fast lifts throughout the whole circuit
lower pasture land does not need great snow depths to be skiable, although when we went at the end of Jan, we had the best conditions I've ever experienced,
The Apres in Saalbach beats Courchevel on grounds of atmosphere and Cost
the accomodation is superb and much cheaper than Courchevel for the same standards.
I'd find it hard to ski over 200kms in a week, so don't need the 600kms offered by the 3 vallees
Travelling between Saalbach and Hinterglemmis free with your lift pass on a ski bus and takes 10 minutes. The same can't be said for neighbouring resorts in the 3 valleys.
Much shorter transfer time from Salzburg to Saalbach compared with Geneva to Courchevel (1 hr 15 mind v 4 hours)
If you gave me the choice of going to either, Saalbach would win every time.
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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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Austrian charm vs French chic (snobbery)
Tick Saalbach
saalbach's actually quite high for austria - remember they are affected by different airmasses so Austria is generally colder for a given altitude.
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Can anyone tell me about the bus system in Saalbach. There doesn't seem to be anything on it on their web-site. 
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From memory there a three or so lines which serve saalbach and area, hinterglen and area and one that does the lot.
They are regular - 15mins at peak i think, typical Austrian busses so no room to fart at busy periods but work well. If you fill a taxi though then it is a couple of euro each even between the two centres.
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Thanks, hobbiteater, . So does that mean you can realistically get between Saalbach and Hinterglem of an evening for socialising with other snowHeads that might be in the area? Sorry to sound so dumb, but never been there. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I went to Saalbach last year and Courchevel this. Personally, I loved Courchevel and I really enjoyed Saalbach. Can't disagree with any of Peter B, comments thou.
We went mid feb to both, and one thing to say about Saalbach is their standard of piste care - far better than in France. Austrian charm was great, and the slopeside food was THE best ( i remember a particularly outstanding rack of ribs at reasonable cost ) I personally preferred the greater expanse offered by the 3V and really enjoyed putting in the miles to get right over to Val T and back. Thou the costs in mountain restaurants are a shocker - keep an eye out for the cheaper places ! Accomodation costs were about the same for same sort of standard - we went for Chalet hotels both times and paid around £550. I don't recall our transfer to Courchevel being too bad - the transfer to Saalbach ( normally 1.5 hours ) suffered from heavy traffic and unruly kids on the transfer bus - so it turned into 3 hours of near hell.
In terms of buses to hinterglem - we never bothered. The Ski Circus is great and gets you around easily. Saalbach to hinterglem is a gondala ride, a short red run, a chair and then a long red into Hinterglem if I recall correctly - couldn't have taken more than an hour. The return is just as simple, thou some of my party got half way back and couldn't face the t-bar that you need to do to totally get back into Saalbach - so they dropped to the Valley and picked up a bus ( don't think they waited more than 10 - 15 minutes ) - nothing to worry about anyway.
In terms of skill levels, if you can all do reds then you'd get around fine at both and probably find something for everyone.
I'd just take your pick this year depending on what you can get for your money and then resolve to the do the other resort next year !
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chris Bish,
Can't remember when the buses stop but a taxi if you fill it (ie 5-6) is reasonably cheap, if there's two of you then its a bit more obviously...
The two villages are about 5k (i'm sure someone knows the exact distance) apart (you go through a tunnel too) i'd say and each is quite compact - although there are hotels straggling the whole valley.
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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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Adamski, it depends on where else you've been, and what sort of skiing you like. I've been to both a few times and all PeterB's points are correct, but for me the sheer amount of great skiing in the 3V means Courchevel would win every time. If you're one of those people like me who likes to really travel on skis you might agree.
But this is about you, and if you have only ever been to small places, then Saalbach will seem huge! And if you really care about apres-ski and quality/value of accommodation, then Austria is virtually always better than France, and Saalbach vs Courchevel is no exception.
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| Adamski wrote: |
We all like good nightlife, high standard of accom, fast lifts, convenience etc.
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Courchevel is better for skiing. Saalbach is better for everything else.
They are both fine resorts. However, on your stated criteria above :-
Bars are cheaper and livelier in Austria.
Courchevel is mostly chalets and self catering accommodation. Hotels are few and expensive for what they offer. Saalbach/Hinterglemm is a hotel-based resort and they are generally of a good standard.
Lifts and convenience are the same in both resorts really
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You know it makes sense.
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Saalbach still has 200km of piste which is enough for an intermediate for a week. The slopes are all pretty wide and some are quite long so you don't feel you are skiing the same runs over and over and you don't get bored of them.
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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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How do the two resorts cope with the crowds at half term?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Adamski, we found it quite difficult to get a hotel for our group in the centre of Saalbach for the end Feb/early March 2006 as the tour ops that go there don't get many rooms allocated to them, so book soon.
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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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hayley t, Yeah, I really just want to book it asap and then 'forget' about it. Do you think there's any point in looking to do it DIY? I guess I better just start ringing all the usual TO suspects. Its nice for once though that budget isn't the biggest worry - I don't mean by that that we're all loaded! I just mean that usually there's one or two that insist on a maximum that just ends up making things difficult!
It sounds like I don't really need to deliberate too much over which hotel and over whether to stay in Saalbach or Hinterglemm as everything sounds to be pretty even ....
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Adamski, I think Saalbach offers slightly better access in terms of lifts than Hinterglemm, but both have good hotels, nightlife etc. We're off on the 25 Feb and I have a feeling that Eng. play Ireland in the 6 Nations that day so if you're around, you can drown your sorrows over a few beers with us!
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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.
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Adamski, I am feeling a little more confident than last year but I'm sure it will be a close one and I won't be putting my money where my mouth is so to speak!
UK half term week is the week before I believe, that also includes the German schools too. The Austrian schools are off early Feb, so it might be best avoided. I have been the same week to Austria for the last 4 years and haven't encountered huge queues etc, very few actually and usually only first thing. There has also been a large snowfall towards the end of Feb in Austria the last few years, which is always a bonus!
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hayley t, the week you are going is my first choice preference.
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Adamski, It should be easy to book DIY. They must have a decent website with all the hotels etc. Flights -no sweat, with a group, rent a vehicle from airport - you're laughing.
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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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Depends where you can get in Courcheval, there are about 5 villages including Le Tania and I doubt you will be able to beat Sallbach 4*s with a Courcheval 1800 3*. And even if you did I would think a nice 4* in Sallbach would cream Courcheval.
Saalbach is compact so a hotel in and around the high st will not require a bus at all. Skiing is set up for intermediates but then the skiing in Coucheval will not really be the issue for your group either.
I would choose the overall ambiance of Sallbach against Coucheval. The apre-ski starts at the top of the hill at about 2.00pm and works its way down to the umbrella bars and Oompah bars. Just follow the route home and look for the mass of skis outside..!!
Final point a fair intermediate can get a long way on the Sallbach circus whereas might have to miss the best bits of the 3V which is what you will pay for on the lift pass, for example Mount Vallon and VT. I am not try9ng to rubbish the 3V but I think Sallabch is more suited to your initial criteria..! That said Coucheval/3V should be experienced the once at least IMV..!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Adamski,
Don't know them... altho I think the Berger is a 4 * in the middle of the High St....
and if it is, the 4*' I stayed in - Kristianna - was very good and the Berger was supposed to be better..!!
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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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they're all 4* and in fact the Berger might be the cheapest of the 3 - although it's very marginal between them all
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Don't know where the others are but the Berger is right slap bang in the middle of everything, IIRC
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You know it makes sense.
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JT, I'm right in thinking though that Saalbach is very compact so nothing is ever far away? they all claim to be very close to the lifts and town with the panther saying its beside the lifts and basically ski in ski out. Something is leaning me towards the reiterhof - we can get a superior room for a good price - going with a buddy not the mrs so a larger room would be preferable so we don't end up inches apart! 
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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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The Reiterhof is slightly more up-market than the Berger. Last time I was in the Berger, there was a tall Scandanavian person (male) singing in the bar. The Reiterhof would not tolerate such activity. All three are within a few seconds of the lifts, the Reiterhof being nearest the baby slopes, but furthest from access to all lifts except the Schattberg.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Adamski,
As I remember the high st almost travels up the side of the nursery slope so half way up the high st would be a very easy walk to the main lift.
The village appears to balloon behind the nursery slope so I can't imagine anywhere too far from the main lift out of the place...And at the bottom of the High St across a main rd is another lift that you will probably use less. From this memory I can't think that anything will be much more than 5 mins walk if you are anywhere near the High St.
I was very impressed with hotels in Saalbach and they will set the tone for other holidays now, I fear
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chris Bish, here is the link on the bus system on their site.
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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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Adamski, we're staying at the Berger. The Reiterhof had fairly large supplements when we booked but you may not be too worried about those! The Berger is right in the middle with good access to all lifts, but the Reiterhof is also fairly central. I also got the impression that the Berger was the more 'lively' of the two when I visited before. I think the Panther is the least central of the 3.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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hayley t, Thanks for that - the prices work out pretty much the same and nothing bad on the supplement front that I've noticed. As noone has anything bad to say about any of them then I'm not really worried about which to go for. I'll just pick between Berger and reiterhof and take the one we can get the biggest / best room in - Nic stinks and I want to be sleeping as far away from him as poss!!!
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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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Adamski, nice one, we shall see you there then!
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How's the location and quality of Clubotel Sonnalp in Hinterglemm? All of a sudden our planned trip to Aspen was derailed by external forces beyond our control and Saalbach just looks so attractive. I fear we may be too late to book but I think I've got a lead on the Sonnalp. Would rather be in Saalbach, however.
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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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RISkier, there are a few Snowheads who have been to Hinterglemm recently that might be able to help. It may be worth starting a new thread to get their attention!
It looks like there is some availability in Saalbach (peak season) following Adamski's recent booking but that would be via UK tour operators I presume.
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hayley t, Thanks, I'll do that.
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