 Poster: A snowHead
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It is that time of year again- booking our ski trip. This year, due to work uncertainties, booking has been left until last minute. We have annual leave to go away weekend of 1st or 2nd February for a week.
I've spent hours ploughing through brochures trying to decide where to go but can't, so I thought I'd ask your advice.
Last year we DIY'd it to Mayrhofen self-catering, but this year, with it being 3 weeks away we'd like to go on a package deal half-board.
We are both good intermediates. We thought Mayrhofen was excellent (albeit massive- we probably didn't get full use of the entire area), but we'd like to try somewhere different.
We were considering Italy, Austria or maybe Andorra this year. We'd also considered Slovenia (?!). We also tend to be a bit picky with hotels, wanting 4* or 5* hotels.
Does anyone have any recommendations of resorts and/or hotels?
Also noticing that the snow isn't brilliant in lots of places too.
edit: We aren't into massive apres ski, maybe a drink or two then early to bed. We are really early risers and like getting the first tracks. We are big foodies, and also spa/hot tub/heated outdoor pool lovers. We don't have children!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What about Canada? Cant go wrong with Fairmont Whistler. If you can get a direct flight to Vancouver its not that big a deal, especially for 3 weeks. Hotel is great (very Canadian  ) and access to the massive area is about 12 steps out the board/ski storage area. Snow will never be an issue there in Feb either.
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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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Hi shootinstar9,
We have some spaces left in our catered chalet Genepi for those dates if that's any use? Details via the link below . . .
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shootinstar9, Northern Italy has some of the best snow in Europe right now, and easily ticks your "foody" box... Courmayeur or Champoluc ought to have 4 or 5 star hotels with spas and both have some truly excellent dining on and off the hill.
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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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Selva in the Dolomites. They have great snow at the moment.We stayed in the 4* Hotel Elizabeth.Very nice and great food and spa.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
What about Canada?
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Is Canada noted for its good skiing food?
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How about Grindelwald? Plenty of nice hotels there, decent skiing and not a huge area. If you're thinking 5* then the Regina is not bad, especially if you like the spas and whatnot (several saunas, steam room, salt bath and swimming pool) and the restaurant is top notch.
http://www.grandregina.ch/en/home-en-content/
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I'm with DennisP.
Big foodies / spa / hot tub / heated outdoor pools / 4&5* hotels - Whistler does it all. Food wise Pamw, the choice is enormous right upto michelin stars in the resort but agree the mountain options not great.
Also consider the Sundial as you can get a room with a private hot tub overlooking skiers plaza in the village centre. Steps to the two gondolas serving both mountains, amazing.
PM me if you want specific details.
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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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pam w, The food in the slope side resturants is not brilliant but it is not awful either.
However snowmonkey69 is right about the hotels in Whistler. Hot tubs, swimming pools, spas all present and correct, there are some great places to eat as well.
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dennisp, SnowMonkey69, joneski, as I understand the OP is only going for ONE week, but in three week's time. Really you need at least ten days to make it worth going all the way to Canada.
Courmayeur is lovely, but quite small in terms of kms of piste. We skied pretty much every run in a day.
What about Arabba?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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That week everywhere should be comparatively good for snow, take your pick! Don't go to slovenia for a week, it's nowhere near enough terrain to keep intermediates entertained (been, it's a lovely winter weekend, but not a week skking). Andorra does, we had a great week in pas de le casa years ago (although don't stay there, stay in soldeu, pas is a binge drinking eyesore) Mayrhofen isn't supersized huge either so if that worked for you, you should be fine at any major name resort in Italy or Austria.
I tend to prefer chalets and france and cheap ;o) so not got any relevant recommendations I'm afraid.
Happy Hunting...
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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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There are some great deals with Inghams to Wengen at the moment. 4* for sub £600 each. If you look on the jungfrau website you can get lift passes for the whole are for £198 instead of the £268? Inghams charge!
This opens up 3 ski areas for you. The snow is good as it's high (Murren) and the runs are long with train or chair ride back up.
We started in Austria but the lack of height & the freeze / thaw situation made for scarey skiing  with Switzerland you get the same /ish style of accomodation, food and hospitality with the bonus of powder snow.
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You know it makes sense.
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joneski what sort of prices are you getting though? Everytime I look at canada/us the prices (inc equipment/pass) are INSANE...twice what I'm paying in europe....
I think it usually takes 2 hours on the plane plus 4 hours faffing/transfer in france - can't see how canada could be quicker, it's a 5 hour min flight....
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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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Thanks for the advice guys.
We are waiting to go to Canada- have a three week tour of Canadian ski resorts (and maybe US if we can fit them in) planned for our honeymoon in 2016. Maybe going to Switzerland for a mate's 30th at the end of the season so want to save Switzerland until then. Although we love Austria, the snow reports were a tad concerning for the resorts that we fancied.
I looked at Italy but not much was coming up that we fancied flying from Manchester on our dates- I guess with the excellent snow, its proving popular.
In the end we have found a trip to Andorra. We are going to Soldeu/El Tarter, staying in El Tarter. We also plan a day trip to Caldea, the spa place. It is ski-to-door in a quiet resort. It doesn't tick all the boxes re: foodies but the hotel we are staying at has good reviews on Trip Advisor re: the food.
Fingers crossed I've not picked a dud!
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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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michaelbury17 How long have you been a chalet boy at Chalet Genepi  ?
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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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If you hire a car kitzbuhel would be good. They have loads of really upmarket hotels, the town centre is really nice and if the snow is a bit rubbish in Kitzbuhel u can drive to neighbouring areas or even the kitzsteinhorn glacier which can be included in a lift pass for 30 euro more.
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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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| Quote: |
We started in Austria but the lack of height & the freeze / thaw situation made for scarey skiing ...with Switzerland you get the same /ish style of accomodation, food and hospitality with the bonus of powder snow
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what a very dubious couple of generalisations - scary freeze/thaw conditions in Austria but powder snow in Switzerland. 
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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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Austria has better customer service and is nearly half the price.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Agree with above poster about better customer service in Austria and also with being cheaper but not necessarily half the price!
I've skied in a lot of resorts in Austria but none compare to any in Switzerland! AND, the queues! Yes, it might be half the price (allegedly) but we spent most of the holiday in a queue for chair/drag/cable car! Not so in Switzerland!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and having skied both countries extensively, this is mine!
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Dolomites - Best snow and a fabulous place..
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shootinstar9, I've only been to Andorra on business but the food we had was excellent...
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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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I think I was a bit unlucky with Switzerland; I went to Laax, which is a horrendous excuse for a ski resort. Have heard good things about Zermatt and Verbier.
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FAQ
Kinda hooked on over the pond only done 3 trips to Europe in 15 yrs. 2 of those trips took longer to get to French resorts than to get to BC. 
would highly recommend La Plagne, no need to go to Canada....... 
