Poster: A snowHead
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Have a group of chums who I do a long weekend (usually Weds to Sunday - or "nearly a week" as my Mrs calls it), and in the last couple of years we've been to Chamonix (my favourite resort) and Morzine. The PdS worked better than Cham as it's a mixed ability group, so we could split up, do our thing and meet up later for beers and stories.
Wondering about where for next year. Criteria are:
Short transfer - ideally a reliable less than 90 minutes.
Flights available from Leeds, Manchester or Liverpool (I suppose East Midlands at a push, but Leeds the preference)
Good variety of skiing with some accessible off-piste but also plenty of cruisy blues and reds
Decent apres - we're "beers after skiing" rather than clubbers
Ideally chalet accommodation available, but hotel would be ok. Prefer not to self-cater.
I wondered about St Anton, but that sort of relies on there being flights to Innsbruck, which I struggled with last year when I went for a short break - the flights seemed to be aimed at 7 day trips. Anywhere else is a bit of a trek to St Anton from memory.
Anywhere else i should consider? We all really liked PdS but we're probably going back there with the kids next year so somewhere else would be good.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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We flew to Friedrichshafen, Monarch last time we went to St Anton. We have also flown to Zurich and got the train direct to St Anton from Zurich main station, that works well also. Ischgl is also a good venue in Austria as is Solden.
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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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I'm not sure if Monarch fly every day to Innsbruck though, do they? I think it's only once a week in January when we usually go - it gets more frequent in Feb, but then I'd be doing two trips in about a fortnight! Is Zurich's quite a long journey by train (looked into it last year)? - again I'll have a gander though as I do like trains, and would do a slightly longer train journey over a minibus any day.
Thought about Grand Massif - apres in Flaine not much fun from memory - I'll have a look at the link thanks.
Thanks all - keep 'em coming!
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Zurich airport to St Anton is 2hrs 45mins, so quite a long journey, and unfortunately Monarch don't start doing midweek flights til 5 Feb, which is too late really, as we're out again on 15 Feb.
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Thinking Zurich might be the answer having had a think - as there's likely to be a wider range of flights from Manchester (Swiss, so do you get ski carriage included?). Could even do Zurich one way and Innsbruck home on the Sunday. And I guess if we're not going to be able to ski on day 1 a slightly longer transfer isn't really an issue.
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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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We flew Swiss to Zurich from Manchester and when we did it skis were included, the train journey is 21/2 hours but works like clockwork and is really easy plus you get direct to the resort right by the bus station. We booked in seats in advance on the train directly on the website which is worth doing. Piece of cake and quite enjoyable really.
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Kaiser846 and halfhand - thanks both. I've suggested Swiss to Zurich and train to St Anton - as you say about 2.5 hrs but direct from the airport and pretty cheap all things considered. It means not skiing on the first and last day, but despite our best intentions we never seem to ski on the last day and spend it wandering round buying toblerones so a nice relaxing train journey sounds just the job.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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andy from embsay, One change at the main station in Zurich but yes it's very convenient.
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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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andy from embsay wrote: |
Zurich airport to St Anton is 2hrs 45mins, so quite a long journey, and unfortunately Monarch don't start doing midweek flights til 5 Feb, which is too late really, as we're out again on 15 Feb. |
We did Thursday to Sunday in jan with monarch last year....
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kitenski wrote: |
andy from embsay wrote: |
Zurich airport to St Anton is 2hrs 45mins, so quite a long journey, and unfortunately Monarch don't start doing midweek flights til 5 Feb, which is too late really, as we're out again on 15 Feb. |
We did Thursday to Sunday in jan with monarch last year.... |
Not next year, unless they're going to add some more flights.
Does the OBB Railjet to St Anton require a change? I was looking on Swisspass and that didn't mention a change, though i think Rail Europe does.
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You know it makes sense.
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andy from embsay, Two posts up
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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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halfhand wrote: |
andy from embsay, Two posts up |
Yep, saw that - it's just the Swisspass site doesn't mention it so I wondered if it was a special "ski train" or something. Assume the change is pretty straightforward.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Innsbruck to st Anton is less than an hours drive and really easy
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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londonbg wrote: |
Innsbruck to st Anton is less than an hours drive and really easy |
Yes, i've done it before but flights from the north are weekends only in Jan, so I think zurich and the train will be best.
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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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Ok, so the travel is sorted - flights manchester to zurich going out at 0840, home at 1715. It'll mean no skiing on arrival or departure day, but three full days is ok as we'll be away for a week a month later.
Now then, St Anton experts - hotels/chalets/b&bs - any recommendations for places that'll do a 4 night break? Several are saying saturday to saturday only, which I guess is understandable this far out - but I can't see the place being sold out in mid-January so hopefully something'll come up - but are there any places you'd recommend for this type of thing? Prefer a catered chalet but not sure if such things exist in St Anton, so a decent small hotel would be great.
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andy from embsay, best just to search for accommodation using the tourist office website:
http://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/home/2.html
I've just booked a pension for next weekend. I don't think you'll get a catered chalet as there aren't very many of them and most are run by tour operators. I always book a B and B as the town is full of reasonably priced restaurants.
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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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Thanks Kelskii, nothing available just now, but very early, I guess.
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Echo the comment about a catered chalet, most are TO's offering week only deals. You may get lucky last minute with somebody like Supertravel who I know in the past have had short stay guests in under-occupied chalets. Otherwise, as Kelskii says, have a look at the accom list on the TVB website and get in touch nearer the time.
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Cheers for everyone's help. About to press "buy" on the flights, as they're now £136, so can't see them getting much cheaper - which seems pretty good for a flight including bags.
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We always stay in Untergand which is far end of the resort, nothing there but it is first bus stop (always get a seat) and if you get the bus by the fire station the bus goes up the main road and only stops twice, you are in town in 5 minutes or so. The B&B we have stayed in a couple of times, the Alpenrose, charged us 36 euros per night and you get a ticket to leave your skis and boots in the Intersport right by the Galzig lift. The Alpenrose is also very close to the bus stop at the fire station and also the one that goes through the resort, loads of stops on this one. Our routine was ski down via Mooserwirt, dump the skis and boots and hit the town, arrive back at B&B any time between 10pm and 2ish depending on how the night goes. This worked out great for us. If you like to go back to B&B and spruce up before going out later this probably isn't the best for you as it is a fair way out of town.
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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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andy from embsay, what sort of a place you after, if reasonable b&b try Haus Elisabeth or Haus Roman Falch, both good access to town and all that St Anton has to offer at a reasonable price.
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Thanks Markymark29, - will give them a go. Lots of places are saying they're fully booked (tour operators?) or only do weekly at the moment - but I'm sure things will change nearer the time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We've done short breaks to St ANton with SuperTravel - they offer 3 or 4 night stays in Chalet Seeburger on the main street.
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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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andy from embsay, if you're looking for a weekend break for next year, I wouldn't bother looking for places till autumn and possibly not until a few weeks before you actually travel. There's simply no reason why they should take a booking for less than a week at this stage. Saying they are fully booked is often just a polite way of saying they aren't interested at this point.
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Yep, that's what I was thinking nozawaonsen, - in fact several have said "give us a shout in November".
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You know it makes sense.
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andy from embsay, sorry I thought you were going like next weekend, just leave it until 2 weeks before you'll get on somewhere,more chance and better deals the nearer you leave it. Avoid tour operators and big hotels they only usually do weekly bookings, you need b&b's for long weekends. I've done your plan many times and it really isn't a problem. Moreover it's a great way to see St Anton, down with the locals. I've never been to St Anton with a tour operator, the locals really just suffer them (well some do, most just ignore them) and you get second rate service, my advice is deal with those who value your custom and live there you'll never go far wrong. Let me know if you need any info, got loads of contacts and can recommend plenty of other places when you are ready.
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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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What about Sat - Thursday ?
Thomas Cook do a Saturday flight to Innsbruck, Monarch do a Thursday flight back to Manchester.
5 night 5 1/2 days skiing. Or as your missus says nearly a week
This is what I'm doing next weekend.
Zurich is a long way and transfers would be much more expensive.
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Poster: A snowHead
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hedley, i don't think Monarch are doing Thursdays in January (well they're not now, anyway - they start in Feb) - the train's not horrendously expensive (about £100 return).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Book in advance and you can get cheap train fares (tho limited to one train only, miss it and you have to pay full whack), I only paid €19 to get from Zurich airport to St Anton. Arlberg Express also run a coach transfer service to/from Zurich Airport which is about €80 return.
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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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How many chums in the group? We've always flown to Zurich and then had a minibus taxi for about 80euro each in a group of 7
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Sitter, thanks - good tip, assume they're released 90 days before? Nadenoodlee - not sure how many yet. It was 12 last year, I've just booked 5 flights, but the numbers invariably swell nearer the time. Having got the train from Chambery to Landry at half term and returned by minibus, I'm quite a fan of comfortable train travel, so suspect it will be the train for us. Might even go for first class to give it that "holiday feeling" (it's only about £40 extra each way).
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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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We've done a couple of weekends to St Anton via Zurich. Never managed to ski on the same day when flying out in the morning, but generally get a good day on the last day before heading back to the airport. As Sitter says if you plan it in time you can get very reasonable train fares, if you leave it to the last minute it's about €100 return.
Innsbruck is better if you can get the flights.
accommodation owners hate to do short rentals, but availability opens up closer to the time, and don't rule out staying "out of town" down in Pettneu, much cheaper, good bus service and generally more flexible in terms of trip duration. That said I've always ended up getting something in the main town.
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I'm off to st Anton on Thursday for three days of skiing. Just booked everything last week, flying into Zurich and managed to get a single room in St Jakob. sah, I didn't realise the train was a load cheaper when booked in advance. I always book the flexible ticket as I don't like being limited to just one train.
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Kelskii wrote: |
I'm off to st Anton on Thursday for three days of skiing. Just booked everything last week, flying into Zurich and managed to get a single room in St Jakob. sah, I didn't realise the train was a load cheaper when booked in advance. I always book the flexible ticket as I don't like being limited to just one train. |
I think if you booked last week it would have been too late for the cheap ticket anyway, I think you need to book a few weeks ahead for those. Never managed to grab one myself for the route.
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sah, you have to book on the 90th day before travel, the day they come on sale........89th and they've usually gone.
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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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Markymark29 wrote: |
sah, you have to book on the 90th day before travel, the day they come on sale........89th and they've usually gone. |
Explains why I never got one. I definitely saw a cheap deal last year but put off booking while I sorted flights, by the time I came back a day or 2 later it had indeed gone.
Travel within Austria, e.g. from Innsbruck is much cheaper though.
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