 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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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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Ducky, welcome to snowHeads. Very few resorts are open mid/late November, usually only those with glacier skiing. As a result the skiing that is available will be limited, especially if you are looking for easy slopes. Getting to the skiable terrain can involve a fair amount of travel time (pistes are, obviously, at the tops of the mountains) so accommodation near the slopes is not an option. There are tuition options available, but these tend to be a bit specialist. You might have to search a bit for ski schools, none of which will offer standard group lessons at that time of year. Also, sadly, these resorts tend to be expensive. Overall, I'd strongly recommend you go in the main part of the season. Can you go towards th send of the winter if getting time off is difficult? You'll have a much better experience in April or even early May if you are restricted in when you can take leave.
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Thank you both for your replies. I can take that on board.
What about early December? Will that be too early as well? When do the resorts open?
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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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A few of the high French resorts (Espace Killy & 3 Valleys) generally open around the second weekend of December. Before that it's Tignes and Val Thorens but there are the limitations that Rob mentioned above for the French and Swiss glaciers. You didn't mention Austria but some of their higher resorts like Obergurgl, Ischgl and Sölden sometimes open at the end of November/beginning of December.
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Thanks guys... Given our beginner status maybe we ought to wait for February... I guess I thought that winter started towards November, but would rather not risk it.
Anyway, lets say we go in February, can you recommend a resort that meets the criteria which I stated in my first post?
Cheers,
Ducky
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Ducky, just about all resorts will meet your criteria in February. Given the choice, avoid week 2, 3 and 4 because these are school holidays weeks which pushes up prices and crowds.
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Just saw your post Rob... Is it fair to assume that the prices in the 2nd week of December will be much higher? What about 2nd/3rd week of February? January is definitely out of the picture..
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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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Ducky, 1st ior 2nd week of December will generally be much cheaper than Feb. You might take a bit more of a risk with snow conditions early season, so my advice would be whatever country you choose go for one of the higher resorts just to give you a little bit more confidence about snow levels.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
What would the price & snow condition difference be for the 3rd week of December (around 17 to 21) & the last week of February (around 24 to 2Cool in a standard (not high altitude) resort?
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Snow is, on average, likely to be better in the last week of February but prices will be far higher - it'll be peak season. And you can expect busy slopes and lift queues.
If you can manage the 3rd week of December you could reasonably expect decent conditions in Tignes and you can get some very good value accommodation with Mountainsun - they can also do transfers from Geneva, which is v helpful as transfers can add a lot to your costs.
Plenty of tuition options available then.
Between those two options I'd go for the 3rd week in December. But only at a high resort (many lower resort will not be opening fully that week).
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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 Pam, I will take that in to account, but I was under the impression that the slopes in the higher resorts are not "beginner friendly." Also, I know that February is the main season, but even the 4th week?
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| Ducky wrote: |
| Thanks Pam, I will take that in to account, but I was under the impression that the slopes in the higher resorts are not "beginner friendly." |
No, that's not correct. Plenty of high resorts have good terrain for people who are new to skiing.
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You know it makes sense.
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Ducky, no problem at all with Tignes - and it's as snowsure in December as you can get. Yes, 4th week of February still absolutely peak season in France - French school holidays.
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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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All,
Thank you so much for your replies. I have spoken to my mates & we are blocking out 17 to 22 December & based on what you have said we think Tignes will be our best option. Do you think that will tick all our boxes? Can you recommend some accommodation (hotels/apartments) that meets our criteria & has easy access to the slopes?
Also, how would we get there? What is the nearest airport?
Apologies for all the questions, but we really want to make sure we get everything right.
Cheers,
Ducky
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ducky, you will get a range of suggestions for accommodation, I'm sure. But have a look at http://www.mountainsunltd.com/chalet/chalet-hotel-les-melezes
The best airport is probably Geneva - biggest choice of flights. Mountainsun do transfers from Geneva either free or at a very reasonable price, depending on the deal. It's a comfortable place, decent food, very good value.
Be careful of the transfer prices - it can be as expensive as the flight. Apart from Mountainsun the cheapest way, if there are 4 of you, is to hire car and drive yourselves.
Lift passes are expensive in Tignes but you won't need the wider Espace Killy pass. Plenty of advice available here on ski schools.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ducky, Just be aware that, by planning to leave on 22nd December, you will be cutting across the Christmas letting week for most places (it's a Monday and 'weeks' start Saturday/Sunday) you may need to be prepared to do 16 - 21/12 or (possibly for greater options) 15 - 20/12.
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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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Thanks guys... I'll do some research & revert back with more questions if need be.
Montana, thanks for the heads up... I'll push back by a day to avoid that
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Ducky, the link I gave you in the first reply is the same thing as Mountainsun that pam w is mentioning, check it out as transfers, hire, passes etc all included 
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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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Really a great forum... Thank you all for your help... 
We plan on leaving on a weekday in the afternoon. Do you think that there will be a transfer from Geneva to the hotel towards the evening, say if our flight lands at around 17:00/18:00, or will that be too late? I am asking because we don't want to waste a day in transit & would like to start skiing first thing in the morning the day after we land in Geneva.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Merci Beaucoup 
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Ducky, don't delay in contacting Mountainsun. They might already have quite a lot of bookings and as it gets closer to Christmas you will find options become much more limited. Early/mid December will be easier than later in the month.
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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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Looks like most /all snowheads are reluctant/modest to promote EOSB in Val Claret end Nov.
Details not yet finalised but look at 2013 thread for outline.
At first glance looks "cliquey" but as first timer last year this is NOT SO!!!
All details there but would recommend it and you can get great tuition as well.
Any Qs please pm me.
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geoffk, good point - you can do half weeks not just full weeks on the PSB. I can't wait for this years - it's so much fun! And definitely not cliquey - I meet loads of lovely new people each time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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All,
MountainSun is all sold out for our dates 
Any chance you could recommend some accommodation in Val Claret? Maybe some package deal that would cover transfer from Geneva & ski passes like Mountainsun provides?
Cheers,
Ducky
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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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Maybe some package deal that would cover transfer from Geneva & ski passes like Mountainsun provides?
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How about the PSB?
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Ducky,
As it's early in your skiing 'career' I would be tempted just to book with somewhere like Inghams and let them help you put a package together. It becomes much easier working things out for yourself once you have got to know a few areas.
My own thoughts.
- November would be very very risky. Although Val Thorens opens on 22nd November this year the earliest we will take bookings on our apartment will be 2nd week in december.
- January is the cheapest, and quietest time to ski. But you can't do January which is a shame.
- February, if you can avoid, do so as the various european holidays mean it is the busiest period through the month.
- April is also quiet, even through Easter.
If you can avoid school holidays then I would be tempted to go high the week before Christmas. It's when we often go to our own apartment. Absolutely empty slides and reasonably snow sure - depending on where you go.
But I would just ask a travel operator for now.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks emwmarine... Appreciate the post... I original plan was to go November, but after seeing all the great advice on this thread we have actually decided to go 3rd week of December, before christmas. However, I can't find any available accomodation... Everything seems to be booked
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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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However, I can't find any available accomodation... Everything seems to be booked
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I'm sure it's not, though I'm not surprised that Mountainsun is - because they offer such a good deal. If you search on tignesnet.com for that week you'll find several pages of options.
the suggestion from emwmarine, to use a TO, is a good one. But you'll almost certainly need to go weekend/weekend - with either a Saturday or a Sunday changeover.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thank you for all your help Pam... I really appreciate all your posts... I will look up the new link which you posted
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ducky, if a lot of accommodation seems unavailable it's mostly because French agencies don't gear up for the following season till around now - but that's a low season week, and you won't have trouble with accommodation at a later date, when you can see how snow is going. But with most French agencies you book Sat/Sat or nothing, at least till much nearer the time.
Good luck.
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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've stayed with Snowhead DallyPaul in his place in Morzine that week in 2 of the last 3 years, and am just about to book again for this year. You'll prob get more snow somewhere higher like Tignes, but one of the pros with Morzine is it is quiet that week so the pistes don't get so busy, and there's normally good snow on piste by then, and often fresh snow to allow some off piste too. It's also a short transfer from Geneva.
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FAQ
in a standard (not high altitude) resort? I think we would be able to block something out for either of those 2.
