 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hey all, I'm a 20 yo Aussie student currently on exchange in Sweden, and I'm planning to enjoy European skiing before I head back home. Currently looking to spend 2 weeks (or thereabouts) skiing from just before Christmas through to early January. In Australia I do mainly blue runs and easier black runs - I think that is around a red run level in Europe, although I've never heard of red runs before googling 10 minutes ago so I may be wrong.
What I'm looking for:
- Budget conscious - yes I know, given the timing and other things I'm looking for it will cost a bit, but I don't want to pay more for an area because it is a favourite with investment bankers. Budget is flexible, but would prefer to keep it on the lower end.
- On snow (not necessarily ski-in ski-out, but that would be nice) youth hostels, or very cheap single accommodation.
- Good community / bar / social atmosphere, as I don't want to feel depressed on my first christmas away from home.
- Large resort with lots of interesting runs. As I'll be there a while, I don't want to be doing the same 3 runs over and over (I think that might be an Australian skiing problem). Preferably not too crowded / busy on the slopes.
I know I'm asking a lot, but any suggestions would be fantastic. Also, what are the pros / cons of the more traditional places (i.e. Austria / Switzerland) vs Eastern Europe? I imagine Eastern Europe would be easy on the budget, but is the quality of skiing there also? Sorry for the long post, I am just rather clueless and confused at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
First, do not overlook skiing (stations) within Sweden. You're already there and Sweden does hold a number of wonderful facilities to say the least. Norway, too. That said, you head south as it were and cost wise, Slovenia would be your least costly local (unless you want to bust up Greece, Romania or Bulgaria), Italy next. The challenge with Slovenia is sometimes access to the locations which asks many times for a car, as in your own personal or hired car.
There are dozens of ski stations that inundate the Dolomites (Italy) in villages and very small at best towns that reduce your costs. Go into any of the renowned ski towns in Italy and the costs go up, way up. Austria and France are next on the economic scale and honestly, you will spend considerable money there. How much do you have.............. I know and love Switzerland, having lived here for over five years of my life, but Switzerland is Switzerland, what more needs to be said? There is Germany............... Christmas is big where you already are, so too, in those nations within the Alps.
One thing I always keep a sharp look out for are the conditions. In short, what good does it do to be somewhere great if the conditions suck. It's ALL about the conditions. Again, do not overlook your momentary backyard. Best of luck.
One more thought....... If you stay in Sweden and ski, would it be out of the question to later simply travel down into central Europe for a week or two or three random tour sans skiing.............?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Look for UCPA in France - cheap prices for big resorts aimed at exactly your age group and plans. Despite the cost id go somewhere big, eastern Europe slopes will be similar to what you have at home, 3v or paradiski are something else entirely 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I agree with a.j.. Do you expect to have many opportunities in your life to ski in Europe? Then save the money and go to somewhere cheap. Otherwise? Go to Trois Valles, Paradiski, Espace Killy, Sella Ronda or the Arlberg. If you're a red run skier, Trois Valles would get my vote. UCPA sounds right up your street. Book soon though - that's a very busy time of year. I think UCPA in Val Thorens is newly refurbished.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
AussieAbroad, the first week you are thinking off will be relatively quiet as Europeans tend to spend Christmas with their families at home. The crowds will pick up from 27th December, peaking in the week of New Year's Eve. For example, the Germans hit the road on the 25th and 26th December as these days are not important other than as national holidays to them as the family time is Christmas Eve. This year the 27th is a Saturday, so the peak period travel problems will arise due to the sheer volume of traffic trying to access the ski resorts for New Year's week.
This means that your first week will be a good week to ski one of the popular resorts and the second week could be a time to move to somewhere less popular. From what I've read, if you are used to Aussie prices, you may find any European ones quite a refreshing pleasant surprise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
AussieAbroad, I would agree with UCPA in Val Thorens as well. High so snow should be fine early in the season. You might not get a chance to ski somewhere as extensive again so worth the effort
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the advice. I won't get the chance to go skiing in Europe for a while (and the time window I stated is the only one that will work), so I think I want to do this the right way. Budget wise, I would want to spend no more than around 2000 Euro for the 2 weeks, for lift pass, accommodation, ski hire and meals (not eating like a king though). Not sure how reasonable that amount is, I plucked it out of thin air.
I like the look of Trois Valles, simply due to the enormous size. UCPA seems like they offer good packages, however I can only seem to find sites in French or Swedish and don't really trust google translate. I'll see if some friends can help me out.
I now have a few other Aussies interested in going, so I'll try and get them all organised to book soon. If that falls through I'll probably grab one of the UCPA packages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Action outdoors are an English site selling ucpa holidays. LA plagne ucpa is great but flaine has more English speaking clientele. Still I think the paradiski is hard to beat for skiing and the LA plagne ucpa is ski in ski out
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hopefully I'll be going to 3 Vallees. Maireadoconnor, that package looks fantastic, I'll probably end up booking 2 of them back to back, or I might switch resorts halfway through to try something different for the second week. Only thing stopping me from booking is seeing what a few mates are up to and checking when my exams are. I'm off to northern Sweden for 5 days till the 18th of December to go dog sledging and run around the arctic circle, so with a bit of luck I'll be back and off to the alps after 2 days of hasty exams. Thanks for everyone's help, I'll let you know what I book in the end.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
AussieAbroad, I'm envious! Have a great time and come back here after to tell us how you on on 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi AussieAbroad. I'm also Aussie and went to 3V earlier this year as my part of my first ever European ski trip. It gets my vote as the best place I've ever skiied. It's seriously huge with something for everyone. If going with UCPA just make sure you check what lift pass is included. Some of of their packages only have a Val Thorens pass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Just an update: After nearly a busy month I finally got around to booking today. I booked through action-outdoors, with 2 weeks at Val Thorens (with the complete lift pass) from 20/12/14 to 3/1/15, and then one week at Argentiere (3/1/15 to 10/1/15) because it was a cheap student offer and I thought a change of location would be nice for the final week. Thanks for everyone who threw advice my way, it was much appreciated
Rather than start a new thread, could anyone advise where the best place to buy ski clothes is in Europe? I.e. will it be significantly cheaper say in Eastern Europe? I am planning to take a week or two off and travel around, thinking either UK or eastern Europe (or a bit of both) and would love to pick up jacket, pants, helmet, gloves etc. Not looking for top of the line gear, just decent quality that will last me a few seasons.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Not much choice in eastern europe and not cheaper. Depends what you want - decathlon in france have good prices for an average level stuff. Best choice would be anywhere in a bigger city closer to Alps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
For cheap(ish) kit:-
Andorra?
UK - TK Maxx?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| mooney058 wrote: |
| Not much choice in eastern europe and not cheaper. |
I disagree. Depends what you class as Eastern Europe I suppose but the last time I was in Prague (a couple of years ago) all the kit was about 30% cheaper than France and included decent brands like Rossignol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Raceplate, my Czech friends, including one who used to race, buy everything in France, Austria or Germany.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@AussieAbroad, Decathlon (aka Quechua) is a major pan-European sports retailer and do their own lines of decent kit at really good prices. You even see it worn by the Chamonix guides, and given their operating environment, even if it was free they wouldn't use it if it wasn't adequate.
You do want to try on though as the sizing is sometimes a little, interesting!
www.quechua.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Eastern Europe = Russia, Czech republic is Central Europe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Hello Australian.
Sounds like you've booked already.
But ... if you were to do another trip, I'd suggest a little rail-safari tour around the Alps.
It's a brilliant way to see the mountains. You can get to tons of the classic resorts but (more excitingly) you'll also get to see lots of lesser known places where you'll be the only native English speaker. Switzerland and Austria are best for scooting around by train but there are also big bits of Italy and France that you can get to.
This map here shows all the train lines and the ski resorts they serve.
http://rogerlascellesmaps.co.uk/SkiRail_Product_Information.aspx?area=SkiRail_Product_Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Neil Neige, That looks like a really cool trip, will definitely put it in the bag for next time. This trip is right at the end of my 6 months in Europe, and I just want to plonk myself down on a mountain and cruise the slopes in the day and wind down / socialise at night. Next time I make it this way I'll probably want more of an adventure than a holiday, I think that would be a great way to do it.
@driz and others, Thanks for mentioning it. By chance I will be in Stockholm in 2 weeks time, so I'll check it out then. Otherwise I'll have a look at the other stores mentioned, or first browse through some of the local stores here in Göteburg.
btw apologies for saying Eastern Europe when I meant Central Europe. Australians, including myself, seem to think of European countries as eastern vs western, with the dividing line pretty much going vertically through Austria (although Austria itself is on the Western side).
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| AussieAbroad wrote: |
btw apologies for saying Eastern Europe when I meant Central Europe. Australians, including myself, seem to think of European countries as eastern vs western, with the dividing line pretty much going vertically through Austria (although Austria itself is on the Western side). |
Yes, it was a historical fact that Europe was divided into East & West by an Iron Curtain from the 1940s to 1990s and countries to the East were almost no-go areas to westerners, so it's not surprising that still figures in our consciousness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
