 Poster: A snowHead
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Tried using the search function but not had much back
I’ve been tasked with booking a long weekend for a group mid-March (next year) although could possibly swing April however Easter holidays fall then-can’t say I’ve any experience of skiing in Europe during UK Easter holidays-are the locals starting to think of other activities by then?
Brief is somewhere with some variety for beginners to advanced. I’d thought Chamonix but believe due to the nature of the resort it would make skiing together or meeting up for lunch etc difficult?
Some apres, it’s low on my list of priorities but there will be a few youngsters with us. I guess with it being a long weekend we’d like to keep the transfer time down so probably puts us around the PDS area which I’ve no experience of, any Austrian resorts easily done on a weekend?
So how easy is it to get accommodation on this basis? I’d be quite happy just to book flights and see how the season progresses, but others are nervous about doing this. I've looked on a few specialist website but they seem quite pricey i.e. could do a week for similar money.
Any advice appreciated on resorts logistics etc.
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi Bene
Sauze d'Oulx is perfect for this type of trip. We've done two lads weekends in the last two years. Fly to Turin, hire a minibus, 1h 15m drive and you're there. We've used the Hotel La Torre (Hotels.com / Booking.com / etc) which has a private minibus to the lifts running continuously.
PM me if you want specifics
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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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I would say @SnowMonkey69, is spot on - we did a long weekend last year to Sauze and it worked very well. Despite it not being that high the snow has been brilliant last two years too
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@SnowMonkey69, PM sent doesn't seem to be direct flights (outward) mid week. Ideally go Thursday evening return Sunday night.
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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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Sauze good choice or Portes du Soleil for Morzine/Avoriaz.
How about Austria? Mayrhofen or Zell am Ziller would be good for a weekend.
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Bene, like you, I can only find Ryanair from Stanstead / Easyjet from Gatwick.
However, Ryanair have got a flight from Manchester to Milan which means a 2hr transfer. Due to flight times you'll lost the Thursday pm ski time but still get Friday, Saturday and Sunday am.
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You set on a resort, or would a city (easy accomm and good nightlife) with good public transport links to several different resorts (all on the same pass) work?
If so, Innsbruck.
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Thanks for the suggestions.
@clarky999, This is the way I'd like to play it. and @halfhand, I've not done any of the Ziller area before. With Mayrhofen being a larger town is it easy to get weekend accom?
How easy is it to get to St Anton on the train from Innsbruck? I just recall there is a station in the town.
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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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how big a group Bene?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have done Gressoney in the past. Fly to Milan (lots of flights) or Turin (less flights but shorter transfer). However it may not meet your apres criteria.
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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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@jedster, The feelers are going out today I have a feeling 6-8 people will commit.
@clarky999, Cheers, I'll see if there's anything available in or close to St Anton in terms of accommodation.
@johnE, I'll be in Gressoney in Feb I've not been before but I hear it's very low key in the evenings. Italian apres ski is more my scene these days, but have to cater to the youngsters.....
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I tend to have a car, so kip over in Innsbruck, then have freedom to go wherever (although it always ends up being one of the 4 main Zillertal resorts, all of which have big parking).
Which reminds me, I ought to book a couple of weekends in Jan.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Bene, We managed to get long weekend accommodation in a self-catering apartment (think it was Thursday to Monday) in Mayrhofen. Also managed same in St. Anton.
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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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Long weekends are why I bought in Les Arcs. It used to be a bit better but you can still Eurostar it down on Friday night, ski Sat/Sun, then Eurostar it back to London on Sun night. Great for groups as you can book seats together and stroll around. I think Eurostar do group discounts as well. You can choose which to stay up the mountain or stay in Bourg Saint Maurice and take the funicular up everyday (if you fancy Arcs1950, give me a shout and I'll try to sort it out for you).
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Poster: A snowHead
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@RattytheSnowRat, Thanks for the offer I skied in Les Arc but not stayed there-how's the nightlife? I guess at the end of the day it's what you make of it if you're in a quieter resort.
Eurostar doesn't work too well as we're 4ish hours on the train from Euston or 40 mins in the car then 3ish hours on the train so makes less sense than someone South/London based. Although personally I work in London fairly regularly so I could technically make sure I definitely am on my dates 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Bene, I've just been doing long weekends for the last few years - have looked at Austria a few times but the flights do tend to just be on weekends (certainly from the north of England airports at least), so we tend to fly into Geneva as flights are so plentiful and better priced. This year we did PDS and stayed in a great chalet that included an airport pick up in the price.
Best site we found for chalets - and it really is excellent for chalets in the PDS area as loads cater for short breaks - is chaletsdirect.com. There are loads of small chalet compaines / individual owners on there - just post your request in the solutions room stating what your looking for then the chalet owners with availability will reply giving details and cost. Simple!
I've just used it again this year for the 3valleys. 
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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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@wriggsy, Thanks will take a look. What was the cost for the accommodation?
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@Bene, enter your resort and dates into any hotel search engine - is what I do for all our trips. www.booking.com etc
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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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@Bene, we did 3 nights (Sat - Tues, early Feb) in a great chalet in Morzine, fully catered and including transfers to/from Geneva airport and to/from lifts each day. I think it was £400 each. I think we got a bargain as the chalet was very good (had sauna & outdoor hot tub), food/wine excellent - but you can get cheaper and obviously pay more. It is well worth a look.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I find Austria far easier to do long weekends in. It's also all about mr the timing of the flights. Either get an evening flight so your in resort to ski 1st thing in the morning or a very early morning flight so yo can get a half day ski on the 1st day. Car hire makes it even easier. As you pick the times for the transfers and not the bus or train company. Then get a night flight home so you can ski all day on last day. I have found Munich to fly to give you these times and the relatively short (and flat) drive to a resort like Soll, Alpbach or even saalbach or zillertal valley. Accommodation can be found on booking.com or through the official website of the resort quite easily.
I've done this so many times it's no bother at all. Also done it to France but found the French a bit more inflexible with non standard bookings and also the drive up the mountain from the valley can be a time consuming drag.
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@wriggsy, Stuck my dates up so will see what I get back. It's re-assuring to see many responses back to people requesting for < a week. What is the nightlife like in Morzine? Getting together with the group this weekend so will try to get them focused on priorities for a resort. I'm more a couple of vinos over dinner and a few shandy's on the slope, or couple of beers on route to the accommodation kind of bloke rather than dancing on tables etc. Been there and done that in the past-just can't take the hangovers anymore
Guess this is the crux of doing any group trip, people want different things.
@Ray Zorro, I've not looked on booking.com specifically will try, you tend to get stuff that is with x KM's of the chosen resort on search site IME.
@daveqpr, I'm surprised on the chaletsdirect site how many owners are offering their chalets out at this stage of the season for non-standard durations. I'd have thought they'd try to fill weeks first then look to do alternatives if bookings were lean. Perhaps that time has come and gone?
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@Bene, Good luck! You will probably be surprised at the volume you get back. You always get a few who chime in with different dates though so remember to check!
Morzine nightlife pretty good by French standards! It's no St Anton! But there are a few lively bars both from straight off the slopes and later into the evening. There is also a club or two in the mood takes you!
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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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@wriggsy, Cheers, not that I'll be going but I'm surprised at just how much availability there is being offered over Christmas.
I'll report back if/when I get sorted. I think we may just book flights as IME they only go up.
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Despite saying Chamonix may not be suitable the UCPA 4 day trip looks cracking value. Most will need to hire gear and at least a couple want lessons inc flights doable for around £500 pp.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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always thought Courmayeur would be good for this type of trip
did a weekend in Kitzbuhel which was great (fly to/from Munich)
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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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@bertie bassett, Courmayeur would do me likewise Pila staying in Aosta, plenty for a long weekend in the case of the former-although skiable in a day by a reasonable intermediate IMO I did a couple of guided days the last time I was there and it was fantastic. I've only ever been to Aosta on the bus though, which airport would be most convenient
I've only ever stayed in Dolonne, debatably more convenient access to the hill than Courmayeur as you can ski back down but there's very little in the evening, and a reasonable but doable schlep into the town in the evening. Simply lovely town though, like the Italian apres of offering cured meats and cheeses gratis in the bars too
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+1 for Courmayeur. Have done a long weekend there via Ski Solutions the last 3 years. Cost around £450 - £600 for 2/3 star hotel B&B, flights and transfer from Geneva in Feb. It's a Thursday evening flight there and Monday evening back, so you get almost 4 full days skiing (ski til 3:30 on the last day usually). 4 day lift pass gets you a day in another Aosta resort, so we usually get the bus 20 mins to La Thuille for the Sunday.
Of their hotels in the centre, avoid Hotel Centrale (crap service), Hotel Edelweiss is basic but family owned with staff who can't do enough for you. Might try Hotel Berthod this time as it looks a little nicer, but slightly more expensive. Best ski hire is AlpiNeve which is now located inside the main cable car top station.
I could work for the Courmyeur tourist board... Love the place for a long weekend.
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You know it makes sense.
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which airport would be most convenient
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Turin would be very convenient for Aosta. Not much more than an hour, nearly all motorway.
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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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