 Poster: A snowHead
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I've decided that I deserve a weekend blast on the slopes and my 17 year old son firmly agrees with me as long as he's in on the trip. We're both strong skiers who look for challenge and we love to explore new resorts and areas. His biggest restriction is that he has to be back for college monday night (well, tuesday really but it would be good for him to have some sleep). Its ok if we have to come back Sunday because we'd get a day and maybe a day & a half of skiing. We're based in Surrey and we'll hire eqpt in resort. I'd love to use the snowtrain (simply because I've always flown) but we're open minded. We both speak some French and German so we'll happily fit in to any local 'specials'.
So, dear Snowheads does anyone have a last minute tip (or deal) for a late blast? (well, any that don't completely break the bank anyway). I know this is asking a lot, but you're such cool characters and you'll understand. We appreciate any ideas that you may come up with. Even if this doesn't work out for this weekend (ooer, its Friday 12.37pm on Jan 23rd now) maybe it could work for next weekend?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Budget?
Easyjet out of Gatwick, Friday 19h55, return Monday 18h50 or 21h35.
Rent car.
Oodles of places within 90 minutes drive.
Unsure wherein lies any difficulty?
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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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@under a new name, thanks. I'm sure you're right. I guess I raised the question because we've always chosen the line of least resistance (perhaps lazy if the truth be known  ) and gone for packages (incl last minute). But now that we fancy a weekend ski trip there don't seem to be be any to suit. So perhaps we're 'evolving' from lazy package skiers into another type of animal (or maybe I am). Budget? I guess the project manager in me says that anything is possible if we throw money at it, but I also want to squeeze in a few more weeks on the snow this season. So as long as its not outrageous I'll let the plastic do its job.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Probably last minute flights especially out on Friday and back on Monday won't be the cheapest but that's the price you pay for a last minute trip.
You could try a travel agent or one of the ski weekend places that advertise on line (igoski I think is one or iglu)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Pezza26, lovin that idea - thanks  that could be the way to go for a quick fix. I'm trying to check out details on eurostar website (would like to see if we can get a sleeper on that deal even if it costs a bit more" but currently getting;
"Sorry, our website is not available at the moment.
Toutes nos excuses, notre site n'est pas accessible
Onze excuses, blijkbaar is er een probleem
Online booking and service status
We’re currently experiencing some problems with eurostar.com. We are in the process of addressing this and in the meantime you can still use our mobile website."
But mobile site isn't working either at the mo.
I'll keep trying. Also want to ensure the tunnels are clear after the fires last week. It was tragic hearing about those poor people left waiting for trains but if this is fixed now then I'm well up for it.
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There's always Scotland?
Sleeper Train to Aviemore Friday night, Ski Sat, one nights Accom and Ski sunday. Sleeper Train back Sunday night.
Not the most glamarous but an easy weekends skiing.
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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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Considering it's going to DUMP in Austria next weekend.
Get a flight to Munich and hire a car. Pick your flavour, West or East. St Anton etc in the West, Saalbach/Ski Amade in the East. Find a hotel or Pension somewhere just down the valley form whichever resort that will def have availability for a weekend.
Ski lots of pow, drink lots of beer, happy days.
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@accel, I tried exactly the same. Even the same trip is over twice the cost of the Lastminute deal if you go direct to the Eurostar website. I dread to think what the 'sleeper' seats will cost.
Please post what you decide to do. Im always looking for quick getaways!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@accel,
I've been doing a long weekend trip every year for 20 years. I go with a mate and I'm something of a connoisseur of resorts that can be reached within a 90 min drive of an airport!
we generally travel Thursday evening/afternoon and come back Monday afternoon (cheaper flights if you avoid Friday and sunday)
we have are own gear which saves a bit of faffing in hire shops but you could book in advance and if you are collecting Friday morning the shops will be quiet.
January is the time to go - more accommodation available. Last minute is good - some hotels wont take an advance booking because they could be losing two whole weeks. In practice they almost always have some rooms left near the time. We normally get single occupancy at a very low rate, particularly if we go half board.
Where to go? The most obvious place is anywhere within 90 mins drive of Geneva. Loads of choice. I say GVA because the flight schedule from London (Surrey is perfect for weekend ski trips) is massive - loads of choice. I've also flown to Turin, Milan, Zurich, Innsbruck for weekend trips. All work but fewer flights normally mean you get a bit less skiing in.
Given you are strong skiers then your default option is Chamonix. 75 mins from GVA. Leave work at 5pm on Thursday and you can be in your hotel by midnight. As you will be hiring gear, travel hand luggage only and you can get to the front of the car hire queue. Hire a car because if you do the maths it is probably cheaper than a transfer. And you'll find it handy for getting up and down the Chamonix valley. PLus you can probably ski an extra hour on Monday knowing that your gear is packed and loaded in the car, ready to go. Particularly if you drive to the airport in your ski gear, change there after you are checked in.
oh final thought - have looked at train many times and always reject it because schedule eats in to skiing time. works well for a week though.
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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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stansted treviso friday night - car hire - Dolomites.
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"you can be in your the bar by midnight"
Fixed.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| clarky999 wrote: |
Considering it's going to DUMP in Austria next weekend.
Get a flight to Munich and hire a car. Pick your flavour, West or East. St Anton etc in the West, Saalbach/Ski Amade in the East. Find a hotel or Pension somewhere just down the valley form whichever resort that will def have availability for a weekend.
Ski lots of pow, drink lots of beer, happy days. |
This.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Pezza26, The lastminute extreme day to BSM sounded good yet they're all booked up this weekend and the next w/e avail are 7th feb. You're right about the price difference. I tried calling lastminute on the 0800 083 4000 number just to see if they could dig something up this weekend or put me on a wait-list even, but found that nobody seemed to deal with these trips (tightly-specialised call centre?). So I tried eurostar website. There are seats avail tonight, prices are £179.50 each (lastmin was £115 for same). After checking that and Scotland - thanks to @Daleybou1234, I came back here to check in. Then saw @jedster advice below.
Re Scotland (thanks @Daleybou1234) I don't think its dead yet (this w/e ski I mean... ). 9 hour drive (do-able, lots of coffee) to Glenshee 9/22 lifts open (hmmm, well) webcam (foggy but skiing is on). weather forecast - confusion. BBC looks ok but tea club GB site says 55-60 mph winds this w/e. http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/weather/snowforecast.aspx/Glenshee#.VMJhjkesWSo
Strange one, but I'd trust the beeb weather forecast in UK before the tea club. So I'm going to appoint Scotland (Glenshee) as this w/e fall back option on the assumption that I can find a motel/B&B or a cheap room in the area for saturday night and a motorway services stay-over oon the way up.
I'm off to do some home work handed to me by @clarky999, @jedster, and @cameronphillips2000 now.
More soon... its now 15.56. I wonder if I've left it too late? Wish I could have started on this yesterday. Turn back the clock someone...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Next weekend :
easyJet
Depart flight 18:15 LGW – 20:55 ZRH
Direct
1h 40
Return flight 21:25 ZRH – 22:10 LGW
Direct
1h 45
Total price
£130
Rent a car <£150
Ischgl / Arlberg or stay near Landeck and do both, even Serfaus.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Fri 23-01-15 17:09; edited 1 time in total
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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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@accel, Just a point to note, the prices on the Eurostar website are each way. The total per person is about £300 return!!
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FAQ
