 Poster: A snowHead
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Was originally planning a February half term holiday but this has now been ruled out as SO expensive.
So now thinking of first week of Easter school holidays, 2nd April.
Have never skied at this time of year before, so any tips very welcome!
Do I need to be thinking of a snow sure resort? Have been looking at Val Thorens, which is coming in on budget but just doesn't look as pretty as other resorts I've been too, do like a tree lined piste!
Any other suggestions of resorts ideal for family skiing, children have skied before, would also prefer half board option.
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Countess, we have booked to go to Gressoney for that week for next year. We are going with Esprit for the children's clubs and lessons. Our girls will be 6 & 9 then.
Previous seasons we have been second week of April, last season it was St Anton, previous season Les Deux Alpes and season before that Belle Plagne. Another resort we have been to in April is Courchevel.
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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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@Mike Pow, good to know that is somewhere I had considered.
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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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@Countess, do your schools break up after Easter then? Easter Sunday is the 27 March
In my view you will need to aim fairly high, but you can never tell for sure. We have been to Les Arc last few years and has been fine down to 1600m
Easter is lovely time to ski, slopes are quieter than other holiday times and days are longer, plus you can usually get a bit of sun on balcony
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@Boris, that week is second week of school holidays in Hampshire, are yours different?
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As a general rule, the first week of April will have decent snow cover above 1600m or so, depending on slope aspect of course.
If you were to forego your trees requirement  , I'd say Tignes every time for a late season trip. Espace Killy (Tignes & Val D'Isere) is open until first/second week of May.
If trees is a definite requirement:
- Les Arcs - Lovely tree runs at the Peisey/Vallandry end of the system. Huge area.
- Val Cenis - Unheard of in UK (although Val C is the name of the area, not a resort - we stayed in Lanslevillard, which is a rustic old village); lots of trees; north facing slopes; big area. Best of all, prices for accommodation, food and drink are loads cheaper than the mainstream resorts. And you can get a valley pass covering 3 or 4 other resorts (with buses to the other areas operating on specific days).
- La Tania/ 3 Valleys - Lovely (north facing) tree runs; world's biggest ski area. Or Courchevel (a bit pricier than La Tania).
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For France 3 valleys is pretty reliable as mentioned above. La Tania or Courchevel 1550 slightly cheaper options. Snow was still pretty good at 1550 same week this year. Ugliewr but les Menuires is also better value. La Plagne, Les Arcs, les Deux Alpes etc. also reliable options.
Are you tied to France? Otherwise lots of options in Austria, Italy & Switzerland - Obergurgl, Serfaus, Mayrhofen, Cervinia, La Thuile, Saas Fee, Zermatt etc. to name but a few. Lots and lots of late season options and spring skiing is very nice for children.
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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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@NickyJ, gressoney is not north facing and catces a lot of sun. Not sure about there for April
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Thank you all very much for your replies. Will definitely look into some of these resorts. Had thought about Les Arcs but it didn't come up in the 'recommended' resorts for late season, so discarded it!
Our school holidays are a bit strange next year. We have the Easter weekend off, back to school for 4 days then 2 weeks off.
Any hotel recommendations? Often do DIY holiday bookings.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@NickyJ, Northants break up Thursday 24th, so we will travel Good Friday and ski w/c 26th March
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@Countess, Suprised, Les Arc has good snow record and a lot of high runs to suit all abilities, we've had plenty of snow over last few years.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Countess, your dates are unusual if their two weeks of starts on the week beginning 2nd April, then by going a week later will be low season for TO's (I know you said you usually DIY) so could be very good value for money and I bet you will get some good last minute bargains that way you could follow the snow?
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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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If you want trees and good snow in April you've got to be looking at Colorado really which is expensive. La Plagne is high and snowsure, north facing and has some tree lined stuff lower dwon if conditions are good.
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Poster: A snowHead
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As long as you're not one of the weirdos who hates a bit of slush, the vast majority of resorts are good then in all but the worst seasons. You really DON'T have to limit yourself to Colorado.
Ischgl would be a safe bet though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Kaprun is amazing at that time of the year.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Wot clarky999 said. I'd add the Arlberg to that. In France I'd head to Val D'Isere which is a lot prettier than Val Thorens or Les Arcs. No need to head to Colorado for good skiing in April.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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we're looking at the same week and have looked at Arc 1950, Hochsolden and a few other options. We're thinking of Arc 1950 as it's high, plenty to do for the kids and we want self catering. Initial plans were Canada/US but I think we might save that for the following year now
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We did La Plagne 2nd week in April this year and it was fine . . .a bit slushy lower down in the afternoon, but all round clear blue skies and excellent skiing . . .others on same transfers did Reberty (Les Menuires) which was also good conditions, with the option of Val Thorens if necessary . . .
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Done Soldeu Andorra last week in March for last 2 years. Fantastic snow, long runs and no lift queues.
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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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| Quote: |
Do I need to be thinking of a snow sure resort? Have been looking at Val Thorens, which is coming in on budget but just doesn't look as pretty as other resorts I've been too, do like a tree lined piste!
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We ski that time of year, originally when the kids were small because we though warmer weather would be better for them and short days didn't matter and now in addition to earlier season skiing.
I'd definitely go for a snow sure resort. Ideally that would mean high. Personally I really like the skiing at VT and could live without trees that time of year. Similar options would be Tignes / La Plagne / Les Arcs - with plenty of moderate skiing at high altitude. I'd agree with other that the cheaper bits of Courchevel would be excellent - pretty high, quite shady and trees! 1650 would be good. A less obvious option would be Sestriere - part of a big ski area, high and lots of trees. Cheaper than France too. These days we ski Easter at Les Contamines - it has some tree lined pistes but not at altitude so I'm not really recommending it to you but it is an example of slightly lower resorts with an excellent Easter snow record because of elevation and microclimate (influence of Mt Blanc) -- that time of year facing Northish is worth a few 100m of altitude! There may be some others that qualify.
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Arc 1950 with the half board option would be ideal for you that week.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We did a DIY trip to Belle Plagne this year in the Easter Holidays. Stayed at Les Balcons Apartments. Was fantastic, ski in and out. Queues were only a problem just after 9 in Bellecote when all the ski schools were getting up the hill. If you get out 10 mins before then and up on first lifts we found you can avoid queues for most of day. Snow was fantastic
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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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Stayed in Meribel that same week this year, could just about ski back to resort on the slush at the end of each day - even though it seemed to have not been a spectacularly good year for snow cover, pisteurs doing a good job keeping the runs open. But the 3 Valleys is so accessible from Meribel which means you get a great choice of Courcheval and Val Thorens as well as the higher Meribel slopes. Plus you can download back to resort on the lifts if needed. La Tania has more trees and the same would apply as Meribel but not quite so central to the 3V.
I also found there was a good range of late deals for Easter even to some big resorts. May be worth waiting to see how he snow falls
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May be worth waiting to see how he snow falls
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Definitely. No point booking now for an April (low season) week - there'll be some good bargains available. Val Cenis or similar French resort (ie not one crammed full of Brits) would be a good choice as the French mostly give up skiing by the end of March. Easter is low season prices in most French resorts.
Some resorts will be closed, or closing down though (they often close for lack of punters even when there's plenty of snow); I wouldn't agree that you can go "anywhere".
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