 Poster: A snowHead
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Snowheads, can I pick your brains. I am looking for a new resort, we have been going to the Grand Massif (Samoens) for the last 4 years and we fancy something new.
We are looking for a resort ideally with the following:
- In france ideally,
- A varied and large ski area,
- Within about an hour transfer of the airport,
- A nice village feel,
- Some nice places to eat both on and off the slopes,
- Some apres, but not too much, nothing too rowdy but certainly not dead at night,
- Price not a major issue but nothing ridiculous.
Where would you suggest - I know this is a big ask, the more I Google the harder it gets.....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chatel.
One hour is quite a limitation. 
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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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Or Megeve and the Mont Blanc Evasion area. Not much over an hour from Geneva.
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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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If the transfer time is important to you then it's worth looking at Austria too. Stacks of resorts close to Innsbruck and Salzburg. Most of the resorts are real villages or towns as opposed to custom built ski stations so village character isn't hard to find. I've had a couple of ski holidays in Samoens and loved the place, so I'm sure you'd love Lech or Zell am See or Mayrhofen. English is widely spoken in the hotels/bars so if it's the language that gives you a preference for France I wouldn't worry about it. The Apres is always good in Austria and the food on the mountain good quality and much better value. The mountain restaurants are much more customer friendly than their Grand Massif equivalents in that they'll sell you hot food and drink all day, have plenty space and much better toilets. The uplift is generally better too.
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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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Meribel would be my choice in France for the above. The Village of Hinterglen (Saalbach-Hinterglen) in Austria is also lovely as its smaller than Saalbach and has some proper but nice Apres and the terrain around the area for the ski pass is massive. I spent two weeks there and didn't cover it all.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fly to Turin. 1hr (ish) to Sauze d'Oulx and you can still ski in France if you want to 
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Les Gets might hit the spot.
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Yes... Italy is so friendly, especially on the budget.
Tree skiing in Sauze is a blast too. Love me up some sub 2 EUR cappucinno's!
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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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Sauze is all about the bombardinos.
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| Quote: |
Hinterglen (Saalbach-Hinterglen) in Austria is also lovely as its smaller than Saalbach
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 I've always been under the impression that Hinterglemm's bigger than Saalbach. What say you, anybody else (Quinton et al)?
[. b]@Imalittlelost[/b], As a matter of interest, why the preference for France? For me, even if I didn't live there, it would be Austria every time, but, if it must be France, I would suggest St Martin de Belleville, Vallandry (Les Arcs) or Serre Chevalier (Chantemerle, Villeneuve or Monetier) - all match your requirements (except one hour transfer time, which is a tall order), and they have some low-key apres-ski (but are dead compared with virtually anywhere in Austria). In the Portes de Soleil I would agree with the suggestions of Chatel and would also suggest Morzine (and also Champery if Switzerland isn't out of the question); for me Les Gets is too much out on a limb from the main circuit. I would conclude by saying that, if I wasn't 'wedded' to Saalbach, and I was in your situation and had your wish list (except the bit about France), I might well head to the Dolomites.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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How about Le Grand Bornand ?
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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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I'd say Les Arcs suits exactly if you count the Eurostar as an option (better than the plane IMHO). Having skied Samoen I'd say the Les Arc ski options are vastly better. I would say Vallandry was a little off the beaten track but it's Les Arc connected so it counts (sort of).
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You know it makes sense.
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The OP did say he didn't want rowdy apres or "too much". So I imagine banging music and dancing on tables are not required. There are plenty of options in places like La Clusaz (another option) or Megeve.
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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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cervinia or courmayeur about an hour from Turnin
as said above ischgl or st anton in austria. an hour from innsbruck
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Poster: A snowHead
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We love the Grand Massif too. I would suggest looking at the following:
Vallandry - not so much as Samoens in terms of village but has access to an excellent ski area.
Montgenevre - fantastic resort with access to the Milky Way
La Clusaz - pleasant village. Varied skiing but you need to take the bus to Le Grand Bornand to do the whole ski area.
or St Gervais/Megeve or Chatel/Les Gets but have only visited these in summer
Serre Chevalier might fit your requirements but I haven't been there. It is on my list of places to go.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| pam w wrote: |
| The OP did say he didn't want rowdy apres or "too much". So I imagine banging music and dancing on tables are not required. There are plenty of options in places like La Clusaz (another option) or Megeve. |
All the resorts I've mentioned have quiet bars too. "Banging music" is easily avoided if you don't want it. But if he's/she's never experienced proper Austrian apres he/she might love it.
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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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| Quote: |
...if he's/she's never experienced proper Austrian apres he/she might love it.
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It has been known!  (For anyone who hasn't the foggiest idea what we're talking about, there are some fine examples of community singing to be found by searching on YouTube for "Hinterhag")
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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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| Tatman's Tours wrote: |
| Quote: |
Hinterglen (Saalbach-Hinterglen) in Austria is also lovely as its smaller than Saalbach
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I've always been under the impression that Hinterglemm's bigger than Saalbach. What say you, anybody else (Quinton et al)?
[. b]@Imalittlelost[/b], As a matter of interest, why the preference for France? For me, even if I didn't live there, it would be Austria every time, but, if it must be France, I would suggest St Martin de Belleville, Vallandry (Les Arcs) or Serre Chevalier (Chantemerle, Villeneuve or Monetier) - all match your requirements (except one hour transfer time, which is a tall order), and they have some low-key apres-ski (but are dead compared with virtually anywhere in Austria). In the Portes de Soleil I would agree with the suggestions of Chatel and would also suggest Morzine (and also Champery if Switzerland isn't out of the question); for me Les Gets is too much out on a limb from the main circuit. I would conclude by saying that, if I wasn't 'wedded' to Saalbach, and I was in your situation and had your wish list (except the bit about France), I might well head to the Dolomites. |
Its more spread out but the centre is smaller and more village like, theres a few new hotels since I was last there to be fair. The Apres at the Goats Bar was also one of the main draws.
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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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Have a look at Risoul/Vars. Transfer is longer than you want, but nice resorts with plenty of skiing and village feel
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
So I imagine banging music and dancing on tables are not required.
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@pam w, dancing on the tables is not allowed anywhere, even at the Mooserwirt they make you get down if you attempt it! It is dangerous at the best of times and in ski boots it is positively lethal. Dancing on the benches is allowed but it is more a case of bouncing up and down in time with the music, having a little bit of fun and getting into the whole atmosphere. I'm not into "banging music" as you put it, neither do I drink much alcohol, but I enjoy the atmosphere that is generated particularly if we are sharing a table with others who maybe do not look down their noses at these antics. It gives me a chance to practice my language skills and has led to finding new skiing pals. Letting your hair down occasional can be great fun!
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WOW - thanks, I knew you would be a fountain of knowledge. That gives me some food for thought.
It looks like Chatel and Les Gets are a good place to start Chalet hunting, a quick google brings up good reviews, I think I will start there. Having been to Morzine before (and the link to Avoriaz mostly closed due to bad weather) another go at the PDS may be on the cards.
Now I just need to find a 2 bed, 2 bathroom chalet within walking distance to the slopes, shops, restaurants and bars with a hot tub and an open fire.... I don't want much do I.
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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: |
has led to finding new skiing pals
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Likewise...usually Dutch, German, Austrian, Slovenian or Scandinavian, but occasionally also British, or even South African
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It looks like Chatel and Les Gets are a good place to start
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If it's a choice between those two, I'd go for Chatel every time. When I stayed in Les Gets, I seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time commuting between there and Morzine in order to access Avoriaz and the main PdS circuit. No problem of course for beginners, who may be content to stay in Les Gets with a foray over to Morzine when they feel up to it.
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| Quote: |
and the link to Avoriaz mostly closed due to bad weather
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In, uhhh, 3 full seasons and >25 years skiing PdS I've never known all three of the Morzine-Avoriaz links to be closed due to bad weather. Poor snow maybe, dodgy explosive calculations, fire maybe for one of them, but not all.
When you going? That makes a critical difference to France/not-France.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
For me, even if I didn't live there, it would be Austria every time, but, if it must be France, I would suggest St Martin de Belleville, Vallandry (Les Arcs) or Serre Chevalier (Chantemerle, Villeneuve or Monetier) - all match your requirements (except one hour transfer time, which is a tall order),
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The transfer time to Arc 1600 is 7 minutes on the funicular, well below the 1 hour limit
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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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You know it makes sense.
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It's mostly "body language" skills, and you soon learn the words to the songs, e.g. "Hey, wir woll'n die Eisbaeren sehen". 
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Quote: |
and the link to Avoriaz mostly closed due to bad weather
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In, uhhh, 3 full seasons and >25 years skiing PdS I've never known all three of the Morzine-Avoriaz links to be closed due to bad weather. Poor snow maybe, dodgy explosive calculations, fire maybe for one of them, but not all.
When you going? That makes a critical difference to France/not-France. |
We were there in January 2013 and the links between the Super Morzine and Avoriaz were closed due to heavy wind on the 2 days we tried to go that way. As a result we went elsewhere.
It will be one of the last 2 weeks in January definitely, due to the fresh Snow and resorts are much quieter than in February.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Imalittlelost, If Super Morzine were closed due high wind, you probably didn't want to be up there anyway.
IIRC (doubtful ) that was the season that they were supposed to have finished the new Prodains bubble but due aforementioned dodgy explosives, hadn't. So if SM closed, you're only option would have been Ardent, but probably best in the trees around Morzine-Les Gets anyway.
Late Jan, fair enough, no vacs scols worries then.
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