 Poster: A snowHead
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Trying to decide where to go this year and the Alps are still far too warm for my liking. At this point the three main contenders are St Anton, PDS and Val D. Are any of these likely to be better than the others at that time?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Don't be daft.
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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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Although, to answer your question - you've picked two very high, snow-sure resorts and one very low one. I'll let you figure it out from there.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I know PDS is lower but never having skied it or St Anton I thought I would ask.
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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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They will all have snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It's only November it's not uncommon for the fields to still be green. However if it gets to the 20th December and they still are that's when I'll be concerned.
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If the Alps are ''far too warm for you'', go somewhere colder (you will only be disappointed otherwise)
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Spent 1 season and had 3 holidays in the PDS-never again. Disappointed every time Spent SEVEN seasons and had 2 holidays in the Arlberg, Seasons-5 in Lech, 2 in St Anton+ 2 holidays-NEVER disappointed, even last season when it was a very poor start. Plus of course the WELCOME in Austria is massively better than anywhere in France. Val Disere is pretty snow sure and has a much nicer ambiance than some other French resorts. Had 2 holidays there and it was good.
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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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I'd recommend Val d'Isere if you want snow sure.
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| Old Man Of Lech wrote: |
| .... Val Disere is pretty snow sure and has a much nicer ambiance than some other French resorts. Had 2 holidays there and it was good. |
Wow really? Looks like i won't be exploring much further into France then....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Levi215 wrote: |
Wow really? Looks like i won't be exploring much further into France then.... |
You'd make decisions based on a single comment from a random internet stranger?
Weird.
Many reasons to explore France - or Italy - or Austria, etc. ... 
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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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| xtr wrote: |
| Trying to decide where to go this year and the Alps are still far too warm for my liking. At this point the three main contenders are St Anton, PDS and Val D. Are any of these likely to be better than the others at that time? |
All three are big resorts with plenty of high altitude skiing and late January there will always be plenty of snow in these areas. You should be considering all the other factors that make up the decision rather than snow conditions - which could change at the last minute anyhow.
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Where is PDS or what is PDS?
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You know it makes sense.
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| DrLawn wrote: |
| Where is PDS or what is PDS? |
It's an acronym for Port Du Soleil.
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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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Portes De Solais A large linked ski area across Fance AND Switzerland with several villages
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Poster: A snowHead
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Portes De Soleil A large linked ski area across Fance AND Switzerland with several villages
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Portes du Soleil - It's a large ski area which contains many towns and resorts. These include Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Chatel, Abondance, La Chapelle d'Abondance, St Jean d'Aulps, Torgon, Morgins, Champoussin, Les Crosets and Champery (i may have missed some).
It is in France and Switzerland, about an hour from Geneva.
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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 wrote: |
| You'd make decisions based on a single comment from a random internet stranger? |
No....
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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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Pam W. I didn't say VDI has the nicest merely that it was better than some. Point taken?
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| Quote: |
Val Disere is pretty snow sure and has a much nicer ambiance than some other French resorts.
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To be fair if vomiting loud Brit Middle class yobbery is your thing it is nicer than most.
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oh. @Levi215. Irony.
Not on a Wednesday afternoon please, it's games hour.
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@T Bar, I must say I haven't ever experienced this in Val. I have more of an issue with the middle aged "more money than class" types with accents from the south east than anything else!
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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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| Old Man Of Lech wrote: |
| Portes De Solais A large linked ski area across Fance AND Switzerland with several villages |
| Old Man Of Lech wrote: |
| Portes De Soleil A large linked ski area across Fance AND Switzerland with several villages |
Go on - third time lucky. 
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@FastCarver74,
I exaggerate slightly but have seen it. I actually don't mind V D'I and ski there a fair bit but Ambiance is well down the list of it's attractions even compared with other French resorts.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Surely there can only be one last week in January....?
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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 think most Alpine resorts will hang their heads in shame if they can't produce snow to your liking by the end of January (which is normally the coldest month of the year).
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| T Bar wrote: |
@FastCarver74,
I exaggerate slightly but have seen it. I actually don't mind V D'I and ski there a fair bit but Ambiance is well down the list of it's attractions even compared with other French resorts. |
I'd struggle to name anywhere that I've been (skiing or otherwise) where I HAVEN'T seen vomitting Brits, it's one of our few cultural traits 
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You know it makes sense.
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Bloomin 'eck SnoodyMcFlude - in over 30 years of foreign holidays - sun and ski - I've fortunately only seen 'vomiting Brits syndrome' twice - in San Antonio, Ibiza and somewhere in Tenerife whose name escapes me....And never in a ski resort.
Tell us where you've been! Or are you gonna come clean and admit that you are the perpetrator  ??
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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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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| ... in over 30 years of foreign holidays - sun and ski - I've fortunately only seen 'vomiting Brits syndrome' twice - in San Antonio, Ibiza and somewhere in Tenerife whose name escapes me....And never in a ski resort. |
I think you may have let a very sheltered life.
Try the Whistler bus loop at midnight, almost any night in season. Vomit, Brits, all over the place. 30 years ago there were no Brits and actually not a lot of vomit. Go figure.
Val d'Isere, any night in season, 3 in the morning. People shouting at each other in between vomits in the street? Not a nice place for people to stay unless you've taken ear plugs/ are a heavy sleeper.
Most smaller resorts are fine, it's the places they bus in the tourists which seem to suffer. Other nationalities also have alcohol problems, but you tend to notice Brits more, if you are one.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Cloggies, Scandis and American college kids can all give Brits a good run when it comes to being pissed up and clueless in ski resorts. Add to that German middle aged men if you're a number of places in Austria.
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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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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| Bloomin 'eck SnoodyMcFlude - in over 30 years of foreign holidays - sun and ski - I've fortunately only seen 'vomiting Brits syndrome' twice - in San Antonio, Ibiza and somewhere in Tenerife whose name escapes me.... |
Veronica's - Playa De Las Americas most likely 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@HoneyBunny, Having been to Val D'I twice (one week each time) + another week in Tignes, I consider my inability to appreciate its ambience on either occasion an inexplicable failing on my part. With much trepidation, I have to confess that I think I have enjoyed every other French resort (except possibly Les Gets) I visited more than Val, and that includes all or most of the usual suspects. I feel the same about music - whenever someone enthuses about a particular singer, band or genre (e.g. Kanye West), I often feel bemused and bewildered, but also frustrated at my own inability to share their enthusiasm. I really wish that I could have enjoyed the place. 
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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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@mayr, I've often heard this but have to say that I have liked virtually all of the French people that I've met in my life (including - possibly most of all - the French family who own an apartment next door to us in Saalbach!) In Val D most of the people I bumped into seemed to be Brits or Aussies.
During our extended stays in Saalbach (which is most certainly a cosmopolitan melting-pot), and particularly in the cable cars, mountain restaurants and at the apres-ski parties, we are continually struck by the uninhibited friendliness and sociability of people from other European countries - in particular the Dutch, the Germans, the Scandinavians, the Slovenians, and of course the Austrians themselves. It isn't unusual for us to find that we've been included in a round of drinks or bought some shots by people who just happen to be standing near us, sharing our table or even sitting at the next table - often without any prior conversation. The fact that they so often seem to speak English fluently, and like to demonstrate or practise their English, no doubt has a lot to do with it. However (at risk of generalising, which I'm always cautious about doing) they also seem to be generally relaxed about engaging in conversations with complete strangers, and in fact quite keen to do so. The ones who can sometimes show a tendency to be a little insular and reserved are (dare I say it) the Brits (but obviously not all), who are often content in their own family or social group but shy of strangers, and also those who don't learn English as a second language at school, such as Russians and people from certain eastern European countries. I don't think it's all to do with language, although those Europeans who are comfortable using English as the lingua franca seem quite happy to natter away to each other, albeit often with heavy accents, and those who know only their native language will understandably tend to avoid social contact with other nationals. There are no doubt many other factors that come into play, e.g. age, intelligence, confidence, sobriety, etc.
Sorry to ramble and stray off-topic, but it's something that interests me - and it will off course have a bearing on whether people who visit a particular ski resort enjoy the social scene there. Anyone got any thoughts?
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| Tatman's Tours wrote: |
| @HoneyBunny, Having been to Val D'I twice (one week each time) + another week in Tignes, I consider my inability to appreciate its ambience on either occasion an inexplicable failing on my part. With much trepidation, I have to confess that I think I have enjoyed every other French resort (except possibly Les Gets) I visited more than Val, and that includes all or most of the usual suspects. I feel the same about music - whenever someone enthuses about a particular singer, band or genre (e.g. Kanye West), I often feel bemused and bewildered, but also frustrated at my own inability to share their enthusiasm. I really wish that I could have enjoyed the place. |
I went to Val a few times when I was younger and didn't think much of the place at all, nor did I when I stayed more recently at the far end of the resort in La Daille. It's only been since I've been going there more regularly that I've really fallen for the place. The people you spend the week with, good knowledge of the resort and a real shared sense of fun are what makes or breaks it. But above all, for me, the skiing there is truly fabulous. Not to mention the old part of town is very pretty.
I can kind of see why it wasn't for you though, you'd have hated the likes of the Folie Douce, Cafe Face and the Moris. I think you might like the new place Cocorico though. Val can also be horribly showy and pretentious - not as bad as Courchevel 1850, but it's very 'look at me' in the way Austrian resorts generally are not.
Your beloved Saalbach is indeed a very special place though, certainly my favourite (that I've been to) in Austria, and firmly ticks every single box.
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