 Poster: A snowHead
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Calling on the wisdom of snowheads, it's my big 50 next year and I'm hoping to treat the family ( you know, great idea at the time then you look at the price 😄) there is only one week, the first week of April, Easter holidays, my ideal would be Austria, Maria Alm, catered chalet but am concerned that's its late season and it's not that high. Ideally looking for a catered chalet in Austria or a decent apartment/sc chalet, or Italy, would consider France but find it more expensive overall, lift passes, restaurants etc. also considering USA or Canada with an apartment for us all? we usually book TO's as a package as it fits the budget, don't really want to drive. There doesn't seem to be many catered chalets on offer, am I too early? Anyone got any great ideas or suggestions please? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@feefee, If its Easter you may need to look soon, what level of skiing/ age profile of family (kids teens or 20 somethings?). Apres requirements?
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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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@feefee, http://www.galziglodge.at/en?gclid=CPPH282los4CFcaVGwodnL4KOQ
Not cheap but good things rarely are! Fly to Innsbruck/ Zurich or Munich and private transfer. I know the owners and could put you in touch, seeing them in 2 weeks. Excellent location and lots of bars/ restaurants nearby. Skiing awesome. Never stayed....cant afford it!! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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All good skiers, adults, 20's and a teen, some après good but not the main requirement.
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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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@feefee, The above would be perfect then. Private transfer not mad expensive, mini bus.
https://arlbergexpress.com/en/willkommen/
Scheduled flights to Munich (Lfthansa) or Zurich (Swiss), free ski/ boots carriage and cheap prices on LH atm......whats not to like?!
Good luck...... 
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@Markymark29, looks stunning, but sadly don't think I can afford it either 
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@feefee, Mmm....This is where we stay b&b over the road.....very nice, clean and tidy. Loads of restaurants about and great wellness. You wouldn't be disappointed with this, again gets booked up real quick at Easter.
http://www.hotel-angelika.info/en_index.html
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Thank you, did a search but don't think it's available? There's a few on booking.com, but I've not really put together a package before, can't seem to find flights just yet, I'll look at the airlines you suggested, are the transfers very long from the airports?
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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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@feefee, Munich 3-3.5 hours (hire a self drive mini bus), Zurich 2-2.5 hours (train also good), Innsbruck (1 hour, train good but not scheduled flights).
If you wanted to talk to Hotel Angelika direct feel free to PM me and i'll give you details, know them well. More likely to get a deal direct, bookings.com wont have much availability (its a necessary evil for the locals and its OK as a guide but better off doing a search via the Arlberg websitehttp://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/accomodations/accommodation-search). Just email and they will come straight back at you!
We also frequently stay in St Jakob just down the valley a couple of miles, its on the free ski bus, quieter and cheaper, also look at Petteneu (bit further our still but on free bus and cheaper still. Bit of a compromise re après but maybe suits). 
PM me if you want, easier than hijacking your thread!!
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I usually ski in France - Christmas and school break week at Easter for the last few years - but have done bits and pieces in Austria. As a generalisation Austria gets its snow at a little lower altitude. That said it looks to me like Maria Alm is around 800m and the ski are tops out around 1900m - which even accounting for the above seems to low to me. There are of course some higher altitude resorts in Austria. Ischgl for example is somewhere I've researched before that seems to have good altitude.
I have to say when I've looked at self catered apartments I found them expensive in Austria compared to France but then some may argue they are more spacious, better equipment and the welcome more pleasant. On the mountain for sure it's a bit cheaper though I don't generally eat on the mountain and do packed lunches. Bear in mind that the smaller resorts in France are often more welcoming and cheaper. But a lot of those are lower altitude so that may not help.
What sort of budget do you have,
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Markymark29, the hotel looks good but we would have to eat out as no sc facilities? I'll check out the other places you suggested and the link thank you.
@Layne, we've skied France a few times but find the higher resorts lacking in charm? Lift passes and eating out more expensive too. Catered chalets with to's are £900+ pp so I'm gaging cost around that.
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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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@feefee, if you're prepared to look at France it might be worth you taking a look at Tignes Les Brevieres - it's the lowest of the Tignes resorts, no bus service at night, but definitely more charm than the main part of Tignes. Low key local apres. We've stayed in Chalet Belvedere (owned by the Chalet Chardons people) and it was very good value as well as decent quality. Plus they have offerings to suit all budgets - prices that week on chalet board in an en suite room in Chalet Hattiers are £547.
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@feefee, Yes eating out in the evening but there are many great restaurants within 200m of there and you could book a different one every night. There's a really smart lounge area where we sometimes get a takeaway pizza and take back, beers/ wine from supermarket if we're feeling lazy, they don't mind...but on the whole great places to eat, that's no problem but you'd need to book in advance with a group.
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You know it makes sense.
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@feefee, Have you thought about self catering? We've found it's a much better option than paying a lot of money to eat worse food that we eat at home. Look at the sums. Ten @ £900 each = £9,000. Find the most luxurious S/C appartment for 10, with en-suites, perhaps even hot tubs and sauna, will probably still cost <£5,000. That leaves you with £4,000, for which you can buy a lot of food.
We went as two families to a large apartment in Les Arcs 2000 at New Year. Everybody mucked in with the shopping, cooking clearing. We ate in every meal - lunch was bread, ham, cheese pate etc with beer and wine, dinner was lasagne, tartiflette, fondue etc (you can usually borrow fondue/raclette sets from reception if it's an expensive apartment) with wine, port, whisky etc. We ate when we felt like, we came and went as we felt like, we dressed for dinner as we felt like, there was loads of hot water for showers. All food and wine for 12 people for one week came to an amazing £35/head.
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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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In France, so not what you asked for, but some Easter availability, access to high skiing. But have a look if you are interested.
http://www.ice-fire.co.uk/2015-16-prices-and-availability/16-17-prices
We went with them in Jan this year and I can not fault them for helpfulness or accuracy of the information they supplied about their accommodation, or the resort!
Train to station just before Bourg St Maurice, or flights or drive.
As it happened we were with Ice and Fire for the first of our two weeks then joined our 20 something grown up sons at St Foy with Small Wonders for the second week. But our offspring would have been happy enough at La Plagne where we have all skied before.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes definitely happy to self cater, I've emailed one in St Anton, if self catering I'd prefer us all to be in one apartment/chalet and if anyone can find me luxury I'll be happy what I've found so far for example in St Anton is around £3-4k, struggling to make sense of flights but I think 2k for flights and £500 for transfers? As long as the youngsters can jump on a bus for nightlife that's good, or affordable cabs. We went to Tignes last year, son was working a season 😄 just trying for figure the best value for money that I can afford, I suppose I err on the side of caution with a package as I know we will all be fed and watered, but easily persuaded otherwise if we find the right diy deal, thanks all so far, keep em coming😍
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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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How many people are there in the group?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Chamcham, theres 7 of us thank you I've looked at those, la Rosiere not an option, been there a few times, la Plagne looks nice but is it snow sure?
@CaravanSkier, that looks nice too thank you.
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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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So I need to get my head around flights and transfers, which isn't easy, wonder if I'm too early for some airlines? We would want hold luggage and ski carriage, I know that's really expensive with some of them? Really don't want to drive, done it before but just don't fancy it for this trip.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| feefee wrote: |
| So I need to get my head around flights and transfers, which isn't easy, wonder if I'm too early for some airlines? We would want hold luggage and ski carriage, I know that's really expensive with some of them? Really don't want to drive, done it before but just don't fancy it for this trip. |
Not too early for most airlines. Usually you can book 360 days-ish ahead. I typically look at Expedia, clicking the filter for direct flights, just to see who flys the route. I believe Easyjet gets listed on Expedia, but not Ryanair (but if you check Ryanair be careful if where the airport actually is...).
Airline baggage info tells you cost of ski carriage. For a lot of airlines you can take skis as you checked baggage allowance. You can always add baggage onto the booking later as well.
Then I look at the resort info and google "transfer from x airport to x resort" to make sure there are options and how long it takes. Otherwise hire car (you would need two) can be similar price. For that I use rentalcars.com.
I tend to book the flight through the actual airlines website. I prefer to have a booking with the actual airline.
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Expedia only allows up to 6 passengers, skyscanner shows BA but doesn't show how to add baggage etc, monarch was easy! Around £2-2500 Innsbruck or Salzburg, yet to look at France!
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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 just check one adult price on Expedia to see check which airlines fly the route direct. I think BA and other One World Alliance airline (ie Lufthansa) allow skis and boot bag as you checked baggage. Swiss, SAS and other Star Alliance airlines the same or better.
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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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Yes from London.
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Not sure the exact dates you are looking at (8 - 15th April?), but I'm seeing flights to Geneva, Turin, Munich for £100-£135 adult return. Innsbruck and Saltzburg more pricey.
For Ryanair you can only book up to 25 March 2017 right now i.e., 234 days ahead. Not sure if they extend it a day, each day. Or a week or month is suddenly released. But I'd monitor their website. From Stansted you can fly to a number of airports within easy reach of the Alps. But I wouldn't call Ryanair a "treat"
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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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@feefee, Carrying skis can be an issue not only on the plane, but also for car hire. Four people with four sets of skis, and luggage, do not fit in a compact four seater hire care, so you end up paying more for a bigger car. If you're arranging taxi transfers, make sure they know you have skis.
As far as I'm aware, only Swiss allow free ski carriage. BA allow if it's your only luggage, but you have to pay if it's your second bag.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
| @Layne, we've skied France a few times but find the higher resorts lacking in charm? |
They can do although I think in many cases they are functional and/or have improved a lot. You don't always have to stay that high anyway and there are some good satellite village options. And ultimately it's about the skiing. And especially at the tail end of the season you may to have consider sacrificing charm for more snowsure surroundings.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
| la Plagne looks nice but is it snow sure? |
Paradiski is snow sure, I've been there numerous times early and late season.
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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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| feefee wrote: |
| So I need to get my head around flights and transfers, which isn't easy, wonder if I'm too early for some airlines? We would want hold luggage and ski carriage, I know that's really expensive with some of them? Really don't want to drive, done it before but just don't fancy it for this trip. |
If DIYing and flying, then get the flights sorted first and then find the right resort and accommodation.
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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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| Quote: |
If DIYing and flying, then get the flights sorted first and then find the right resort and accommodation.
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Agree, but Easter gets busy so don't hang about!
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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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How about Sainte Foy? Quite a few English Chalet companies operate there with many offering catering, it's a nice village but fairly small so not a great deal of apres. The snow train is available to Bourg-St-Maurice so no problem with ski/board carriage and luggage weight. It's about 8 hrs on the train either overnight on Friday or Saturday am getting in early evening and a short bus or taxi ride up to the resort.
I'd recommend it to anyone apart from the high mileage motorway skier or the party animal.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I looked at the train but it's more expensive than flying, that's without getting to London first, plus carrying skis not an option I fancy. It's definitely got to be flying with a minibus transfer that can take our skis, not had an issue before taking skis that way. I've looked at air bnb, and a couple of other sites offering accommodation, but how do you know your booking/money paid is safe? It's kind of all coming together, definitely liking the idea of self catering in a nice apartment and all mucking in to cook, well that lot can, it's my birthday they can spoil me 
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@ChrisP3, Having skied Ste Foy in Jan this year I would be wary of recommending it to good 'piste' skiers. It is a little limited. My 3 20 something sons were bored in the first couple of days, but then we had gone there with the intent of them expanding their knowledge of 'off piste' skiing. It is apparently really good for the 'off piste' stuff and they thoroughly enjoyed that part of the week! They still drove round to Val d'Isere at the end of the week though! I however loved it, as did the beginner in our group, and my husband who no longer feels the need to ski a new mountain every 5 minutes 
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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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@ChrisP3, Also, Ste Foy is south facing, which means lack of snow could be a problem late season.
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I'm taking four seasonnaires, they need mileage! They would love to go back to St Anton so I'm starting my search there. I'm on the case and maybe need to start a new thread re: St Anton? I do love it when a plan comes together
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