 Poster: A snowHead
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hello,
I have a very lovely problem - my mum has offered to look after my children for a week in the middle of march, so my husband and I can go skiing. As we are only 2 people, going low season we have a whole range of possibile resorts to choose from. I am hoping for some suggestions for suitable resorts (although we might just see what late booking is available and look at the snow reports)
We are intermediate skiers, coping with most blacks but still find some off-piste a bit hairy. We have been to verbier several times (which I love but other half feels is a bit too spread out), Sauzed'oulx (which we loved), puy st vincent many times with kids (which we also loved), la norma (loved freeride space) and Alped'huex (hated the crowds). Dear husband wants to go to the dolomites but i am worried there isn't a lot of snow. I rather fancy Austria, but to be honest, we like pretty much anywhere with snow.
Any suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@grey, Not the best of seasons to go to the Dolomites as they have pretty much zero snow with no real prospect of that changing in the next couple of weeks. The do wonders with the artificial but it's not the same
if you haven't been to the Western Austrian resorts like Serfaus, Ischgl, St Anton or Lech then give one of them a go. They have lots of snow there
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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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Piste conditions in the Dolomites are amazing, even back in early Jan. Don't be put off by lack of snow unless you want off piste/freeride. Dolomites are great if you like getting the miles in without going over the same run.
I skied in all the resorts in Andorra week before last week (300km+), they have 1.4m-2m the week before I arrived but still had dodgy patches on piste. Dolomites (1000km+) at 20cm-40cm all artificial but never skied a single bad piste.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Tignes would be my first choice probably.
However, in Austria, St Anton is great - similar to Verbier in many respects and now has a connection over to Lech.
I found Ishgl quite heavy on the middle aged male Austrian drinker - personal preference whether this is a pro or a con...
Saalbach we really enjoyed a couple of weeks back. Mainly a red resort, plenty of terrain and if there is fresh snow, lots of lift accessed moderate off-piste if you wish. Stay near the Schatzberg or Kohlmaisgipfelbahn lift which is in the centre, you can be 5mins walk to either lift and right by plenty of good bars. Accommodation is mainly half board hotels (including some really nice Spa hotels) rather than French/Swiss chalet style. It's also just 90mins from Salzburg. Fast (and heated) lifts with few queues, good Austrian apres and very reasonable lunch prices!
In France, you could also try Les Deux Alpe - which if you want a crash course in off-piste has access to La Grave.
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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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Take a look at Hochkonig in Austria. Great intermediate slopes, beautiful villages, good snow, less than 90 mins from Salzburg. Plenty of mountainside restaurants that won't break the bank.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@grey, Crystal have some great deals at the mo, just booked Val D'Isere for 25th March 
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Obertauern or Lech!
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Since you've got shot of the kids, what about going somewhere that you wouldn't want to go with the kids, gaining the double benefit of a week's holiday for just the 2 of you, and also a place you otherwise wouldn't visit. i.e. deliberately look for less accessible/longer transfers etc.
One possible option would be the Western US which has had a huge amount of snow. Without kids you can worry less about jetlag etc. and although the flights are a bit more than Europe, there's only 2 of you and you only live once... Mammoth Mountain (HUGE ski area, monumental snowfalls this season), Lake Tahoe (decent nightlife, casinos etc. which can be fun and very cheap if you stick to 1c slot machines!) or even the lesser known (but good) places like Wrightwood or Big Bear.
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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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MoIf you are less worried about budget Zermatt, Val d Sere/Tignes Lech or Courchevel.
If budget more of an issue Serre Chevalier (which is great as well as being cheaper) and les Arcs. Champouloc Italy.
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If you are less worried about budget Zermatt, Val d Sere/Tignes Lech or Courchevel. All European options.
If budget more of an issue Serre Chevalier (which is great as well as being cheaper) and les Arcs. Champouloc Italy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@grey, as you won't have the kids with you, try the Hotel Elizabeth in Mayrhofen, adults only. Opt for one of the new rooms, amazing! Outstanding spa facilities as well, and great food. Mayrhofen itself is a lively but compact town, apres can be hardcore or gentle. Good ski area too with plenty of options to travel to other areas nearby
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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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thank you everybody - they are all very tempting options I will have a look at crystal tonight Kiters and see what they have - tignes, st anton, salbach and manmouth all sound rather tempting. just need to work out the budget now but I am sure a glass of wine will help us increase our purchasing power.
thank you, i will let you know if we find any great deals!
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Dolomites, and don't worry about thin snow cover, they are experts at managing what they have.
I like to stay at Arraba [ Hotel Malita ] as you are right on the Sella Ronda and have easy access the the Marmolada.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm in Lech at the moment and snow conditions here and St Anton are very good. It certainly looks very wintery.
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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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Was in Dolomites last week in January. Great conditions. Going back late February and again 4th March. They manage the snow exceptionally well. For piste skiing it's great.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The piste conditions and off piste are pretty good here in Bormio at the moment and it is snowing as i type
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Seconded for trying further afield while you have the opportunity; I'm a big fan of Banff, Canada and posted a detailed trip report last April if it helps you 
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depending on how much you like food i can highly recommend Alta Badia and probably all of the dolomites, the refugios on the mountain have great food and we're off tomorrow morning and my have booked us in for a sommelier on the slopes. I think everyone is far friendier than france, the queues will be nothing and as others have said the dolomites don't get as much snow as others so they are much better at looking after the stuff they have. Also the Italians just don't seem to ski unless its lovely, so if its snowing a bit you will have the place to yourselves.
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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 do indeed have a lovely problem, and well done to your mom, treat her well and she may do it again!
Dolomites , are fantastic and making snow. Madonna di campigilio is lovely with lots of skiing. Austria is great fun though, however you can ski madonna with the kids, ( yes you can bring kids to austria) but the apres ski in Austria is great fun, and as you will have no kids, just have fun with your other half, act like singletons again......lol.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Booking.com is your friend.
If I were you, I would book flights to Innsbruck and book a hire car then wait until 3 days before you go before checking out the best snow/forecast.
Check out wepowder.com for powder alerts and follow the snow.
I did this 3 weeks ago and ended up in the East Tirol for a week of truly awesome waist deep powder skiing.
Accommodation will be plentiful during an off peak week.
Have fun.
Cheers,bob
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| Orange200 wrote: |
| Seconded for trying further afield while you have the opportunity; I'm a big fan of Banff, Canada and posted a detailed trip report last April if it helps you |
That's exactly what we have done - our usual ski group just wouldn't commit this year so we booked Banff for a wk, somewhere that's a bit too far for the rest of the group but that will fulfil a bit of a dream for me.
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FAQ
- La Plagne and Les Arcs on a Paradiski pass, book an off piste lesson with Oxygene- whose Off Piste lessons are often recommended on here.
