Poster: A snowHead
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Hope the title makes sense!
We are looking for a holiday destination over xmas and possibly new year where we can do the odd day skiing, as opposed to a 'normal' ski holiday. i.e its a holiday with a bit of skiing, rather than a load of skiing with a bit of holidaying.
Any ideas, slightly off the wall? kids love ice hockey and skating too, so maybe Sweden? Looks Like we are hitting Canada in feb for a hockey tournament so would rather stick to Europe(ish) for xmas.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lake Annecy? Lovely old town, a few ski resorts within driving distance? Munich? Turin?
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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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Saas Fee? Lovely village. Walking, ice skating, curling and snow-shoeing. Ian and the skiing is OK. Day trip to Visp? I think they lay ice hockey there.
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Innsbruck?
Free ski busses to surrounding resorts. Plenty of non skiing winter activities. Great mountain backdrop.
Non- French prices etc
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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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@alexl, I can provide feedback on your mention of Sweden. Indeed plenty of ice hockey and skating, and Nordic skating on the lakes in particular is great fun and lovely activity (provided it’s a good winter and lakes are frozen enough). But the sticking point is the ‘proper’ ski areas are a long way from the major cities that have more to do (eg 5 hours plus from Stockholm drive). Stockholm is beautiful - there is one small hill ‘hammarbybacken’ in the city and few on the outskirts which are ok for half a day, and some small resorts at Kungsberget and Romme Alpin that are 2.5 hours away, that are good for a weekend so you could stay one or two nights (car needed). There is also cross country skiing tracks in and around the city.
Second thought is Oslo. There is Tryvann winter park on the outskirts of the city that can be reached by public transport which other Snowheads have said is good for a day or two http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1366281&highlight=tryvann#1366281.
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My flat is still available over Christmas
Plenty of skiing, also cross country tracks outside the back door if you fancy a go at that.
For Ice Hockey there is alway the Red Bulls Salzburg about an hour away. Also things like Halllstadt, the Ice Caves and Dachstein glacier with the Ice palace are nearby. There is also the Theme Amade 5 mins down the road if you fancy swimming/pampering. Salzburg itself is about 50 m ins drive, and there is so much to do and see there. Most of the towns here often have a small outdoor skating rink which is usually free to use, (I know Altenmarkt and Wagrains are!)
Hope you find something suitable!
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@alexl, not off the wall, but Megeve would tick all your boxes, attractive with lots of non-skiing activities.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I love Annecy - I was there last week and it was glorious. It can be cold and miserable at Christmas though and far more likely to be raining than snowing.
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@alexl, Davos - huge ice hockey scene, watched a game there 15 years ago whilst on a trip, great atmosphere. Great skiing and proper town, also Klosters etc neighbouring so plenty of chocolate box stuff if snow good. Expensive though.....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Innsbruck
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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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@stanton, Good shout, could also add Salzburg I guess.
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I'd second Innsbruck or Oslo. Maybe Interlacken.
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You know it makes sense.
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Oslo is painfully expensive though...if that's a factor
What about Iceland? Greatest country in the world imo
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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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@alexl, Briancon have a very good ice hockey team, and the town is well worth a mooch around, There's a thermal spa in Monetier, and skiing if you want it. Dog sledding, country walks, x-country skiing. But it may still be too much of a ski destination for you.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Zakopane, Poland.
Some amazing cottages to rent
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Have you looked at weissensee Austria. The lake is famous for ice skating and holds the alternative 11 cities dutch skating race. They clear a skating track of around 12km. Down hill and cross country skiing as well
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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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I haven't been myself to the city, but what about Ljubljana? loads of sightseeing (Soca river, lake Bled, Triglav park), and skiing within half hour.
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Zell am see has a good rink and most of the UK regional squads head out there for camps
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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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@alexl, ps I have a load of hockey gear, bags etc for sale if you need anything
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Hemel or Milton Keynes?
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Why not look first at the Ice Hockey calendar to see where there are games that week.
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I thought again about this in work, doesn't Meribel have a huge indoor ice rink up by the village? My brain may be slightly addled but I seem to remember one up by the Office du Tourism. Lots of lovely shops and restaurants too.
Skiing is fab and you could pop down to Annecy (or Alberville) as many of the others suggested as its so very pretty! I know Meribel has a big bowling alley and some ice climbing too I think.
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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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@moseyp, speaking of painfully expensive, hello Iceland.
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Sorry to be a misery guts again but I wouldn't bother popping down to Albertville! Annecy is much nicer but as I noted above, often rather cold and driech in mid-winter. I also wouldn't want to go to Meribel for a non-skiing holiday and to be perfectly honest I wouldn't choose it for a skiing holiday either, especially at Christmas (resort level might not be v pretty - it's quite low). Of all the 3V locations Courchevel 1850 might be best for non-skiing but I think there are lots of better suggestions - including, in France, Megeve. Yes, that's a bit low too, but it's got more to offer than Meribel IMHO. It's an easy drive to Chamonix - and a trip up the Aiguille du Midi is always exciting, if the weather/vis is good. Wrap up warm, though.
Plenty of ice hockey in Megeve (and nearby Sallanches) - and I've seen ads for Polo on ice too, though have no idea what it's like.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The Austrians love their tobboganing ( Rodel) the longest model run is 14km and is near Zell am see. But most areas have a selection of prepared model tracks.
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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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@pam w, Polo in Megeve is usually later in January I thought. Chamonix is a Ligue Magnus (top level) ice hockey team and will be playing at home during Christmas week. Other LM teams in the Alps are Grenoble and Gap.
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Innsbruck may well have some ski jumping to watch first week of Jan.
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You know it makes sense.
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PaulC1984 wrote: |
@alexl, ps I have a load of hockey gear, bags etc for sale if you need anything |
I've already got a garage full (and a lounge full, and a car full....) Most people have umbrellas or coats by the front door - I've got about 20 hockey sticks!
Thanks for all the replies chaps and chappettes - I'll have a dig through and come up with a plan
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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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@alexl, haha wee man is only 5, started 6 months ago, I've got dragged into playing rec so the garage is now awash with all things wintersports
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Poster: A snowHead
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PaulC1984 wrote: |
@alexl, haha wee man is only 5, started 6 months ago, I've got dragged into playing rec so the garage is now awash with all things wintersports |
Haha - wait a few years - mine are 12 and 10 - been playing since 5 and it rules our lives at the moment!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Going on from what @horizon, suggested, Ljubljana old town is compact, pretty and inexpensive. Lake Bled is like something out of a Disney cartoon. All good.
To throw another suggestion into the mix, what about Lapland?, my stepD did a season there last winter and loved it. Visit Santa, go husky sledding or snowmobiling to the Russian border, amazing northern lights, skiing by floodlight after 2pm with huts at the side of the piste that only have a fire and reindeer skins to keep the chill off.
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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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@dode, I was going to suggest this too, but there is only an ice rink on the lake (ish)
It's started snowing there tho now which is a bonus
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I all seriousness Innsbruck takes some beating for what the OP asks.
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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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@mr. mike, Iceland isn't that bad, not like Oslo. It's all relative I guess. If you live in London or Dublin, Iceland won't be much more expensive (it's just certainly won't be cheaper) - whereas Norway is noticeably different. There's only two places I've been really shocked by the price of stuff and that's Oslo and Geneva Airport....
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@rjs, I was there for the polo masters in March but I think there's more than one competition so could be Jan too
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Oh I just remembered it was mid/late January but got postponed to March-can't remember why
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We like doing holiday plus skiing. Last Easter did Olso and Trysil, and yes some things like eating out were eye-wateringly expensive but other things were not so bad (when compared to other Euro ski costs).A Norwegian I sat next to on one lift said Norway was between Austria and Switzerland in terms of cost. Closer to Switzerland I would say. But we did have a great time. Olso was great to visit and enjoyed the skiing with great ski school and a pleasant medium sized area which had snow over the late Easter.
This Xmas we are doing Innsbruck to take in the Xmas markets for a few days then onto Hochzillertal to ski.
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