 Poster: A snowHead
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New year, new destinations...
I need your recommendation regarding this december 2nd half. Will Montgenevre be a quite safe bet? Or Alpe d'Huez?
Any destination that appears in UK early sales (Thomson, Crystal etc.)?
We are early intermediates enjoying blue runs but last year we've done some reds at Les Arcs 2000+ with success.
Many thanks for your input
Shon
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Montgenevre generally opens around 14th, there may only be limited lift avail but there will be good skiing up Gontrans with a nice long blue back to resort.
I think there has only been one year when opening was delayed
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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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@drporat, hang on as long as you possible can before booking and follow the snow would be my advice.
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Thanks, but I have to book my flight to London (family issues) ASAP and wanted to reach for the snow as well...
Which british ski operator is better/more recommended from your experience? And which destination is more suitable?
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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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@drporat, Mountainsun to Tignes is an option
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is Tignes a better option for intermediate skiers in December 16 compared to Montgenevre/Alpe d'Huez? I know weather/snow may shift in the next month, but generally speaking and from your experience, pals. I imagine is too early for Austria, besides glaciers
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If you have to guess and can't wait, then I would say Tignes > Montgenevre > Alpe d'Huez in terms of safe bets.
Why do you assume that it's too early for Austria though?
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Obergurgl opens 16 November so certainly not too early for Austria. It's also great for blue/easy red run intermediates. We went with Inghams but have also been places with Crystal and had no major problems.
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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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| maggi wrote: |
| Obergurgl opens 16 November so certainly not too early for Austria. It's also great for blue/easy red run intermediates. We went with Inghams but have also been places with Crystal and had no major problems. |
+1 for this suggestion. Obergurgl is perfect for the sort of skiers you seem to be.
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| drporat wrote: |
| I imagine is too early for Austria, besides glaciers |
Austria normally opens more resorts sooner than any other country in the northern hemisphere (yup, inc Canada and the States). Ok a bunch are glaciers, but Ischgl and Obergurgl also open in November and the likes of Schladming and Kitzbühel (proper opening, not their current two pistes or whatever it is) won't be far behind, with St Anton opening 1 Dec.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Great news, folks. Then Austria will be our destination for middle december 2017.
I was under the impression that since France's Alps have the best Easter snow, the same happens in december, at the beginning of the season.
Last december i've been to Zermatt, with surprisingly minimal snow.
Between Ischgl and Oberburgl, which one is better for middle december and early intermediates?
And between Crystal Ski and Ingham?
Many thanks for your input
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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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| drporat wrote: |
I was under the impression that since France's Alps have the best Easter snow, the same happens in december, at the beginning of the season.
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The same glaciers and resorts above might object to that too 
But seriously there's no sensible way to generalise, as snow quality will depend on the weather on the individual day in the individual resort.
I would say Obergurgl generally has easier pistes, or a greater proportion of them are easier, than Ischgl (though Ischgl has more variety and more skiing below the treeline, which is nice if it snows). Obergurgl just got more than a metre of snow in the last ~18 hours, and I'd guess Ischgl got 50+cm too. Both resorts had already started preparing pistes/blowing snow after the last snow fall two weeks ago, so this pretty much guarantees sold snow coverage on piste the upper half of the mountain for the next month or so whatever the weather does from now on.
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@drporat, for skiing at your level, I'd say Obergurgl but there's not much nightlife there, it's more family orientated. If you're party animals then Ischgl would suit you more.
From my experience, Ingham's personnel in resort were slightly better than Crystal's but Crystal's website and speed of answering email queries are better. To be fair, there's not much to choose between them and you'd be unlucky to have a bad holiday with either, so just look at both, compare and choose.
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You know it makes sense.
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@drporat
Inghams - think Saga.
Crystal - think 18-30
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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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@red 27, both companies organise flights from convenient local airports with coordinated transfers to resort. That's all I want from them and, in the main, they deliver. I go in low season to decent hotels and it's usually cheaper than DIY. (Crystal reps are usually younger than Inghams but they're all younger than me so WGAF  .)
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've decided to go to Obergurgl, you all made good points here - appreciate your input and attention.
Probably with Crystal. I'm 49 but evth on Inghams web site states "I'm sorry but we have nothing available for your selected choices. Please try an alternative date, duration or departure point".
Still Obergurgl seems more expensive than Tignes Le Lac (Crystal offer a double half board+lift pass & ski hire package for 1571 pounds at Tignes 2100 hotel, while Hans Gurgl without the lift pass@ski hire is about 1900 UK pounds)
Incidently it seems cheaper to hire on spot (Riml Intersport/Lohmann) than through Crystal web site. Does it make sense?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| maggi wrote: |
| @drporat, for skiing at your level, I'd say Obergurgl but there's not much nightlife there, it's more family orientated. If you're party animals then Ischgl would suit you more.. |
I'd agree with that. Obergurgl is fine if you're happy to apres for 2 or 3 hours then go back to your hotel for a meal and a quiet night at the bar. There is very little option for late night partying.
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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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| drporat wrote: |
I've decided to go to Obergurgl, you all made good points here - appreciate your input and attention.
Probably with Crystal. I'm 49 but evth on Inghams web site states "I'm sorry but we have nothing available for your selected choices. Please try an alternative date, duration or departure point".
Still Obergurgl seems more expensive than Tignes Le Lac (Crystal offer a double half board+lift pass & ski hire package for 1571 pounds at Tignes 2100 hotel, while Hans Gurgl without the lift pass@ski hire is about 1900 UK pounds)
Incidently it seems cheaper to hire on spot (Riml Intersport/Lohmann) than through Crystal web site. Does it make sense? |
Dont rent skis through the tour operator as you have to pay in advance. Haus Gurgl has a hire shop in the building https://www.rimlsports.com/en book online with them and pay when you get there.
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Many thanks to all of you who contributed, we have booked in Obergurgl at Hotel Austria with Crystal Ski, hope it will go as planned.
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