 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, I'm looking to go skiing with my son (who's done 2 weeks with lessons)
I've been 5 times but am a little nervous after my last trip with my mother, who fell on the slopes and broke her knee!
We are looking at early March and would like mostly gentle blue and some red runs..pretty area if possible, the ski area doesn't have to be that large either. Lift passes seem to be so expensive to what I've paid previously??
We would like a hotel close to slopes or lift (budget is £2k for both of us, as I'm paying, to include lift pass)
Looked at Andorra but the transfers are about 4 hours, which I think may be too far.
After our last experience I would really like to do some gentle skiing and hopefully enjoy it. I spent most of my last holiday terrified 
My son doesn't want ski school and I may skip it this time too or maybe get a couple of private lessons
Any help would be great
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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La Plagne has lots of nice blue runs and some lovely mountain restaurants to stop. Also a good English speaking Ski School (Oxygene), even though your son doesn't want lessons I'm sure he'd benefit and get more out of the holiday with them. We're going in March, but self catering not hotel and paid £300 each for a family of 3 with flights and transfer.
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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’d suggest the Skiwelt, staying at the Ellmau end. Large easy area, you can get round virtually the whole place on blues.
Early March should not be an issue snow wise.
Pretty too with some nice, and inexpensive, mountain huts.
You’ll find the lift pass a bit cheaper than France too.
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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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From my experience, resorts which may suit, with lots of easy skiing 
Les Gets (France)
Saint Gervais or Megeve (France)
Les Saisies (France) or elsewhere Espace Diamant
For what you're looking for, I wouldn't rule out the Finnish (Lapland) ski centres of Levi, Yllas, Ruka and Pyha. I've just returned from a New Year break to Pyha with the family (two sons aged 7 & 10 first time skiers), which was really great and really snowy/pretty. You can also add in some other winter activities if your budget allows (& the Northern Lights may appear at any time).
Its much cheaper to do this one independently. We booked Norwegian Air to Rovaniemi (taxi'ed to Santas Village 2km away for a few hours). Then used the local transfer bus (SkiBus) to Pyha. And stayed in a log cabin booked through Pyhahippu a letting agent based in the village centre. It was really amazing and the skiing surprised me - wonderful!
Some details below. Good luck in any case!
Some idea of target costs:
Flights £250pp (we got ours for £170pp)
Bus transfers £25pp each way
Log cabins from about £500 total per week (we stayed in Huttukero 8 - which was small but cosy and very authentic - open fire/ sauna etc)
The skiing price (lift pass/kit) is similar (possibly a bit cheaper) than the alps
Restaurants are expensive, but the K-market has similar prices to Europe.
The skis school is expensive, but very good. Expect 60E for 1 hour private lesson.
Do a skidoo or husky safari whilst there, great fun!
Flights from Gatwick to Lapland:
https://www.norwegian.com/uk/destinations/rovaniemi
https://www.norwegian.com/uk/destinations/kittila
https://www.norwegian.com/uk/destinations/ivalo
Accommodation in Pyha:
http://www.pyhahippu.fi/en/
Pyha resort info:
https://pyha.fi/en/
Bus timetables to Pyha:
https://pyha.fi/en/about/getting-to-pyha
Alternative bus routes (anywhere in Finland):
https://matkahuolto.fi/en/
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Austria is king for nervous beginners.
Mountains are lower and flatter.
Weather is better.
Go in first week of March and snow should be perfect.
Try Soll or St Johann.
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Thank you so much for all the replies...that's certainly given me some starting points and many of those resorts weren't on my lists.
Off to have a look. Was worried about snow but the resorts are looking healthy at the mo 
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| rachiem wrote: |
Looked at Andorra but the transfers are about 4 hours, which I think may be too far.
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I do the the Barcelona-Andorra transfer quite often and the 3:15 goes by quite quickly. If it is night time, I just sleep (I tend to travel with a neck pillow quite a lot these days).
Did you look at ski operators or just DIY? Some tips on Andorra on the latter:
- AndorraByBus €76 return and drops you in front of the hotel if you book it that way.
- Encamp has cheaper accommodation, but still gives you access to the whole Grandvalira vis the gondola. The free Funibus tuns the main town route and drops you at the gondola.
- Your alternative is La Massana, with its gondola to Pal or Arinsal with it's own small gondola. These two resorts are linked snc if you are just in blue-red cruising they will be sufficient.
- There are also self-catering options (Booking.com is your friend) and all three towns have sufficient supermarket options.
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JeffJeff
JeffJeff
Guest
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I was going to recommend renting a motorhome as campsites are significantly cheaper than hotels and it can save on transport costs (and they're a lot more fun with family than hotels) but UK rental costs seem to be way higher than they are in the US and for way less (many of them would cope with cold weather poorly and be cramped). So unless you own one or have a friend willing to lend you theirs it doesn't seem cost effective.
We're taking ours to Les Arcs soon and €20 a night, plus fuel plus ferry/eurotunnel works out a lot cheaper than hotels and flights (and I kind of hate hotels anyway). It has been a long time since I was last there but I recall learning there as a kid was quite easy as despite having almost no green runs most of the blues are simple and fun. I'm with your son on the ski school though. I've never followed instructions from strangers well and tend to just get aggravated when I want to do it my own way. A lot more fun to get some basic instruction and learn by trial and error than handholding the whole way... even if it takes longer.
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I've only looked at tour ops so far as it seems to take the hassle out of things...will take a look at the Andorra bus transfers though as Easyjet to Barca have very cheap flights.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| rachiem wrote: |
| I've only looked at tour ops so far as it seems to take the hassle out of things...will take a look at the Andorra bus transfers though as Easyjet to Barca have very cheap flights. |
For your own sanity allow 90min between scheduled flight arrival and bus departure time. I have done it with only 25min between the two, but only because I've only had carry-on and done it many times before. Feel free to ping me if you have questions.
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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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Les Arcs 2000 had wonderful blues, did it last season based on SH recommendations. Same with Obergurgl this year, with a common skipass with Solden (>3 days) .
Had excellent recommendations for Montgenevre for beginners, haven't been there yet
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| ysb33r wrote: |
| rachiem wrote: |
| I've only looked at tour ops so far as it seems to take the hassle out of things...will take a look at the Andorra bus transfers though as Easyjet to Barca have very cheap flights. |
For your own sanity allow 90min between scheduled flight arrival and bus departure time. I have done it with only 25min between the two, but only because I've only had carry-on and done it many times before. Feel free to ping me if you have questions. |
Thank you
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