 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello
We usually ski at half term due to kids/wife’s job but that isn’t looking possible next year so I am looking in to New Year skiing as an alternative.
We are low to middling intermediates and as a family are not too fussed about the apres. We usually do self catering/room only.
I quite fancy somewhere a bit different so have been looking at Trysil and Banff... are they likely to be too cold/not have much snow? Would we better off looking somewhere high in France/Italy/Austria? Any advice/recommendations would be much appreciated! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Everywhere seems to be a bit of a gamble at new year. Scandinavia can be cold of course (and it goes dark quite early), but when we've been in Åre and Sälen that time of year, they work hard to get most of the resort open by Christmas. Not been to Trysil at that time of year, but I’d expect the same (we've been to Lillehammer and that was good). Check out the skistar website as the changeover dates may be strange - for Åre it looks to be Thur 27 Jan - Thur 3 Feb. The week after will be much cheaper.
We had planned to go to Tignes for new year this year - in the end we didn’t and skied in Sweden - and were glad with the decision as they had the opposite problem in France of too much snow, huge delays in getting to the resort, the resort being closed for a few days due to avalanche risk etc.
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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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@smudger, New Year in Europe is awful - super crowded everywhere. Could you do xmas week instead?
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Have a think about what you like doing on New Year’s Eve too. Trysill doesn’t have a lot to it unless you drive into town (too far to walk at night). There’s a bit more of a “village” on the park inn side but touristcentre will just consist of drinking at the radisson I would imagine.
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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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Here's a thought. New year is awful as everyone goes on holiday and does the same thing. You are low to middling intermediates. Why not go to a really small / unimportant resort which doesn't attract all the international tourists? The resort will be good enough for your family (you don't need 200km of slopes) and not jammed full of everyone else.
I'm Banff's number one fan but not sure about at NY - crowded (remember the mythical "2 weeks a year" of US holiday, I bet they all try to take it then), and also notoriously cold at least in mid-late January.
From Portugal I have to look more at what the Pyrenees has to offer, more than Grandvalira, Bacqueira and Bagneres. Someone said last week they were nearly alone on the slopes.
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Never been (to Sauze or the hotel) at the time of year, so dont know how busy it is, but for different and reasonably priced.....Orso Bianco at Sportinia (2050 odd metres) in Sauze d'oulx, perfect improving beg/int resort. You are up the mountain but can pay for a skidoo down (and back up) to the village, they do fireworks for New Year, the food is decent and ski hire shop attached. Ski school meets outside and it is ski in/ out.....in fact if you prop the doors open you might be able to ski into your room! With their accommodation all full at that time of year i expect the atmosphere in the evenings would be excellent - it was decent despite being half full when I went in January. Half board with wine and really friendly, so worth a look.....www.sportinia.it
Search sportinia run on you tube, the guy skis up to their door at the end
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Thanks everyone - a lot to consider.
I hadn't really realised NY would be overly busy (naive, I know). Is it worse than half term? That's when we usually ski...
Christmas week isn't really an option due to family commitments but early April could be a decent alternative.
It may be time to go back to the drawing board!
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Is there more than one New Year? 
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@smudger, it never gets ‘that’ busy in Scandinavia. Queues are typically 5-15 mins even at peak weeks.
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We usually go at quiet times (second week of Jan and third week of March) but went to Alpbach for New year this year as we were going with family who had restricted holidays. It wasn't too busy, some queue's but nothing major. The advice above regarding smaller resorts sounds sensible. If it's the only time you can go I wouldn't hesitate!
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