 Poster: A snowHead
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Are there any good ski resorts/hotels that take good care of the non-skiing elderly? Looking to go to a nice big resort with two other skiers but want a hotel that will cater to the non-skier with good wellness/spa and day trip excursions while the others ski. Anything like that around?
The time period is this mid-December.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@südtirolistdeutsch, plenty of hotels around the Alps that have wellness/spa and day trip options.
More of a constraint is where you will find good snow conditions for skiing this mid December. Do you have any countries, areas, ski resorts in mind?
Areas with high altitude and/or glacier skiing and/or excellent snowmaking facilities is what you usually need in mid December.
A lot of areas don’t open lift systems until the week before Christmas.
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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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How old is elderly? Is the person on their own or with another non-skier?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| PeakyB wrote: |
@südtirolistdeutsch, plenty of hotels around the Alps that have wellness/spa and day trip options.
More of a constraint is where you will find good snow conditions for skiing this mid December. Do you have any countries, areas, ski resorts in mind?
Areas with high altitude and/or glacier skiing and/or excellent snowmaking facilities is what you usually need in mid December.
A lot of areas don’t open lift systems until the week before Christmas.
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Ideally we'd be looking at Kurfar in the Dolomites or Saalbach. We'd prefer a German speaking resort but we still have snow in mind, currently the top contenders are Obergurgl, Cervinia, St Moritz, and Livigno
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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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| Themasterpiece wrote: |
| How old is elderly? Is the person on their own or with another non-skier? |
Quite old, early 80s. We plan on rotating so she's not alone too much, however there will be a day or too when we all ski together so we do need a hotel that can keep her entertained.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Zermatt.
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| Zermatt. |
I'd tend to agree but the disjointed and ultimately more skilled slopes are off-putting to us skiers. Any chance Cervinia would be the same sort of experience or is it more of a purpose-built Avoriaz or La Plagne?
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Same here regarding Zermatt, great place to visit but will hold reservations for different outlooks within visitors.
Cervinia, not like Avoriaz or La Plagne. A high mountain town with a mix of architecture built up over different era's, so evolved rather than dropped in as one concept like the comparator's above.
I like it and think it offers alot of answers to your request. It sits "in" the snow rather than having to travel away into the ski slopes, making it convenient for a mixed group.
High for, hopefully, early season snow. South facing with good light levels in December. A real high street with various hotels, café and restaurants.
It has pedestrian access up to snow areas with places for lunch etc so fairly inclusive if that is desirable.
As I've said I like the feel and atmosphere of it and think it offers a realistic choice for you.
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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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Make sure your elderly person has first-rate "crampons" for their footwear - and the right footwear - or they'll be terrified to be out on icy pavements. A pair of walking poles wouldn't go amiss, either. And, obviously, warm clothes. And some good books.
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Innsbruck
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Have a look at the Klammers Karntern in Bad Hofgastein. Its a good 4* Hotel in a Thermal Spa town. I stayed there and there were lots of elderly German speakers staying there so it works for that age group.Pianist every night in the bar.
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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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@südtirolistdeutsch, given that mid December is very low season, could you just wait to see where snow is good and book a hotel a few days before departure?
Lots of accommodation available and often good discounts for late booking.
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| Quote: |
could you just wait to see where snow is good and book a hotel a few days before departure?
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good idea
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You know it makes sense.
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"Perty" over on the Zermatt / Cervinia thread has just posted they've skied down to Chalet Etoile for lunch in Cervinia from Zermatt, both on and off piste.
Looks like Cervinia has enough snow already not to give you a concern if booking there. It's generally good start to season there anyway with the altitude it occupies.
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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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I don't know what there would be to do for a octogenarian non skier in Cervinia? There isn't much going on other than Skiing. It also shuts for a very long lunch.
Unless you spend your money on a Spar Hotel. Kaprun in Austria has the Glacier. Or Zell am see next door. You can get the bus between the two. I'm staying here now. In the Active Hotel. It's got a Spa. Snow cannons are going full tilt on the Kitzsteinhorn. But no new snow is forecast.
It's all in Cervinia or North America..
Loads of people ask where to take non skiers. You get the same answers. Unless there into ski shops there's not much for a non skier in a ski resort. Insbruk looks like a great compromise.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Cervinia was at the OP's impetus.
As it's a ski forum its always realistically going to be ski led.........No? Of course there's going to be limited interest for a non skier, especially as the OP is asking for someway decent snow in mid December. Cervinia is already flagging itself by being open when others are yet to get much at all.
If the skiing where not principle then they might as well not ask on a ski forum, save the additional cost premium of going to a ski village and take another holiday entirely. That was not the question though.
Days spent at a high mountain ski village allowing most of the group to enjoy it can easily be blended with a more leisurely visit depending on outlook of non skier. After skiing the socialising is going to be for the whole group, the atmosphere there along with decent food and drink is a valid reason to visit.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ski3,. You seem a bit miffed by my comments.?.
I Speek from experience as my partner doesn't ski and doesn't want to snow shoe or spend her entire holiday waiting for me to come of the hill whilst wandering around a ski focust mountain village. I'm always looking for options that would suit us both.
I've been to Cervinia and spent 3 days waiting for the lift to open after high winds forced closure. Which is a common problem. There is nothing to do and it closes for at least 2 hours for lunch. I think it only fare to point out that if you take a non skier to a ski resort, there's generally not much else going on.
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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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Given your requirements, accepting the skier non-skier debate above, Saas-Fee is another option. There will definitely be good skiing mid station and above which is quite a lot. Picturesque village for non-skier and they can make it up to the very top of the mountain for lovely views at the revolving restaurant without having to put a foot on the actual snow.
Lots of (pricey) nice spa hotels there, can't recommend one as have always gone cheap and cheerful as possible. My non-skiing mother went with us there 10 years or so back and loved it.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The Ermitage in Gstaad (Schönried). Outstanding, huge spa in a beautiful town with a decent ski area.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sun 18-11-18 12:52; edited 1 time in total
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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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Kitzbuhel
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Ermitage in Gstaad. Outstanding spa in a beautiful town with a decent ski area.
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| LeglesWonder wrote: |
@ski3,. You seem a bit miffed by my comments.?.
I Speek from experience as my partner doesn't ski and doesn't want to snow shoe or spend her entire holiday waiting for me to come of the hill whilst wandering around a ski focust mountain village. I'm always looking for options that would suit us both.
I've been to Cervinia and spent 3 days waiting for the lift to open after high winds forced closure. Which is a common problem. There is nothing to do and it closes for at least 2 hours for lunch. I think it only fare to point out that if you take a non skier to a ski resort, there's generally not much else going on. |
How often do winds shut things down? Are you saying that they shut down all lifts for two hours so the lift operators can get lunch???
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| Rowlski wrote: |
Given your requirements, accepting the skier non-skier debate above, Saas-Fee is another option. There will definitely be good skiing mid station and above which is quite a lot. Picturesque village for non-skier and they can make it up to the very top of the mountain for lovely views at the revolving restaurant without having to put a foot on the actual snow.
Lots of (pricey) nice spa hotels there, can't recommend one as have always gone cheap and cheerful as possible. My non-skiing mother went with us there 10 years or so back and loved it. |
How is Saas? Are there as many lift closures due to winds as in Cervinia?
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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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Anywhere with pretty well guaranteed good snow in mid December is likely to be high and exposed and therefore quite prone to high winds and lift closures - I've quite a lot of early season days in Tignes, for the same reasons. And good snow now doesn't necessarily guarantee good snow in 3 - 4 weeks time.
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Been in saas twice at Easter. High winds they do shut the lifts and if it shows they do a lot of avalanche blasting ( understandable) so not has quick to open. SaaS is quite steep if you are with an older person but it is beautiful
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@südtirolistdeutsch,
The lifts are closed for high winds, not for the lifties to have lunch! Many of the shops in the village do close midday tho' . Not that daft ,if most of your clientele are 'on the mountain'.....
I have been in Cervinia and Saas fee when the lifts were closed due to high winds 
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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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@südtirolistdeutsch, High winds close the lifts as it's too dangerous.due to the gondolas swinging around However. Zermatt on the Swiss side of the Matterhorn, have just opened a new lift that will operate if it's windy. It's very high up on the Glacier. You may not want to be up there in bad weather.
The reference to Cervinia being shut for a long lunch is daily. Restaurants are open but all shops shut.
It's a gamble going high.
I'm off to Sainte Foy in France mid December on a course. It's surrounded by 5 main resorts so we will drive daily to where ever is good for snow.
Sorry for the delay in replying. I've just got back home to the UK from Austria
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@LeglesWonder, not "miffed" but methodology to explore their choices. Your words, along with mine, have to withstand detailed scrutiny to allow the OP a best view of what is available to fulfill their request based on all the responses. Just my view, I'm comfortable with that.
I was taught in business to "flip " the question as it will most likely uncover your own view of how the priorities lay. Think December trip you are always going to be chasing snow conditions as primary. That severely limits the destination unless unbounded snow arrives. Fitting in non skiing is going to depend on facilities cascading after that. If it's the other way round then it's probably the wrong holiday/destination.
As an example, thought I saw you're heading to Ste Foy? We took two non skiers there recently. It looks as though there's not much to do but they had one of the best weeks away by their own account. Based on social time, they had some limited swimming etc, but what made it so good in their view was pedestrian access on first lift for lunch each day with the skiers, along with aprés time, quite a few books to read and generally feeling included. I honestly feel Cervinia offers similar interactions as skiing back to village for lunch etc is no impediment or effort to those on the mountain.
Also, generally access around the village is good for most pedestrians.
It wasn't on the OP list of places, else I'd have suggested somewhere like Flaine and the Hotel Le Totem as having the non skier right in the thick of daily interaction. It usually gets felled on here by cries of "we don't like the architecture " but couldn't be more convenient for mixed group social aspects. Usually snow is decent, in a bowl so lifts are reasonably protected, skiers never far from centre and good for mixed ski abilities.
Regarding lift closure, as others, I've sat in most ski areas I've been to at some point with lift closed for wind safety. Longest though was Chamonix for 3 days due to rain, we were put on standby to evacuate house by Gendarmerie because they were getting nervous about snow stability 
I hoped we've given realistic a picture to enable them a decision. I've always felt that even if I didn't ski then a week sitting up in the high mountains just relaxing and reading books would do me just fine, it's such a beautiful environment.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Ideally we'd be looking at Kurfar in the Dolomites or Saalbach. We'd prefer a German speaking resort but we still have snow in mind, currently the top contenders are Obergurgl, Cervinia, St Moritz, and Livigno
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I can definitely recommend the Hotel Table in Corvara. It has a very comfortable sitting area in reception which often has a fire going and the bar / coffee area is nice and large with plenty of seats always available. The Boe lift is a short and flat walk away and the cabin will take you up to a large modern restaurant with fantastic views. Very friendly and hospitable staff. We'll be going again in January for the 4th year running.
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| Make sure your elderly person has first-rate "crampons" for their footwear - and the right footwear - or they'll be terrified to be out on icy pavements. A pair of walking poles wouldn't go amiss, either. And, obviously, warm clothes. And some good books. |
Absolutely second this! Took my mother to Val d'isere last year and good boots and a hiking stick were invaluable. Made her a lot less cautious!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Junfrau - Wengen, Muerren and Grindelwald always have a good number of non skiers who are content to amble around using the trains, lifts and walking paths. Generally possible to meet up at a train/lift/walk accessed restaurant.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wait until a little nearer the time to see what the conditions are, the hotels will not be booked up in mid December so you can risk leaving it late. If there is snow then Lech would be a wonderful place. Great thing with Lech is the potential for the non skier to join the skiers for lunch in a wide variety of restaurants and lots of lovely sunny terraces ( if the sun is shining). I agree also about Val d'Isere where there is lots to see and do apart from skiing and good transport around the area.
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FAQ
