 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
Looking forward to the coming season, and at present booked up for our annual trip to Avoriaz during Easter hols.
I'm desperate to fit another cheeky trip away in before then, and am mulling over a self-drive-self-catering trip to a lesser known (and hopefully cheaper) smaller resort somewhere.
We're in Newcastle, so the Newcastle-Amsterdam car ferry is a good option, so wondering about small German resorts perhaps?
Any suggestions from the forum please?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We drive to Austria in 1 day from Hook of Holland. Usually arriving between 7pm and 9pm, depending on traffic.
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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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Whilst there are a number of small "resorts" dotted around Germany most of them are no more than one or two lifts, really only of interest to locals when there is decent snow (which in some seasons never appears). Certainly not worth the effort of travelling from Newcastle on the off chance there might be snow. There are some bigger places in the Black Forest and Bayerischer Wald but the effort involved in getting there means you would be better off going to the Alps. I would guess the nearest area and (currently) almost toll free drive from Amsterdam would be the Vorarlberg where there are a number of smaller resorts often with very good snow records eg Damüls which is supposed to be the snowiest spot in the alps.
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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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Thanks both for the replies. I half expected that to be the answer - I was just wondering if there was somewhere I wasn't aware of.
@munich_irish - I will look into the places that you mentioned, incase they suit what we're looking for.
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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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Winterberg, but only for a weekend, and only if the snow makes it worth it.
But even with an overnight ferry, you still basically lose a day at each end of the trip by the time you get to even the nearest ski hill. Or it's a 12 hour drive to anywhere in the Alps.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@giddyman, with flights at £148 from Newcastle to Munich, you could be in the SkiWelt about 4-5 hours after take off (2 hour flight) with a hire car or by train to Wörgl and then taxi, and at less than half the price of taking the ferry and driving. It is much cheaper to drive at half term and Easter when everyone wants to fly, but outside of that flying beats everything else. Look at mid-late January for the best prices and good snow conditions.
A small apartment in somewhere like Söll can be found for under €500 if you don't mind being on the edge of town and taking a short bus ride to the lifts, passes are €249, and there are plenty of reasonable places to eat and drink if you don't fancy cooking. See https://www.skiwelt.at/en/search-accommodation.html
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Harz mountain range in northern Germany.
Has about 25km of piste spread over 5 'resorts' and 400m of vertical.
Would I bother driving and getting a ferry all the way from Newcastle? Probably not.
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Ditch Car im Amsterdam..Rotterdam or Eindhoven
Take a cheal Transavia flight to Innsbrucl or Salzburg
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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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| andy wrote: |
Winterberg, but only for a weekend, and only if the snow makes it worth it.
But even with an overnight ferry, you still basically lose a day at each end of the trip by the time you get to even the nearest ski hill. Or it's a 12 hour drive to anywhere in the Alps. |
Agreed. Willingen is also only 30min away which makes for a combined skiing total of....37km. It's more than a tow rope on a barely sled-able hill but it obviously pales in comparison to anywhere in the Alps. The thing that has going for it is that it's "only" 3.5 hours by car from Amsterdam and would be more than an ok budget option for beginners in your party.
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| Quote: |
It is much cheaper to drive at half term and Easter
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I prob should have mentioned, I'm tied to school holidays because my wife is a teacher, pretty much the only reason I'm considering the ferry. I'd normally just get a cheap easyJet flight to Geneva.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Landgraaf. Guaranteed snow, cheap all-inclusive deals, 3 pomas and a 6man chair, all just 2.5hrs by train or car from Amsterdam.
Never ever been closed by high winds, rain, or any adverse weather. Used by major national ski teams, that’s how good the 2 runs are 
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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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| Quote: |
Winterberg, but only for a weekend, and only if the snow makes it worth it.
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Willingen is also only 30min away which makes for a combined skiing total of....37km
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These are the types of suggestions I was looking for 👍.
To give a little more context to my OG post - I have 2 young boys, 6yrs and 3yrs. That obviously tips the balance a bit when comparing to flights + transfer. My eldest boy is a very good snowboarder for his age, the youngest is still learning. So this trip is intended to just give some bonus snow time to them prior to our main trip at Easter. With this in mind, I'm not too fussy about expert terrain/quantity of runs.
Thanks to all for replies - all good options. 
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You know it makes sense.
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@giddyman, I've skied in Willingen back in the day. It was a cold winter in Europe if I remember with loads of snow and we had a lot of fun. I was amazed you could ski in those altitudes. The kids were probably similar age to yours then. It's as good as it gets away from the Alps in Germany. But you will need to wait until the last minute, there are no guarantees on snow cover in that part of the world. And when it dumps it books up quick so keep an eye on it.
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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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Good snow in Scotland is at least as likely as good snow in many of these places - closer, cheaper for a last minute hop. That's where I'd be looking if I lived in Newcastle.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| pam w wrote: |
| Good snow in Scotland is at least as likely as good snow in many of these places - closer, cheaper for a last minute hop. That's where I'd be looking if I lived in Newcastle. |
This.
Go to Scotland or England.
Nevis, Glencoe, Yad Moss, etc.
Belgium has a couple ski resorts, near to Holland, like Val de Wanne.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| Yad Moss, etc. |
Nice one, fair enough on the place, a true enthusiast's location, but you'd be just as well served in any of the UK fridges shirley..
Agree with the tip on Landgraaf in SE Holland, it's a far superior option and easy to get to from anywhere in the Benelux, including a chunk of NW Germany and Calais/Amsterdam. Tried it October half-term on account of being in the area anyway and was very impressed. Amazing facility for indoors and a great fun-park for the kids and boarders. 400m descent and a 6seater lift indoors you don't see very often.
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