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Good resort for skiers and non skiers!

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi all!

I’m looking for recommendations for a ski resort that has good skiing for advanced intermediates but also a nice enough town and facilities that a non skier would be able to enjoy themselves. Even better if there’s good public transport links to a nearby city...

Thanks!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@MancSkier, In Austria I would suggest Kitzbuhel and Zell am See both of which are nice towns and have railway connections to Innsbruck for a day out, or alternatively Schladming which has rail connection to Salzburg.
In Switzerland I'd suggest one of the Jungfrau region resorts (Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren) which has fantastic scenery (the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains), good skiing and because of the mountain railway system is easy for non skiers to get about and meet up with their skiing friends on the mountain for lunch. Also the town of Interlaken is nearby too and just a short rail journey away.
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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?
Cortina, Italy

Plenty to do and see in town.

Venice doable as a day trip.
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I'd second Kitzbuhel. We have a non skier in our party- next year will be her 3rd consecutive year there. She loves it. The tourist info office put on loads of guided walks and snow shoe walks. There's loads to do. And the town is lovely. And great skiing too!
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Check out Aosta. Live in a real town, travel to the ski resort of Pila by gondola. Great public transport to other resorts like Courmayeur or Le Thuile even a cheap bus or train to Turin.
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@MancSkier, 2nd vote for Schladming or anywhere in the Ski Amade. Flachau has loads to offer too and only 45 mins to Salzburg. Free bus to Radstadt to jump on the train. Austrian Curling, Snowshoeing, winter sleigh and horse rides, "wellness" at the Therme Amade. Link thing here:https://www.flachau.com/en/more/information/touristboard.html
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
May I suggest tignes: options include snow mobiles, diving under the ice, ice climbing, indoor pool and climbing wall, snow shoeing, good walks and if warm enough via ferrata
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
I'd second the Jungfrau region or Cortina. Tignes would probably be the last place I would choose; or possibly that honour would go to Val Thorens. My non-skiing partner enjoyed Chamonix, but used the car quite a bit to get around.
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@Hurtle, I cannot think of a lot to do in Cortina TBH and I've been there quite a lot in the summer
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Depends on your budget, but obv Zermatt is excellent. Chamonix has plenty going on too.
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I can recommend Zell am See. Beautiful resort and good for non-skiers. It has a train station so you can easily go to Salzberg as well.

It's easy to meet up with the skiers, and there are lots of walking routes and the glacier at Kaprun (and rollercoaster!).
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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.
Zell is great. It's supposed to be joining the ski circus soon too
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
1. Zermatt.
2. Lech.
3. Davos.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Look at Serre Chevalier. Lots of skiing, Briancon has old town, the villages are all worth an hour or so wander round . Thermal.baths at Monetier and very regular buses up and down the valley
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
The non skiers that come with us on occasions, love Zell am See. Loads to do there as it is a regional town centre that has many facilities, good trains and public transport etc. The tourist office website gives you the info
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
HoneyBunny wrote:
I can recommend Zell am See. Beautiful resort and good for non-skiers. It has a train station so you can easily go to Salzberg as well.

It's easy to meet up with the skiers, and there are lots of walking routes and the glacier at Kaprun (and rollercoaster!).


Plus an ice hockey stadium, large indoor swimming pool, the nearby TauernSpa, sledge runs, driving on ice, cinema, casino, etc. In reality, most large Austrian ski resorts offer much for non-skiers. Can’t comment on other countries.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Had you considered reversing the question i.e. looking for an interesting location that's close to a ski area, or areas? I know the Swiss Valais best, but there are plenty of similar areas in the Alps. For example, you could stay at somewhere in the valley: a town like, say Martigny; or a spa like the Bains de Saillon; or a larger city like Lausanne, and the skiers drive out to different resorts using an area pass like the Swiss Magic Pass. The sell to the skiers is they can try a load of different places. Let's face it, even the best resorts are still resorts.
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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?
Quote:

Let's face it, even the best resorts are still resorts.

This is always a difficult question because without knowing far more about what "non skiers" might want, it's impossible to give much of a response. I would be happy as a non-skier somewhere I could do some not-too-strenuous scenic mountain walks and snow-shoeing, join skiers for nice lunches and read lots of good books. I wouldn't care if I didn't go near a shop or an art gallery! For me, mountain scenery and snowy ambiance would be a high priority - and the availability of trains in the Jungfrau region would be a big plus.
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@pam w,
Quote:

I would be happy as a non-skier somewhere I could do some not-too-strenuous scenic mountain walks and snow-shoeing, join skiers for nice lunches and read lots of good books. I wouldn't care if I didn't go near a shop or an art gallery! For me, mountain scenery and snowy ambiance would be a high priority - and the availability of trains in the Jungfrau region would be a big plus.

Spot on. And it's what my ex wanted as well. Wengen was his favourite place for all of this.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Why do we always assume that non skiers only want to do non physical activities?

My non skiing friends are happy climbing, walking, etc. They just have no interest in skiing that's all. Or shopping, or museums or olde towns.
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@johnE,
Quote:

Or shopping, or museums or olde towns.

To be fair, I have an interest in all of these things (well, not shopping) but they wouldn't be a priority for me when in the mountains.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Yes, I like museums and old towns too, sailing and quiet Pacific beaches. But I don't need one holiday to provide all those - and to get the best from the mountains you need to be right in them!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Avoriaz ?

Excellent water park in the resort.

Morzine which is a proper Haute Savoie town is easily accessible by lift

Advanced intermediate heaven too!
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johnE wrote:
Why do we always assume that non skiers only want to do non physical activities?

My non skiing friends are happy climbing, walking, etc. They just have no interest in skiing that's all. Or shopping, or museums or olde towns.



Get some new friends wink
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Alastair Pink wrote:
In Switzerland I'd suggest one of the Jungfrau region resorts (Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren)


This. A million* non-skiing Japanese tourists can't be wrong!

(*slight exaggeration)
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@maggi, good point!
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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.
When my mother’s back got too bad for her to ski, our family trips shifted from France to Kitzbuhel and Wengen; both places seemed to work really well and she could join us up the mountain for lunch.
Only downside was that each trip cost my father a fortune in fur-covered walking boots, down mittens and similar ‘80s ski fashion - my mum has plenty of time for the very good shopping in both places!
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I've never really understood "shopping". I go to a shop if I want to buy something specific, then go home. I don't just walk around looking in shops for things I might want to buy, I absolutely hate that! Shops in ski resorts just sell overpriced ski stuff and overpriced crappy souvenirs.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
HoneyBunny wrote:
I've never really understood "shopping". I go to a shop if I want to buy something specific, then go home.

I do (understand). I even do it myself after the lifts close. When others drink for apres, I go shopping! Cool

Technically, it’s called “window-shopping”. Though these days, it’s often called “shopping“. But it’s only “shopping” if one actually bought anything.

I “window-shop” jewelry stores. It’s lovely to stare at. But I don’t wear jewelry so I never buy anything.

In Switzerland, I love to go into watch shops, which seems to be in every ski towns. Toofy Grin
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
HoneyBunny wrote:
I've never really understood "shopping". I go to a shop if I want to buy something specific, then go home. I don't just walk around looking in shops for things I might want to buy, I absolutely hate that!


[Possible sexist comment alert!]:

I thought a certain section of the female population positively enjoyed shopping, I thought they referred to it as "retail therapy" wink
And their motto is "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!" Toofy Grin

Lights blue touch paper and retires..... Madeye-Smiley
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Alastair Pink, it's the same with men, though they tend to buy gear and gadgets rather than clothes and shoes. But they're lazy and do it all sitting down and clicking. NehNeh
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@maggi, substitute the word 'lazy' with the words 'highly efficient ' and I'd totally agree with you. Very Happy
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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?
It's not "highly efficient" to spend 173 hours comparing the minute differences in specification between 12 different gear boxes. None of which would be noticeable whilst trying to focus on traffic conditions whilst stopping two children from killing each other in the back seat,
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My experience with many "non-skiers" is they are not particularly interested in climbing walls or snow-shoeing either. And those resorts with best scenery - you can see in one morning. So where can you go for proper shopping, culture, buzz and stuff going on IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY when all skiers are on mountain? (Definitely *not* Tignes).
Chamonix probably up there with best but because of fragmented nature of ski terrain very difficult to meet skiers or lunch
And Kitzbuhel definitely good also
I think Zermatt too small- might seem like lot going on if you take one day off but you couldn't fill a week, and it's very isolated
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@peanuthead, Clearly your experience is not the same as mine.

@pam w,
Quote:

It's not "highly efficient" to spend 173 hours comparing the minute differences in specification between 12 different gear boxes.

I am curious as to where these very specific numbers come from.

I have actually taken apart gear boxes from both Japanese and British motorcycles and found the difference between the use of a lay shaft fascinating. How can you not be fascinated in how things work.
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Genuine question...why is the non skier even going? Why do they not go somewhere else that appeals to them?
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Quote:

you couldn't fill a week

I could "fill a week" anywhere, and most certainly in Zermatt, Wengen or Chamonix. But
Quote:

why is the non skier even going? Why do they not go somewhere else that appeals to them?


is a valid question. If people need the kind of manufactured entertainment they can't find in the mountains, they should go somewhere else! If one part of a couple likes skiing, or shopping, or sitting in a tub of bodily fluids and bacteria or sailing or touring art galleries, and the other doesn't, surely separate holidays with like-minded friends is a good answer?
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@pam w, maybe that's just us!
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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.
holidayloverxx wrote:
Genuine question...why is the non skier even going? Why do they not go somewhere else that appeals to them?


My husband is a non-skier. He loves the mountains, the scenery, the snow and the general ambience. I'm sure many non-skiers are the same. Personally I'd think that going to a ski resort, or even a ski town, and not skiing would be massively boring but there you go.
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@HoneyBunny, yes..if the non skiers love the mountains etc that's great but so often people are trying to find things that are pretty out of place in the mountains
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