 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello,
Thinking of doing a short break 3,4 or 5 nights end of January. Best flight options from Edinburgh seems to be Geneva.
There will be 3 adults.
We'll want to book on a shared transfer- any recommendations of companies to use or avoid as there seem to be lots.
Also need to come up with a shortlist of resorts. Ideally 1.5 hour max transfer so we can ski half days on arrival and departure.
We'll be looking for piste skiing blues, reds and blacks and probably do a decent mileage each day. So far have Morzine or Avoriaz as options- are these a good bet? Any other resorts to consider?
We're flexible re accommodation but would need 2 rooms.
Any suggestions 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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As well as PdS resorts (Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel.....) how about Grand Massif or Evasion Mont Blanc? Some great skiing in these areas, within an easy hour travel of GVA. You don’t mention apres as a big factor so Les Carroz, Morillon / Morillon 1100, Samoens, St Gervais, Les Contamines could all work. For transfers, once you have narrowed down your flights, post a request on www.findtransfers.com - various transfer companies will quote and if you’re happy to go on a shared transfer, can keep the cost down. Good luck
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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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@MCL, too much choice.
Avoriaz you might have trouble booking for short break? I am not current however.
Morzine IMO more fun and Nyon/Chamossiere/Les Gets easier to get to. Nowhere that tricky.
Transfer companies tend to be a little focused per resort e.g. SkiidyGonzales good for PdS but doesn't run to Chamonix.
Too much choice. check out j2ski for lists of resorts near airport.
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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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@MCL, PS you don’t say what sort of accommodation you’re looking for (s/c, hotel, chalet) or if the break will be over a weekend, so taking in two letting weeks - that does make a difference as to where you’ll end up
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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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Yes, the timing is critical - if spanning two separate weeks accommodation will be more problematical. Flaine is another place easily reached from Geneva.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Left field suggestion. Train from Geneva to La Chable. Stay in La Chable and get the gondola up to Verbier each morning.
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You can also train from the airport to Les Diablerets/ Villars/Gryon/Leysin which would be well suited for a 3 day short break.
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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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Although a big fan of Les Gets/ Morzine and have been there several times, you might want to also consider Megeve. We had a great short break there a couple of years ago. We had a car but our friends used the alpybus to meet us without any problems.
We stayed in this nice apartment https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/figal.en-gb.html which is walkable to town and shops. We had a car for the slopes but think the ski bus would stop outside.
I loved the skiing here and the town is very nice as well. We also used the car to go to Les Contamines which was a fantastic day out.
A car gives you great flexibility to get about. On the last day we went to the Grand Bornard.
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Worth considering is Champéry to ski PdS from Swiss side.
Train access direct to village centre, some hotel that appear to give you short stay options and the train arrives at the cable car station with access straight to altitude. I "think" there are lockers at the station there to enable luggage store at arrival and departure without having to immediately access hotel. So skiing ASAP seems possible.
Plenty of choice for slope on that side side too, also extensive mileage. Very nice village to stay in as well.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@MCL,
If you're wanting to ski on arrival /departure day I would go with a dedicated transfer or a car rental. Shared transfers tend to involve hanging around for others being transferred.
Not a huge area but a friend who went to Leysin and is a decent skier really enjoyed it for a short break.
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@MCL,
As @Montana, asks.... what type (and price point for accom).
I can make recommendations for Morzine/Avoriaz.
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You know it makes sense.
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We're (4 blokes late 50's) doing a 4 day trip to Megeve 2nd week in Jan. 3 flying to Geneva from Liverpool, 1 flying from London. Tea-time flights Thursday, hire car, Apartment in Megeve from Booking.com, return evening flights Monday evening. Done lots of short hops from Geneva but this will be first time in Evasion Mont-Blanc.
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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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Transfer time from Geneva airport to La Clusaz is about an hour according to various websites. It's a great ski area with a wide range of blues, reds and blacks. Can't advise as to specific transfer companies, when I went earlier this year with friends we rented a vehicle.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Chamonix / Argentiere.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Flaine
Decent amount of skiing and good snow record - handy, but not attractive. Quiet nightlife. 1 Hour from Geneva.
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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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@MCL. Last January we found it very easy to get a self-catering apartment in Morzine for 4 nights. The agency also organised the transfer, but otherwise Alpybus has been reliable for us.
The company we used was called Snow and Trek.
But plenty of other options as listed here, you just need to check transfer arrangements. It would be the ideal opportunity to explore somewhere you have never been.
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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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| Quote: |
possibly leaning toward self catering
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Booking.com is your friend for short S/C breaks. Never let me down.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| MCL wrote: |
We’ve seen flights Sunday morning from Edinburgh and returning Thursday night |
You would be our perfect guests. Using the apartment during the week and leaving it free for us to use at the weekend! If you decide to come to Verbier, and like the look of the apartment in the signature link, let me know and I’ll do you a deal 
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| jbob wrote: |
| Left field suggestion. Train from Geneva to La Chable. Stay in La Chable and get the gondola up to Verbier each morning. |
Hi doing a similar trip and this sounds tempting do you need to book train tickets in advance or can you just rock up (thinking about flight delay etc). Also how does verbier compare cost wise for food and drink. Used to the mega resorts of France where it's expensive but hear Switzerland is even more so?
Thanks
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| jbob wrote: |
| Left field suggestion. Train from Geneva to La Chable. Stay in La Chable and get the gondola up to Verbier each morning. |
Hi doing a similar trip and this sounds tempting do you need to book train tickets in advance or can you just rock up (thinking about flight delay etc). Also how does verbier compare cost wise for food and drink. Used to the mega resorts of France where it's expensive but hear Switzerland is even more so?
Thanks
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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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| jakemanc wrote: |
| jbob wrote: |
| Left field suggestion. Train from Geneva to La Chable. Stay in La Chable and get the gondola up to Verbier each morning. |
Hi doing a similar trip and this sounds tempting do you need to book train tickets in advance or can you just rock up (thinking about flight delay etc). Also how does verbier compare cost wise for food and drink. Used to the mega resorts of France where it's expensive but hear Switzerland is even more so?
Thanks |
You can just rock up at the station. It’s easy. Personally I don’t think it’s much more expensive than the big French resorts, at least for drinks. Maybe food is a bit more but also typically better quality.
Here is the menu from a restaurant that was one of my favourites in Val Thorens, although seems to have changed hands:
http://www.chalet2lacs.com/en/la-carte/
And here is an example bill from Dahu, one of the best restos in Verbier (Chf so minus 10% to compare with euros)
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@BobinCH, Do they do hot food?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@WindOfChange, yep pizzas around 25chf, other meat/fish dishes from 30-45chf. Best starter is 12 garlic snails at 22chf. Alas no menu online
And here’s La Vache, the James Blunt/Lawrence Dallaglio/Carl Fogarty place. It’s not as good IMO but seen Fergie and her family in there
And Chez Dany here (very good)! James Blunt was on next table having his New Years lunch a few years back
https://www.chezdany.ch/page/menu
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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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Have done the PdS a few times, and going twice this year, have also done La Clusaz, would recommend either of those.
Chamonix is fairly cheap and easy to get to from Geneva, or somewhere like St Gervais also. Haven't skied in either of these though.
Grand Massif area also nearby.
Then as mentioned a few of the Swiss areas are easy to get to, Verbier via La Chable.
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As a guideline to prices, I did a trawl through my winter 2018 receipts for the 4 Vallées (mainly around Verbier, La Tzoumaz and Siviez) for a US ski website and this is what I came up with as typical prices
- Item: CHF
On piste ** (2-star, typical on-piste place)
- Coffee: 4.50
- Vin Chaud: 4.80
- Apple Juice 30cl: 4.80
- Beer 33cl: 8
- Wine 20cl: 8
- Fruit tart: 5.50
- Veg Soup: 7.50 (Roll or Bread: +1.20)
- Bowl of Fries: 8
- Bowl of Goulash: 9 (Roll or Bread: +1.20)
- Veal Sausage & Fries: 15
- Pizza: 15
- Croûte aux Champignons: 20
- Fondue: 25
- (Big) Plate of local meats & cheeses: 25
Restaurant in town
*** Main course: 25-35 / Glass of wine: 8-12 (25cl size)
**** Main course: 30-60
Skipass
- Adult 4 Valleys 6 days incl. ins.: 590
- Adult 4 Valleys 4 days incl. ins.: 300
Equipment Hire 6 days (Standard vs 'VIP')
Adult Skis/Snowboard: 136 to 190
Adult Boots: 80 to 110
1 Day Heli-ski
1x Person in a group with guide: 480-530
Supermarket in the Resort
Roll: 0.90
Croissant: 1.30
1L Milk Carton: 1.55
300g Baguette: 2.80
6 eggs: 2.95
«Baguette herbes St.Bernard»: 4.20
500g Walnut Rye Bread Loaf («Pain de seigle aux noix»): 6.20
750g Rösti: 4.90
Beefburger: 6.80
Crunchy nutty B'fast Cereal 750g: 7.30
75cl Sauvignon Blanc: 11.90
6x25cl Grimbergen Beer: 12.95
320g Pizza Margherita: 18.30
Petrol
98 RON Petrol: 1.71-1.77/L
But you do have to be careful: e.g. if you find yourself using somewhere like the Carlsberg in Verbier, which is bang in the middle of the main run down, then expect these prices to go up a fair bit. And there are Places To Be Seen in Verbier, like the Carrefour outdoor café, or the Croix de Coeur where helicopters pick you up for a day's off-piste, that will add a premium.
Comparing prices in the resort supermarket to shopping en route at a Co-Op superstore, the latter was around 11% cheaper for the same product. Obviously, though, the superstore had a lot more choice and special offers than the resort supermarket.
Last edited by 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  on Fri 22-11-19 17:57; edited 7 times in total
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You know it makes sense.
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| halfhand wrote: |
| Quote: |
possibly leaning toward self catering
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Booking.com is your friend for short S/C breaks. Never let me down. |
Personally, I would try AirBnB first. Partially as it charges both the booker and the host significantly less ... and we get much nicer clients through AirBnB for some reason 
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