 Poster: A snowHead
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Anywhere still worth it (can only easily get flights to Geneva), and if so where, recommended transfers (don't want to hire car), accommodation
(s/c ideal), etc please. Only place which I know is Cham/Argentiere, and that was for climbing, not skiing.
Can get out anytime after about 6th April, but Easter's the weekend of the 10th so presume might be busy & expensive (?). So was wondering about the later dates in April.
Can get flights on couple of weekdays or, I think, Sunday (not Sat) - at this time of year are there issues with 'changeover days' or could I travel midweek, do a slightly long or short 'week' etc?
Thanks.
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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 or Avoriaz should still be ok that time of year.
Well for around 6th April, not so much mid to late April.
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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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Always ski the GM inc Flaine at Easter. Easter does not tend to get too busier either, as it's not a big holiday for French families.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Grizzler, Fly to Geneva, train to Bourg st Maurice, bus to Tignes.
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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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book flights after Easter and decide where to go nearer the time?? Trois Vallees is a 2 hour drive from GVA so plenty of options...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks.
Seen another similar thread on the Resorts section: mentioned La Clusaz also, Les Contamines?
I've no experience of French resorts, hence why asking; and hence probably saying something thick also. Research on late snow places also suggest Morzine, Grand Montets, Tignes & Val D'Isere, Zermatt, Cervinia... And is Cham itself still any good?
Guess that the real question's going to be transfer times, costs and availability, so where's best to look for them? Do not want to lug gear around on train & bus: just straight taxi/minibus airport to door & return. Car hire seems pointless if in 1 resort all week - or might there be an advantage (e.g. lack of ski busses?)
(Like the poster on the other thread, I'm just struggling to get April flights to Austria, else would go high there.)
And is the not 7 day (or not standard arrival day) accommodation an issue, or pretty much do I just book flights then find accommodation easily enough?
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Les Contamines tends to stay open a week or two later than the rest of the megeve area. Probably more reliable than port de soleil as well. Safest bet is probably Chamonix and skiing in Grand montets (and whichever resorts are open - le tour tends to stay open longest of the others). If you have been before and like it I would go there. Though as a previous poster suggested it’s easy enough to book the flights and then sort out accommodation and transfers last minute. The season may go on later in other resorts though it’s a bit of a risk to book. I think last year Les Contamines closed around 22nd and GM first few days of May. Though touring options after that.
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I have a friend with an apartment in Chamonix who said they sometimes took trips to Les Contamines to find best local snow. Only a relatively small part of the (not v big) Les Contamines domaine is likely to be open if the snow generally is poor. But it is the best part - apart from Veleray which is often closed even in mid winter, because of aspect I guess. And it'll be super-quiet.
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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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| Quote: |
I'm just struggling to get April flights to Austria, else would go high there.
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Why? There are 3 flights a day from Birmingham to Innsbruck in April
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Accommodation providers should be flexible in April as it's low season -e.g Pierre et Vacances (do self-catering in the big apartment blocks in many French resorts) will accept any date range by then.
I'm not sure how many shared minibus transfer options will be available by then; you could get a private transfer, but I reckon that'll end up costing noticeably more than a hire car
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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When does les conts close? Megeve closing 13th. Why is it so darn hard to find these things on their websites? Idiots!
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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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It’s never known with certainty as it depends on conditions. I would expect Les Contamines to be a week later base on previous years.
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My friend and I are heading to La Plagne on the 18th April for a week. Plenty of skiing above 2,000m there. We are staying at Aime La Plagne which is at 2,100m height. Driving out so hopefully the roads will be empty and dry !!
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You know it makes sense.
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| johnE wrote: |
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I'm just struggling to get April flights to Austria, else would go high there.
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Why? There are 3 flights a day from Birmingham to Innsbruck in April |
Lucky folk who live anywhere near Brum, then... Nothing else from out of my northern (English or Scottish) end once the winter charters stop as far as I can see bar GVA.
Just had a quick look on Skyscanner and only 2 very expensive J2 flights left out of out of Man in the whole of the month, and ditto TUI, otherwise nothing direct out at all to INN as far as I can see. And, frankly, I don't want to go out of MAN at all, nor have to drive there - but that's my only other realistic option.
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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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| viv wrote: |
| I'm not sure how many shared minibus transfer options will be available by then; you could get a private transfer, but I reckon that'll end up costing noticeably more than a hire car |
Yes, I just Googled transfers quickly. Not an expert on them, but I found Alpybus, which looked good but offered very little except to Morzine and maybe a couple of others.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Easybus go to Chamonix and are good (and cheap) depending on accommodation (great for Cham Sud area).
Mountain drop-offs and Haute Transfers also good and usually keep going.
Alpybus would normally be my last resort but I am sure they will do the job.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Easybus go to Chamonix and are good (and cheap) depending on accommodation (great for Cham Sud area).
Mountain drop-offs and Haute Transfers also good and usually keep going.
Alpybus would normally be my last resort but I am sure they will do the job.
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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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@Grizzler, What about Edinburgh - Innsbruck or even Newcastle - Munich. Not cheep but available.
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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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@Chamboy, closing is actually known with a degree of certainty, in one direction, as (defined duration) contracts can't (or at least not easily) be extended. Whereas early closing is of course a real possibility.
You are quite right though, Les Contamines closing date 19.4.20 per https://www.lescontamines.com/winter/winter-2019-2020-opening-dates
@Grizzler, no, you are right, direct Innsbruck or Vienna scheduled flights next to non-existent out of the North. Re Transfers, you need to decide (in principal) your destination first then see if you can get a transfer. I don't think there's a clever enough website that let's you reverse that process. Transfers in and out of Chamonix are available all year. No idea about anywhere else.
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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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@Grizzler, Easyjet Glasgow to Geneva out on Saturday 18th April (09:55-13:15) and back on Saturday 25th April (13:50-15:10). 44 GBP return. Then do the EoSB (self catered, so perfect) and get the lardy bus transfers. Simples  .
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1. Val d'Isere
2. Val Thorens
3. Les Menuires
4. Verbier
5. Chamonix
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@Gämsbock, a very good idea which I had not considered (the bash, I mean). Hmmmm....
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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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@Grizzler, Verbier is good in April (as is Zermatt but longer transfer). Resort sits in a sunny bowl so April après in sunshine is fab, and the best skiing is high and North facing so stays good. Easy on the train from Geneva. Stay in Le Chable to keep costs down. The high French resorts should also be good - Tignes / Val Thorens. It’s not busy in April, even over Easter so you should have plenty of good value accommodation options.
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| Chamboy wrote: |
Easybus go to Chamonix and are good (and cheap) depending on accommodation (great for Cham Sud area).
Mountain drop-offs and Haute Transfers also good and usually keep going.
Alpybus would normally be my last resort but I am sure they will do the job. |
Why would Alpybus be your last resort? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I found them less reliable in terms of time of pick-up, getting lost and number of people (ie the more people on the transfer the more that can go wrong).
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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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| Grizzler wrote: |
| e after about 6th April, but Easter's the weekend of the 10th so presume might be busy & expensive (?). So was wondering about the later dates in April. |
Presumption would generally be wrong. It's not a busy or expensive time despite it being Easter.
As it happens we are looking to go Sunday to Sunday this year. 5th to 12th April. But not expecting too many issues on accommodation as it's a quiet time but we'll see!
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Yeah, Easter will be quiet.
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You know it makes sense.
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Well, I've plumped for the EoSB... Wish me luck! 
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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 thing about Les Contamines is that transfer is easy, the Ouibus (currently rebranding as BlaBlaBus) runs all year. We used it today to return from St Gervais but have also used it out of season. Though I am not sure when they will publish their timetable beyond 4 April.
However it is a small area, and with the sunnier aspect likely to be out of action you may tire of it after a couple of days. Of course if St Gervais/Megeve is still functioning you can take the local bus there for the odd day, as we did this week in the opposite direction.
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FAQ
