 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello Snowheads, this is my first post. I've read through several threads here, and am impressed with the discourse.
I am putting together a trip in early February for about 10 very experienced middle aged skiers from the Pacific NW region of the USA. I'm attending a tradeshow in Barcelona at the end of January and am going to tack on an extra week somewhere in the Alps afterward. A bunch of my friends found out and want to come along  .
Criteria:
- Likely snow coverage
- Large interconnected area with a variety of terrain
- Bucket list destination
- Variety of lodging rates
- Breathtaking Vistas
I'm open to booking refundable lodging in a couple of areas to ensure that we are able to have good conditions. We haven't booked any flights yet, but I want to get that out of the way soon. Austria appears to be the safest bet with regard to snow conditions, so I'm guessing that Munich would be our likely transit hub. I went to Chamonix a few years back via Geneva and that was a lovely experience, even the terrifying bit coming down with the guide from the Aiguille Du Midi. The rest of the group are Europe ski virgins.
Thank you for your click.
Easton
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Zermatt for vistas and variety and snow coverage and bucket list and multiple countries and areas.
St Anton (or other Alberg resort) for bucket list and terrain and other things.
Or 3 valleys.
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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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@easton, welcome to snowHeads! 
@afterski has made some good suggestions. I'd echo his recommendation of including Zermatt in your list. It has a large ski area (including the ability to ski over the border into Cervinia in Italy) and of course the view of the Matterhorn from Zermatt is iconic, probably the most photogenic mountain in the world. If you do choose to spend the week in Zermatt then Zurich or Geneva may be better airport gateways for your friends. Both those airports have their own railway stations and you can travel from there on Swiss railways to Zermatt. Note that if you rent vehicles from the airport instead you can't actually drive all the way into Zermatt, you have to leave your vehicle in the large car park at the nearby village of Täsch and do the last bit of the journey on the train anyway.
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Zermatt is on my radar, and that might be our western option. I spent a week in the Jungfrau region last June and am completely smitten with it as well. Early February appears to have decent snow conditions there.
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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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@easton, well I'm a regular visitor to the Jungfrau region myself, so can understand you being smitten. 
One other area that hasn't been mentioned so far is the Sella Ronda area of the Italian Dolomites. The scenery is stunning, and the pistes are immaculately maintained, the mountain restaurants have great food at very reasonable prices. However the off-piste is a bit limited. Also maybe not quite so convenient for getting to for your friends, the usual airports used are either Innsbruck in Austria (then travelling over the Brenner Pass into Italy), Verona or Venice (I guess Venice would have the most chance of direct transatlantic flights from USA).
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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 is also on Ikon pass which if you are American then you or your friends may already have.
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Just watch your dates, most of Europe has a school week holiday approx 10th February, you really want to be there and gone before the masses arrive
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My Polish wife keeps bringing up the fact that her countrymen love the value of the Dolomites. Logistics might be a headache though.
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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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@easton, "Austria appears to be the safest bet with regard to snow conditions" - is that really the case?
Anyway, if Chamonix isn't a candidate, I'd very much be thinking Verbier/4 Vallées. Easy train from Geneva, bit longer from Zurich. (There are US routes into Geneva and a few flights a day from Barcelona). Staying French, next up would be Val d'Isère/Tignes.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@easton,
Espace Killy
3 Valleys
Paradiski
Zermatt
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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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he's tagging the week on after the tradeshow so he will be flying from Barcelona and flights back to USA from skiing. Direct flights from Barcelona to Innsbruck or Salzburg are pretty non existant, so yes to Munich as a hub. Plenty of flights to Geneva
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Tue 12-09-23 8:55; edited 1 time in total
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reiteration, French school holidays start 10 Feb with the Parisien group and you definitely want to avoid that.
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You know it makes sense.
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If you are fixed on Munich as your airport then either the Arlberg (I would suggest Lech though St Anton would work too and is easier from an access perspective) for the best ski terrain or the Süd Tirol / Dolomites for scenery and all round atmosphere. Casting your net wider, the Jungfrau area - spectacular scenery though not as much skiing as elsewhere (still pretty good though), Zermatt - the Matterhorn plus some very good skiing (better high season once the itineraries have opened), Verbier - high end resort with extensive high end skiing. In France maybe Chamonix (though you seem to have been) or Val d'Isere.
The debate about where the best snow will be is unresolvable. It's probably true that the eastern Alps have been better for the past couple of seasons however they have both been La Nina years this year will be a El Nino one which will mean different weather patterns. As ever past weather is little guide to future weather, plenty of past seasons where the western Alps have had the best of the snow. February should mean decent conditions everywhere along with high season crowds (the French resorts seem more affected by crowds and queues though most places will be at their busiest in February, Brit skiers seem more concerned about this than those from elsewhere)
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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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Austrian and German school vacations start from 03. Februar.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Kenzie wrote: |
@easton,
Espace Killy
3 Valleys
Paradiski
Zermatt |
Should have added that they are all easily accessible from Geneva airport.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Milan to Zermatt is also a pretty similar distance by road transfer if that's something you might want to tick off? Get the Duomo in (the only thing worth seeing in Milan IMO. They rest is a dump)
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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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| Quote: |
Criteria:
- Likely snow coverage
- Large interconnected area with a variety of terrain
- Bucket list destination
- Variety of lodging rates
- Breathtaking Vistas
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By 1st week of February, most resorts should have decent snow coverage.
“Variety of terrain” can really only be attained by hiring a guide. I doubt your group will be doing more than a couple of days of that. So just about any destination should have some off piste terrain for that.
For any American skier who hasn’t skied Europe before, the vista of the Alps from any resort is breathtaking! I’ve been to a few (Dolomite, 3 valley, Jungfrau, St Moritz), I can’t say any one of them is more or less breathtaking than the rest.
What I’m saying is any of the well known destination will be bucket list worthy and fit all of the above criteria.
That said, each destination has unique character that maybe more unique to the eyes of American skiers. My personal bias is the Dolomite! In comparison, 3V is more like a larger version of Whistler, whilst there’s nothing in North America resembling the Dolomite region. There’s a lot more to skiing the Alps than just the skiing! 
So, toss a coin. Look at flight logistics. Compare prices. Any of the above list will do very nicely.
(For the group, that is. The OP had skied in the Alps, and is the instigator of the trip. He should pick what HE personally prefer to go. And let the group follow )
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 12-09-23 16:42; edited 2 times in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Indeed, early February snow is not something you should worry about. It will be good everywhere in general, even in lower areas.
For the very best on all accounts, for all of your group:
Zermatt (CH)
Val d'Isère (F)
Lech (A)
Val Gardena/Alta Badia (I)
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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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| Langerzug wrote: |
Indeed, early February snow is not something you should worry about. It will be good everywhere in general, even in lower areas.
For the very best on all accounts, for all of your group:
Zermatt (CH)
Val d'Isère (F)
Lech (A)
Val Gardena/Alta Badia (I) |
+1
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi
Best 2 places for me are Tignes/Val d'isere or Val Thorens both the largest ski areas in Europe and high altitude. Val Thorens is part of the 3 valleys where I go every year...over 600 kilometres of wide pisted runs with each valley different from each other. You can actually fit every ski resort in USA into 3 valleys....ski passes are about 400 dollars a week, slightly cheaper if you book in a group...You will definately be very happy if you go there...best place for me to stay is in Meribel, stunning tow, great restaurants and very french.
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So much great feedback in such a short period of time! Thank you all so much.
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Yes or Really depends on spending power , re snow first week in Feb won’t or shouldn’t be a problem . Barcelona to Geneva isn’t either .
Zermatt could be the one ££££
Val D’Isere £££
Dolomites yes also
BUT you say you are all very experienced middle age skiers with I suspect a decent budget .
Here’s an idea of a two fantastic lodges owned by a very respectable up market global American ski Travel Company of the highest standard in the middle of the Tarentaise in a small village very close to Sainte Foy Tarentaise , the options from here are vast including Val D’Isere , Les Arcs , Sainte Foy , La Rosiere , Heliskiing in Italy dinner in mountain huts etc Guides the lot , might be too pricy but here is a link .
Two chalets of max comfort .
https://elevenexperience.com/chalet-pelerin-france-winter
https://elevenexperience.com/chalet-hibou-france-winter
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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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| Biggazza1 wrote: |
Hi
You can actually fit every ski resort in USA into 3 valleys.... |
Whatever you’re on, I’d like some.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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St Anton. Easy international flights to ZRH or possibly INN for a hop from Barcelona.
Iconic apres. More drunk cloggies than you'll ever want to see again in your life. Great skiing round a huge area. Bring your avi kit and hire a guide.
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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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As mentioned, this year on the 10th of February the Paris area of France start their holidays. For me, that's enough to stay away from France. 3 valleys or Val Disere are fantastic, but how patient are you with lift lines (I have very little)
Zermatt is unique with great views, but is expensive and is really limited for going off-piste without a guide - in Europe ungroomed means off piste like back country in US.
Sella Ronda in the Dolomites has really stunning views too, great food, great value for money, but the snow cover might be thin even in February and the piste skiing while extensive not very challenging.
Verbier and St Anton might be the best for going a bit off piste. I'd hire a guide for a day or 2 but you can find stuff that's relatively safe and obvious.
Also, Swiss and Austrian areas can be more easily accessed by train (although a large group can probably get a good deal booking a private transfer)
So really depends on your preferences
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We are looking at Feb 3 - Feb 10
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You know it makes sense.
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@easton, date-wise that’ll be fine.
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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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@easton, just to be sure: Lech is the more elegant version of St.Anton (sharing the same skipass, with Lech having the edge for snow, access and central position, and restaurants... Lech does not have the party-après of St.Anton though)
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Lech does not have the party-après of St.Anton though)
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For the group of middle aged skier the OP is herding, that would be a plus rather than a minus.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| abc wrote: |
| Quote: |
Lech does not have the party-après of St.Anton though)
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For the group of middle aged skier the OP is herding, that would be a plus rather than a minus. |
Normally, this would be the case, but these are seasoned professionals we are talking about. Many of us are bell-to-bell skiers who also hit the apres pretty hard. I am very aware of the differences in mindset between North American and European skiers with regard to on mountain pacing, breaks etc. I'm flying over coach class, returning business class to accommodate the used up wreck that my body will be. 
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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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Verbier.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@easton, Do you have either Icon or Epic season passes? If so it might be worth checking which euro resorts are included on them.
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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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Given the profile, another vote for Verbier.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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You guys are incredible, quality feedback!
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| Hurtle wrote: |
| Given the profile, another vote for Verbier. |
Can you expound on this a bit?
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| easton wrote: |
| Hurtle wrote: |
| Given the profile, another vote for Verbier. |
Can you expound on this a bit? |
A substantial ski area, with legendary off-piste, and lots of (mostly sophisticated and expensive, but still...) après. It's scenic - though not in the same league as the Jungfrau region or the Dolomites, in my opinion - and the village itself is not unattractive.
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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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Verbier also on full Epic if you book lodging through official channel, though if you are in Oregon maybe Epic pass not that useful to you.
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Imo, Verbier only if all of your group wants to go off-piste everyday. And it's less scenic & atmospheric. And it does not have 400 km pistes (Quatres Vallees is a notorious piste-kilometer cheater)
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