Poster: A snowHead
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So thinking of pulling the trigger on a Dolomites holiday for week of 20th-27th Dec - and pushing the boat out a bit further than our usual standards, given we’ve got two years of no-holidays accrued. We normally do France at Easter as a family (les arcs, 3v, EK), but decided on somewhere a bit more picturesque given the season - would be our first time to the Dollies, but relying on the snow-making to mitigate the risk of that time of year. Selva is the main contender at the moment, but my wife has just thrown me a curve ball by asking if we can choose a resort where we can avoid gondolas/cable cars where possible, just in case rates are through the roof when we go. Would selva, or other more suitable locations in the Dolomites allow for that? If not, any other suggestions - as said, would quite like something pretty, but with the usual conundrum of as snow sure as is feasible for early season. As a family we normally ski French reds with the odd black thrown in to test ourselves, though my daughter is threatening to give snow boarding a go, which might mean we need some decent mellow options too.
Also: given all the potential uncertainty, I’ve decided I’ll go with a package rather than trying to diy, and have found a couple of options on igluski that look promising - I also see they come up a few hundred pounds cheaper than going direct with the tour operator. Now last year I had a big kerfuffle (eventually filing for a CCJ) to get my moment back from Mark Warner - I realise of course that this time round it’s all very different and we’re going in with our eyes wide open, but if there are any issues of that nature will having igluski as a middle-man complicate things, or would it all be immaterial - ie is it worth spending a bit more to have a direct relationship with the vendor, just in case?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@Pejoli, My experience of the Dolomites is largely summer based but my reccolection is that the resorts are in the valleys and you need a telecabine to get upto the main ski areas where there are lots of chair lifts. However, I think you need a skibus to get from Selva di Cadora to the Civetta area where there are lots of chairs and drags. Similarly upto the Fedare lift - once again mainly chairs from then on. So if you are prepared to take a bus instead of a telecabine you should be OK.
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Hmm, that’s what I thought the answer might be - and presumably rules out most Austrian valley options too (the other places in that thread are either long-haul or a bit fugly for Xmas, IMO).
Anywhere up the hill that might suit ? Or how about any Swiss options?
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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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johnE wrote: |
@Pejoli, My experience of the Dolomites is largely summer based but my reccolection is that the resorts are in the valleys and you need a telecabine to get upto the main ski areas where there are lots of chair lifts. However, I think you need a skibus to get from Selva di Cadora to the Civetta area where there are lots of chairs and drags. Similarly upto the Fedare lift - once again mainly chairs from then on. So if you are prepared to take a bus instead of a telecabine you should be OK. |
Thanks for the suggestion, and one I’ll look into, but probably presents the same ‘perceived’ risk profile judging by most ski-buses I’ve ever taken.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Pejoli, Would you consider driving? Two options, all the way there, or fly/hire. At least a couple of tour operators used to offer self drive.
I don`t really know the area you are talking about only having been there in summer but in many areas of France, Germany and Austria its possible to drive high enough to get to chairs and drags.
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@Pejoli, Anywhere up the hill that might suit ? Or how about any Swiss options?
On the foundation that swiss cabin etc seemed to run competently (inspite from crap sensational amateur press reporting) places like Grimentz Zinal offer beautiful valley, good snow record and altitude, with just one cabin to elevation and the rest open lifts. Accessible from Geneva via rail and post bus to village.
Also Champerèy the same (one cable car to altitude) to access PdS with all open lifts. Fairly traditional village, open aspect valley with very nice views all with good access from Geneva via rail transfer.
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well if you want outside Dolos, consider Flachau or Obertauern...es gibt nur 1 Gondel in each of them
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If that's the worry, I think you are better off staying at home.
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It's a shame that there's been a recent trends towards replacing chairlifts with gondolas, in many resorts. I prefer chairlifts, anyway - fresh air and no faffing with putting skis on and off. Gondolas are only good, imho, in bad weather, of I guess where the topography dictates. I believe they are also often slightly faster..?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Ricky B, I think most skiers would agree with you in prefering chair lifts to telecabines. I suspect that they are not any quicker once taking off and putting on skis is taking into consideration and much more convenient.
The reason I think they are becoming more popular is that I suspect the capacity is greater for not much more cost (if any), safer for beginners where the occaisional pile up at the exit of the chair is avoided, much prefered for children (though having seen my son crushed by bums in telepheriques in the past I would query that) and of course can go higher over the ground without the requirement to me lowered to the ground by rope in the event of a breakdown.
No doubt my friend, Lother, would be even more dispirited. He prefers drag lifts to chairs anyway. Drags seem to be going the way of single seater chairs (and trolley busses)
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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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Pejoli wrote: |
but my wife has just thrown me a curve ball by asking if we can choose a resort where we can avoid gondolas/cable cars where possible, just in case rates are through the roof when we go. |
I can't see the logic to suggest that Covid will be any worse than flu by December.
But if it is "through the roof" going in a gondola for 10 minutes would be the least of your worries I would have thought.
Personally, I would whilst acknowledges your wife's concerns, wouldn't let it affect your plans. As others have said finding a sizeable gondola free resort is pretty difficult to say the least.
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I think that gondolas are better than chairs when I have taken them. Normally a higher capacity than a chair and they tend to cover a much longer distance. I think that they provide a longer ski at the other end per total minutes involved in lift business (equation pending).
I do agree that gondolas are probably not going to be a big Covid problem compared with other situations you will find in resort. It's not in my thought process despite having probably catching Covid in a gondola during my last trip!
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You know it makes sense.
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Yes, there are pros and cons to all types of lifts, I guess, and it is often a matter of personal preference. I remember when the kids were younger, there was generally a mutiny, if I ever suggested we take the bubble (gondola) or cable-car... Guess the lifts where they have a choice of chairs or bubbles tick most boxes, tho they are quite rare. I also love button / Poma drag-lifts, tho have never been a big fan of T-bars..!
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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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If cases are through the roof you wont be going anywhere...so you may as well go for it!
We are crossing our fingers for Selva in that week - bumped from last Xmas...package with Crystal.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Layne wrote: |
Pejoli wrote: |
but my wife has just thrown me a curve ball by asking if we can choose a resort where we can avoid gondolas/cable cars where possible, just in case rates are through the roof when we go. |
I can't see the logic to suggest that Covid will be any worse than flu by December.
But if it is "through the roof" going in a gondola for 10 minutes would be the least of your worries I would have thought.
Personally, I would whilst acknowledges your wife's concerns, wouldn't let it affect your plans. As others have said finding a sizeable gondola free resort is pretty difficult to say the least. |
I’ll avoid debating the likelihood lest this turns into yet another COVID thread - so if it’s a distraction just imagine I said she’s claustrophobic. Equally though, I’m not looking for a resort with *no* gondolas - I could quite happily ski LA, Tignes or VT without using one, for example (and we normally hire a car to get there from the airport) - just they don’t tick the ‘xmas charm’ box.
I’ll look at those Swiss and Austrian options though - thanks all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Pejoli, Lech in Austria is lovely at Christmas and has almost no enclosed lifts. The exceptions are - an old cable car from Lech village up to Oberlech, which you only need to use if you're staying in Oberlech accommodation; a large cable car that most folk use max once per day for a link across to Zurs; and a gondola that links from Lech to Warth. The gondola link to Warth does open up a lot of decent runs all serviced by chairs and if you go to it first thing in the morning you can usually get a bubble to yourself.
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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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sheffskibod wrote: |
If cases are through the roof you wont be going anywhere...so you may as well go for it!
We are crossing our fingers for Selva in that week - bumped from last Xmas...package with Crystal. |
exactly that
We have booked Innsbruck - providing the Austrians allow us to fly by then it will be Mayrhofen or Selva or somewhere else that may have got luckier with snow!
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