 Poster: A snowHead
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Found a good deal through directski.
Anyone been? Snow at Christmas??
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not been at Christmas, but the twice I've been (last week of Jan on both occasions) there's been too much snow!!
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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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Elizabeth B,
What did you think of the resort? Is it expensive?
I can get a hotel Chrimbo week for £580 incl flights and ski boot hire
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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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johnboy, I was there in summer about 8 years ago and it was horribly expensive. I skied there in the early 80's and liked the domain, and they've probably only improved it since then. Hated the ambiance in summer though - very snobby!
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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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johnboy, I was there last Christmas and have skied there a number of times each season for the last 8 years. Where are you looking at staying? Crans is more up market than Montana.
You shouldn't have too much problem with snow and there is extensive snowmaking, but you can't be certain. Given the sun is at it's weakest at that time of year the southerly aspect of the resort doesn't make too much difference.
Like all of switzerland it's as expensive as you want to make it, but I can go out for an evening of pizza, wine and beer and not spend any more than I would in Brighton.
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brian
brian
Guest
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johnboy, if you go and fancy a day trip to the Anniviers, give me a shout 
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hotel Chrimbo week for £580 incl flights and ski boot hire
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Is that half-board? If yes, then book it before someone else takes it!!
There is a small glacier area so some skiing is virtually guaranteed.
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the ice perv,
Yes H/B 3* Hotel on the outskirts of Montana
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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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the ice perv, in two weeks in Crans, I've only managed to get upto the glacier on one day...it's been shut the rest of the time....so I wouldn't book a holiday based on that!!
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johnboy, I think I know the one, is it through Inghams? It's a 15/20 minute walk into town from there. OK if you don't mind a stroll into town in the evening. The hotel does run a bus during the day to the lifts and there is a regular free navette service in the town.
the ice perv,
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There is a small glacier area so some skiing is virtually guaranteed.
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sadly the best bit on the glacier was closed all last winter as the ice levels have fallen so much that you would need a ladder to get up to the lift. I don't know if they are doing some work on it over the summer. It would be a real shame if it's gone for good.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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the best bit on the glacier was closed all last winter
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Bummer. It's been years since I've been there but the views from the top were crackalackin!
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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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I had a good Christmas skiing there a couple of years ago - but the snow only just came in time that year, most of the slopes were apparently green the week before.
I wouldn't rush to spend _another_ week there, but it was good for one week and didn't get too busy. Nice place IMO.
(+ the all important gluhwein at the lift on xmas day)
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Steve Sparks, I skied on the glacier at C-M in Jan 06. Not sure which lifts were shut, all seemed to be running.
Elizabeth B, The 2 trips I have had to C-M the glacier access has remained open throughout my stay.
johnboy, Hotel De la Foret perhaps?
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You know it makes sense.
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snow_rat, welcome to snowHeads
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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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I can get a hotel Chrimbo week for £580 incl flights and ski boot hire
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unless it's an extremely flash hotel you can probably get a better discount by waiting for a last minute booking, when the snow outlook is clearer.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Steve Sparks, snowbunny,
Yes, it's Hotel de la Foret. Do you have experience of it?
Is the first lift up a Cable Car? Don't like cable cars. Always get too hot while queing
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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johnboy, Have not stayed there personally, but I have been past it loads of times, and seen their shuttle minibus running to/from the Violettes Gondola, which is the nearest lift. Never queued there for more than a couple of minutes 
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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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johnboy, the three uplifts from the village are all gondolas.
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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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johnboy, based on my experiences of Switzerland, a long weekend in Wengen and a week and a bit in Zermatt (where we are going for xmas on the 23rd Dec), if you are used to skiing in France, Switzerland can seem a relative bargain.
We tend to base most of our comparisons by:
a) A pint
and b) A decent meal (BBQ spare ribs or such like)
and while the food has been around the same price as France, massive savings are to be found on drink. Whereas being used to paying E5.5 - E7 (£4-£5.50) for a beer in France, the most we paid in Zermatt was Chf5.5 (about £2.60). While I've never been to Crans Montana, b4 we went to Zermatt we'd heard stories about how expensive it was, as was Switzerland in general, we found it FAR better value than your average french resort.
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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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Crans was way cheaper than Zermatt...but it's a few years ago since I went there.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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brian
brian
Guest
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Charlatanefc, yep. The cost of living in French resorts has rocketed past the Swiss over the last 10 years or so.
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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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brian
brian
Guest
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the ice perv, naw, it's a rat, not a cat.
And it's Weegie slums, not Everton ones 
You are a weegie, a smelly weegie
You're only happy on giro day
Your Ma's a stealer, your dad's a dealer
Please don't take my hubcaps away
repeat ad infinitum
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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brian, you'll have to let me know who the "Weegies" are I'm afraid! As you're from Edinburgh I'd guess either Hearts or Hibs..........?
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brian
brian
Guest
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the ice perv, Weegies == Glaswegians, so either half of the Old Firm.
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Weegie is usually followed by the word Scum 
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You know it makes sense.
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Spent a day in Crans at half term February so can't comment on the hotels but there seemed to be plenty of them. I particulalry noted the Best Western very close to the Crans cable car. I thought the skiing was excellent and the glacier was open. A few challenging blacks and lots of high speed wide open reds. The area is essentially 4 linked villages and you can get a long way. Have thought about revisiting for a longer stretch next winter and I guess if you've got transport then you can nip across to Portes du Soleil on the other side of the valley.
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FAQ
