 Poster: A snowHead
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We are a family of 3, with one 14 year old.
We have done several ski trips, but my son and I are not confident skiers and would probably book some private lessons in resort.
So we are looking for somewhere that would be reasonably quiet over Christmas, with nice wide, easy pistes and snowsure
We are happy to drive, either from the UK or from a local airport. In that respect we could visit a quieter, less well-known resort.
We have considered Trysil, Norway or Le Saisies, France.
We would prefer ski in, ski out facilities, to avoid walking in ski boots or driving everywhere.
Can anyone recommend any ski specific tour operators?
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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Can anyone recommend any ski specific tour operators?
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Welcome to SHs, @whitski.  Les Saisies would suit you well but no tour operators go there. You'd have to arrange a trip yourselves. It wouldn't be quiet at Christmas - though, like most resorts, it will be quieter at Christmas than at New Year.
"Snowsureness" is not guaranteed at Christmas, which is very early in the season. Generally it would be fine - but the weather this season has confounded most expectations. To be more sure of snow you'd need to go to a resort with higher altitude skiing - but they will be more expensive, might be busier and can be bleak in mid-winter.
Can't comment on Trysil - but somebody will!
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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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@whitski, We have been to Les Saisies with teenage children at that time of year and I'd recommend it. Les Saisies itself has a good snow record and plenty of wide gentle pistes. It is a beautiful ski area. The outlying Espace Diamant resorts such as Praz Sur Arly are less snow sure at Christmas but you wouldn't necessarily ski that far anyway if you are having lessons. We last stayed in Residence Amaya which is luxury self catering with pool and spa and is ski to and from the door. It is situated on the slopes facing the main village. There is another newish residence I think its Les Cimes which is nearer the centre of the resort but it is not as luxurious as Amaya.
I'd also recommend La Rosiere (hotel Alparena apartments). la Rosiere is very snow sure with wide gentle pistes (but does lack trees in whiteout conditions).
Finally I would suggest looking at Montgenevre. The slight drawback is having to go through the Frejus tunnel to get there but the drive on the Italian side is short and an easy gentle climb back over the border to France. Montgenevre has a good snow record and is usually open from early December. It has lots of wide gentle pistes and good ski schools. I'd say it would be the least busy of the three places I've mentioned. We have stayed in various residences there and Le Napoleon was my favourite in terms of location.
I think you would enjoy any of these three so it is a question of looking at the logistics of getting there (Les Saisies is nearest) and accommodation options. I would say La Rosiere and Montgenevre a bit more snow sure and you will hear more English voices in these resorts which might make things easier for ski school. We booked all of these holidays through Peak Retreats who specialise in self drive (prices include Eurotunnel flexi plus) and I would highly recommend them. They also offer ferry or accommodation only at a lower cost.
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quiet at Christmas is not easy to find. I wonder if you will find the days short in Trysil in December.
Snowsure is also not easy so early in the season. However, Andorra tend to cannon pistes from early December so they have good coverage. Consider Arinsal, much smaller than Grandvalira. I haven't been so I don't know if there are wide easy pistes but most people think GV is not particularly challenging. Good teaching too.
Not sure about ski in/out but in El Tarter I rented an apartment about 200m from the pistes and used the locker of the ski shop right by the lift, so walking every day in normal shoes. Probably a similar option is available here. Others on here can tell you more about Arinsal.
https://www.arinsal.co.uk/
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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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Golly, we too are a family of 3 with a 14 year old. Think we will be going to San Cassiano just after Christmas!
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| Orange200 wrote: |
quiet at Christmas is not easy to find. I wonder if you will find the days short in Trysil in December.
Snowsure is also not easy so early in the season. However, Andorra tend to cannon pistes from early December so they have good coverage. Consider Arinsal, much smaller than Grandvalira. I haven't been so I don't know if there are wide easy pistes but most people think GV is not particularly challenging. Good teaching too.
Not sure about ski in/out but in El Tarter I rented an apartment about 200m from the pistes and used the locker of the ski shop right by the lift, so walking every day in normal shoes. Probably a similar option is available here. Others on here can tell you more about Arinsal.
https://www.arinsal.co.uk/ |
Arinsal is good for lessons. It is a small resort and is connected to Pal via a gondola.
However, no ski-in-ski-out here. Your best options in Arinsal would be Hotel Patagonia which is next to a ski lift, or Hotel Montané / Hotel Comapedrosa / St Moritz Apartments which are all close to the gondola.
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@snowymum, Thank you for your detailed recommendations. Les Saisies and Montgenevre look suitable for our requirements, but maybe later in the season another year.
I think we will end up in Norway this Christmas, as it will hopefully have some snow. We are used to short days, as we have skiied in Finland in previous years, so are also used to the colder temperatures.
I appreciate nowhere is particulary quiet at Christmas, but as we are tied to school holidays and some restrictions with work, this week works for us. It is a gamble whether there will be snow at resorts. We were extremely lucky with the snow last year when we were in Austria the week before Christmas.
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