 Poster: A snowHead
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Been doing a lot of reading and am struggling to find the right resort for my wife and I for next year early Feb (before half term). We are both beginners. I have just returned from my first ski trip to bansko (stag do) and really enjoyed it. Did a couple of lessons and a couple of days solo mainly on greens and the odd blue (wife is at a similar level) - we are both in our 30's
We Would be going for 4/5 nights and would really like the below from our next trip:
- A wider variety( and larger size) of greens and blues to keep us busy
- great hotel with decent food as we enjoy good food and using the spar facilities of the hotel
- More of a charming/traditional resort
- really enjoyed the Apres side of things, skiing in and out of restaurants/ bars was great
- great lessons for beginners
We have been looking at the 3 valleys and are not sure what resort would tick the above most - we looked at val d'isere, Tignes, Meribel, Courchevel 1650 & val thorens. We would prefer France but are open to any other countries if a better fit.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It all depends on budget.
I used to check 'the book' - where to ski and snowboard, but now they're books covering specific areas - there is a French Alps one. There is the website now as well, https://www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com , which is good but ultimately it might be worth talking to an agent. We use Snowfinders, you can literally throw a whole load of variables at them and they come up with a few options. Others are available of course.
Serre Chevalier might be a good shout, we went there a couple of times, admittedly quite a few years ago now @weathercam on here is a resident I believe. Maybe La Rosiere, that has good options and plenty of skiing.
Ultimately, for me, it depends on how much actual skiing you plan on doing. We used to hire a chalet, have the whole thing to a group and then those in lessons would go off in the morning and then all meet up and either ski in the afternoon or relax etc.. I used to try and get about as much out of the skiing as possible but we had great holidays and being in a group meant we could ski all together, or in small groups or for those that had, had enough they could shop, etc..
Some of the chalet hotels have decent spa options, usually a pool or hammam, etc..
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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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Much as I'm a Francophile, it sounds as though an Austrian resort might be more up your street - a small, not too expensive one (the 3 Valleys is both big and expensive). To miss half term it'll have to be first week of February - good week to choose. If you do want to go to France, Les Saisies would be good. There's a very nice hotel (the Calgary) but expensive. Lots of nice apartments and you can choose a different restaurant every night. . But it's much easier, especially in France, to do a Saturday/Saturday week. Odd days accommodation can be difficult.
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@horizons47, OK it's been a long time since I've been there but I thought Bansko was a very tradditional farming village. I suppose the tradional skiing resorts are: St. Moritz, Zermatt, or even Cortina d'Ampezzo. Even the small French resorts such as Val Frejus are more extensive than Bansko. @eps's, suggestion of Where to Ski and Snowboard is a good one.
I take it you are planning to go on Febuary 3rd to miss the half term holidays (they are actually called winter holidays) that run from Febuary 10th until March 10th, a week later than this year.
Looking at your requirements, particuarly for spas, food and entertainment I think your best bet is a Club Med somewhere such as Valmorel or La Rossiere.
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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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Thanks eps, wicll check La Rosiere out, have a look at where to ski and snowboard and will likely reach out to snowfinders if i cannot find something independently. It will just be the 2 of us and we plan on doing quite a lot of skiing in the time we have whilst enjoying the Apres. We will likely have an early finish on one of the days to enjoy the spa facilities (she may do this on 2 of the days  ). Price is not a big factor, happy to spend more on this trip as this will likely be our only chance at a skii holiday as a couple as we will be taking our young kids with us the following year.
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@Johne thanks for your response, Enjoyed the skiing in Bansko and felt it was great to get started as a beginner. The type of nightlife was not my thing and my wife would not enjoy it. leaned more to the debaucherous side of things if i can put it kindly.
I am encouraged that you have mentioned that the smaller french resorts would be larger as this is my biggest fear/ difficulty (trying to gauge size and access to a variety of blues & greens) bansko felt small (for my ability) after a number of days and I didn't want a repeat of this.
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@horizons47, Welcome to Snowheads. Morzine (FR), Alta Badia (IT) and Alpbach (AT) all have loads of Blues, lots of cafes and relatively short transfers. Avoid Peak Season weeks at any of them and you'll have a great time.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Mon 20-03-23 22:33; edited 1 time in total
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| Quote: |
| We have been looking at the 3 valleys and are not sure what resort would tick the above most - we looked at val d'isere, Tignes, Meribel, Courchevel 1650 & val thorens |
Val d'Isere and Tignes aren't in the 3 Vallees... 
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@horizons47, welcome to snowHeads 
Les Gets (France)
Corvara/Colfosco (Italy)
Lech (Austria)
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