 Poster: A snowHead
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We have ditched the package holiday idea and booked flights to Geneva for 24th Feb 24, so the search for resorts / accommodation begins. Your suggestions be greatly appreciated.
Needs for resort - within 90 minutes of Geneva; reliable (as it app can be) snow; suitable for 4 mixed - beginner, returner after a long break, a scaredy blue run skier and 1 intermediate skier; 100+ accessible km with plenty gentle runs; not so concerned about big apres scene; bonus points for good value and quieter slopes; have always loved Italian resorts (but not a deal breaker); happy to be catered or self cater; doesn’t need to be massive extended area.
Closest resorts we have previously done La Plagne, Les Arcs and Morzine.
Thank you for any help.
**edit** we’d be prepared to travel a bit further for an Italian resort**
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 15-03-23 19:51; edited 1 time in total
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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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Lots of options around there, though it's French half term so none of the French areas will have quiet slopes.
Espace Diamant - Les Saisies / Crest Voland
St Gervais / Combloux
Grand Massif - Morillon / Les Carroz / Samoens
La Clusaz / Le Grand Bornand
Valmorel (probably just over 90mins)
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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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If you want quieter slopes during French school hols then look at areas like Les Sybelles or The Maurienne valley resorts such as Valmeinier, Valloire, Val Cenis - nearer 2 hours driving from Geneva but can be much more pleasant than The Taranteise resorts etc at that time.
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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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If you want Italian slopes, your only real option within your transfer time (which you should consider increasing) is Courmayeur. You can even get a flix bus from Geneva City Centre for just a few euros.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Les Saisies ticks all your boxes but as @denfinella notes, it will be busy! Other parts of the Espace Diamant will be less busy than Saisies. I'd say LS would be better than La Clusaz for you (better snow for a start), but a longer drive. Certainly Italy preferable crowd-wise but you'd need to drive a bit longer. Courmayeur doesn't tick your boxes, really.
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To add, its particularly good for learning and early progression skiing right on the doorstep, a great confidence builder with the gentle slopes that are ideal for this element. There's none of that awkward "bits" that puts the fear into early skills skiers, just really good broad gentle aspect piste all the way back to village.
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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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Switzerland: La Tzoumaz or Nendaz for value, or Verbier if you're happy to pay the premium. No need for a rental car - you can transfer by public transport easily if you're prepared to add an hour to the car drive time. Verbier is the hub to a number of satellites the nearest of which are La Tzoumaz and Nendaz, with Veysonnaz and Thyon a bit more distant. All are connected into one ski area of around 400Kms in total, though most people will just ski their own sector plus Verbier. Because Verbier is the hub you obviously pay a premium to be based there, and you'll have to make the judgement. All I'd say is that you should at least price-up one Swiss location as a candidate. There's a lot of prejudice about Switzerland being expensive but then, so is Courchevel 1850 or Vail if you don't plan carefully. The big price difference with CH seems to be in instruction, which yes, is expensive compared to elsewhere. But if you're not needing a lot of this, then the differences can be relatively small. And if you're going in French half term then CH is likely to be - relatively - quieter. Some useful sites:
» 4 Vallées 4 Saisons for rentals in La Tzoumaz (select from 'Destinations')
» Verbier Tourism fpr Verbier accommodation and other info.
» SBB Swiss Train/télépherique/PostBus timetable (from 'Genève-Aéroport' to 'Verbier (télécabine)' or 'La Tzoumaz (téléc. Savoleyres)')
» Saver Day Pass advance discount public transport ticket.
» Geneva Airport Car Rental landing page (takes you to ~.ch versions of rental companies)
The GVA Car Rental links above take you to the Swiss landing pages of the car rental companies, which sometimes have rates and vehicles not listed on the ~.co.uk and ~.com pages. Use this as a baseline to see if any of the intermediaries really are offing a discount: sometime the premium is small-zero for dealing direct.
The Swiss transport Saver Day Pass is available from 60 days in advance and gives a discount on the standard fare the earlier you book. The ticket is valid for travel almost everywhere on the train network and many public transport links and PostBuses. Current best price is around CHF 52 for a day pass. You're not ties to any specific train so it can accommodate flight delays etc. But be careful not to confuse this with other passes as there are a variety.
As an example of prices, our 2-bedroom apartment in La Tzoumaz is €875 for the busiest half term weeks this year. That's 86m² open-plan kitchen/dining/living, unlimited hot water, CH, electricity, linen, 1 underground parking place, basement saunas, boot room and laundry within 10 mins walk of the main télécabine and shops, bars etc. The 4v4s rental site has loads of properties to choose from (just to say they're our rental agent, we otherwise have no connection to them) as does the Verbier website.
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| skiseekers wrote: |
We have ditched the package holiday idea and booked flights to Geneva for 24th Feb 24, so the search for resorts / accommodation begins. Your suggestions be greatly appreciated.
Needs for resort - within 90 minutes of Geneva; reliable (as it app can be) snow; suitable for 4 mixed - beginner, returner after a long break, a scaredy blue run skier and 1 intermediate skier; 100+ accessible km with plenty gentle runs; not so concerned about big apres scene; bonus points for good value and quieter slopes; have always loved Italian resorts (but not a deal breaker); happy to be catered or self cater; doesn’t need to be massive extended area.
Closest resorts we have previously done La Plagne, Les Arcs and Morzine.
Thank you for any help.
**edit** we’d be prepared to travel a bit further for an Italian resort** |
**further edit Bardonecchia looks like a good option, any thoughts on getting there. We arrive in aGeneva late afternoon and leave on a 10:50 flight so I don’t think that public transport will be an option. Cheapest transfers for 4 currently €1000 return. Thanks for any advice **
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bardonecchia is a long way from Geneva, and more easily reached from other airports like Turin. With those flight times into / out of Geneva you would need to hire a car or pay a *lot* for a transfer (as you have noted already).
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 16-03-23 23:07; edited 1 time in total
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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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La Thuile in Italy is just over that time but reasonably close and quieter than France in Feb.
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FAQ
) is reasonable with all the options just walk out to the piste. Good places to eat for lunch and evening if you want that too, with low to moderate apre ski as asked for. Compact but sufficient supermarket for supplies without needing to go anywhere. Emphasize, some of the best food in the whole GM right there in Morillon.
