 Poster: A snowHead
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For the first time in many years I’m looking at skiing outside of the school holidays! We’ve mostly been at Easter and headed across the pond. So which weeks in Europe would people recommend - before or after the half term holiday? Good snow is the number one priority!! If going to France is it worth avoiding the whole of Feb or just the UK and Paris holidays?
Thanks - it’s strange to be spoilt for choice. But I will need to book leave fairly soonish
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You want to avoid the local holidays more than the Parisian IMHO. Lyon, Grenoble for the Alps.
I would ski just after if you are talking about February but the weather can be worse but there is more 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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Next year the French winter holidays are from 10 Feb - 11 March. I'd avoid the whole of that period, if you have the choice. No guarantees when the best snow will be.
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If you are looking at France the last week of the French holidays next year (March 2-9) will not be too bad. The Parisians and locals (Lyon, Grenoble) will be back to school and no Dutch, Brits or Scandi schools on holiday.
Also probably as snow sure as any and the days lengthening a bit.
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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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But the following week, accommodation will be far cheaper, and there'll be fewer lift queues.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just go to Switzerland, it barely makes any difference at all whether or not it is half term etc.
Just avoid New Year...that is by miles the busiest week of the year
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| pam w wrote: |
| But the following week, accommodation will be far cheaper, and there'll be fewer lift queues. |
Certainly true of accommodation cost but my first hand experience, admittedly only in the Portes du Soleil, is that last week (no Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Brits or Dutch) would not have any significant queues.
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I prefer to avoid even insignificant queues!!
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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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Last week of Jan - 1st week of feb
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If good snow is the priority, then I'd go just before. if it hasn't snowed for a significant time before you go, then there will have been less recent traffic on what snow there is if you travel after quiet weeks (i.e. January)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Having done several seasons, I would now choose late January/early February, before any holidays. Good chance of decent snow, and always seems quieter than the weeks following all the half term holidays.
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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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| Quote: |
always seems quieter than the weeks following all the half term holidays
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I'd agree with that. For very obvious reasons the week AFTER the school holidays is a popular one. The last week of January is a sensible compromise between price and the likelihood of good snow.
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You know it makes sense.
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@TommyJ, Last week of January can be fantastic but don't just look at France. Assuming you are no longer fixed by Kids then an extra couple of hours journey time (if driving) brings Austria very much into the equation. Try something different, you may be pleasantly surprised.
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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 love January skiing. Quieter pistes, pretty cheap, and (above all) often good snow.
Be prepared for it to be colder (in my view this is a good thing, particularly for snow conditions), and also to have less daylight: it's not a huge difference compared with February half term, but the darker evenings are still noticeable.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Surely the great thing about off peak is being able to book late and give yourself the best chance of having good conditions but I guess that may depend on the flexible of your employment.
Before I had kids we found January to be cheapest and certainly it's usually cold. But that coldness/bleakness at the heart of winter could be a downer also. So my slight preference would be mid-March.
Nice problem to have though. My kids are almost grown up so looking forward to it!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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we went to France the week before the UK Easter school holidays this year (24th March - 1st April) and it was great. Prices were so much cheaper, it was surprisingly quiet on the slopes and loads of snow in Val Thorens. I think there were some uni trips there as saw a lot of matching hoodies. Rarely queued for a lift, and certainly no more than 5 mins. Some mountain restaurants were busy at lunch time but not all and still managed to get a table after a few mins. We were happy
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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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@TommyJ,
Avoid all 4 weeks of the French half term holidays.
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Is the first Saturday of French half term getting out of resort a problem at all if people are arriving en masse? Or is it not too bad?
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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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What @T Bar, said!
But if France avoid Feb and 1st week of March at all costs. Having said that even my trips in Jan and March were a bit busier than normal..take your pick!
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