 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all - you were very helpful in giving me guidance for my first family trip to Europe a few years back...we ended up in Verbier and had a wonderful time. Thank you!
Looking for advice on this topic for Xmas 2023 and was considering: return to Verbier, Portos du Soleil (Champery?) and Les Arcs. But open to other ideas.
A bit about our criteria:
- We are all Advanced skiers who enjoy piste, off piste, and trees. In Verbier we hired a guide for 3 days and would probably go that route again so we can get around to the best runs, go off piste safely, etc.
- Will be going over Xmas, leaving by New Years
- Looking for consistent snow record (I know getting so hard to predict) and strongly prefer places with shorter lift lines/crows (I know its a tough week for that)
- Relatively short transfer from a major international airport (Geneva?) so we fly nonstop and have ~2.5 hour or less transfer (car or train)
- Dont mind going someplace more upscale (expensive!) and we usually stay in a rental apartment and then combination of dining out and cooking at home
We got lucky with Verbier and got fresh snow several days before/over Xmas, and the crowds were never too terrible. Could happily go back but thought maybe its worth trying something new and PdS and LA seemed to tick a lot of those boxes. My kids are ages 18-22 so they are basically adults, appreciate nice restaurants and will definitely think its cool to see cute towns, etc.
Love your thoughts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Zermatt?
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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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you not considered St Anton fly in to Munchen or Zurich
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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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@lirong, Les Arcs does have a fair bit of tree skiing and some luxury accommodation. I looked through the window of the Taj i Mah once and it looked luxurious. The Club Med in 1600 charges a lot so may be good. Good apartments and restaurants are readily available.
I've skied there over Christmas for more or less the last 20 years and we've had snow - some good some not so good, but all skiable.
There can be some queues but not too bad and much better than some of the places we've been to. Alpine Chuffs are relatives of the crow family. You will see some of them rather than crows.
It's about a 2:30 drive from Geneva but takes a lot longer by train.
Oh! we'll be there over Christmas 2024
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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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Zermatt. PdS isn't reliable at Christmas.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I forgot to mention that though it has won prizes for architecture no way could Les Arcs be considered a "cure town". Nor can any others such as Bourg st Maurice in that area of France. They are working towns in a harsh environment and it shows.
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Zermatt, Val d'Isere, Tignes - all high enough to be snow sure at Xmas, and should be OK for off-piste. Would be better for your 'wish list' if you went after New Year week.
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@lirong, You might want to consider Lech, transfers are not quite so easy as St Anton but it is pretty easy from Zürich (which is a better airport than Geneva). As mentioned above St Anton would be a good option but Lech would be more similar to Verbier and by the sound of it budget is not a big issue. Lech probably has more stereotypical Christmas atmosphere than St Anton. The Arlberg ski area would be very similar to Verbier for off piste opportunities, better than PDS or Les Arcs
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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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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| Zermatt. PdS isn't reliable at Christmas. |
A few years ago I went to Morzine 19-23 Dec, they had only opened 2 days before I think. I see this year they expect to open on 16 Dec. Spent more time going up to Avoriaz. When there is not enough snow, EVERYONE goes up to Avoriaz, with resultant crowds and piste quality. So on a sample of one trip, and those opening dates, I'd say yes it's a gamble.
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Les Arcs 1950 sounds like it would suit if you want upscale self catered apartments (pretty much everything seems a good standard with pools, saunas etc.). Its purpose built but still looks relatively good in a Disney kind of way.
In Les Arcs they don't seem to piste the black runs which results in a good amount of lift served off piste (or bumps if it hasn't snowed for a while). I found the queues during UK half term were worse for the easy runs so you should be able to find lifts to the expert stuff relatively uncrowded. For example the Varet 40 gondola feeds into a lot of steepish off piste and the queue always seems to go relatively quickly.
If you go to Les Arcs I wouldn't bother with the trip over to La Plagne because the link is busy enough on a low season week so I imagine it would be worse high season.
I tend to get the train from London when I go to Les Arcs and take the funicular up with is free if you have a TGV ticket so I can't comment about transfer times.
I would avoid PDS for Christmas because as previous posters have said most of the area is on the low side so there is a real risk you'll end up stuck in Avoriaz sharing a few slopes and lifts with far too many people for it to be fun.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thank you all for this feedback!
We do not want to visit any of the Austrian resorts although I know there are some great choices there.
Zermatt, from what I understand, is at least a 3 hour transfer?
Good feeback on Les Arcs (and the tips on PdS...sounds like I should rule that out).
Given that so far are our only experience in Verbier - how would Les Arcs compare to that? I know Verbier is a shorter drive which is nice...any comparison thoughts in terms of conditions and crowds (or anything else) XMas time between those two?
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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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@lirong, why not Austria? Ischgl has some great skiing is as snow sure as anywhere in the Alps possibly the best lift system in the alps and a lot of very good quality hotels.
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MH - thanks but just for personal reasons Austria not on the list.
Anyone have any comparison/contrasts of Les Arcs vs Verbier?
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