 Poster: A snowHead
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We've booked flights and a car to Geneva for the weekend 7-11th December, and are looking for resort recommendations, that will give a good weekend's skiing/boarding over varied terrain.
Initially we thought Chamonix, Les Carroz, Tignes etc, but wanted to see / hear if we're missing a trick by looking elsewhere; Chatel?
Look forward to hearing your reviews and recommendations.
TIA
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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not sure many of those lower resorts would be open, if if there was enough snow
head high to be more snow sure
we are going tignes 16-20 Dec....it was further than i want to travel but didnt want to risk no/poor 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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@look4now, Tignes or Val Thorens your only (French) options I think ... Grands Montets thinking of opening around the 2nd but only partially. Avoriaz maybe but limited.
Verbier?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks folks.
Verbier, I'm currently looking into...
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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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@look4now, I think you need to look at the higher resorts that are actually open. The Grand Massif (les Carroz etc) is too low and won't be open. Chatel looks like it might open a bit that weekend (but still needs snow!). If you don't mind a more pricey resort, you could look at Zermatt which is a great spot for early season skiing. Otherwise, I think I'd go for Val Thorens, which is already open given the good snowfall high up and not quite as long a drive as Tignes.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Verbier would be my choice - in fact for many years it was; we always used to go out for that weekend.
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@snowdave, thanks, never done Verbier, so would be good to try. Are there any tips for accommodation, best to stay in resort as a starter for 10?
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Grimentz will be open as much as conditions allow for 8th - 10th, Zinal 8th and 9th. I'm not saying that it would be a better choice than Tignes or Verbier but it is a fun area and conditions look alright on the webcams already
https://www.valdanniviers.ch/en/Z15372/horaires-rmgzd
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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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We're going to Verbier that Weekend. Saturday you'll get a CHF 5 lift pass if you turn up in a St. Nicholas outfit of any sort. I've done this before:
You won't necessarily need a car to get to Verbier. We've got the CHF 52 Day Saver Pass from SBB. Any train, anywhere, any time on the day. You can take the train from GVA to Martigny, then a short hop on the local train to Le Chable, then up the télépherique (it's all part of the station complex) into the centre of Verbier (this runs 07:00-23:00). So that's 4x CHF 52 but appreciate you may prefer the hire car.
Obviously, Verbier itself is preferable and easiest access to the slopes. But if you want cheaper accommodation, then Le Chable is also a SnowHeads favourite. You'll have to hop on the télépherique up to Médran each morning, however. If you have accomodation in Verbier, appreciate that it's a fairly large place, so not everywhere is within easy walking distance of the main Médran lift (or Mayentzet, if it's running, which it may not be). If you have a car you'll want the rental to include car parking, as public parking can be expensive/limited.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 23-11-23 10:37; edited 1 time in total
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@LaForet, thanks for your help, we don't arrive until 1930hrs, hence the car to get to our chosen destination as swiftly as is practicable, I'll look at the train options you mention. Thank you
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Go to the SBB scheduler and enter from Genève-Aéroport to Verbier (télécabine) for the date of travel. Transit time is around 2½ hours train from GVA to Médran. You'll also see reference to Le Chable in the detailed itineraries. Looks like the last train out of GVA is 21:19 to Le Chable, arriving midnight. A car may be your easiest option ......
So as I said, in that case, make sure your accommodation has parking as it'll make life a lot easier/cheaper.
If you get a detailed map of Verbier, then Médran is the main lift up the mountain and the effective 'centre' of the place, a couple of hundred metres up to the right from the Place Centrale which you can see in the Verbier webcam. The other lift up is at Mayentzet, near the Carrefour bus stop. Which is the one I prefer as it's quieter if Médran is busy. But it may well not be running pre-Christmas. There are free navettes around the town, to/from Médran, Savoleyres and Mayentzet.
If you're self-catering and want to buy stuff en route, then there are various options as you take the A9 around Lac Léman. Our own apartment website has a guides page including how to get to P51 car rental parking at GVA from the rental desks (LTZ2), and how to exit P51 and get onto the autoroute to Lausanne/Martigny/Gt.St.Bernard. ANd where to get groceries en route (LTZ5). But bear in mind this is for getting to our satellite of La Tzoumaz, so the directions are only relevant as far as Martigny, where you do follow the autoroute in the direction of Gt.St.Bernard and don't continue towards Brig.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 23-11-23 11:11; edited 10 times 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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@LaForet, thanks for your help, it's appreciated, will look for accommodation with car parking as you suggest.
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| look4now wrote: |
| @snowdave, thanks, never done Verbier, so would be good to try. Are there any tips for accommodation, best to stay in resort as a starter for 10? |
Yes you should be able to find reasonably priced accom early season in Verbier. If you are a group try airbnb or if a couple Hotel Bristol for example is reasonably priced and gets good reviews. Le Châble will probably be a bit cheaper but I’d stay in Verbier if you can afford it. I will be there that weekend and Mont Fort should be open by then so have high hopes for the skiing
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You know it makes sense.
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Le Chable (as mentioned - connected by gondola) to Verbier is worth a look for accommodation as it can be far cheaper than Verbier. It's easily reached by train from Geneva Airport so a car may not be necessary, even with an evening arrival.
On a cautionary note, I did a mid-December week there a few years ago. Despite fantastic early season snow cover, they were slow/reticent to open the ski area due to lack of visitors. Skiing was fairly limited as a result. Probably decent enough for a weekend trip though.
Saas Fee could be another possibility for a weekend. Absolutely beautiful village and a snow-sure glacier.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ok folks, thanks for your great advice, Hotel Montpelier looks to be a decent option in Verbier, what are the in resort costs for dinner / eating on the hill atm?
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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 need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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@LaForet, great advice and tips, thank you. Maybe catch up on the Saturday at Chez Simons, you'll recognise me easily, red suit, long white beard.....!!
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