 Poster: A snowHead
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I have managed to justify to those that matter that a ski trip with key business colleagues is important for February, or at latest March next year. need to avoid schoold holidays so need advice on what weeks are best please.
Probably going to fly to Geneva (but open to suggestions or change if a better resort open comes up) with a group of say 6 of varying abilities and including a snowboarder or two.
Would like to go somewhere that fits the following additional criteria:
* Good apres and restaurants
* Snow sure
* Good hotel/chalet accomodation (suggestions welcomed)
* Terrain to meet all of the above punters
* Transfers under 2 hours
I'm not bothered about country but would say France is the front-runner.
In terms of budget, we are only thinking 2/3 nights so can push the boat out a bit but without taking it to the point of having to rub shoulders with the Royals!
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Peter Leuzzi, Chamonix, Portes du Soleil, avoid french holidays (searchable on web, so February a strict no-go!, usually end around 7th March, avoid Easter (no idea when that is next year).
Never skied Austria myself but Munich/Innsbruck apparently have a fair amount of reasonably accessible skiing.
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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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ACtually the first week in February would be ideal, the hols don't start till 10 Feb (or whateve the Saturday is) ending 10th March. A bit later than usual this year. You might look at Megeve. The restaurants are superb (the best of them way out of my price range) and the village upmarket and attractive (loads of scope for buying presents for non-accompanying spouses!). Not the snowest sure of places (and the village itself, a proper town, is fairly low) but there shouldn't be a problem in early February. Sophisticated resort, won't be over-run with boy racers and drunk British package tourists. A very gentle one and a half hours from Geneva, no difficult roads to negotiate. Can't recommend any hotels, but there'll be others who can - the sky's the limit.... Mostly well groomed easy/intermediate ski-ing. Lovely scenery - dominated by Mont Blanc. May be a bit limited for any really hot shots, but for 2 or 3 days, should do the trick. Lots of choice, Combloux is great.
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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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La Rosiere 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Peter Leuzzi, Hows about La Clusaz. Very short transfer. Try Snowhead poster www.gravite.co.uk looks a nice plae and has had some good write ups.
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Peter Leuzzi,
Chamonix
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If you go to Chamonix a group of different abilities could end up an awful long way from each other, with little chance of sociable lunches etc.
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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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Peter Leuzzi, can I be one of your key business colleagues please?
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pam w, depends on your ability range IMHO. Most early intermediates can IMHO handle most of the valley. The tricky bit would be keeping the better skiers from trying to drag everyone else up the Grands Montets.
One could postulate the Vallee Blanche as being an interesting team building exercise. Don't think I;d fancy being the one being crevasse rescued though... 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w, although I agree totally re sociable lunches. For a "destination" location, the CHX on mountain lunching leaves rather a lot to be desired.
"What?", he exclaims,
"I'm Supposed to be skiing/climbing/boarding/gliding...( et al. ad naus)?"
"Well, maybe after another little snifter of your very fine poire my dear garcon." (Retires to sun terrace to ogle snowbunnies)
Chamonix, with a couple of exceptions and I do recommend it in general extremely highly (enough that I am renovating apartments there) (was that too loud?) doesn't really do gourmet mountain dining. Shame really...
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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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To avoid the kids and everwhere being very busy, it would have to be the first week in February. After that it's mayhem throughout most of europe and particularly Grance with the schol holidays!
An issue could be getting a short break in a ski resort, most hotels or chalets wont take bookings for less than a week. You may have to go real 'up market' to get that choice or book a week and only use part of it.
One Hotel that I know will accept short bookings is The Hotel Telemark in the La Tania in the 3V's but you'd have to book soon for any choice in the dates. If anyone knows of any more hotels that would accept 3 or 4 day bookings in this area, please let me know. I trying to add on an extra 4 days to the start of a Jan 07 holidy.
Have you considerd other resorts in the the 3V's area. Multiple resorts, from upmarket Courchevel to the more basic La Tania. Access to the same area. For real snow sure Val Thorens, there will be snow, lots of it in Feb!
RE you other criteria:
* Good apres and restaurants - Plenty of choice, just up the hill more Michellin stars than you can shake a stick at!
* Snow sure - Any here in the 3V's give you access to to one of the largest linked ski areas. By Feb LT normally has a good coverage and higher resorts lots!
* Good hotel/chalet accomodation (suggestions welcomed) - How much can you afford? Hotel Telemark is relatively cheap, but if you want extreme comfort take your pick of 'real' 5 star hotels in Courchevel.
* Terrain to meet all of the above punters - Yes
* Transfers under 2 hours - 121 miles, 2 hrs. Most of the roads Vgood.
On a budget, prepared a short journey each day? Could consider stay in on of the valley towns, say Moutiers and visiting several different resorts. Moutiers is a bit of a crap area but on a plus side you dont have to pay the £10 a drink prices for Courchevel! You will need a car and chains though and be prepared for a drive each day. From here you can get to any of the 3 V's, in under 30 mins
La Plagne - 21 miles
Even access La Plagne via Champagny-en-Vanoise, only 10 miles.
Just an idea......
TTFN
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Are the 3V's less that 2 hours transfer from anywhere? (other than the Altiport of course...)
Never been so no idea...
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You know it makes sense.
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Peter Leuzzi, first week of March would be good. Try Portes du Soleil or even Crans-Montana.
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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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David Murdoch, you can be in Meribel in less than 1hr30 from Chambery airport
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Poster: A snowHead
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you can be in Meribel in less than 1hr30 from Chambery airport
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good idea to use Chambery provided it is mid-week (Flybe do mid-week, not sure about anyone else). You can be driving out of the airport in just a few minutes after touch-down. The 3V would be a good choice, though with only 2/3 days it might only be sensible to do one valley, in which case Courchevel would be best IMHO. However, I still think you should give Megeve some consideration - somewhere a bit different. Very easy transfer from Geneva, and you'd be extremely unlucky (or lucky) to have enough snow to disrupt a journey from GVA to Megeve. I think you can also do that by train, though I've never done it. You wouldn't need a car in Megeve, there are plenty of buses to the different lifts.
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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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Peter Leuzzi, Kitzbuhel last week Jan/early Feb should be ok, or last week in Feb/early March. Inbetween those weeks are the Austrian. German and UK holidays. It meets all of your criteria. There are some smart bars and restaurants (both on and off the mountain), no shortage of nightlife and some good hotels. Its an hour from either Innsbruck or Salzburg. There is also a casino.
We're off to Ischgl next March which is fairly high and offers better snow reliability. It has some very smart hotels from the research I've done, is about an hour or just over from Innsbruck with BA now offering several flights a week. Skiing looks awesome and the lift network does also.
Don't discount Austria, transfer times are normally quicker, great nightlife also!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Peter Leuzzi, If a luxury ski-in ski-out chalet with gourmet five course evening meals sounds like it might be good for your group I can put together a package for you. We are based in Alpe D'Huez so great ski area and also good night life. The weeks when you would get the best value for money (and uncrowded skiing) would probably be either during the first week of Feb or the 3rd week of March? For Alpe D'Huez flying into Grenoble is easiest and then you only have an hour and a half transfer. PM me if you would like any more information or you would like me to put some prices together for you. We always give special discounts to snowheads! For now have a look at our website www.skialacarte.co.uk 
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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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Peter Leuzzi, confirm what hayley t, has suggested, if you are looking for some nightlife (plus great skiing of course ). If you want something good but a bit quieter then maybe Lech, or even Oberlech ( a no car zone ) are worth a look. For pure skiing France is ( marginally ) better, but for the whole package I would always go for Austria. Just my personal opinion.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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DM - I don't think you can pimp until you've got the goods available but do I notice a subtle change in your favoured areas from PdS to Chx?
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fatbob, only a very, very subtle change...
I personally still think Morzine is my fave place in the world, for many non-skiing reasons, but CHX is growing on me. Lots of fun to be had. That said, I would suggest that the PDS is still better for your average mixed group of UK 1 or 2 week a year skiers.
The "goods" are coming along very nicely so I feel quite confident about tarting them around for the winter. I would be in a right mess if we'd seriously done anything about the summer it must be said - thankfully that became a very apparent non-option very quickly...
But progress is being made and they accom will be (I think) really rather cool.
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how about villars reasonably upmarket access to glacier 3000 should be big enough for 2/3 days. reasonably upmarket accomodation options availiable
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FAQ
