Short Ski break - Norway or France?

A snowHead

Hello,

First time posting, after lurking around on these forums! Myself and my Partner (29,and 28 ) are looking to try and fit a short Ski trip in around January but our timeframe and budget is limited.

Currently we both have some time off between the 8th - 12th of January. (possibly could be switched to a weekend at the end of january)
Budget wise we wanted to keep it fairly low under £1000 but maybe even under £800
I ski and my partner snowboards - I ski mostly blues/reds, (might attempt some black runs), meanwhile my partner snowboards mostly blues and is learning/trying out red runs.
Not bothered in apres ski stuff or anything just some good skiing for a couple of days.
We would probably fly out of a london Airport or anywhere we can get to in the UK

I have been flipping between France and Norway for location, and I have been looking at booking through somewhere like Crystal Ski, but I just wanted to ask peoples thoughts on here/any advice for different locations that would be good for budget and a short break? (we didnt really want to do anything like bulgaria or spain)
The places ive been considering are Flaine or La Clusaz in France or Myrkdalen in Norway. We both really like the idea of a short trip to Norway just to experience it a bit as we have both been to France a couple of times now (valdisere and Tignes).

Can anyone advise what Myrkdalen is like? Is it good for a short trip? Or is there some better places to go in Norway?
Or does anyone have any other location/countries recommendations that are affordable and have some good blues/reds?
Also do people have any recoomendations for sites better than Crystal ski that we could book with using our limited dates?

Ive tried looking through some older posts but wanted to see if i could get any more uptodate information/thoughts based on our specific budget and timeframe Very Happy

- appologies if this reads terribly or if ive posted this wrong (i have no idea what im doing and dyslexia sucks)
Thanks!

A snowHead

Trysil in Norway would fit your requirements I think - lots of reds and blues and the 'blacks' would be reds in France.

It is about 1.5-2hrs coach ride from Oslo airport.

I was last there in 2022 and really enjoyed it. It lacks the apres scene or super long runs of France/Austria but it's a great resort.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@katiejjk, Welcome to Snowheads and your post looks fine. Your budget looks tight, very tight for both France and Norway. I'm sorry I've never skied Norway but have skied in lots of countries including Bulgaria and done short trips ski trips to France.

For France I'd suggest one of the smaller Maurienne valley resorts such as Val Frejus or Les Sept Laux where short stay midweek accommodation is available in the valley - but you will need a hire car. Actually I'd say with limited transfer options available midweek a hire car would be almost essential. A late flight out on the 7th and a late return on the 12 would allow 4 days skiing

The other option I'd consider is Zakopane in Poland where I have done a short break. We were lucky in that a Ryanair flight was very cheep and for us conveinient so it all slotted together well.

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@NoMapNoCompass, Ah Trysil is one I had looked at a little but when ive been looking for a 3-4 day break I cant seem to find any deals, I would guess we might need to try book things independently if we wanted to do Trysil? Smile

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@johnE, Ah to confirmt he budget would be per person, but i know it is perhaps tight especially as things get more expensive each year!

Sadly I dont think we would be able to do anything that requires a hire car as my partner drives but im not sure he would have the confidence to drive in another country at the moment Sad

which does also limit our options.

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@ster, Oh wow okay yeah if it can be done that way I will get looking into that right away, Trysil was one we had been considering before but my partner wont be able to do a full week and all the sites like crystal ski only ever show deals at Trysil if its week long!

Would you say Trysil is the best option if going to Norway? Very Happy

After all it is free

@katiejjk, its the biggest in Scandinavia so probably has the best on piste variety.

The Skistar site will show 4 to 7 night stays for accommodation, but there are a few on booking.com and you can book direct with the Radisson

In fact if just the two of you the small apartments on Skistar might be cheap enough if they are not available for a short stay, to bin the few extra days you pay for and not cause an issue, we’ve done that before.

the tour operator industry is very much geared round week-long trips - and the accommodation market, and transfers, in many places reflects this.

If car hire is out of the question then the service offered by SkiStar sound ideal.

Hope you can get something fixed! snowHead

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@katiejjk, is there a reason you're only looking at France and Norway?

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@swskier, Those are just the places we like the look of, Im open to suggestions although we didnt really like the look of going to bulgaria or spain. Norway is somewhere we have watned to visit before so it was sort of top of our list, but personally I just really want to go skiing Very Happy

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@ster, Im looking at this at the moment and i have to say thank you so much the skistar site does look like it would still be fairly straight foward to book through and work things out. Im use to booking a big group of us but for just the two of us im more happy to try avoid tour operators directly Very Happy

Do you know is there like shared coaches easy to book for transfers? And the best airport to fly into? (maybe a silly question ive currently got alot of tabs open looking into trips)

@katiejjk,
See if Action Outdoors can help.

You know it makes sense.

Isn’t Norway mainly drag lifts, not great for boarders? Perhaps worth checking.

I was happy with Baqueira in Spain last year but I think it needs driving and you are not so keen.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@katiejjk, it's worth considering Italy and Austria also. It all depends on where you're flying from and therefore what airports you can fly to. As you're not on an unlimited budget you'll find Italy and Austria is cheaper when you're there for food and drink compared to France and Norway.

One website to check is Sunweb, https://www.sunweb.co.uk/ their packages include accommodation and lift passes and are usually pretty good value.

If Turin works as an airport to fly in to, then I'd also recommend looking at Pila. It's a great resort, not too big, but perfect for what you want from a short break. You have the option of staying up the mountain in the Pila village, or you can stay in the Roman town of Aosta which has a gondola taking you straight up to the ski area. It's only around 1.5hrs from Turin so it could make a great option.

A snowHead

@swskier, We can fly from any london airport really, or Bristol, or Birmingham to be honest all are the most easy to access for us! The main thing is that we cannot do anything like a hire car once there, so a transfer would be neede.

I had looked a little at Italy although the main place that popped up for me was courmayeur which I had a falling out with when I had a fight with the mountian snowHead

(i face planted and got a concussion and a good nose bleed/blackeye) We also found it really busy at the main chair lift, but if theres any specific recommended resorts for austria or Italy Im open to suggestions! Smile

I will take a look at Pila! although so far i think from a quick search unless i do direct bookings i think i can only do 7 day stay options

A snowHead

https://www.skiweekends.com/
https://www.skiweekender.com/
https://www.heidi.com/
https://www.sunweb.co.uk/

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@katiejjk, with those choices of airports, your options are huge. I'd say going DIY will be your best option here anyway, and it's super easy with booking.com/airbnb/local tourist office websites.

Pila would definitely work, and you can get there with transfer options, including public transport. I did it last winter when I did from Austria to Pila via trains and buses to go and teach there for a week.

This hotel is availble for your dates and €466 B&B for the weekend. It looks a bit dated, but it's just a bed after all.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/pila-2000.en-gb.html?aid=304142&label=gen173nr-10CAEoggI46AdIM1gEaA6IAQGYATO4ARfIAQzYAQPoAQH4AQGIAgGoAgG4Ar_06skGwAIB0gIkZjkxZjM2ZjEtOWE5NC00YmZkLTg4NzMtYjU5Yzk5MWMzZDNj2AIB4AIB&sid=51ae20b0a21786b05a550668537d88e6&all_sr_blocks=1948201_380814311_2_1_0&checkin=2026-01-08&checkout=2026-01-12&dest_id=900040971&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=2&group_children=0&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=1948201_380814311_2_1_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=1948201_380814311_2_1_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=2&req_children=0&room1=A%2CA&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=1948201_380814311_2_1_0__46600&srepoch=1765456596&srpvid=a79558a37f520367&type=total&ucfs=1&

Transfers seem to be around €15 each way from the main station in Turin, you'd just need to get there from the airport

https://aosta.arriva.it/aosta-torino/

If you time your flights well, you could ski on the arrival day and departure day.

In Austria, the Zillertal would work, particularly the area above Kaltenbach which has a number of nice runs that would be suitable for your abilities. Fügen could also work and then either ski the small area of Spieljoch, or use the free ski bus to Kaltenbach or up to Hochfügen.

Apartment Huber is quite well situated in Fügen and a reasonable price, €580 for your dates.

https://www.zillertal.at/en/accommodations/accommodations/ZIL/0d120de9-dd83-4bbf-afa9-dd50b62ca3e8/appartements-huber?useDetailSearch=true

Public transport from Innsbruck Airport is easy and cheap, although there's a bus replacement between Innsbruck and Jenbach during the dates you're here. That wouldn't cause too much grief for you though.

Just a couple of ideas for you there, but there's loads more you could consider.

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@katiejjk, you say: Can anyone advise what Myrkdalen is like? Is it good for a short trip? Or is there some better places to go in Norway?

https://www.fall-line.co.uk/norway-northern-powerhouse/

All the info you need re Myrkdalen.

Have sent DM too!

Myrkdalen, and nearby Voss - perfect for a weekender and would recommend Laughing

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@swskier, Thank you so much for all that information! I will check this all out, to be honest id briefly looked at Austria before but i got a bit thrown off by where to go so this is really helpful thank you! Smile

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@wiigman, Oh thats great thanks! I will give that a read, I was looking at Voss aswell as another option although Myrkdalen was a first choice when we started looking around Very Happy

After all it is free

I do this every year (And under 1k)- cant comment on Norway, but tried and tested into Geneva, early flight in on the Friday and late flight back on the Monday. If you are organised you can get 3.5 days of skiing in. Geneva has by far the best number of flights for the Alps and usually ok prices. Passport control can be a bit hit and miss, have walked in, have queued for any hour, so its a bit of a lottery but early season i think wont be too bad.

Pick any resort within 2hrs of Geneva that meets your needs, have done Flaine, various 3v, La Plagne, and Verbier area -cant remember the name of the resort. (3 vallees was a push on the 1st day to get a half day in) but my recommendation for a weekeend would be Saint Gervais. This was by far the easiest , short transfer, decent area, and relatively cheap hotel/b&b options and eating in the evening. Plenty of cheap transfer options too.

Accommodation is usually the hard bit, finding something reasonable that takes a short booking. Though January is usually ok.

Had a quick look - BA LHR - GVA is £125 and some easy jet options from various other london airports for less (no bags etc)
Transfer return £125 each (shared)
Hotels double room - lots around £500 for the 4 nights
Lift pass 3 days £150 ish
Thats £650 each.

Might book myself!

@katiejjk, the way Norway/Myrkdalen scores is how easy it all feels. I found Bergen a dream of an airport, getting through customs/board bag collected in under 20mins; then the tram into Bergen is right by arrivals and is regular/cheap/easy. Then the train (to Voss in my case, although M just up the road) was just as good. I was on my own and found it a doddle. I loved how mellow it all was versus the Alps/Geneva.

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@wiigman, that does sound very attractive and just what the OP is after. Compared to fighting your way in and out of Geneva airport and finding odd days accommodation in one of the big resorts. I've not skied in Norway since a school trip to Geilo in 1963 but I travelled by train in Norway just a few years ago and certainly found it all very easy and efficient.

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I'm doing a 5 night break in Jan to Alleghe in Italy with two teenage kids...4 days skiing...all DIY...

https://www.alleghefunivie.com/en/ski-civetta/

Ryanair flights Stansted to Venice inc 10kg cabin bag £82pp

2 bedroom Apartment split 3 ways £165pp

Car hire Intermediate SUV 5 days £79, split 3 ways £27pp, plus a bit of fuel and tolls, say £20pp.

Sub-total £294pp

Ski pass 4 days adult Civetta pass €223 £197pp

Total £491pp

Obviously you have to get to Stansted, park there, travel insurance, eat and drink, plus ski hire, but that would be the same on a package too...

I'm sure you could do something similar for less if you're only doing 4 nights! Cool

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Oh but I must really add that, although you can get around the whole of Trysil on chairs, there are quite a few long drag lifts, that can put boarders off.

A snowHead

A snowHead

I found the prices in ordinary shops OK. Yes, booze is expensive, but you can avoid that. I would personally rate the scenery in the Alps as much superior to most of Norway's (with the exception of the Lofoten Islands, which are magical), but everything's a compromise. I know it's heresy to say so, but I suspect that once you've seen one fiord, you've seen them all. I took the train, in two hops, from Oslo to the Arctic Circle. There are a great many trees. The train was wonderful, and cheap.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@katiejjk, so I just looked to show how you could do similar to us and Ryanair have STN to Venice on Thurs 8- Mon 12 Jan for £36 plus bag £32?? The return flight departs 2030, so you would have time to ski or visit Venice that day.

5 days (you drop off later than pickup) car hire Citroen C3 £57 (found on Skyscanner, through Auto Europe, supplier is Italy Car Hire)

This cosy family-run B&B at Pescul near the chairlift into Alleghe/Civetta ski area £479 for double/twin for 4 nights inc breakfast. (Most places in Alleghe seem to be booked now for that weekend). But it looks like you won't go hungry there, never seen so many homemade cakes, it's like they entered the Great Italian Bake-Off!! Laughing

https://www.booking.com/Share-9YrfGz

That totals £302pp.

Lift pass for 3 days adult Civetta is €197 or £174. You could get the Dolomiti Superski area pass for a bit more if you wanted to explore nearby ski areas too.

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@luigi, the OP has ruled out car hire

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Short breaks are tricky with tour operators who tend to offer complete weeks. Which means self organising mostly. But there are sensible ways to face it.

Basically you need to line up flights with accommodation, using resorts where you know about transfers. While I am sure Norway is possible, the easiest is to aim to fly via somewhere like Geneva where most airports have a range of flights and you are likely to get them for a good price and a time that works, and target the resorts in a close range (1-2 hours) that have regular transfers. There is a thread about buses and transfers near the top of the Resort Reviews page of this forum; while it hasn't been updated very recently you can use it as a basis for checking company websites. Then there is the challenge of accommodation, but you are talking about a period when things won't be booked up and you stand a reasonable chance of finding somewhere that will accept a short booking rather than have none (but they probably won't discount it as well).

The obvious candidates have already been mentioned. Morzine and Flaine have frequent short transfers as does St Gervais which is a bit less known to British skiers because it isn't on the main tour operators' lists. La Clusaz is another possibility, as is Chamonix though its layout means you might find it a pain unless you have been there previously and know your way around.

There are specialists in short breaks, though they will obviously be taking their middleman profits. Some years ago now we did a short break to Morzine with a company called Snow & Trek who acted as agents for short-week lets and also organised the associated transfers; a quick google suggests they are still in business. They also set us up with a ski hire company (All Mountain Rental) who delivered and fitted skis, that was ideal since we arrived too late for regular ski shop hours and meant we could still head for early lifts in the morning.

Whether you can get it for £1000 all in is another matter. There certainly exist cheap flights, but these days prices rise considerably if you add even a small cabin suitcase. Shared transfers seem to be around €40 per person each way (judging by St Gervais) unless you are timed for cheaper public transport. Ski hire likely close to €100 per person, lift pass likely €150 minimum. There are accommodation bargains, but for a short break you need something conveniently situated for your transfers as well as making the most of your few days in terms of access to the lift.

Good luck, when you get there you will think all the booking hassle worth it.

After all it is free

@luigi, Thank you so much for looking into the pricing of Alleghe/Civetta ski area, i really appreciate that! I might still look at this to see if it could be possible with some sort of transfer as it does look like a good location Very Happy

its a shame im terrified of drivng (funny when you think about it as im happy to throw myself down some slopes!) My partner has been driving a couple of years but i dont think he would feel comfortable driving in the wintery conditions+in another country sadly!

we are currently now perhaps thinking of sticking to the alps! we might hold on norway for another time where we can maybe do multiple things in one big visit with a group of friends, although the options still a possibility the alps seems easier to navigate perhaps on our timeframe and budget Very Happy

@ster, Thanks for the info on the coach! I think thats the one i found earlier when checking but i wasnt sure if it was the right one Very Happy

ive got a list of different options now for possibilitys so I really appreciate all the info youve provided Smile

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Short Ski break - Norway or France?

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