 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone! I wonder if you could help. I've booked flights to Geneva to ski the last week in March/first week in April 2025. Looking for a snowsure resort with a short transfer from Geneva (say 1.5 hours max). 2 kids, late primary age, and it's their 3rd week skiing. We've been to Montgenevre for the last two years after recommendations on here, but I'm looking for a change this time and somewhere bigger. We're (bad) intermediates, looking for somewhere with lots of blues and easy reds. Somewhere suitable for a snowboarder too, and with a good English-speaking ski school. We'll be self catering, so a nice pool complex in the village would also be a real bonus. I've been thinking of Avoriaz or La Clusaz maybe. Any other ideas?
Many 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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Not La Clusaz - well, not if you are hoping for resort-level snow. Yes Avoriaz but the world and his wife will be there if snow in the area is poor, which is quite likely. Really, to be reasonably confident about the snow, you'd be best advised to go a bit further, to the Tarentaise.
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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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@RD3005,
A bit outside your transfer time but La Thuile in Italy would work otherwise.
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Thanks, both of you. La Thuile is an interesting idea. I really fancied La Rosiere, but am worried about the snow cover. Looking for a pretty village too, so again that gives me reservations about Avoriaz. I've been there in the summer, and the brutalist architecture isn't my favourite.
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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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@RD3005,
La Ros gets plenty of snow and should have good cover but it is south facing so the snow can get very soft at Easter, La Thuile being North and East should have a better surface. As far as architecture is concerned La Thuile has some old buildings and modern ones some of which are not particularly pretty overall the village isn't unpleasant but it isn't really a traditional charmer either.
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@RD3005, Not sure it fits your skiing spec but Verbier is ideal from both snow reliability and easy access from Geneva airport (very easy train connection, the trains start there). Might be a bit more expensive than some other spots. Not quite chocolate box but nicer than Avoriaz!
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@RD3005, as @Origen, says I would be looking to go very high at Easter. I've done some of the resorts close to Geneva in early April (never late April) and the snow hasn't been great even then. The best we found was Argentiere. My suggestion would be to expand your transfer time and go the Tarrentaise. La Plagne would be a good choice with tons of easy blue and red pistes and I beleive an English speaking ski school (TBH I haven't come across a ski school that doesn't speak English). Sorry I cannot help with pretty villages I'm always looking at the mountains never the villages.
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@RD3005, just being a bit basic, but that's not Easter ...
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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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1. Flaine
2. Avoriaz
3. La Thuile
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Pretty villages with guaranteed snow are not plentiful in April. You will need to prioritise. Les Saisies often has reasonable late season snow (I've been there first week of April both the last years) and is quite a pretty spot, with lovely scenery. But for more extensive snow sure skiing, you need the Tarentaise.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Verbier or Avoriaz would be my picks. Verbier will take you slightly longer than 1.5hrs, more like 2, but if you stayed in Le Châble it's pretty much 1.5hrs. Plus, you can get the train to Le Châble with a change in Martigny from the airport. Le Châble would also be less pricey than Verbier.
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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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Flaine or Avoriaz - but personally I'd spend a extra hour in the car and go somewhere that actually really is snowsure!
Pretty villages are a bit over-rated in my opinion - I actually like the ambience of Avoriaz in the snow with the jangle of the bells as the horse and carriages trot round.
But pretty mountains, I'm all for them. And having a beer looking at the mountains is like heaven. Personal favourite is having a beer in la face ouest in Val Thorens - I'm not looking at the architecture but looking at a panoramic view of the mountains in the sun.
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Thanks, everyone - lots of great food for thought. Easter as in the school Easter holidays, I mean. I'm afraid I've been to Flaine and hated the look of the place, so didn't really enjoy it. I know it's ridiculous, but the aesthetics matter to me! I think the skiing will be too difficult for us in Verbier and Argentiere unfortunately, by the looks of it. I also fear you're right that Avoriaz is likely to get very busy at that time of year, which we wouldn't enjoy. A transfer on the train would be amazing! Any ideas in Switzerland that I've missed?
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You know it makes sense.
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@RD3005, you won't like Avoriaz then
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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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@RD3005, variations on this question get asked a lot and I'm not convinced that the exact place you're looking for exists with nice architecture making it even trickier. Perhaps Courmayeur, inside your travel time, pretty, fairly high, the ski area is perhaps a bit small.
The Tarentise has the skiing that you're after, the Haute Savoie has the prettiness and is near Geneva airport
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you’re driving take a look at Valloire, a bit over 2hours from Geneva airport but has some lovely skiing and is more of a traditional French village.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'd always prioritise having plenty of decent snow over any other resort criteria, particularly skiing over Easter when lower resorts will be struggling. So I'd drive an extra hour to get to one of the bigger higher Tarantaise resorts.
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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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@RD3005, If you are keen on Swiss trains and think Verbier might not suit (its a lot more than the steep bumps on Mont Fort!) then maybe Champery, trains from Geneva Airport (change at Aigle) the same skiing as Avoriaz but based in Switzerland.
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I am always surprised that Sion doesn't get a few flights. The runway seems to be long enough to take a 737 (based on a quick google).
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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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| RD3005 wrote: |
| A transfer on the train would be amazing! Any ideas in Switzerland that I've missed? |
Saas Fee is a bit further away and you have to take a bus connection from the train, but it has a reputation for very good late season snow with its height and being very attractive to look at.
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You're probably going to have to consider compromise here, finding a pretty village that's 1.5hrs from Geneva and snow sure in April doesn't leave much on the table.
As even the prettiest village doesn't look too pretty when there is thin snow, I'd ditch that side of it and make do with the less nice architecture. Avoriaz at least has the horses dragging people about, which adds something, and you can easily ski to somewhere away from the town anyway.
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@afterski, what’s the market?
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| Quote: |
As even the prettiest village doesn't look too pretty when there is thin snow
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It looks a lot prettier with thin snow than with just a few piles of solidified black stuff in the gutters and a lot of mud. 
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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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@under a new name, People looking for ski resorts within an hours drive above 2000m.
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The Swiss Grenoble/Chambery option.
To be honest for me it makes little difference though as I'm flying long haul it has to be GVA, MUC or ZRH (Possibly NICE and Milan as well depending on where we choose to go). So the difference is either faf around in the airport with a stopover to gain an hour or two in a transfer or just take the transfer length. It is a bloody long day to add a 2.5 hour/3 hour transfer on after a 6 hour flight though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd agree with T Bar on Saas Fee.
If you are prepared to compromise to a longer transfer by train and a short ish bus ride then I'd certainly recommend Saas Fee.
Completely snow sure with lots of easy reds and enough blues.
Beautiful car free village with stunning scenery and excellent English speaking ski schools (Ski Zenit was excellent).
There is also a good pool with a couple of slides and spa at the hostel 4000 which is open to the public.
I went at Easter last year with my early intermediate son and he did fine.
We stayed at the Hostel 4000 which is a really great option if you want a good value B&B or half board in a great location, although there should be a good amount of self catering if you want (Sees Fee has pretty good supermarkets for that).
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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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If you really want to stay close to Geneva then you could consider Les Contamines. There won't be snow in the village but the valley is lovely at Easter - green meadows, vibrant foliage, wild flowers and the village is pleasant. in the 10+ years I've been skiing at Easter in Les C there has always been enough snow for good skiing although obviously it can be slushy in the afternoons (or you can get lucky and have powder). It is very quiet as most people head for the obvious high resorts.
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| afterski wrote: |
| I am always surprised that Sion doesn't get a few flights. The runway seems to be long enough to take a 737 (based on a quick google). |
IIRC it's been tried - by Powderair (or something similar) and then announced (but I don't think ever operated) by a small jet company looking to run a scheduled PJ service. I had a vague recollection that Swiss even talked about it at some point, but can't find any evidence.
I think pilots need special certification, weather can be challenging, and a la Chambery, it doesn't take many diverts for a route to be questionable value to the users.
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You know it makes sense.
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@snowdave, I had a friend who even bought a ticket to fly there, Powderair definitely rings a bell, for the 18/19 season but all the flights were cancelled before the season began
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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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@afterski, The main point of flying to Sion would be easy transfer to Verbier , Crans Montana etc. However seeing as the transfer from Geneva Airport is already so easy ( I believe there are a couple of trains an hour along the Rhone valley) it seems pointless when Geneva has so many flight options. Of course if you can afford a private jet then Sion is ideal!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@afterski, Sion has been tried, too thin a market.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Origen wrote: |
| Pretty villages with guaranteed snow are not plentiful in April. You will need to prioritise. Les Saisies often has reasonable late season snow (I've been there first week of April both the last years) and is quite a pretty spot, with lovely scenery. But for more extensive snow sure skiing, you need the Tarentaise. |
Nothing is guaranteed in life but les Saisies and associated resorts would typically have snow to mid April, les Saisies is often skiable in to May (without lifts of course). Crest Voland struggled at the end of last season though but anywhere below 1500/1800 meters without serious snow making had a difficult season.
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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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Avoriaz always delivers on snow, despite alot of people on here slagging it all the time….
If you’ve got the CHF go to Aletsch Arena - its a gem and far quieter than most resorts.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Flaine is probably the most awfull ski resort i have ever been as regards as aisth, but i have to say that i spend also a week last summer and will go again this summer.
But Avoriaz is not compared with flaine. Much prettier
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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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@davidof, I’ve read it on here before that Les Saises has better snow conditions that the other resorts in the region but it just seems unlikely to be true to me. Its immediate neighbours, ski areas all within 10 miles as the crow flies, Megeve, La Clusaz, Les Contamines, all have slopes at a similar height or higher, all of these resorts have North facing slopes, and they are all close enough to each other that it seems unlikely that there will be massive variations in total precipitation that of any them receive (maybe Les Contamines’ proximity to Mont Blanc could alter its precipitation totals, or La Clusaz being furthest West could get the brunt of any Atlantic front). Of all these ski areas the most snow sure bits have got to be the Combe de Balme and Combe de la Torchere bowels at La Clusaz, they are a couple of hundred metres higher than anything at Les Saises, ideally shaped North facing sheltered bowels. Maybe there is some micro-climate effect that I have missed but otherwise I struggle to see why Les Saises would be that much better than its neighbours. I’m not saying that these resorts won’t offer good skiing at the end of March beginning of April, just that I wouldn’t have thought that there would be a lot of difference between them
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Les Contamines is also typically good - sometimes better than anywhere in the Chamonix valley. I have not, however, suggested that Les Saisies is the best choice for end of March/beginning of April - that would be silly. I still think the Tarentaise would be the place to go.
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The last time I skied this year at Les Saisies was April 12th, it was a good day but I would also suggest that someone booking ahead should look at the Tarentaise.
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Thanks, everyone. After a bit more research, I've realised that the week we're going (end march/beg April) will be before the main UK school holiday starts, and it's also term time for the French schools, so I don't think Avoriaz will be too busy, which is a plus.
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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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@RD3005, the busyness that week will be more down to snow conditions in lower parts of the domain, rather than school hols. That week was unusually busy in Les Saisies this year - the snow wasn't great, but it was better than other places around, and I suspect the same would have been true of Avoriaz that week. Really, anywhere within easy reach of Gva is a gamble that week.
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| RD3005 wrote: |
| Thanks, everyone - lots of great food for thought. Easter as in the school Easter holidays, I mean. I'm afraid I've been to Flaine and hated the look of the place, so didn't really enjoy it. I know it's ridiculous, but the aesthetics matter to me! I think the skiing will be too difficult for us in Verbier and Argentiere unfortunately, by the looks of it. I also fear you're right that Avoriaz is likely to get very busy at that time of year, which we wouldn't enjoy. A transfer on the train would be amazing! Any ideas in Switzerland that I've missed? |
Why don't you ski the Grand Massif area but stay in Les Carroz or Samoëns,.not likely to be snowy at village level but both very pleasant with access to the snow sure skiing? Good for the just over one hour transfer.
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