 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Everyone,
I'm currently living in London and looking to get back into skiing after a 15 year absence as I recall it being the most dopamine-emitting activity you could possibly do (well, aside from the obvious!). I used to be a strong intermediate (could go down all Italian red slopes), but I'm guessing I'd need some time to get back into it now. Skiing is a very expensive activity and will be my main/only holiday next year (and in most years, I'd imagine). After extensive research, I've sort of narrowed it down to Val d'Isere and St Anton, as those appear to be the only two resorts that offer pretty much everything, including (and this is important for a milestone like this) nightlife! I'd be going with a couple of expert skiier friends, but I'm fine taking 2-3 mornings of group lessons before going down the reds for most of the week. I'd ideally start doing some blacks on Thursday and Friday and be ready to ski alongside my expert friends on my 31st!
A couple of questions:
1) Would you have any other recommendations which would be clearly superior by some metric than these two? I don't know if I'll actually enjoy it again or how long I'll keep coming back for it, so I'd like to ensure that I've hit at least one of the mega, world famous resorts (i.e. those two above), but I'm open to suggestions;
2) What would the rough cost be? I'm only making £55-60k'ish (could go up substantially before the trip and I'm not stuck on this for life by any means), so I'd like to really keep the total cost of the week down to £1.5k or so given that my savings are not what they should be already;
3) How many lessons would you recommend I do before getting back out there on my own? Should I go into a beginner group for the first morning and then intermediate for 1-2 or just stick to intermediate?
I'm extremely excited about getting back into the sport again and I'm willing to stay in London for the rest of the year if I can make either of these two (or anything else you recommend) happen. Thanks in advance for all your help!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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"Val d'Isere and St Anton" -- two of the most expensive resorts in Europe!
"Skiing is a very expensive activity and will be my main/only holiday next year" -- avoid the silly/expensive resorts and go skiing twice (or thrice!). It is possible to enjoy good skiing at a reasonable price.
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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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Go to somewhere like St Anton or Val d’Isere when you’re back skiing regularly. You’ll only scratch the surface of those places as a returning skier especially if you want to party too.
Look at some of the less expensive places that still have a good party atmosphere. Saalbach is a good option. Pas de la Casa (Andorra) too. Both have good skiing and good apres (Saalbach superior to Pas on both counts!) but cheaper and more intermediate friendly than the St A or VdI.
I’ve managed to ski a couple of holidays a year for the past 15-20 years and have summer holidays whilst earning considerably less than £55-60k!
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@Donwimble8,
You haven't said what dates you are planning to go - this can have an impact on price & resort recommendations.
If taking group lessons get the ski school to have a look at your skiing ability & recommend which class you should be in.
Consider a few lessons at a UK indoor slope.
If you choose Val d'Isere I think you'll find the Espace Killy reds are somewhat tougher than those you skied in Italy.
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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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At that age, wanting to party, and getting back into skiing and wanting some suitable terrain, I can't think of a better place than Ischgl.
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| TOLOCOMAN wrote: |
| At that age, wanting to party, and getting back into skiing and wanting some suitable terrain, I can't think of a better place than Ischgl. |
Agree that Ischgl is very much a party town, so it should be on your list.
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Saalbach is a great resort for both the skiing, and the nightlife. Quite affordable too. Plenty of runs for you to get back into it, and loads in the Ski Circus for your friends as well.
Solden is also a cracking resort, high and snowsure with one of the longest runs in the Alps, and a brilliant apres scene/nightlife. Well worth a punt.
Mayrhofen is not to be sniffed at either, with some cracking deals, excellent nightlife/apres, and the Harikiri to scare the kecks off your expert mates.
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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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| Quote: |
I'd ideally start doing some blacks on Thursday and Friday and be ready to ski alongside my expert friends on my 31st!
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If you friends really are "experts" it would take a couple of seasons (think 60 days+) on snow to even be close to them. If they are (perhaps more likely) just "good holiday" skiers sticking to pistes, there's no reason why you can't be skiing with them pretty soon. Of course that's assuming they have a bit of patience and aren't going to drag you places way outside your ability.
Setting goals based on colour of runs is pretty pointless imo. Firstly, improvement is not that linear and predictable. Secondly, there is way too much variability I.e. a red at one resort can be black at another, a freshly groomed empty black first thing in the morning can be easier than a busy icy red at the end of the day.
If you really are looking at this with a long term approach and the goal of becoming a much better skier, the more lessons the better. I'd auggest at least the full week of ski school your first week back.
I don't think there's anything wrong with Val D or St Anton for what you want. I would say 3 valleys is comparable to Val D. I would probably add verbier to the list of mega famous resorts. Of course you pay for all of the above and as an intermediate you arguably don't use them to their full potential. There are certainly more budget friendly options that are perfectly adequate for an intermediate skier.
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£1500 all in for a week is ambitious already.
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Guess it depends on your expectations. UCPA are doing Val D for a little shy of £1000 - full board accommodation, ski rental, full week tuition, and lift pass. Even with flights, transfers should come in at less than £1500.
I would agree that the days of super cheap skiing are over though. While there's always ways to save money in other aspects of ski holidays the increase in lift ticket prices in unavoidable. Even Pas de La Case as mentioned above as a cheaper option is now €378 for a week pass. I'm doing two weeks in chamonix this winter and the lift pass is more than the flights and accommodation!
But second others, I managed multiple weeks skiing and multiple weeks summer holidays on way less than £55k.
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| Quote: |
UCPA are doing Val D for a little shy of £1000 - full board accommodation, ski rental, full week tuition, and lift pass. Even with flights, transfers should come in at less than £1500.
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An excellent suggestion. You probably won't hit your price target anywhere other than a UCPA. And only then if you don't drink a huge amount! Private lessons would be the best bet for you - expensive but you'll get on much quicker.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
| But second others, I managed multiple weeks skiing and multiple weeks summer holidays on way less than £55k. |
My thoughts entirely. What else is Mr Womble wasting his money on?? 
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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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I don't think I've ever paid more than ~£1,200 for a week of skiing, including all costs (albeit with no lessons). This January it's going to come in at under £1,000 for a week half board in Les Arcs in January. I save a bit by having my own skis and I'm not looking for luxury as I'm there to ski. It's easy to get the costs well under £1,500 in non peak weeks.
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@sugarmoma666, what is the breakdown of your Les arcs trip? Seems incredibly cheap. The lift pass alone for 6 days is £300.
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You know it makes sense.
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| luigi wrote: |
| boarder2020 wrote: |
But second others, I managed multiple weeks skiing and multiple weeks summer holidays on way less than £55k. |
My thoughts entirely. What else is Mr Womble wasting his money on?? |
London rent
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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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After spending a number of years skiing the various areas in Austria I now only go the St Anton/Arlberg. The skiing is simply better than elsewhere and the apres is too (not that I am up for that these days!). I have been to Val d'Isere, though long time ago now, my impression is that whilst the skiing is at a very similar level to St Anton (& Verbier) the apres isn't. St Anton does have its downsides, often crowded, has got increasingly expensive in recent years and does not have the dense network of lifts / pistes that can be found in France. Plenty of folk dont like the place but the ski terrain provides anyone willing to push themselves (not just rubber legged experts) with first rate skiing. The locals having been trying to dial back on the "party" reputation in recent times and some of the smaller bars have disappeared (now far too many high end outdoor clothing shops) but the likes of the Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh (amongst other spots) can reasonably be called the rather cliched term "legendary" without being tacky.
Cost will be your biggest issue, cheaper accommodation can be found though much harder than it used to be need to book well in advance, lift ticket is at the higher end (though assume similar to Val d'Isere, Verbier etc), so is ski hire (though good quality kit is available). There are some crazy expensive apres spots but these can be avoided, still a few "cheap" spots with beer at around €5 but the bigger places will be more. I think your budget of £1500 for a week is optimistic certainly if you want a few lessons.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@boarder2020, £656 through Sunweb for a twin room with half board in the Belambra in Arc 2000 with full Paradiski lift pass. ~£250 for return train travel (hopefully a conservative estimate). ~£60 per head for a hotel room in Paris on the outbound and £40 for taxi up and down the mountain from Bourg St Maurice. There's a chance it will creep up to more like £1,100 if I include the cost of the Carte Avantage (but that's likely to be spread over 3 holidays and 2 people) and don't get up early enough the day SNCF release the tickets.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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St Anton arguably not a good starting point at your level irrespective of lessons - like another poster said Saalbach / Solden much better choices in terms of versatility / value / apres etc
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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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@sugarmoma666, you forgot the 17€ a day for lunch (5 if you know where to go). But you can save money by using the funicular and the Navette instead of the taxi.
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@johnE, that's spending money though, not the basic cost of the trip
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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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The OP said he wanted to keep the "total cost" below £1500 so that presumably must include all spending in resort as well as the "basic cost" of the trip. I've never seen "spending money" as something separate, really.
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| johnE wrote: |
| @sugarmoma666, you forgot the 17€ a day for lunch (5 if you know where to go). But you can save money by using the funicular and the Navette instead of the taxi. |
Yeah, but this way we get 6.5 days of skiing 
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@sugarmoma666, good point - 8% more skiing for 4% more cost.
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@Origen, each to their own, I don't see spending money as a cost of the holiday. I don't know how much I'm going to spend before I get there and don't have a budget. If you go down that route you'd have to deduct how much you would spend at home. I don't actually know how much I spend on any holiday apart from travel and accommodation. I don't know how much I spend at home to that level either
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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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Neither do I. I have no idea how much I spend on most things. And I don't have a "budget", for anything. I've just got back from a short holiday - 11 days away, all in the UK. I have no idea how much it cost me and no intention of working it out. But as the OP has asked for advice on the basis that the "total cost" should be within his £1500 budget, that's what we should bear in mind. The amount some people spend on lunches and booze in resorts never ceases to amaze me - it's a factor! If he's not been skiing for 15 years (when someone else was presumably paying) he might be a bit shocked at the cost of a "lads' night out" in St Anton or Val d'Isere!
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| Origen wrote: |
| Neither do I. he might be a bit shocked at the cost of a "lads' night out" in St Anton or Val d'Isere! |
Excellent point, well made
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@johnE, I might come back to you for lunch recommendations. I've generally struggled to find good, sensibly priced places in Les Arcs. It would be a bit of a trek across to the snack bar at the Le Roc des Blanchets above Champney for lunch every day. 
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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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@Donwimble8, there's virtually a whole page that could be written for additional locations to go to than those 2 (albeit they're great locations)
But, here's some further suggestions, some have been mentioned so apologies if these are doubling up:
France
Morzine
Tignes
Val Thorens
Meribel
Switzerland
Verbier (but you're budget conscious so could ignore Switzerland full stop)
Austria
Saalbach
Mayrhofen
Ischgl
Soll
Where do you live? It could be worth having some lessons in the UK before you get out there, so you're not starting totally afresh.
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| Neither do I. he might be a bit shocked at the cost of a "lads' night out" in St Anton or Val d'Isere! |
Excellent point, well made |
The OP lives in London, so drinks in St Anton are not much different than at home. As of last year a large (500ml) beer in any of the popular STA bars, eg Moose, KK, Murmell was just under 8 Euro, not much different than most London bars.
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You know it makes sense.
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+1 for Saalbach. Just the job given the level.
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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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@JohnS4, Val D'Isere is much more expensive
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Donwimble8, Welcome to Snowheads. Saalbach mate. Full of British and Dutch 20/30 somethings who claim to be "advanced" skiers before retiring to the Apres. The ski school will put you in the most suitable ski class and they're all flexible.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| TOLOCOMAN wrote: |
| At that age, wanting to party, and getting back into skiing and wanting some suitable terrain, I can't think of a better place than Ischgl. |
Agree that Ischgl is very much a party town, so it should be on your list. |
Not forgetting Soelden.... and that legendary Snowhead's review  .
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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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@Donwimble8, nice to see my home village getting a few recommendations. If you would like a copy of my own comprehensive guide to Saalbach, a few suggested itineraries, and guidance re recommended hotels or apartments, send me a private message with your email address.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Donwimble8, I was very similar to you back in 2019 returned having not skied for just over a decade and a similar age when I went back. Went to Saalbach with friends and we have been back (Covid aside) every year since. It would be a great choice.
There's a separate thread for Saalbach where if you post what you are after people will be able to help with accommodation recommendations (some of the regular posters rent out places), suggestions for nightlife (not why I go skiing so can't help but plenty of people go to Saalbach and enjoy the nights out!), places to eat etc.
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=169959
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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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@Donwimble8, are you still with us? Hope you've not fallen into a recycling bin on the common.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi Everyone,
Just got back from 3 drinks-related post-work events! Thank you for all of your suggestions, I'm actually feeling overwhelmed by all of the help you've given, what a great community I've stumbled into! I'll be going during the 20-something of March, btw!
I spoke to my friends and it's either going to be the all-out mega resort at the UCPA for £1-1.2k all inclusive or Saalbach for a more sane, chill time with better skiing with a price tag that's £3-400 cheaper overall (though that deal for val D is really good!). I'm leaning towards France just for how boisterous the overall experience is going to be, but I'd honestly be happy with either after reading all of this and I'd gladly reach out to some of the posters when the time comes if Saalbach is what we opt for!
Thanks again for all your help! And @PeakyB I sadly don't live down there, though many of my colleagues regale me with tales of their exploits on the Tinder-sponsored run club events ....
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@Donwimble8,
If you go down the UCPA route (and you can do worse!), the UK 'branch' is action-outdoors.co.uk don't know if anyone mentioned it above. Also if looking at Val d'Isere UCPA, consider the Tignes one - same ski area (Espace Killy), but the Tignes one is in a better location for piste and bar access, in my opinion. Tignes also plenty good for your partying.
Late March generally means good snow wherever you go, and avoids the worst of the holiday crowds. Just take the factor 50 suncream.
Wherever you choose to go (or if you have finally narrowed it down to a small number of choices) ask on the relevant thread(s) in the Snow Reports forum for advice about bars 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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…NAME change…not band change
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I would second the suggestion if you are going with the UCPA option that the Tignes centre is probably a better option than Val d'Isere unless you are desperate to be in Val d'Isere. You can still get to La Folie Douce easily enough and there is still plenty of nightlife in Tignes. You could do half-time lessons (4 x mornings or afternoons) which might be a good way for you to re-learn how to ski and then ski with your friends for the other half of the day. Your friends could either do lessons as well or book without which is cheaper.
The Val d'Isere centre is pretty cramped and dated (it is due to be closed to be renovated/rebuilt during the 2025/26 season, it should have happened years ago but planning permission kept pushing it back so they haven't really invested much in the centre in the meantime).
You can still access the whole of the ski area from Tignes. Arguably the 'home' runs in Tignes are nicer than Val d'Isere for a skier trying to get their confidence back. The ones in Val d'Isere are all reds and blacks, the ones on the Solaise side can be busy and icy and the ones on the Bellevarde side are steep.
UCPA is definitely a brilliant way to do skiing on the cheap and with minimal faff. I have always had a great social time at them. Although I would say that they aren't purely places where people go to party, mostly people are there for the skiing with a few drinks in the evenings. They don't serve spirits at the bars if that matters (although you can get away with bringing your own stuff to drink in your room if you are not too blatant about it). You can still use the centre as a base before a night out though.
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FAQ
