 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello, I’m hoping for all your expert advice! We have never skied Feb half term as usually take the kids out of school to go, but that is not an option this year due to GCSE’s. We usually ski within the Three valleys, but from reading previous posts, it looks like anywhere in France is going to be a no go due to crowds. So I’m thinking somewhere within the Sella Ronda circuit. Would this be a better option than France? Can anyone recommend a good resort base please?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcome to the forum @Kell1904. We have been there, done that, with school exams reducing flexibility over holidays. But actually we usually went February half term anyway but lost the flexibility for a second trip.
To be fair we have once skied 3 valleys (La Tania) at half term and from memory it wasn't that bad. I am not sure Sella Ronda (Selva) was a huge lot better.
Unexpectedly we found Switzerland to be reasonable value for UK half term (compared with France the same week for example), the flight prices to Zurich don't go through the roof as they do to Geneva and other standard ski airports. We found reasonably priced self catering accommodation, and just had to be careful not to blow the budget eating out. We ended up going to Davos twice, Lenzerheide twice, and Laax, and there were no problems with crowds anywhere.
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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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Thank you! That’s not somewhere I have considered, I will take a look!
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When is the half-term holiday in the UK? The first week of March is carnival week in southern Germany, which will be even busier than half-term in France.
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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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Our school half term is 15th Feb-22nd. Another option is Easter 5th -12th April, but worried that’s a little late! We went late March last year, and conditions were not great!
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@Kell1904, many would suggest going at Easter as a lot quieter time than Feb HT. Obviously you have to choose resort more carefully, but somewhere high like Val Thorens will still have plenty of snow at Easter and long sunny days to enjoy it.
I've been to the Dolomites at HT a few times in recent years and it can be pretty busy around the Sella Ronda. It's peak season and the Danish HT nearly always coincides with UK and they seem to love the Sella Ronda resorts of Val di Fassa, esp Canazei. It can be rammed with Danish families around that sector and beyond. Whereas smaller resorts in the Dolomites can be nearly deserted.
Check out this thread with school holiday dates all over Europe: https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=167136
Looking at 2025, the main part of Denmark is w/c 8th Feb, so might not be quite as bad in the Sella Ronda with only the North away for w/c 15th
As to France, it is the first week of Paris holidays, which is usually the worse week in terms of numbers.
This chart is helpful showing overall skiers broken down by country:
http://cdn.wintersport.nl/media/content/2024/02/08/Vakantiedrukte_wintersport_2024-2025.jpg
The French in dark green are heaviest w/c 15th & 22nd, so resorts in France will be rammed.
Germans, esp Bavarians, arrive in huge numbers to Val Gardena on the Sella Ronda during Fasching week, but that falls w/c 1st Mar in 2025
Not sure what to advise really as 3V and Sella Ronda will both be pretty busy at HT.
Look at smaller resorts in Italy, maybe? They tend to fill up with daytrippers at weekends, but can be pretty empty all week.
La Thuile, Monte Rosa resorts in the Aosta Valley or Kronplatz, Falcade, Alleghe, Latemar, San Martino di Castrozza in the Dolomites?? 
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@Kell1904, I've been to the Sella Ronda in late January (staying in Corvara), which should have been relatively quiet. Unfortunately, the antiquated lift infrastructure (this was 2019, maybe it's been upgraded since) meant the queues in places were just like a peak week in France.
I've skied Feb half term every year for the past decade in France. A bit of planning goes a long way in avoiding queues. If you head for a main pinch point out of town just as the ESF lessons start, it can be a long wait, but if you start at first lift, have lunch either early or late, and ski through the 12.30-13.30 period when everyone else is eating, it's not so much of an issue. On a resort-specific basis, if you ask on here, there's usually someone who can advise of where and when the pinch points are, and you can avoid.
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| snowdave wrote: |
| If you head for a main pinch point out of town just as the ESF lessons start, it can be a long wait, but if you start at first lift, have lunch either early or late, and ski through the 12.30-13.30 period when everyone else is eating, it's not so much of an issue. |
Seconded, that is how we have managed our days in France over half term.
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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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| Kell1904 wrote: |
| Our school half term is 15th Feb-22nd. Another option is Easter 5th -12th April, but worried that’s a little late! We went late March last year, and conditions were not great! |
Easter is more risky conditions wise but not so busy/expensive. You pays your money and makes your choice.
We go Christmas and "Easter" each year but did HT once (La Plagne).
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I'm tied to school holidays and tend to do both Easter and half term.
If I had to choose only one week I'd go with Easter because it's cheaper and quieter which out balances the need for a higher altitude resort.
For Feb half term I tend to use the school holiday dates (link in Luigi's post) to make an educated guess as to which countries are going to be quieter and go for those. For 2025 this pointed to Italy and Austria but you'd need to make up your own mind. Another trick is to find a resort that is not a family focussed destination because it tends to keep the queues down a bit. For example I went for Ischgl for 2025 because it's seen as an adult focussed resort by some people, I don't know if this will work.
Easter this year will be a better option for France but I have seen some comments on other threads that the French accommodation prices have gone up a lot for Easter 25. You may be able to find something reasonable in Val Thorens if you are keen on 3V.
If you are looking for budget options for France at Easter you could check out UCPA family weeks booked through Action Outdoors https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/activities/snow-sports/skiing/family-weeks/
I agree with the post about Switzerland being unexpectedly quiet sometimes. I went to Saas Fee at Easter 2023 and it had excellent snow and was largely deserted.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Kell1904, Are you flying or driving? If you're flying then some of the Austrian resorts like Ski Welt, Ski Amade or the Zillertal can be pretty good at half-term week. Still busy but not overly so. Avoid St Anton, Ischgl and Zell am See though. Pus shorter transfers than those from Geneva to 3V or the Sella Ronda.
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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’d echo that it’s worth a bit of time researching Switzerland self-catering, especially during school holidays. If you can drive down as well, then that can broaden the scope of Swiss destinations too.
And as I mentioned on another thread, going for the picnic lunch option can actually be more convenient in school holidays, as well as cheaper. This compared to a lunchtime scrum for expensive mass-catering food in a busy café/restaurant. Where we ski in the Swiss Quatre Vallées the indoor picnic rooms are a relative oasis of calm at busy periods.
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@Kell1904, another thing we came up against on another recent HT thread is the current astronomical cost of flights for 15-22 Feb, like £1100pp return LGW to Innsbruck.
Flights for HT dates ideally need to be booked as soon as they are released which was quite a few months back.
Assuming you are looking to fly, you might want to check where you can fly to for reasonable money and base further decisions on that
The only places sub-£200pp return for those dates from London that are vaguely near some decent skiing are Barcelona (for Andorra), Marseille (for French Southern Alps, Serre Chevalier, Montgenevre), Bologna? (For Dolomites), Nuremberg?? (for Austria??).
Sub-£300 brings in Basel, Zurich and Geneva, just!
But then if you stay in Switzerland, you have to contend with Swiss on the ground costs at £1=1.12CHF.
Euro now worth less than the Swissie! When will it be the Pound's turn?? 
All these prices will be plus seats, baggage, ski carriage, etc.
Maybe if you're near a regional airport, you will find something cheaper.
Altering departure/arrival days to Sunday or Friday might help too, but that can reduce accommodation choices in popular spots. 
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You know it makes sense.
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| luigi wrote: |
@Kell1904, many would suggest going at Easter as a lot quieter time than Feb HT. Obviously you have to choose resort more carefully, but somewhere high like Val Thorens will still have plenty of snow at Easter and long sunny days to enjoy it.
I've been to the Dolomites at HT a few times in recent years and it can be pretty busy around the Sella Ronda. It's peak season and the Danish HT nearly always coincides with UK and they seem to love the Sella Ronda resorts of Val di Fassa, esp Canazei. It can be rammed with Danish families around that sector and beyond. Whereas smaller resorts in the Dolomites can be nearly deserted.
Check out this thread with school holiday dates all over Europe: https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=167136
Looking at 2025, the main part of Denmark is w/c 8th Feb, so might not be quite as bad in the Sella Ronda with only the North away for w/c 15th
As to France, it is the first week of Paris holidays, which is usually the worse week in terms of numbers.
This chart is helpful showing overall skiers broken down by country:
http://cdn.wintersport.nl/media/content/2024/02/08/Vakantiedrukte_wintersport_2024-2025.jpg
The French in dark green are heaviest w/c 15th & 22nd, so resorts in France will be rammed.
Germans, esp Bavarians, arrive in huge numbers to Val Gardena on the Sella Ronda during Fasching week, but that falls w/c 1st Mar in 2025
Not sure what to advise really as 3V and Sella Ronda will both be pretty busy at HT.
Look at smaller resorts in Italy, maybe? They tend to fill up with daytrippers at weekends, but can be pretty empty all week.
La Thuile, Monte Rosa resorts in the Aosta Valley or Kronplatz, Falcade, Alleghe, Latemar, San Martino di Castrozza in the Dolomites?? |
Thank you, ill look into smaller resorts. We have always skied the larger resorts, so had discounted looking at smaller resorts but that may be a better option to avoid the crowds!
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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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| snowdave wrote: |
@Kell1904, I've been to the Sella Ronda in late January (staying in Corvara), which should have been relatively quiet. Unfortunately, the antiquated lift infrastructure (this was 2019, maybe it's been upgraded since) meant the queues in places were just like a peak week in France.
I've skied Feb half term every year for the past decade in France. A bit of planning goes a long way in avoiding queues. If you head for a main pinch point out of town just as the ESF lessons start, it can be a long wait, but if you start at first lift, have lunch either early or late, and ski through the 12.30-13.30 period when everyone else is eating, it's not so much of an issue. On a resort-specific basis, if you ask on here, there's usually someone who can advise of where and when the pinch points are, and you can avoid. |
I have been reading lots of posts on other threads that also suggest this. Its so tricky to know what to do! It will be our only trip next year so want to try and get it right!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Kell1904 wrote: |
Thank you, ill look into smaller resorts. We have always skied the larger resorts, so had discounted looking at smaller resorts but that may be a better option to avoid the crowds! |
Are you hoping to fly? This will be your limiting factor at HT, unless you have an unlimited budget.
Which UK airport(s) can you reasonably fly from?
Can you depart/arrive on any day other than the Saturdays 15th & 22nd?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Given the choice of a February week or Easter week, I would pick Easter every time (and school holidays are not a consideration for me). Longer days, warmer temps and if you head for somewhere like Val d'Isere or Tignes, usually cracking good conditions too. Their season runs to the beginning of May.
This year it didn't stop snowing right up to the end of the 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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Having skied feb and Easter in the same year a lot of years when the kids were at school I would say Feb snow conditions definitely significantly better on average. Easter crowds & prices better though.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| luigi wrote: |
@Kell1904, another thing we came up against on another recent HT thread is the current astronomical cost of flights for 15-22 Feb, like £1100pp return LGW to Innsbruck.
Flights for HT dates ideally need to be booked as soon as they are released which was quite a few months back.
Assuming you are looking to fly, you might want to check where you can fly to for reasonable money and base further decisions on that
The only places sub-£200pp return for those dates from London that are vaguely near some decent skiing are Barcelona (for Andorra), Marseille (for French Southern Alps, Serre Chevalier, Montgenevre), Bologna? (For Dolomites), Nuremberg?? (for Austria??).
Sub-£300 brings in Basel, Zurich and Geneva, just!
But then if you stay in Switzerland, you have to contend with Swiss on the ground costs at £1=1.12CHF.
Euro now worth less than the Swissie! When will it be the Pound's turn??
All these prices will be plus seats, baggage, ski carriage, etc.
Maybe if you're near a regional airport, you will find something cheaper.
Altering departure/arrival days to Sunday or Friday might help too, but that can reduce accommodation choices in popular spots. |
Two "Wheezes" I have used in the past for getting around half term crazy flight prices are;
1) Take a connecting flight via Paris. i cant remember where we were heading but found a like 1-1.5 hr layover in paris for about 1/4 of price of fly direct. No self respecting Frenchman will be flying to another countries ski resort areas, when he can drive the alps and Uk tourist dont exactly flock to paris in feb
2) Fly to Munich on Friday late evening and stay in cheap as chips airport hotel. Get the train from airport at the crack of dawn to Austria - we went to Zell am See but there are places nearer to Munich - Brixen, Kitzbuhel, St johann etc , and you arrive in resort mid morning, dump your bags at hotel and go and pick up your skis and boots and get up the hill. you can even ski saturday am of your return day and then get a train back to munich around lunchtime to get an evening flight home.
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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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We've only recently got into family ski holidays, both times in half term in France. 2023 was La Plagne which was rammed at times (as expected). For 2024 we tried Serre Chevalier and it found it a lot less busy most of the time but there was only one France school zone off that week (zone C - Paris). We're going back to Serre Che this year, also 15-22nd, and it will be interesting to see how much busier it becomes with both zones B and C off at the same time.
We're firmly in the mindset of driving to the alps to keep costs down so for us driving distance from the UK is another factor we consider - Serre Chevalier is about on our limit. Montgenevre (France) or Sestriere on the Italian side of Via Lattea would be other options just up the road. For flights, the best connections are from Turin. Marseille would be a longish transfer and you'd probably have to hire a car.
I fear you may feel a lot of resorts are less extensive and modern than what you've got used to in 3Vs so you have to consider if you have the appetite for somewhere slightly smaller and without the heated chair lifts and Michelin star restaurants. If you prefer a more luxurious experience I'd consider one of the bigger resorts in Austria or maybe Zermatt/Cervinia.
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For the last couple years we have had to go during half term, (due to one too many term ski holidays). The last couple we have done Val D'Isere and while it was busy at periods around 11ish and then 2/3ish other than that we found the slopes were fine. There weren't really that many queues. It was quieter than I have seen at other resorts in January. I am not sure if this is because it is a more expensive resort and there did seem to be a lot of multi-generation families so many of the "beds" were being taken up by non-skiers which helps reduce the crowds. As a result I would not rule out France.
We drove as the flights at good times were just going to be huge. Having done it a couple times we now actually enjoy it as part of the holiday and it means we can spend a little more on the accommodation and still spend less than if we flew. (especially as we have our own boards so have the snowboard carriage charged to pay on flights.
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