 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m looking for some advice please. I’m trying to plan a ski holiday for Easter 2026. We go to Corvara in Italy every February half term which we love. This year we went to Cervinia which we also love. In 2026 we will go to Corvara in February but I’m looking for an alternative to Cervinia at Easter. No issue with Cervinia but curious to try somewhere else.
My children will be 11 and 8 in 2026 and are both very good, confident skiers. I can get down most things with a modicum of style. My wife however loves skiing holidays but isn’t a very confident skier. She usually spends half the week on blue slopes with a private instructor with lots of coffee / vin brûlée breaks.
I did look at Courmayeur but reviews state it’s not very good for beginners.
So I’m looking for:
Snowsure at end of season
Easier slopes to return to the resort at the end of skiing
Ideally Italy. Have skied in France but prefer less crowded, cheaper and Italian food.
Any ideas 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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| Quote: |
She usually spends half the week on blue slopes with a private instructor with lots of coffee / vin brûlée breaks.
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Sounds great! You need to go somewhere fairly high. Nothing wrong with Val d'Isere. Lacks easy slopes to get back to resort at the end of the day - but sitting in a gondola watching people struggle and being glad you're not down there with them is OK!
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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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We've been going to Les Menuires in the 3V at that time for the last couple of years. Gets slushy low down but there's plenty of higher slopes and at Val Thorens, it's usually pretty good. Lots of piste so something for everyone. LM is cheaper for accommodation and really quiet so it suits us as we go as a couple of families and it's an easy couple of lifts up to higher slopes.
You could do the end of season Snowheads thing in VT. You'd all find folks to ski with and your mrs can find folks to drink with. Not quite splendid isolation but I'm guessing you'd have your own apartment so could mix in as you prefer. Usually really well priced as well.
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@IainMcT, At the end of the day at Easter you tend to be skiing sugar/ slush at resort level no matter how high you are.
La Thuile fits a lot of your criteria though the runs to resort are not that easy.
It has high North East facing slopes which hold their snow well , good gentle skiing at altitude, excellent food on the slopes. Good skiing for the more confident skiers.
Easy gondola download from the midstation for late season return to resort level is probably better for the less confident skier.
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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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@IainMcT, sounds like you're not really beginners as such. I think somewhere like Val Thorens is perfect for Easter. Lots of long easy blues, nice sized ski area even if you just have the VT pass. Blues all from all directions to get back into the resort, so not restricted to the same runs each days. Ski in/Ski out, snow sure, great mountain restaurants, great bars overlooking the mountains for the post-ski drink.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@IainMcT,
I posted a thread about needing a resort with lovely cruise-y blues at Easter for a nervous husband. This reply from Macker prompted me to book Les Arcs. We have now been there two Easters in a row. I know you said ideally Italy, but I will say that the pistes aren't too bad at Easter apart from the obvious pinch points at certain times of day.
Stay at Arc 1800 then. Use airbnb to find one of many apartments on the snowface. They are very good value. £600ish a week but last time I found one for £350.
Arc 1800 has the Mille8 area which is perfect for a confidence boosting run before heading up the mountain higher. Its a great little slope for practicing turns and even has a few snowpark style obstacles and tiny jumps to use if you are so inclined. You can walk to the lift in 2 minutes from the apartments.
Then once you've had a practice. Go up Transarc 1 to the first stop and ski across the mountain on the "Plan Bois" blue run to the bottom of the Derby chairlift. Go up this and ski down the "Renard" blue run towards Peisey/Vallandry and stop at the little restaurant called Les Enfant Terribles. Its a great pit stop to rest the legs and grab a crepe.
Now ski down through the "Foret Pitchouns" a fun little practice area with obstacles until you reach the "Maitaz" blue run and head along this all the way back to Arc 1800. If youre lucky youll spot the Milka Cow skiing on this and catch him for the kids to get a chocolate. When you get to Arc 1800 you can either ski down the steepish finish back to the Transarc which can get icy in the afternoon. But if you are still wanting to keep it comfortable. Hang a left and ski behind the L'Aiguille Grive Chalets Hotel before you get to the final 100m of the piste. You sneakily miss out the steeper section if needed by skiing behind the hotel on the track.
Next up head up The Transarc to the Col De La Chal. Ski down "Plan Vert" Blue run and then "L'arc 1" Blue run. Nice easy blues that end near the Igloo. Stop for a drink and a break and base yourself here. You can now access all the blue runs in the Arc 1950/2000 bowl before heading back to Arc 1800 up Boir de Lours and skiing along the "Charmettoger" blue run at the end of the day. FInishing in La Folie Douce for a boogy.
Whole day of blues, none are scary and I've taught my other half to ski from scratch on these runs.
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And this was a different thread which offered lots of recommendations for our criteria, which sound similar to yours.
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=162471&highlight=
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@IainMcT,
What dates do you mean by Easter? I believe many schools will be taking their holidays early as Easter Sunday is so late in 2025.
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1. Courchevel 1850
2. Lech
3. Livigno
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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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Crikey, you plan ahead even further than me 
An early-ish Easter, but still April.
Courchevel 1850
Zurs
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The children break up Friday 27th March. I’m planning early because myself and our two children want two ski holidays. I was too slow this year so although we are skiing in the Dolomites in February next year sadly we are going to the Maldives at Easter. So I’m trying to get in early so we can start persuading my wife she would rather be in the mountains for two holidays in 2026.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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| IainMcT wrote: |
| The children break up Friday 27th March. I’m planning early because myself and our two children want two ski holidays. I was too slow this year so although we are skiing in the Dolomites in February next year sadly we are going to the Maldives at Easter. So I’m trying to get in early so we can start persuading my wife she would rather be in the mountains for two holidays in 2026. |
Don’t blame you. I prefer mountains to hot climes, although the Maldives setting does look tranquil.
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