 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi!
Me and 2 friends are desperate to get some skiing in this season but are very limited to dates due to work commitments.
We only have the last week of Feb available and even then only from the Tuesday to Saturday. The only flights that work for us on those dates are to Geneva.
SO.....
Requirements are short transfer from Geneva avoiding as much of French school holiday crowd as possible. Somewhere with a few bars but doesn't have to be super lively!
My research is pointing towards Courmayeur.
Any suggestions/advice very welcome!
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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Will you be able to get accommodation that is not Sat-Sat in such a busy period?
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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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Might have to take Sat-Sat and just arrive on Tuesday.
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It’s a long time since I’ve skied in Courmayeur but I remember loving it and it definitely has a bit of apres ski.  The ski area is not that big but I think you can ski in nearby resorts on the lift pass and I skied the Vallée Blanche with a guide the time I went. If you are going for less than a week you might not need to try anywhere else. The courmayeur skiing is scenic with tree lined runs and good mountain restaurants. Only drawback is that it isn’t ski to the door. I recall a short walk to the cable car in the morning.
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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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Thanks all!
I've found some accommodation that's not 5 night minimum and not too painfully expensive but I'll definitely adjust the search to Saturday - Saturday and see if it works out better even if paying for unused nights.
I've never skied during French school holidays and a little terrified of the thought! Working on the view of any skiing is better than no skiing though!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well, going to Italy is not a bad wheeze, though the tunnel is always a bit of an unknown quantity for timing. La Thuile is not much further and has more extensive skiing, and possibly cheaper accommodation. There's loads of info and reports about La Thuile here on snowheads. There might be good Swiss options, too.
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How about La Clusaz? Closet giid sized area to Geneva, pretty traditional village, few decent bars and enough skiing for a 5 day-er. UK industry has their test week there at the minute but it's not too well known so quieter that the tourist traps....
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@andy n netty, ...but probably well enough known to the French. It is the French half termers that are the worry.
Having said that, most French ski areas are big enough to handle the peak numbers. The problem tends to be the morning uplift when everyone wants to use the lifts at the same time (ski school start). And any pinch points where there is a single lift connecting two parts of the area. The impact can be minimised with a bit of planning.
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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: |
There might be good Swiss options, too.
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I was looking at Nendaz but saw a few reports of it being "a bit boring" 
I'll have a look at La Thuile and also La Clusaz too.
Thanks for the advice!
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The impact can be minimised with a bit of planning.
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One tip is to start early then stop for a break and snack late morning then ski through lunchtime, when the restaurants and cafés will be rammed. Note what time the afternoon ski schools are all pouring out to the lifts and have a second sit down then, whilst the kids are all uploading with their lift priority. End of February is a really bad time for French school hols but should be a really good time for snow - good luck! La Clusaz could work really well and for a few days is definitely worth considering. It's a very easy, short, drive from Gva but "transfers" might be more difficult, especially on a Tuesday.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Morzine / Les Gets - short transfer from Geneva. We are doing a similar deal at the beginning of March. Leaving early Tuesday and back late on Friday. Ski on Wed, Thu and Friday - you could ski on the Tuesday afternoon for a couple of hours if you wanted.
Samoens may be another option - Ive never been there so can't speak what it is like but Morzine is very good and you have the option of going up to Avoriaz if the snow not so good in Moraine.
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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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@Richpark, I'd be leaning towards Italy myself (or Verbier?). Courmayeur has quite enough for a near-week, I mean, yes, you can ski all of it in a morning, but every run on the same piste is different, right? And some excellent mountain (and town) restaurants.
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You know it makes sense.
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@alangibson73, doesn't help a lot in 2nd week of Parisiens though ...
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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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If you’re happy to self-cater in an apartment, you should nowadays be able to get a weekday rental period. Our rental agency uses booking software that happily accepts any dates, and adjusts the price dynamically based in various rules (e.g. if you book a Saturday to following Tuesday, expect to pay a premium, but if you’re ’filling in’ a gap left by other bookings, you may get a hefty discount etc.
Perhaps take a look at the Swiss 4 Valleys centered on the hub of Verbier and the satellites of Nendaz and La Tzoumaz. Obviously the latter are cheaper locations, but slightly more difficult to get to and not as rich in night-life etc. Quite a few SnowHeads have stayed in the valley base station of Le Chable and got the gondola up/back from Verbier.
Our agency 4v4s covers La Tzoumaz and you’d have to go to the Tourist website for Nendaz to see what they have.
Saver Day Pass starts at CHF 52 adult giving travel any time on the designated day on trains, public transport gondolas and PostBus. See www.sbb.ch/en with starting point as Geneve - Aeroport. But for more than 2/3 of you a rental car may be cheaper.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Sun 8-12-24 15:44; edited 4 times in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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This is a no-brainer: Aosta valley.
Italy is the only country that does not have school holidays that period.
So not only less expensive. But much more choice. And larger chance to find anything other that saturday-saturday.
The Mt Blanc tunnel is closed till December 16th, but open from then.
I would recommend La Thuile, not Courmayeur.
Much better ski area (8 versus 5.5 on a 10 point scale).
A very interesting option is also staying in Aosta, and skiing in Pila.
There's a direct cablecar from Aosta town, directly into the middle of the ski area.
Aosta is a VERY nice town with lots of medieval history, nice lively town center, and LOTS of attractively priced accommodation.
There's a number of threads on this forum with trip reports of people who have already done this.
Pila is also a very nice mid-sized ski area, probably the most beautiful view of all the Alps, nice mix of slopes on wide open pastures and between woodlands.
Plus they have done a major upgrade on their lifts for this season.
Thread on the new lift (author = me)
https://www.wintersport.nl/skigebieden/pila/forum/topic/533931
Trip report with multiple resorts in Aosta valley (La Thuile, Pila and others)
https://www.wintersport.nl/skigebieden/pila/forum/topic/531071
If you can't read dutch  paste the URL into google translate
View on Aosta town, from the Pila slopes
Mont Blanc on the horizon
Matterhorn on the horizon
Gran Paradiso national park
Upper slopes
The new lift
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Richpark,
I don't know the area from personal experience, but my general impression is that a lot of Swiss hotels will take guests for non standard weeks.
I might take a look at the likes of Villars, Les Diablarets and Leysin, friends who have been reckon they are great for a short break.
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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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Also an option.
But: peak season and school holidays in Switzerland, and no school holidays in Italy.
I like CH, but double the cost and overcrowded lifts and slopes would put me off.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sun 8-12-24 13:45; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Pila is certainly a more attractive ski area than Courmayeur though both smallish. Courmayeur has a much closer view of Mont Blanc! But for a short break it depends on whether you want such a long transfer, I don't think there will be any operators doing regular transfers through the tunnel but of course you can book privately or hire a car.
Otherwise, closer to Geneva and follow the advice in @Origen's post if in France. In Switzerland I've often wondered what the resorts in the Rhone valley (e.g. Villars) are like for a short break, someone here might know.
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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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In lower (French speaking Valais, good options are Grimentz and Zinal. They share a good ski area. Relatively quiet.
Getting to Aosta by train and bus is perfectly doable, takes hardly longer than by private car. Try rome2rio for this
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Chamonix/Aosta
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes it would, if you had your skis and boots with you.
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Thanks all for lots of really helpful replies! It's given plenty more researching to do.
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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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French school holidays do mean you'll face some queues and pistes will be busier, but your dates are your dates and I don't think there's a magic way to avoid the crowds if you want to go to a decent resort. Best option would be to go as far away from France as possible or somewhere that isn't top tier so I would suggest:
1. Les Contamines
2. Cervinia
3. Accept the fact it will be busy and go to a top tier resort e.g. L3V or Paradiski anyway
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Maybe look at Aletsch. Fiesch, Bettmer and Rieder. about 120kms and in my experience very few French, so should not be busy that week. Fiesch is pretty quiet, but you can find accommodation very cheaply for Switzerland. Co-op in the village means self catering is quite cheap.
Very few Brits go there other than feb half term.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Ryunis wrote: |
French school holidays do mean you'll face some queues and pistes will be busier, but your dates are your dates and I don't think there's a magic way to avoid the crowds if you want to go to a decent resort. Best option would be to go as far away from France as possible or somewhere that isn't top tier so I would suggest:
1. Les Contamines
2. Cervinia
3. Accept the fact it will be busy and go to a top tier resort e.g. L3V or Paradiski anyway |
I assume you will be hiring a car. As someone that winters in the region I would not go anywhere that is dependent on traversing the tunnel. Firstly, it is frequently closed for maintenance in the evenings/overnight and if your flight is delayed you are stuck. Secondly, you cannot predict how long the queues will be for your return so you will end up having to leave a lot of time just in case, thus cutting short your stay. Thirdly, the tunnel just takes time means it is no closer to goe Geneva than it is to drive quickly to Milan. Far better IMO, if going to Italy to fly in and out of Milan. Loads of flghts and much more reliable transfer times.
Les Contamines is a good choice, and Les Clusaz is also off the radar and worth considering if going via Geneva.
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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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1. Chamonix
2. Verbier
3. Crans Montana
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FAQ
) plentiful accommodation in quantity, accessible from Geneva via public transit. Seems to have powder already this season. Shhhh, don't tell anyone.
