 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
Last minute decision to try and go skiing for feb half-term was made over Xmas. Would have loved to head to Corvara after experiencing it last year while on BBW. However it’s pretty much all sold out - about 3 dodgy rooms left.
Was reading an article today about skiing in Spain and I think it was in the Times or Telegraph and they raved about Baqueira-Beret area.
I searched on the forum and can see a few articles that are positive but wondered if anyone had any more detail. It seems to be a good deal. Decent accommodations with lift passes included as well from the tourist bureau. Flights to Barcelona are £600 for the 4 of us instead of £600 each to Venice or Innsbruck if we went to Italy and ski hire for the 3 who need it is about 510 euros
All in I’m looking at a nice apartment, flights, car hire, lift pass and ski hire for £6k. Which is about £3-4k cheaper than Italy.
How does it compare out there though. It looks like it’s drive to lifts for most of it. Some of the accommodation is slope side but if you want to do another peak then maybe drive to it? Some of the accommodation is 14km away in Vielha? If you could compare it to any of the following that we have been to relatively recently that would be good- Trysil, Geilo, Arabba, Civetta, Corvara, San Pellegrino, Whistler, Big White, VT, Alp d’Huez -
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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we went to Baqueira with Ski Miguel about 15 years ago. We had great time there, the hotel was excellent, very close to the main lift, not a clue about the name, I remember they charged extra for the spa but the food was very enjoyable. The resort is/was split into two areas , the main one , Baqueira Beret has lots of blues very similar to passo tonale also comparable to Alta badia, easy skiing.
The smaller area , forgot the name sorry, was a bit steeper and took a while to reach, but I am sure the lift systems have improved over the year .
The only thing I didn’t enjoy from that holiday was the mountain food. Every hut/bar had the same menu , bit like in the States, same sandwiches, same tapas , very inspiring and expensive for what you get.
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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 really helpful - is there much skiing amongst tree cut pistes or do you fight the battle slightly from the wind cutting across you?
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We spent a week in Baqueira for half term in 2022. Really enjoyed it. Stayed in an apartment at 1500 next to the lifts (Val de ruda). It was very convenient - the ski boot room for all the 1500 apartments were under the lift with car park underneath the apartments.
The area itself was great for the week - covered most of the area which is all linked well with fast lifts - some really new ones. I think they opened up a new lift since we went. Only one path which linked the two areas together which was a bit thin but enough to get by.
The supermarket in 1500 in the main Val de ruda complex is pretty small - more a corner shop and there wasn’t any fresh milk. We self catered and went to the main supermarket down the valley for all our food. There wasn’t any fresh another supermarket the other side of town.
I didn’t see that many restaurants in the town but we didn’t go out really.
Would echo the mountain restaurants - the standard ones were all the same selling similar fast food, tapas, salads. Suited us fine but by the end of the week was a bit bored of it. There were some more expensive restaurants but didn’t try them.
We booked private ski lessons in the afternoon - the instructor was the best instructor my girls have ever had and their skiing came on massively after a Covid break!
Very few people speak English we interacted with in restaurants - most of the time we had to use what we knew of Spanish or just gesture.
There is very little tree line skiing as I remember - just a couple of runs that come down to 1500. We have a clear week really maybe one day of cloud which cleared up later in the day. Not sure about the wind.
Hope that helps
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Agent Orange, we flew into Lourdes airport .
I checked some of the photos last night from that holiday, it was 2003…..
Couldn’t see any trees , not saying there is no tree skiing but all my pictures are treeless
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A few answers:
Definitely fly to Toulouse. It is a very long drive from Barcelona (4-5hrs). Alternative would be Lourdes.
Worth looking at accomodation in Arties. Probably the prettiest of the villages in the valley. Lots of restaurants in the village. Hotel besiberri is nice and good value.
There is some tree line skiing in Baciver valley (Orri de Tredos etc) but most as others have said is above the treeline.
I have been during half term and definitely far less busy than anywhere in the Alps. Though the road up to the resort can get busy during Spanish holidays.
Top tip (If not having to get anyone to lessons) is to drive up to Orri car park. Can then park next to the piste and ski from/to the car. Saves on any carrying of skis.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thank you all- thats really helpful and great to know.
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Assuming it’s the same as Andorra, expect the slopes to be quite busy from Saturday up to Shrove Tuesday, then nearly empty from Wednesday onwards. On those days get up early to avoid the big queues at the bottom. If you go outside that week, should be great.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
for a short drive.
