(Fairly) high altitude resort pick

A snowHead

Looking for a fairly high altitude resort to try to maximise chances of low temperatures/avoiding slush. Travelling for 1 week departing 25/26 Jan, 1/2 Feb or 8/9 Feb.

* 2 adults
* Intermediate - advanced (one reds only, one blacks but happy without 'advanced' terrain, occasional snowboarding)
* Like to stay in the centre of a town/close to lifts - no bus to lifts
* Any type of accommodation/board basis but looking for good value (not luxury)
* Enjoy a few beers but not party animals
* Quiet slopes/lifts in a smaller area beats a large area that gets queue-y with bottlenecks
* Prefer to book a package as don't have time to self-organise (particularly transfers) at the moment

Considering
* Flaine
* Les Arcs
* Deux Alpes
* Ischgl (been about 15 years ago, really enjoyed it but with a big group of off-piste party animals)
* Obergurgl/Solden
* Gressoney

Ruled out
* Cervinia (been too often)
* 3 Valleys (hated the queues)
* Alpe d'Huez (sunny reputation)

Any thoughts on those picks? Thanks!

A snowHead

Main thought - don't go to France week/beginning 8/9 Feb - school hols!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Thanks - I did wonder about that, definitely avoid then!

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You shouldn't really need high altitude at that point - nicer to have some trees and a reasonably "proper" village. Of your list, I think I'd fancy Gressoney. There are some Snowheads which know it well.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Echo the half term miss.

Flaine, very good for fit, Forum or Foret areas are just walk onto snow convenience, very good mix of piste to meet your requirements.

Les arcs, also very good for same reasons, preference for 1800 but all good. Both of these should give decent choice of package availability. More tree line skiing in 1800 if lowered vis.

The January week should get very low que generally. Both are more more "compact " in layout of piste with less need to produce bottleneck type dispersion as consequence.

Alpe d'Huez, no reason to avoid in that January week. Fits the bill well I feel. Risk us generally later in season as high sun overtakes the high-ish altitude. Id not cross it off.

I've low experience of Austria and wouldn't offer view by comparison. Obergurgl on my list to go to though, by personal recommendation from someone that knows it well. I'm looking forward to experiencing that.

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Ischgl and Solden are party towns Toofy Grin

Gressoney is the exact opposite Laughing

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

That's why I fancied it!

After all it is free

So last year first week of Feb I was in l2A , conditions in France were generally not great and some places had no snow but what it meant was every man and his dog showed up and the queues were dreadful. I choose this week to go in particular as it’s sort of midwinter and I had thought was best chance of having some good skiing.

I was wrong. That said, I’d still return there. I think we were unlucky. Though I suppose lucky we got to ski at all??? I think l2A is good value for eating and drinking relative to some other French resorts.

L2A good for apres too. And access to lifts etc - I’d imagine most of the accommodation options will be walking distance to a lift.

Les arcs is a credible option. Big ski area. Some apres. More expensive than L2A I think from memory.

Flaine is very quiet. As in - nothing to do in the evenings. Skiing is good there though. It’s not that high up bear in mind.

You’ve ruled out 3V? Won’t be that busy I’d imagine in Jan? And a huge area for skiers to spread out over. I’ve just returned over Xmas week and bar the poor weather days where everyone was stuck in the same 5 lifts I didn’t find the queues that bad.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I think Les Arcs and Flaine are better options than Les Deux Alpes and Alpe D’Huez as the former have tree lined slopes.

If you choose Les Arcs try and get a package to go there by train.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Verbier? If you’re after high altitude resorts I’d put it on the list as a serious option.

snow reports

Currently in Arosa. Has met all our dreams (we’ve wanted to come here for ages), it ticks most your boxes, except the boozing might be low key? Snow-sure, slopes two thirds empty, not a lift queue in sight, tons of genuine reds and blacks, a lovely train journey from Zurich literally to the village centre.

Think you’d have to travel independently.

From your 'Considering' list - def Obergurgl . . .quality, peaceful skiing - accommodation errs towards premium/luxury but you can stay in some more cost effective hotels if you look . .

Another to add could be Saas Fee (if you dont mind T bars) . . .

You know it makes sense.

If Alpe d'Huez has a sunny reputation, surely L2A would too? I know L2A has a little more elevation to it, but that can also be a curse if the winds are high (which could easily be the case at that time of year). I was in Les Deux Alpes for Christmas week and the first few days were basically lapping the same handful of runs because. The second Jandri lift wasn't running (along with a number of other lifts) and visibility wasn't exactly first class. In fact I can't see that any 'intermediate' skier only happy with red runs would have been keen to be out in it at all.

I think somewhere with at least the chance of a few runs through some trees would be a better option, so more Les Arcs, La Plagne etc. Go the week of 25th and you've probably given yourself a reasonable chance of low temps and thinner crowds.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Really appreciate all your input, thanks.

I meant blues and reds not 'only reds', ie doesn't do blacks Smile

Leaning towards Obergurgl or Les Arcs now - ski buddy has been to Obergurgl twice and really enjoyed it. A quick search of a couple of package operators shows options that fit the bill price-wise. I learnt to ski in La Plagne for 8 days but being a complete beginner didn't make it over to Les Arcs and have no real memory of what La Plagne was like.

I misremembered the 3 Valleys year- it was actually the week starting 27 Feb, not my usual earlier trip. There was snow in abundance but most days the visibility was abysmal (get off a lift, turn round and you could no longer see the lift), never experienced anything like it before or since. Possibly that (and date) made the queues worse on the days when you could get some decent runs in. That was my only French skiing experience after La Plagne and I did vow never to go back to a French mega resort...

Happy skiing everyone!

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(Fairly) high altitude resort pick

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