 Poster: A snowHead
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What is the worst part of a ski holiday for you?
Just back from a weekend skiing , obviously dependant on how you do it but nearly always some issues with hiring ski equipment and/or cars. Even the supposedly reputable premium shops I've had bad experiences with. We now own our own equipment and more often than not drive ourselves but its always a source of anxiety when we have to, will the equipment/car be good will it be ready, will I get stung with extra charges?
Feels like these things shouldn't be difficult to get right, friendly staff, good equipment, reasonable pricing.
I would also probably add in overpriced hot chocolate on the mountain though with google reviews/trip advisor etc easier to get that one right now!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Depends how I do it but usually the transfer to resort. By that point of the day I've had enough of travelling and just want a beer.
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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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@therock, none of those things.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Traffic on the way back. When the holiday’s over just want to get 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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I can cope with most things, I take my own equipment to save on the gear hire lottery. Worst parts of my skiing hols...
Knees.
Breaking the MK1 skimojos I started with. (The latest version is so much better.)
Core shots on your brand new skis 3rd day in.
Knees.
Lift queues/unfilled seats on a powder day.
Spending ages searching for a lost ski.
Knees.
Busy pistes that don't have an off the edge bail option.
Running out of gin.
Knees.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The time spent in airports : queue for this and that ; squished in security with dozens of others etc
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The journey home
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Just put the question into ChatGPT and it said "does not compute".
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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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Carting all our clobber from car up, invariably many flights, of stairs to apartment and return trip on departure.
UK customs at Eurotunnel who will without fail be causing an hours delay
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Nothing major, perhaps it helps us that I research great hotels and villages/slopes that suit us.
I’ve witnessed hyper inflation in the winter sports world post pandemic, way above general inflation eg taxi transfers, hotels, rental. Tapping into a market of ABC1’s, there’s immense wealth in Europe/UK, inelastic demand. But not a dampener, we’ve turned it on its head and are visiting great new places.
I’ve rented skis for 20 years after selling my K2’s, when with a young family in tow and big cases, skis were a pain in the backside. I’ve been stung cost wise twice post pandemic, in Arosa 3 weeks ago the place is a ski rentals cartel. The best part of £1k for 3 people, no online deals of merit through third parties. I’m tempted to buy just for me. I ski about 13 days a year …. the thoughts of Snowheads, please?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| The journey home |
Yup, everything about the last day and going home.
- Getting packed up and throwing out any food you can't bring with you (and paid a fortune for)
- The last evening meal - knowing it's the last evening meal
- Going to bed surrounded by all your packed luggage
- Seeing the forecast for the fresh snow that didn't happen when there
- Usually getting up really early to go down and wait in the foyer for the transfer (without breakfast) with the other motley crew of maudlin stragglers, also waiting there
- Hoping there will be enough seats on the coach to sit together
- The very quiet (often long) transfer, where everyone is tired and in the same melancholy mood
- Being decanted at an overly crowded airport, where there are queues for everything, including over priced snacks and where seats are at a premium
- The flight, without the twitter of excitement experienced on the way out
- Queuing for luggage and dragging it to the airport bus to take your car
- The depressing drive home, with skis ready to decapitate you as you go round a corner
None of the above mattered when heading out for the holiday....just the hopeful anticipation of snow cover as you climbed ever higher up the mountain, before finally entering the resort.
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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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@Old Fartbag, jeez man, that is seriously glass half empty.
I actually look forward to coming home. The skiing is great but so is coming home.
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| albob wrote: |
| The time spent in airports : queue for this and that ; squished in security with dozens of others etc |
Yeah this experience converted me to driving to Alps. Flying really sucks and now much prefer a drive down. Innsbruck airport is a nightmare in peak season.
Worst bit for me - getting all the family's rental kit sorted out and doing the start of holiday supermarket run (when self catering).
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You know it makes sense.
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I enjoy most things about a skiing holiday and most things I don't are minor irritations. Back in the days of package holidays 3am wake ups to get a bus back to Geneva airport used to be pretty irritating.
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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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| Pyramus wrote: |
| albob wrote: |
| The time spent in airports : queue for this and that ; squished in security with dozens of others etc |
Yeah this experience converted me to driving to Alps. Flying really sucks and now much prefer a drive down. Innsbruck airport is a nightmare in peak season.
Worst bit for me - getting all the family's rental kit sorted out and doing the start of holiday supermarket run (when self catering). |
I quite enjoy the supermarket bit , some of the French supermarkets are really good.
Worth a listen to the ski podcast last week, talking about getting train to the alps. I think still a little limited if you are not near London but interesting to hear how easy it can be, having interrailed in my 20s a few times I know rail travel is underrated but I think with a family of 4 it is a little pricey and probably adds to stress levels changing trains with luggage but for a single traveller/couple I'm sure its very pleasant. Still an alternative to flying and airports.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Layne wrote: |
| I actually look forward to coming home. The skiing is great but so is coming home. |
Being home is great....but I find getting there depressing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| albob wrote: |
| The time spent in airports : queue for this and that ; squished in security with dozens of others etc |
This, detest the airport experience. Actually it's just check-in and security. Once through these bits then I calm down a bit. 
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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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Only having your 108mm skis when it is definitely a 112mm day 
More seriously I'd say equipment faff generally plus hire car mullarky (will it won't it have snow tyres/chains, get charged for an invisible scratch, keeping an eye on your cc for weeks after to see if the bandits have snuck anything on etc etc)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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the people who act like they have never left the country before.. or act like they are seasoned travellers.
Basically, people. & the elements not under my control.
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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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Geneva airport.
Rude ski hire staff.
Rude staff.
Post ski depression.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Boorish snowHeads. (Grabs tin hat and runs.) Luckily there are lots of very nice snowHeads. 
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More seriously, all the kit one has to organise and wear/carry. That said, a (non-laminated ) travel list and putting everything needed for the next day neatly placed and ready the night before, minimises this problem.
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I don't mind the airport as long as it's not a really bad queue (like when GVA security used to get so bad you're there for 90 minutes or so and it's getting close to flight time). Whack on some noise cancelling headphones and it all becomes much more relaxing and easier to deal with. There's other prep that can be done too, I usually travel wesring a belt with a plastic buckle and wearing flip flops, so there's never the hassle of taking shoes off and trying to stop your trousers falling down
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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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Rain.
Been in French Alps 17 days and it has rained for 6 of them, all the way to the top on 4 of them.
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The drive to Manchester airport and hoping there's enough wiggle room if things go wrong. Once at the airport I can chill.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| BoardieK wrote: |
Rain.
Been in French Alps 17 days and it has rained for 6 of them, all the way to the top on 4 of them. |
Yep rain, fog, flat light
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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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Being on a shared transfer… and getting to Geneva 3 hours before my flight home… yes, I know I have the advantages of the cheap(er) cost but …..
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Bristol airport.
06:00am flights. Esp. from Bristol airport
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You know it makes sense.
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Packing to go home
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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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| AvoAndi wrote: |
| Being on a shared transfer… and getting to Geneva 3 hours before my flight home… yes, I know I have the advantages of the cheap(er) cost but ….. |
not by the time you've bought a coffee in there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| BoardieK wrote: |
Rain.
Been in French Alps 17 days and it has rained for 6 of them, all the way to the top on 4 of them. |
Yebbut you're not in the UK.
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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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| halfhand wrote: |
| BoardieK wrote: |
Rain.
Been in French Alps 17 days and it has rained for 6 of them, all the way to the top on 4 of them. |
Yebbut you're not in the UK. |
But we always gloat to our friends and neighbours that we are going away to sun and/or snow, not rain.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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4 of my last 5 trips I’ve either copped a stinking head cold, chest infection or covid. I detest the communal aspect of flight travel and airports and planes are just germ factories. I’ve not missed any ski days but had a few where I was so washed out it was frustrating and disappointing.
When we used to drive down I don’t recall ever getting sick.
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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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Airports (both directions)
Brown slopes in view as you arrive
Rain
Ice
Accidents
Knees
Not being able to get a ski locker close to lifts (when not renting kit - France usually)
A single overdone egg on my Tiroler Grostl
Packing on the last night
Silly o clock early flights home
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Spending ages searching for a lost ski.
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And not finding it. But it's only happened to me once. I suppose breaking a ski comes into the same class.
Since I don't hire ski gear and rarely rent a car (and when I have it's been absolutely fine) the OPs gribes don't apply. I usualy fly mid week the hassle at airports is much less.
The list of things I enjoy about a ski holiday is probably too long to go into here but little unexpected things really please me. Simply little things such as walking past a restaurant in the morning as the proprietor was opening up and being invited in for a coffee, buying food that is hard to find in the UK in the supermarket.
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Paying for private lessons. Must start playing the lottery again
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2 people on a 6-person chair when there's a queue.
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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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| jirac18 wrote: |
4 of my last 5 trips I’ve either copped a stinking head cold, chest infection or covid. I detest the communal aspect of flight travel and airports and planes are just germ factories. I’ve not missed any ski days but had a few where I was so washed out it was frustrating and disappointing.
When we used to drive down I don’t recall ever getting sick. |
Would you wear a good quality face mask in those environments, or it’s too embarrassing? Some radio presenters (they mention it) still do on public transport … they don’t want to be wiped out by someone else's bug.
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I wore masks during covid and still got covid 3 times. Don’t believe they work based on my experience, it’s just Sod’s Law and won’t stop me travelling but as per the thread title it’s the worst part of it for me……..and before anyone piles in I really can’t be bothered with this turning into a typical SH’s covid/anti vaxer/mask debate or argument!
Ps. I don’t get embarrassed I’m a 54 yr old adult with a very strong self belief and confidence
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