 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm looking for some ideas or inspiration.
I'm unexpectedly free from March 22nd until the end of April and would love to ski for several weeks.
I'm open to any and all ideas on how to get several weeks without going bankrupt.
I did several ski seasons in Val d'isere + Tignes a decade ago (rep and resort manager) and speak passable French. More recently I have stayed in various UCPA resorts and also done long trips in Japan and North America where a combination of Epic Pass, hostels and friends made long trips affordable.
I'm open to working (have EU passport) and also being a ski bum.
Essentially i need somewhere high altitude (snowsure) where i can get a good priced ski pass and accommodation such as a seasonaire leaving early.
I see Les Deux Alps does a 'half season pass' for 700E, do other resorts do similar? It seems sad to pay for a undiscounted season pass so late.
thanks for any hints or inspiration!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Magic Pass in Switzerland does a deal that may interest, buy a season pass for next season (419chf) and for an extra 99chf you can ski from March 18th to the end of the season. Realistically for the dates you're looking at you will mainly be looking to ski Grimentz/Zinal, Saas Fee, the Espace Dent resorts and maybe Nax, Vercorin and Les Marecottes. A lot of the others lack northerly aspects or are very low altitude. You could stay here https://alaia.ch/hostel/en/ which would be cheap and cheerful (not been myself buy toyed with the idea although you might get bored of the drive each mrning). This is probably only real a good deal if you then want to return to the Magic Pass resorts next season, in which case it is a great deal
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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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Magic pass with the spring add on definitely your best best. Drive out, find an Airbnb longstay deal around Serre or Sion and have at it.
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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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Do you have transport?
If yes, book accomodation in Aosta and take the valley pass. Pila, La Thuile, Cervinia, Monterosa, what's not to like.
Or Val Cenis, take the Maurienne pass, and ski Val Cenis, Valloire, Valfrejus, Bonneval etc, in total 6 ski areas 60-160 km.
Or Briancon, ski Serre-Chevalier, Montgenevre, Les Orres, Risoul.
Avoid Austria, they had an extremely dry winter, 50% of normal precipitation, white ribbons.
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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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@Onnem,
Ski amade last week.. .plenty of cover and it snowed the last couple of days. Not ribbons where I've been
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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 topic opener wants to go end march.
Optimally it may look nice after recent snowfalls, but there is a 40% deficit in snowpack compared to longterm average.
One week of warm weather, which is normal 2nd half March, and you'll see the White ribbons.
Anyhow, why take that risk, when the snow depth in the village (not the mountain!!!) in Cervinia is 200 cm?
When you can choose, why go for mediocre.
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@Onnem, I'm not suggesting he goes, but I can assure you there is good snow cover
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If you want the deepest snow in Europe, Bosco Gurin in Ticino (Italian speaking part of Switzerland) is the place to go.
Of of the most picturesque villages in the entire Alps too
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CgE85g8PT5-/
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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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@Onnem, even the Cervinia official website is only claiming 80cm in the village https://www.cervinia.it/en/meteo snow-forecast has it as 20cm, don't know where they get that figure from but a quick look at the webcams suggests that both figures are plausible depending on the aspect, either way your 200cm figure seems fanciful. Re. Austria being dry, do we have the relevant stats for France, Switzerland and Italy a well? I'd expect these to be well below average as well but without them its a bit pointless focussing on Austria's drier than average winter
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@andaj, given your dates, I'd be looking at Tignes myself.
You know the area anyway, but you're likely to find a well priced room somewhere, and there's so much high altitude skiing there.
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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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@andaj, perhaps clarify if you are looking to stay in one area for a few weeks? (So might want a larger resort). Or travel around from you accommodation by public transport? Or by car?
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@Onnem, Parts of Austria clearly have been dry so far this year but many places have good conditions eg St Anton & Ischgl. Always difficult to make comparisons but I think this season better than the past couple. It might have been dry but it has been colder. Little or none of the rain seen in some recent years. That said none of the places good for late season in Austria could be described as cheap so probably better off elsewhere
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You know it makes sense.
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1. Les Menuires
2. Tignes
3. La Plagne
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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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thanks for the replies.
That Magic Pass and end of season add on looks amazing, I did not know about it, a great suggestion!
My plan is ideally to stay in one place and no i wont have a car.
At the moment UCPA is winning, 800-900gbp all in inc ski pass + hire etc
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Poster: A snowHead
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For 5 weeks? Wow!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Aosta, Italy could work
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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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@andaj, try the tour ops in Verbier, Val d’Isere, St Anton, Zermatt etc. They must have people going home injured needing replaced and accommodation available as demand drops late season
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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 Magic Pass can be a great option if you're skiing in Saas Fee for 6–7 days, especially since you can also use it next season.
I'm planning to ski from late March to April, but rather than focusing on saving money, my priority is chasing fresh snow and low temperatures.
My approach is to rent a car and spend 2–4 days at whichever resort has the best conditions at the time. The resorts I’ve shortlisted are:
Livigno
Saas Fee
Grindelwald
Andermatt
Sölden
Pitztal
Les 2 Alpes
Monterosa
I've already skied in Zermatt and Les 3 Vallées, so I won’t be returning there this time. At this time of year, the priority is not saving money—it’s saving ski days. If that means driving 200–400 km between resorts, I’m totally fine with it. In fact, I love driving in Europe—it’s part of the adventure.
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