 Poster: A snowHead
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@katiejjk, no problem, good luck with the hunt!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Budget France? Fly to Lourdes/Tarbes and stay in Bareges.
30 mins from airport to Bareges.
5 mins bus from Bareges to Grand Tourmalet ski area. Given good snow, one can ski from the slopes back to Bareges (I've done it twice).
If you're snowboarders you will be surprised to find that the off piste doesn't get trashed for some considerable time after a dump, because all the expert boarders have gone to the Alps.
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@katiejjk, no worries! 
I'll try again, this time in Austria with some reliable public transport, but it won't be quite as cheap!! 
Flights STN to Salzburg 8-12 Jan with Ryanair are £99pp plus bag £35??, flights aren't ideal timings though, a tad too late going and a bit early back.
Public transport is airport bus into Salzburg then train to Golling, then local bus up to resort...seems like good connections all evening, around 1h40m, €16pp each way.
https://www.oebb.at/en/
Resort is Russbach in the Dachstein West ski area...
https://www.russbach.info/winter-holiday.html
https://www.bergfex.com/gosau/
This looks like a nice hotel in the village for £456 inc breakfast for 3nights...400m from ski lifts...there are slightly cheaper options too...
https://www.booking.com/Share-bXQFru1
Only 3 nights, because it's a 10am departure flight home Monday morning, so best to make your way to Salzburg on Sun afternoon after some skiing, will give you a chance to have an evening in magical Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart...
Stay the night near the station, so you can drop off cases and wander across the river into the old town for dinner...£82
https://www.booking.com/Share-6Bpz9Qa
Subtotal £431pp
Liftpass is €180 or £159 for 2.5 days
Total £590pp
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Fri 12-12-25 1:20; edited 4 times in total
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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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| wiigman wrote: |
@luigi, Most dear Luigi, IMHO you are wrong re Myrkdalen/Norge. And I have snowboarded there. In January. And recently. Dare I say it, get good conditions and it's a little dose of northern Japan. Not huge, but masses of sidecountry that knits nicely onto resort. the perfect place for an intermediate to have a pow dabble... Plus plenty of runs for intermediate action for four days (*what the OP asked for*), especially as Voss is a short ski bus away for a day trip. I love Italy too BTW   |
Yeah, as I said, I was just driving past in Summer and it looked a fairly unremarkable small modern resort in a valley with all the runs just on the one side onto the rounded humps above the treeline, but I guess for a boarder looking for sidecountry pow lapping those two chairs in 6 hrs of weak midwinter daylight for 3 days wouldn't necessarily be a hardship...wouldn't particularly interest me, but depends what you want!
Sunrise 09.40 Sunset 15.44 in early Jan...at least they sometimes turn the floodlights on for a few hours at night! 
But my dear @wiigman, let's face it, if we're sliding on snow in the mountains, everywhere has its merits!
Not sure if anyone's actually found a feasible way of doing it on the OP's dates and what it would cost them though... 
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| Bergmeister wrote: |
| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| johnE wrote: |
| @katiejjk, Welcome to Snowheads and your post looks fine. Your budget looks tight, very tight for both France and Norway. I'm sorry I've never skied Norway but have skied in lots of countries including Bulgaria and done short trips ski trips to France. |
£1000 for a 4 day trip in low season is tight? Where are you skiing? |
I agree! |
I suppose it depends what you're counting in the equation...and taking into account 2026 pricing which is higher than any previous year, not what was possible in 2010...there could be the start of a snowHeads challenge here...
If you count every expense from door back to door, so transport to UK airport, airport parking, flight, baggage, seat, transfer to resort (bus, train, taxi, car hire, fuel, tolls), accommodation, mid-range equipment hire, lift pass, plus all food and drink, you could probably easily spend £1000, esp for a solo traveller, unless you're looking for all the lower cost options...
Transport to and from UK airport (bus, train or car expenses inc car parking), say £50
Flight inc hold baggage and seat, say £140
Transfer to resort, say £40 each way
Accommodation 4 nights £240
Equipment hire £100
3 days ski pass £180
Food and drink per day £50x4=£200 (strict self-caterers could get this element down)
So we're up to £990pp already and that accommodation cost would be sharing a room/apartment in a mid range place in a larger resort...if you're hiring a car, you could pay more unless you fill it with a group, and it would be very easy to eat and drink your way through more than £50 a day in many resorts, esp if alcohol was involved. In Norway, you would struggle to get an evening meat main plus a beer (no starter, no dessert, no breakfast, no lunch, no coffees, no hot chocs, no apres beers) for that!
Maybe someone could look at that list of ballpark figures and say I never pay that much for that element, maybe you live a £5 train ride to your local airport, but if any of the other elements add any luxury, like taxi transfer, higher grade accommodation, nicer food and more drink, it could easily tip the balance back the other way....
Your snowHeads Mission Possible challenge should you wish to accept it might be...find a real world trip 8-12 Jan to a nice resort in France or Norway with 3 days skiing that the OP could do (assuming they live somewhere like Oxford as per airports mentioned) that beats every element of those ball-park costings, so getting the total price well under £1000pp (the OP wanted £800, which we assume must per person and not per couple) and bring it back to us!!
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You could keep it to under £1,000 simply by going on a university ski trip.
Val d’I this year - £650 for full board, lift pass, rental and transport from Geneva. Airfare from London to Geneva sub £150. £200 beer money.
But the £40,000 tuition fees are a killer.
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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: |
I guess for a boarder looking for sidecountry pow lapping those two chairs in 6 hrs of weak midwinter daylight for 3 days wouldn't necessarily be a hardship.
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Substitute skier for boarder and that sounds like an absolute dream to me .
Some great info in this thread, hope the OP gets sorted.
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The OP's original brief is in danger of being buried beneath the wish-fulfilment dreams of others. They are NOT intermediates looking for "sidecountry pow". they are beginners. The boarder is hoping to start tackling some red runs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@luigi, but if you count all food and drink in the budget, you need to deduct what they would ordinarily have spent for that time period at home, as food and drink isn't free when they're not on holiday!
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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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Anywhere in the Salzburgerland (Austria) region is easily accessible by public transport. We've been to Rauris twice, both times by train from Salzburg. You then get the local bus or a taxi from Rauris station to the resort. It's a tiny resort but would perfectly suit your needs for 4 days. There's only one black run in resort. You stay at the village level and get the gondola up each day, which gives you full access to everything further up.
The first time we stayed, we were in the Schonblick resort via VRBO, the second time we stayed at the Carpe Solum which is literally next to the gondola. Fantastic accomodation with an incredible spa for after the lifts close. There's also loads of pensions in the town centre itself.
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| luigi wrote: |
I've been to Norway in the summer. I remember strawberries being very expensive in the supermarket, though most essentials weren't overly so. Alcohol and eating out is very expensive though.
The scenery around the fjords is quite beautiful in summer, but the ski areas aren't right by the fjords, they're further inland on low rounded hills with not many kms of piste, too many draglifts and short verticals and are unremarkable compared to the ski areas and scenery in the Alps or Dolomites.
@katiejjk, going in January, the daylight hours are very short and it could be bone-chillingly cold. Best left for March, if you must...or go on a Fjords cruise in the summer, if you don't like driving.
I drove past Myrkdalen ski area driving from Bergen to Sognefjord, looked pretty unremarkable. It's got 34km of piste and 11 lifts, but only 2 are chairs. The snowboarder will hate all those drags.
I think I'd stick to the Alps in January!
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We skied Myrkdahlen (and Voss) with family last spring
It was absolutely brilliant:
- good snow (not spring slush)
- brilliant scenery and weather
- variety of slopes for all ability levels (easy blues, steep blacks, off piste, bumps)
- loads of ski touring
- chilled atmosphere / no crowds
- not crazy expensive given NOK exchange rate
- side trip to the fjords, Bergen, Voss town
- short flight (50mins from Aberdeen!) and easy transfer
Sure the ski area is "small".
But between Myyrdahlen (4 days) and Voss (2 days) we didn't get bored over a week.
Absolutely loved it and will be back.
Video below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIZiRIIPx5i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Skiing in Norway in January is a bit different.
However the cold (= great winter snow) and limited day light (= skiing under flood lights as the sun rises and sets) is part of the attraction.
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Fri 12-12-25 13:55; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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@Haggis_Trap, well said - you put it better than me!
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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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| swskier wrote: |
| @luigi, but if you count all food and drink in the budget, you need to deduct what they would ordinarily have spent for that time period at home, as food and drink isn't free when they're not on holiday! |
Good point! Please add that into the calculation if you need it to get you below £800 in the Mission Possible challenge, but don't forget to add in some element of travel insurance which I missed!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
We skied Myrkdahlen (and Voss) with family last spring
...
It was absolutely brilliant:
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Yeah, I did suggest going in March if they must, when the daylight hours open out! 
OK, great, as you've been there and know the ropes, maybe you could show how the OP can do it 8-12 Jan with 3 days skiing around £800-1000pp budget all-in??
Or even give a cost breakdown of your trip for comparison??
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 12-12-25 16:14; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thank you all so much for the replies and advice! Im currently going over all the possible options and have about 50 tabs open of possible ideas and options for Norway,France, Italy and Austria! So i do really appreciate all the tips and tricks for making this work!
We are currently now leaning between Norway and somewhere in possibly Italy as an option as we look at places to stay and transports links!
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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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@luigi, ski holiday for those dates for well south of £1000 a head
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1313567353825985918?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76
Perfectly passable apartment in Chamrousse for £265. Lift pass is 44 euro a day. Transfer from Lyon airport is cheap, bus to Grenoble, regular bus to resort. I haven't looked at flights but would be surprised if you couldn't get alright ones to Lyon or Grenoble.
It's the transfers which can make often short breaks tricky to do a budget, hence my suggestion of Chamrousse which has a regular good value bus from Grenoble
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@Haggis_Trap, Oh wow your trip looks incredible! Id love to see the aurora while out there, we have been lucky to see it in the UK (down around the middlands) which is crazy but i think seeing it out in norway or somewhere similar always seems so special.
Thanks for all your advice and info on how you did your trip, its really helpful as im looking at so many options on how we would get around
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@luigi, we know you love Norge! In the OP's requested slot, Hotel Scandic right by the gondola at Voss is available and £120/night (i.e. £60 each). So easy from the train, warm(!), and decent shops nearby for any picnic desires. Ski pass for Voss for two days is £70. Get the other two days at Myrkdalen and you are... on track... with OP's budget!
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| wiigman wrote: |
| @luigi, we know you love Norge! In the OP's requested slot, Hotel Scandic right by the gondola at Voss is available and £120/night (i.e. £60 each). So easy from the train, warm(!), and decent shops nearby for any picnic desires. Ski pass for Voss for two days is £70. Get the other two days at Myrkdalen and you are... on track... with OP's budget! |
Yes, I did love visiting Norway...the scenery around Voss was very nice in summer...just can't help questioning whether it's a good idea to ski (or picnic!) there in early January though
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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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| luigi wrote: |
Yes, I did love visiting Norway...the scenery around Voss was very nice in summer...just can't help questioning whether it's a good idea to ski (or picnic!) there in early January though |
I like skiing in Norway in January. It can be very cold compared to Alps (-22c is not uncommon). But as result the snow quality can be very good. The limited day light is an acquired taste. But skiing under floodlights as sun rising / setting is a unique experience. Plus reasonable chance you might see the northern lights.
At the time of year I might be tempted to go east of the alpine divide. Somewhere like Hemsedal or Geilo is more likely to be drier / colder. West coast of Norway (Voss / Myrkdahlen) has higher snowfall but potentially stormier - especially in Jan & Feb.
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I concur with the trips suggested above, flying into Salzburg. Proper ski villages just one hour away, with plenty of flattering pistes. Taxis if you shop around beforehand including asking the accommodation can be reasonable. Or a train to Bischofshofen with pre arranged taxi pick up to save a few Euros.
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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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We have skied for just a day in Norway. We went to Skimore, at the end of the metro line from Oslo, on New Year's Eve a few years ago.
The snow was incredible, the cold was breathtaking. At the top of one particular lift ride, my son asked me to adjust his buff for him. His coat had frozen and was like tapping cardboard. That same lift ride, our visors froze to the top of our helmets and e couldn't slide them down.
It was incredible skiing under the floodlights, though.
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@katiejjk, we've done 3 of the resorts mentioned here DIY (plus I've added a 4th), so I will only comment on those:
Are
This wasn't actually mentioned, but it just popped into my head. Although Easyjet no longer fly direct (which is annoying), you can fly to Trondheim in Norway and get a taxi across the border, it should take around 1 hour 45 mins (we haven't gone this route ourselves).
If you stay in the town then you are right by the lifts, however the runs near the town are all reds and blacks, which may not be ideal. There are blue and green runs, but they are a ski bus ride away (not a big deal, its fairly quick).
Whilst its true that food and drink is expensive in Sweden, accommodation, ski hire and lift passes are normally cheaper than in Alpine resorts.
Trysil
A big resort, by Norwegian standards, I've boarded there and its absolutely fine lift wise, yes there are a lot of t-bar/drag lifts, but this is fairly common in the Nordics due to the high winds. There are still plenty of chair lifts to the higher runs (and when the wind starts you'll wish you were on a drag lift anyway
You can now get there much quicker from Scandinavian Mountains Airport (which serves both Salen and Trysil), but flights are very rare and you may find it easier from Oslo. However be warned, I think some of transfer times are a tiny bit ambitious, its taken us 3 - 3.5 hours by coach before, so I would definitely allow well over 2 hours to be safe!
As with Are/Voss again food and drink is expensive (although being realistic, not to far off central London these days, a large glass of wine for example cost around £12 at the end of 2023), accommodation, ski hire and lift passes are normally cheaper than in Alpine resorts.
Voss
We're actually going back there soon, we last went in 2018 I think and a lot has changed (mainly the 'new' gondola).
From a transportation perspective I would argue this might be one of the best bets, you can fly to Bergen, hop on a local train (i.e. no need to book expensive tickets) and be at Voss station within 1.5 hours. Better still the ski hire shop and Gondola are literally by the station, as is the Scandic Voss hotel and one other, I forget. The upside of this means that you can get from plane to snow within a very short timeframe (there are also a good amount of flights, depending of course on where you fly from/to).
Food and drink is expensive, however accommodation, ski hire and lift passes are cheaper than in Alpine resorts.
Zakopane
We've been here multiple times, although I would suggest 2 things if you decide to go down this route. Firstly pre-book a taxi and go directly from the airport, as if you go via Krakow, whilst cheaper it can take a lot longer. That said, be warned, whilst it normally is a 1.5 - 2 hour journey (depending on where you stay), it has (admittedly only once) taken nearly 4 hours to get back (ironically on the way there I think we made it in sub 1.5 hours which was the quickest we've ever done)!
Secondly as Zakopane is very disjointed, I would be tempted to stay in Bialka Tatzranska and ski there, if its a long weekend that should be okay, you may get bored if you are experienced and staying for more than 4 nights however.
Lift passes (and pretty much everything) is cheaper here and they have a Thermal Baths complex attached to Bania Hotel (which is the nicest one in Bialka, but you pay up for it). There are other Thermal Baths near(ish) in Bukowina Tatzranska (a small nearby town which also has a few drag lifts).
There are of course plenty of other options flying into Geneva or Innsbruck, but there are people far more experienced than me to talk about those.
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You know it makes sense.
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Easy done. Geneva has the most flights,
Flaine a good shout really close to the airport, and good value midweek transfers available circa £100. La clusaz very close to airport too. Two mountains right in town, then one linked further away. Flaine is good as you can ski down to the hotels. Both good for your levels.
Verbier on the train, if you want.
No need to go with a tour operator, just DIY.
If you go from Geneva you and Ski and fly home the same day and save a day's leave.
Flights on the 8th reasonable, Sunday 11th will be expensive as I've booked those from Bristol.
All very easy.
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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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Geneva. Easy? Not in my experience...
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Poster: A snowHead
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@wiigman, depends what you mean by easy. From most airports in the UK destinations like Oslo or Bergen aren't served daily (and for a short trip you don't want to be more than 2 hours from the UK airport). For a short break you need flights on (say) Thursday and Monday. Geneva has a much better service than most from almost anywhere.
Granted Geneva can cause problems, but most times we are through customs within 45 minutes from landing. Unfortunately there are exceptions, too many non-Schengen flights arriving together can cause nerve-wracking delays at passport control.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@j b, too many lost ski bags and bad delays for me in/at Geneva... I totally agree, the airport is brilliantly served, but 'easy'? Not on your nelly! Bergen is easy. Small, efficient, modern, excellent. It's like East Midlands, if they won the Airport Lottery/Pools
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@wiigman, exactly, East Midlands would be brilliant for us if only it had the flights we needed on the days we need. We've used it precisely once.
We have flown into both Oslo and Bergen (admittedly not for skiing, in the summer) and both times it was the only flight on that day from Manchester, with hotel stays being required. You wouldn't do that for a long weekend.
We've never lost luggage at Geneva, but I agree, whenever and wherever that happens it is bad news.
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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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| j b wrote: |
We have flown into both Oslo and Bergen (admittedly not for skiing, in the summer) and both times it was the only flight on that day from Manchester, with hotel stays being required. You wouldn't do that for a long weekend. |
Oslo arguably the best city in Europe for a short ski break ...
Tryvann / Skidmore Oslo is a decent ski center literally at end of the city tram line.
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| Haggis_Trap wrote: |
| j b wrote: |
We have flown into both Oslo and Bergen (admittedly not for skiing, in the summer) and both times it was the only flight on that day from Manchester, with hotel stays being required. You wouldn't do that for a long weekend. |
Oslo arguably the best city in Europe for a short ski break ...
Tryvann / Skidmore Oslo is a decent ski center literally at end of the city tram line.
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I think Innsbruck takes some beating for the best city ski break.
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@luigi, we agree on Venice! Loved that airport when skiing Cortina - lovely and quiet and mellow.
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| j b wrote: |
@wiigman, exactly, East Midlands would be brilliant for us if only it had the flights we needed on the days we need. We've used it precisely once.
We have flown into both Oslo and Bergen (admittedly not for skiing, in the summer) and both times it was the only flight on that day from Manchester, with hotel stays being required. You wouldn't do that for a long weekend.
We've never lost luggage at Geneva, but I agree, whenever and wherever that happens it is bad news. |
I meant like East Midlands in terms of size - diddy - but point taken! I live close to MAN, so I tend to see ski life through that lens. As in daily to Oslo or Bergen... BTW are we charging the OP for writing a book on options? Good karma to all the Snowheads Norway vv France crew. Excellent to hear other views/options/perspectives.
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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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| wiigman wrote: |
| Geneva. Easy? Not in my experience... |
Hmmm, your experience being what exactly? How often? What times of year?
Geneva is totally fine, but if you are a. a tourist, b. flying on e.g. a Saturday, c. with ski luggage, d. non-schengen, well, yes, your experience will not be mine. But it doesn't sound as though you use Geneva regularly, so you can't exactly pull a generalisation out of your hat.
Back to OP, as J B says, first sort out your flights. You want to spend the max skiing, not travelling.
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FAQ
