 Poster: A snowHead
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@under a new name, one must never argue with a Snowhead who has... knocking on... 36,000 posts! Respect!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@wiigman, no, not at all, but there's a lot of knocking of GVA around here which might easily put off the lesser informed and much of it, IME, is unfounded.
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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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I suspect it's just that it's where a lot of people go and they have nothing much to compare it with, when it comes to busy skiing Saturdays.
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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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and you can't compare a big international airport with somewhere like Innsbruck (where I personally had my biggest problem where the airport simply couldn't cope with a big back up of flights which wasn't Innsbruck's fault at all - it was widespread fog and flooding in the UK. But they simply ran out of simple drinks and snacks, and there was nowhere to sit.
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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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| swskier wrote: |
I think Innsbruck takes some beating for the best city ski break. |
True.
Going to be near there over New Year...
Will let you know!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thu 29 January LGW 08.45 to Innsbruck 11.45 EasyJet.
Return Monday 2 Feb 18.10
Cost £168 pp if you can travel light or plus £60 if cabin bags, £84 ski bags.
Accomm in Innsbruck from Airbnb £100 per night. So £200 pp total
Ski pass £25 pp per day so £125 pp. Innsbruck has several small areas close to the town.
A few bus fares at a euro or two each, taking 10-20 minutes each.
Five days skiing for £600 each. (Plus food, but you’d have that at home too!)
Or look on Heidi.com which has an extraordinary search function.
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I must be missing something regarding the £25 ski pass. That is the price for children at patsch or axamer. The only time I paid £25 in that area was when I went to Trins drag lift just past bergeralm. Im there over new year also and as it stands ill probably be driving to stubai, solden or tux although im closest to axamer and the webcams there look loads better than patsch.
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According to Gopass it’s €29 per day in Muttereralm in January for grownups. Never tried it myself but Innsbruck’s got to be the most convenient way to go skiing from London.
Personally I’d probably go a bit further afield, but it won’t be as cheap.
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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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I haven't been there yet as the low conditions haven't really been up to it but I think its about £45 like the others I mentioned. For a 1 day adult pass. You might be seeing the "from ... Price which will list the childrens price.
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Anyhow I find a big advantage to these areas is that they can't get that busy during school holidays because they simply don't have the parking, lift capacity or accommodation to provide the level of traffic you get in the big resorts at that time. Consequently you can still find red and black groomers that are still flat after lunch and even the blues aren't too cut up. Last half term we lapped the red/black at bergeralm and patscherkofel and we were the only ones on it most of the time. Wouldn't say they were really black runs but if it keeps people off them then im all for it 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Everytime i see new suggestions i keep looking at those areas and seeing if we should go there instead! thanks everyone for so much input! 
Our main location of choice at the moment could be Pila in Italy for a quick break away as we might hold on Norway so we can go and explore around aswell as going skiing (plus my partner is a little worried about the amount of button lifts and tbars haha) Although to be fair i also have been looking around at a few places in Austria that we could go too, but i know my partner is really keen to go to Italy now ive mentioned it to them!
(ive been to a couple of places in France and Italy) Personally i found Geneva Airport okay but i dont have alot to compare it too.
If we go to Pila we have just been trying to work out the best flights to match up with a possible train or coach journey as it looks like any type of private transfer will skyrocket the cost!
Thanks for all the help everyone, with all the ideas in terms of locations,airports to use and transport its been greatly appreciated!
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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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@katiejjk, sounds like you've got information overload there! 
As to Pila, not sure what steered you there as a good weekend spot, but Turin is the closest airport.
There are some very cheap Ryanair flights £33 from Stansted 8-12 Jan, but outbound gets in at 19.40 which might be tricky finding transport that late, unless you go self-drive car hire (from £60 for 5 days) or private taxi transfer (which might be around €250 each way)
The BA flights from Gatwick have better timings, but are £114. You could get public transport during the day, but will mean backtracking into Turin City by bus or train, then bus or train to Aosta with possible change at Ivrea. Could take about 3hrs + but wouldn't be expensive. Google Maps will show you the options and links to book.
As to where to stay, you have two options...in Aosta town (generally cheaper) which means getting to the gondola and a 20min ride up and down each day or stay at the purpose built resort at Pila 1800, which would mean paying for a gondola (or bus??) ride up/down with your cases on arrival/departure day. Some of the accommodation up there isn't that close to the lifts, so choose carefully. It will be quite a schlep to and from the airport to this location, if the only option is public transport.
https://pila.it/en/location/how-to-get-to-us/
There are probably easier options with public transport and Pila does get busy at weekends as it has that big town at its base and one of the easier places for Milanese weekender families to drive to, but if you're determined that Pila is the spot, it can be done! 
This company run by a British woman specialises in Pila and has been recommended on here before, they might be able to help set you up with a package of transfer/accommodation/liftpass/ski hire to meet you from those Ryanair or BA flights into Turin or even other options into Milan Malpensa which isn't a lot further than Turin...sometimes these smaller operators with good long-established local contacts can do it cheaper than you could DIY...might be worth getting in touch with your requirements...
https://www.pilaski.co.uk/
There is a new gondola that goes up to the highest point of the ski area with a swanky new star-shaped restaurant... https://stelladi.pila.it/en/
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