 Poster: A snowHead
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Personally I think you’re going a bit early. This is
Val Thorens on 18 April 2024. On piste! (You can see piste markers on the right hand side.)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Owlette wrote: |
| 5th April is a Sunday. Just make sure the ski school is happy with you joining lessons on the Monday (they run Sunday to Friday). Also, double check your accommodation is happy for you to have a Sunday to Sunday booking. Lots of places want you to book Saturday to Saturday, but as it's Easter and not half term, there may be some flexibility. |
Plenty of UK tour operators do Sunday to Sunday weeks, so not that much of a problem with accommodation, kit hire & ski school.
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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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| kitenski wrote: |
@bingobango, take a look at La tania, we went for years at Easter with our kids. The home run usually stays open until the season ends. Quick access to the north facing slopes in courchevel. A lot more small village feeling than val t!!
https://latania.co.uk/
We used this company some 15 years ago!! https://www.familyfriendlyskiing.com/our-chalets |
+1 for La Tania. We did same as you and used the same company.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hopefully not a complete hijack and of some help to OP. If you were booking Easter in advance, which airport would you choose for maximum flexibility of resort? And why? I have my own ideas but more interested in other views.
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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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Having been on family ski trips with the kids for many years (always in school holidays) I would say that going at Easter has far many more advantages (but a few disadvantages):
Longer, warmer days - you could be skiing most of the day and then go out cycling/running late afternoon, it's nicer being a bit warmer especially for kids. However it does mean harder/icy slopes in the morning (we tend to lay in and go out around 10am) which could be quite slushy later in the day depending on altitude/aspect/temperature. Slush is still good fun and I find that I much prefer skiing on softer snow than the rock hard stuff!
Fewer reliable resorts (disadvantage) - when we changed to skiing at Easter we went higher (Tignes/Val Thorens) to guarantee a 'white' ski week. I have friends with kids who regligiously go at Easter (never Feb) school holidays but they don't mind basing themselves lower (browner) and getting the lift up to ski. They like to go running! We drive and sometimes never saw snow until the last bit of the ascent and it can be quite warm/a much different vibe in the valley. I'm not a big fan of pistes next to or surrounding green/brown fields.
Cost - actually it's not that much cheaper for us. Because of going higher, lift passes are more expensive for us so oddly it's only just marginally cheaper at Easter. Our other costs (as we drive) are pretty fixed.
People - you won't have the slopes to yourself but it's a much nicer experience than in February!
Time - going in February is such a rush with kids - getting ready, getting there, one week, getting back, straight back to school. Going at Easter was more relaxing with the extra time off
We're going to Les Arcs this year. We stay in the valley every summer so I know it well. While a lot of higher ski resorts aren't picture perfect I would say that Arcs 1950 has gone out on a limb. It's not as big as 1800 (not sure how much you want apres/going out to eat). It's certainly not tiny. But it is so different to 1600/1800 in terms of feeling a bit more chocolate box/Swiss pretty. And if you have a total white out day (which unfortunately does come with height) then you can always take the bus to 1600 and funicular down to Bourg Saint Maurice to explore the town!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
And if you have a total white out day (which unfortunately does come with height) then you can always take the bus to 1600 and funicular down to Bourg Saint Maurice to explore the town!
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Where spring will be springing, flowers coming out and people walking about in shorts (and not just postmen). You could even rent a bike and cycle along the Isere. Or if it's raining visit the cheese factory. It is a great alternative. One of my friends even took the funicular down and back to Bourg st Maurice. He did it just for the ride and thoughly enjoyed it.
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Just check for snow sure resorts and maybe talk to someone like snowfinders or Erma Low or similar. They usually have some good ideas in terms of snow sureness.
We've been quite a few times in Easter. Les Arcs, La Plagne and La Rosiere. In terms of actual snow conditions - who knows!!?! As others have mentioned last Easter / April was a bit odd, as it had a big dump of snow and we went the week after that - flying out on the Monday after Easter Sunday - but literally booked last minute for that one, we went to Tignes. My eldest son had been a couple of weeks before that with his Uni and there wasn't much snow there then, but when we went there was plenty of snow!!
Easter is a bit early this week - in fact we're booked for Easter and are going to Meribel. I reckon the snow where we are staying will be patchy at best, but the whole of the mountain above us should be great and is high so should be some good skiing. Plus we're a mere 70 metres away from the nearest gondola so can easily walk and go up the mountain.
It is usually quite warm as well, so just make sure you get out early and enjoy the best snow conditions before it turns to porridge!!
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Joining on Monday probably ok if you've done an intro at home. Otherwise probably not. Doing a standard week and all going into groups would be fine. And far cheaper than private lessons.
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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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If you're v keen to make maximum progress all day lessons in Austria are worth looking at.
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My experience of ESF has always been that Sunday is an "optional" day and Monday starts/5days are the norm. I was looking at Morzine for a friend, and the prices there were exactly the same for 5 or 6 days, Monday or Sunday start.
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FAQ
