 Poster: A snowHead
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First of all, hello  ! I must say this site seems excellent with a real community feel to it that's fairly rare on the oft-impersonal internet.
I'm looking to book a ski holiday for a group consisting of intermediates (like myself) and fairly advanced skiiers some time in either Feb or April (not March for various reasons), something along the lines of Thursday - Tuesday would be ideal but it's not overly important. No boarders in the group and noone has the confidence to go offpiste yet  . We're a young crowd and so would appreciate decent apres-ski, not necessarily clubs but some interesting activities to while away the evenings. A chalet would be perfect due to the numbers involved, but we wouldn't say no to a hotel if need's be.
Most of us have only had two skiing experiences: Ehrwald (where I learnt, good resort especially the Zugspitze Glacier, if a touch dead in the evenings) and Fugen (the Spieljoch was alright, challenging red down to the resort but Hochfugen really was outstanding, even the blue runs) but a handful have been to Les Deux Alpes and Val d'Isere.
The most important thing, however, is cheapness as we're all students and thus really need to count the pennies. Our backup plan is to simply keep an eye on the Scottish weather and jump on the ferry (Northern Ireland, y'see) when it's looking up, but we'd really prefer to have more of an adventure. America and Switzerland are obviously out the window, France is a possibility and so is Austria but we've really been drawn to Italy and Eastern Europe. The problem with Italy seems to be its dodgy late-season snow forecasts and Eastern Europe is a bug to find any solid information on.
Any help at all would be massively appreciated, and thankyou in advance for any advice you share 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SurferRosa_, welcome to snowHeads. Have you considered Andorra? A few resorts there, and it has a reputation for good value for money (although perhaps not quite as cheap as Eastern Europe). If you go in February make sure you avoid the two middle weeks as these tend to be the busiest of the season because of school holidays across Europe. Are you able to go in early January? These are usually the cheapest weeks of the season.
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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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Of the two choices, April will be cheaper than Feb. Perhaps go self catering, as many as possible in a shoebox. Tignes is a pretty good compromise between skiing, price, and nightlife, and has plenty of the aforementioned shoeboxes. It is somewhat lacking in Alpine charm.
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SurferRosa_, welcome to Snowheads. In terms of "pounds per ski day" the cheapest way to go is usually a conventional Sat/Sat week, or Sun/Sun week in some cases, as the industry is geared up to that. The first week in February could be a good option, as the French (and British) half terms start the following week. Snow should be good everywhere. Depending on the number in your group you could wait and do a last minute booking with a tour operator, if you are flexible about where to go. That way you don't have to arrange transfers etc. which can be remarkably expensive. There are usually some reasonable deals on catered chalets. April is getting a bit late for the lower resorts, but would be good in Tignes. There are a number of Snowheads threads on some of the East European places, especially Bulgaria, but I suspect that rob@rar's suggestion of Andorra is more reliable.
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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've been skiing in Bulgaria, Slovenia and Slovakia and have posted various things on them on here. I think I've reviewed most of the places I've been so look in the resort review bit as well and I've put down prices as well. Jasna in Slovakia looked to be the largest of the Eastern European resorts and I was there this march and have reviewed it on here. as for finding information just google, all resorts have their own home page eg. www.jasna.sk which is very good and available in english other than that google your chosen resort with other key words such as ski, chalet, apartment or bungalow which is what I found a few of the Eastern European countries called chalets. PM if you want any more info as I have loads of websites saved in my favourites 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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SurferRosa_, I have been to both Boraovets and Pamporovo in the days when we were poorer than we are now, and I think you will find they are excellent place to go on a budget. The skiing is better and more extensive in Borovets and it is a place with more possibilities for living cheaply. Student essentials like beer and pizza are very cheap if you know where to look and a good time can be had for little expense.
the downsides, though I haven't been to Borovets since 2000, at that time were horrific mountain toilets and poor quality hire gear. Maybe this has changed as Bulgaria has now joined the EU and that was a long time ago. Lift queues were also an issue then, but that too may have changed. The ski instruction was very good and the ski school was happy to have groups of friends of varying abilities together if that is waht you want. The have an "It's your holiday" attitude.
I believe Pamporovo has some new lifts and some new runs, but there was only 25Km when I was there.
Tignes is very nice indeed, but you will spend a lot more there. Lift passes and the whole kit and instruction package used to be very cheap in Bulgaria. Don't forget to price the whole package!
Bulgaria skiing is cheap and cheerful, but it is still seriously cheap. I doubt if I would have ever skied at all if it were not for the low prices in Bulgaria.
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Just had a look in more detail at your original post. Both Pamporovo and Borovets have these little wooden chalets called Malina Village. They are little houses and might be a lot of fun for a group of friends. They were dead cheap 10 years ago when I went there. The Pamporovo ones are out of "town" but the Borovets ones are right by the lift. Just a thought.
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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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SurferRosa_,
Check out the Panorama website. I got a deal for £316.00 Half Board, Flights, Transfers from Belfast to Livigno in Italy (Feb). I reckon Livigno would be good for your group.
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johnboy, That's a good suggestion.
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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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SurferRosa_,
Try BUSC they do great deals for students 
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SurferRosa_, I would second johnboy, 's suggestion. Livigno is pretty good value and has a good nightlife. You will have difficulty with a TO doing anything out of a SAT-SAT or Sun-SUN holiday. Those operators that do weekend breaks have put a premium on the "city types" that are cash rich and time poor.
Cheapest deal I have ever had was £150 Courchevel 1550 in a catred chalet end of March beginning April. Booked the week before we left. I would look at a chalet holiday late in the season as most TO's have chalet for season and want heads on beds, whereas they can give back beds in hotels quite easily.
Take the extra couple of days off and enjoy. More fun and better value IMO.
Have fun and welcome to 's
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You know it makes sense.
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We have a place in Borovets, the hire gear varies greatly between places but I can recommend a few places where you can get top quality hire kit (far superior to some hire kit I've had in France / Europe).
If you have any questions about boro, please see the site in my signature or feel free to PM me.
DoA
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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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It is often very hard to book things other than saturday to saturday (some places such as St Anton it is almost impossible) since they may be stuck with bits of weeks with an empty room or apartment if they accept you for other than the standard period.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Kramer wrote: |
| Of the two choices, April will be cheaper than Feb. Perhaps go self catering, as many as possible in a shoebox. Tignes is a pretty good compromise between skiing, price, and nightlife, and has plenty of the aforementioned shoeboxes. It is somewhat lacking in Alpine charm. |
Tignes and VAl have great skiing but be prepared to self cater cos if you want to eat and drink out it can be expensive.
We got stung for a 8 euro beer in Grizzlies in val claret. Is that covered under a student budget
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SurferRosa_, Try Livigno, Its a bit of a schlepp from the airport but skiing is ok and its cheap/party central
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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 have had a bunch of good deals over the years, I cannot afford to take all the family otherwise.
My opinion is agree the week you want to go, then wait to absolutely the last minute to book. If its a mixed group of intermediates you will be less fussy on where you want to go.
Also if you dont mind sharing see if you can find somehwere that will discount for four sharing, there can be serious discounts to be made. Went with equity last year, all four of us to Vars, flights, transfers, half board and equipment hire for 620quid for all four of us! Even eastrn europe cant beat that.
Main tips again - book last minute, dont be fussy over accomodation or resort, share rooms.
good luck
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