Poster: A snowHead
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Just booking time off for a group holiday but with everyone being skint, it looks like the earliest we'll get away will be the start of Feb. However, I know this falls on French school hols so which is the best month if we were to go somewhere like Meribel or Val Thorens?
Also, what’s the situation in Austria and the US/Canada – are these months rammed out or are they pretty good
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Specialman, the French holidays cover 4 weeks from Saturday 9 February. So best bet might be the week starting 8 March. Meribel or Val Thorens will be a lot less busy then, but because they get stuffed with Brits on packages, still a lot busier than a less well known resort.
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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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Specialman, I know President's Week is best avoided for North America. I think it starts 16th Feb 2008. Whistler is pretty busy that week too. However, the other weeks in February in Whistler were OK from what I remember.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Specialman, if you keep out of the school holidays in Feb, you should be ok in Austria. I've been there in the first week of Feba nd it's been fine.
Cheers
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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holidayloverxx, I guess I've forgotten what the European crowds are like - sadly I'll have to find out in 2009. I do remember Whistler having lift queues that week but quieter in the weeks before and after. The really busy time in Whistler though is between Christmas and New Year.
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Specialman, yes, the very first week in February should be fine. But avoid the rest of the month like the plague...
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Specialman, February, March is when all the locals and seasonaires get their 'Kiddie Killers' out and start catching those kids in their teeth, you'll be straight back to the Chiropractor.
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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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Specialman,
Why would you want to go to those places and pick a week to avoid crowds. Go to somewhere else that isn't on the TO map, and is just stuffed with locals from down the valley and maybe the biggest city 2 hrs away. Then the only crowds you are likley to see would be weekenders on a blue bird day.
I can't think of much worse that a big French resort with ants all over the place..!! the big exception to this being Chamonix because of where you can get to from the crowded lifts..
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We were in Panorama last year at the same time as President's week and the Alberta(?) half term. It was the busiest week in the resort's history and the locals were really moaning about how crowded the place was.
I think we saw one queue that lasted more than a minute. And it was easy to find places on the mountain where you wouldn't see another skier from top to bottom.
Crowded is a relative term.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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JT, we want facilities, loads of cruising runs for the beginners in the group and good apres. TTV seems to fit the bill. Plus they are cheap and that's the main factor.
Anyway, my missus has to put in her holiday dates tonight to have any chance of getting them next year so we've plumped for the week 22/23 March - 29/30 March (depending on whether we go Sarurday or Sunday). The rest of the group are cool with that because it gives them enough chances to hunt for coppers down the back of the sofa to fund the hol!!!
Think I'll treat the wife to an early Jan getaway, but it looks like mid-March it is for the group holiday. We're gonna chance it and do a last minute deal with one of the big TOs like Neilson to try and get a proper good deal. It means we can pick and choose the resorts based on what's in our price range.
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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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Specialman, easter week.
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Early Mar is the best part of the entire season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Good snow, modest crowds and sunny.
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You know it makes sense.
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Whitegold, agreed, I usually go around 9th March
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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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Not-quite-hijacking the thread. If I wanted to go with my parents and my 6-year old to Alpe D'Huez, would you rather recommend the week of 2-9 February (before French hols) or the week of 15-22 Mar? (can't really do 8-15 March as I'm already skiing 22 Feb - 1 March).
Last year we went in the second week of March to La Plagne, quite high up, and the snow was melting fast. Would have been less good on the third week.
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Poster: A snowHead
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horizon, 4th week of March was the best weeklast season with stunning conditions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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4th week of March is Easter. Might be busy.
La Plagne is usually fine well into April
Before EOSBs we went to Belle Plagne every Easter from 1998.
Conditions were always good.
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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.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I personally think the end Of Feb - beginning of March is the best time (in Bansko anyway). Once the Feb half terms are done a dusted, there are never any queues. No queues also means uncrowded pistes. The days are longer and warmer and the snow is usually at its best.
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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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id go mid feb-to canada. although ive been to banff in december,january,february,april and not once experienced the levels of queues youd expect in europe!!!
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