 Poster: A snowHead
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It's my first time booking a ski trip and I'm finding it really tricky. First off it was just me but now my mum would like to come for a trip over xmas (my dad died in 2005 so not much fun for her spending xmas alone esp. with all the pressure to be happy from the TV - all that you have to feel good on december 25th or there is something wrong pisses me off).
I'd have thought it would be easier with 2 adults but it's not (erm, a dbl bed is not going to work out lol!). I've done a fair few searches of ski holiday operators that I know of like crystalski, thomsonski, neilson, etc. but haven't really got anywhere.
Just wondering if any of you lot have any good ideas for me? Budget prob. 500-600 quid each for 5 days catered ex. passes and even flights to France, Switzerland or Austria.
I don't think chalets are a go. My mum would only want to ski for 1-2hrs/day (at age 61 shhh!) so would like at least a swimming pool pref. spa stuff. Nearby ice skating would be good. So I am thinking hotels. Perhaps it would be easier for me to book rooms (2x singles or a twin bed) and do the rest DIY?
Is it just me that finds booking a ski break difficult! Getting a month trip to Australia sorted was easy in comparison!
Thanks for any advice peeps! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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nks, pm'ing you an idea.
flowa
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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 can't see how you are having trouble, unless you dont want to share a room? is that the issue? In which case, yes single supplements can be huge. However, there are massive discounts over Christmas this year ( probably due to last years lack of snow and tour operators panicking!) so you should find something. If you're looking for a Spa hotel, I recommend Princesa Parc in Arinsal, Andorra. Although the skiing isnt that challenging.
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nks, welcome to Snowheads. I'm sure you'll get lots of excellent suggestions, some of them commercially interested, though that doesn;t mean they wouldn't be right for you. How long since your Mum skied? She might surprise herself (and you) but would no doubt appreciate the right kind of surroundings, and alternatives. Personally, I have never been to Zell am See but from what I have heard it might fit the bill. Lots of people here know it well. Don't write off chalets. If you pick the right one they can be very sociable and chalet hosts can help fix things up. Twin beds should be possible. Again, I'm sure people will be along with suggestions. Does your mum already skate? If not, 61 is not a good age to start. I speak from experience, having sustained a quite severe injury on the Chamonix ice rink, which we only visited for lack of snow. Falling on snow is infinitely preferable. And I was only 56 at the time.
What other sort of things does your Mum like doing? We took mine on a couple of holidays, and it was a great success, but that was in a bigger group. I have been in several chalets where non skiing spouses were good company for each other. My mum wouldn't have given a fig for "shopping" but for some people a holiday is incomplete without it! If your mum likes shopping, or looking in expensive windows, Megeve might be a possibility. Lots of other activities there, nice gentle skiing, but the town is too low (like almost all proper towns, as opposed to ski resorts) to have a good chance of resort level snow at Christmas. My mum hugely enjoyed being able to get to a cafe where she had coffee and cakes, near the skiing, able to get the ambiance, and feel part of it all. But she wouldn't have wanted to trek miles to get there - we took her to Les Gets, and also to St Oswald in Austria, where Inghams used to go. Wengen (which I have only visited in summer) might be a possibility. A bit low, at Christmas, though, to be sure of snow at resort level. But superlative mountain scenery. Lots of Wengen experts on here. Would she, or you, want lessons? Give us a bit more info to go on. You'll find something. 
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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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Beds in Austria are generally continental twins, two single beds in a bed base, so not really a double.Could you and your Mum cope with that? However for Christmas and at your budget you might have to look at a low resort which might be short of snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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nks, welcome to snowheads
I would wait until nearer the time when you will have a better idea of snow - I think Austria would be best at that time of year - you may also get a bargain price.
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nks, how about trying the Hotel Rif Blanc in Serre Chevalier. Thermal baths, ice-skating, a historic town (Briancon) reachable by ski bus, and several nice bars and restaurants. The Hotel Alliey in the same village has spa facilities . Both hotels are in the centre of the village, but you can catch a bus to the pistes, or a short walk (5 mins) .
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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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nks - unbelievably, Air France still has reasonably priced flights from London City to Geneva over Christmas. From there you have lots of options...
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DIY could well work out your best option.
Zell am See is a nice place and fairly easy to get to. Sorry I'm too well up on hotels there....only specialise in youth hostels!!
Another option (depending on budget) would be the Victoria Lauberhorn in Wengen. We stayed there for the MSB last year, and it was really nice. The hotel has a nice wellness centre, and is well located in the centre of the village
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nks,
You say you want to go for 5 days this is non standard and is probably best done DIY, a lot of the bigger resorts will be wanting longer bookings my guess is Austria and Switz will be easier than France as well.
You should find out firstly what flights you can get from where you stay, Salzburg best for the more Eastern Austrian resorts, Innsbruck Friedrichshafen for the West. Zurich and Geneva are the main gateways to Switz.
Once you have found some appropriately priced flights you can email the tourist offices of resorts that are nearby. Either ask here or look at a publication such as Where to ski & snowboard for good descriptions to find out which resorts they are.
Most tourist offices are very good at circulating the requirements around all hotels and you will usually get lots of offers. Check the specification of the tourist hotel on the web site including importantly the position if you are not hiring a car.
The main rush is at new year so xmas should have plenty of availability.
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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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I know exactly how you feel. My dad died between xmas and new year a few years back and I hate leaving my mum on her own at tinsel time. Unfortunately its often the case though as I live and work out in Meribel during the winter season and she doesn't ski. However I managed to get her out to the mountains last year and she loved it as there's plenty to see and do off the slopes in the Three Valleys. I work in a catered chalet so if you still need help finding accommodation email me at helen@alpineethos.co.uk
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You know it makes sense.
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Try Ski Olympic - really friendly hotels at competitive prices. We went with them to Courchevel 1650 last Christmas. They cater for singles as well as couples. The wife and I had single beds !!!
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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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CarlT, Ive had nights like that too!! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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nks, Why dont you go to Flachau in Austria? you can fly to Salzburg very cheaply from the Uk and there are lots of lovely pistes there for all ages, also nice hotels, look at Flachau website
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I got a catered hotel in L2A for Xmas week for £550 pp, you can pay a supplement and have seperate rooms, glacier resort and good skiing early in season if you want more details pm me
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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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For 494 pounds you can get half board at the galli hotel in livigno with spa sauna steam room etc... twin beds... lift tickets would be a bit more.... plenty of cheaper options
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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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Try the tourist offices of French resorts many early specials and discounts ( free liftpasses ect ) les Menuires is not a bad resort appts hotels and chalets there tourist board really hel[full great mountains spa sports center ect a little bit 70,s architecture but plenty to do reasonable prices :ni ce:
#
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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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FAQ
, but welcome to 
