 Poster: A snowHead
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...according to this article in Escape.com.au. where they recommend their ten best resorts in the US and Canada.
How come so few Aussies do the extra mileage to the Alps? Is the flight cost that much higher?
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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 don't know about you David, but there always seem to be plenty of Antipodeans in the alps whenever I've been there, usually either serving drinks, or being instructors, sometimes both.
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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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Absolutely. Maybe this is the distinction between those who just make a ski trip, and those who ship out for the whole winter.
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Without looking anything up, I think the Aussie Dollar is about on a par with the Canadian Dollar, the flight is only about 2/3 the distance, likewise probably the cost, less jetlag, and they speak the same language (more or less  ). Allegedly better snow conditions.
I seems to recall advice to Australians was North America for convenience, Europe for culture. (Advantage N. America - everyone speaks English, advantage Continental Europe - no one speaks English!)
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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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If I had the choice of Europe or North America at a sililar cost, I'd go for America every time. I just think the skiing is better, theres more snow and less people. No contest!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Canadian ski resorts tend to be quite keen on barbeques as well.
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| Quote: |
If I had the choice of Europe or North America at a sililar cost, I'd go for America every time. I just think the skiing is better, theres more snow and less people. No contest!
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I don't know I lived in the far east for a few years and had a choice of both. Equidistant and same price to travel to. I liked both but preferred Europe, it is cheaper too. Different things suit different folks and I don't pretend it is better but I prefer the ambience and greater variety in Europe. I wish I had discovered Japan earlier though rather than when I was about to leave great skiing there. 
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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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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
| Absolutely. Maybe this is the distinction between those who just make a ski trip, and those who ship out for the whole winter. |
Yes, I think this is mostly right, less hassles with no language/cultural barrier as well, especially if you have children. And more/better non-skiing stuff for a spouse/partner you are dragging along.
I've never skiied N. America, but what most appeals to me is the idea of having a few days on a Tropical Island to break the journey home. The 20+ hours plane flights to Europe leave me jangled.
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Some Commonwealth countries operate a one-year working-holiday visa programme for the under 30's so it is easy for Aussies/NZs to work/ski Canada for a season. The Japanese gov. have a similar reciprocal arrangement with OZ/NZ but most prefer Canada as it is language/culture 'friendly'.
David Goldsmith, As for holidaymakers it will be interesting to see how many Aussies make the trip to Japan this season now that an Australian company has taken over one of the resorts here.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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willscarlet, welcome to snowHeads !
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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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Canada is the favourite from Oz - the A$ is much the same as the C$, and you can get a working holiday visa for a year pretty easily, and no language problems so instructors & towies can get work easily. For the tourist Canada wins on cost and facilities - it is geared up for family ski in/ski out, self catering packages. Travel across the Pacific is cheaper (but not by much), and the baggage allowance is 64kg against 20kg to Europe. I'm heading to Europe again in January, but accomodation & living expenses in Europe are killers when the A$ is around 56 euro cents. As for culture, we bring our own...... 
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ianmcn, excellent to have another southern hemisphere snowHead. Welcome to the big tent!
How come you get three times the baggage allowance to Canada vis-a-vis Europe?
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
How come so few Aussies do the extra mileage to the Alps? Is the flight cost that much higher?
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Yep.
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I think the Aussie Dollar is about on a par with the Canadian Dollar, the flight is only about 2/3 the distance, likewise probably the cost, less jetlag, and they speak the same language (more or less ). Allegedly better snow conditions.
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And yep.
Actually, a lot more of them end up spending their skiing holiday in NZ than anywhere else.
Sigh.
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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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NZ is the best overseas destination from Oz - the NZ$ is lower than the A$ and some of the package deals are equivalent in cost to the Australian resorts, including the airfare across the Tasman. No ski in/ski out accom in NZ, and a bus or car to ski every day.
David - the guess is that the US market demands higher baggage allowances, but it only applies to USA & Canada via Honolulu or direct to LA. Cathy & China Air via Hong Kong or Taipai only allow 32kg, but if there is a domestic connection Qantas only allow 20kg (both plus hand baggage of 7kg). However you can put skis, boots & poles in an extra bag and as long as it is less than 32kg they only charge a max of 3kg excess - thus an extra A$200 on top of the fare. Either direction, its expensive & time consuming. My record travel time is 36 hours Big White to Melbourne via Hong Kong, & most of that was flight time!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yep yep yep.
ianmcn, I'll see your 36hrs and raise you an extra 8hrs (that's 42 consecutive hours bum on seat. Auckland - Geneva via Australia & a hell of a lot of Garuda's other stop-offs!)
Kramer, FYI we visit Europe as saisonnaires c.f. as holiday makers cause it costs too blimmin much (as discussed above)!!!!
Our parents in the 1950s started the "gap year" phenomenon (in their day it was 6weeks by ship getting round to the UK) and later generations extended it (your "O.E" i.e. overseas experience) by stopping off to visit various points en route to the UK. We only nick work off anyone daft enough to let us. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Manda - one thing about crossing the Pacific, the potential for stopovers is strictly limited! In comparison to your record, I'm glad I live so close to the slopes 
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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'd choose N. America anyday, going to silverstar in december next year for a month, first time going overseas skiing, should be good to actually ski in reliable snow and lots of powder
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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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thank you 
I've heard a lot about chamonix and the arlberg from a german friend, about the 14 km runs and the rest of it. But i've always been attracted to the Canadian resorts for some reason, the pictures of the pine trees and the views + I can get to silverstar for a month with accom and lift pass and air fares for $4000 AUD
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rain gauge, another welcome. That seems a good price for a month. ~ £2000 I think. The board is fairly quiet at UK weekends. Livens up more mid week.
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It's better than that, around £1700. (http://www.ft.com has a currency converter.)
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One interesting observation at Mammoth Mountain in California is that the lift crew tend to be largely from Australia and New Zealand. I was curious why, and asked around, and was told that Mammoth Ski Company recruits heavily from Down Under for their ski season. Usually it's college students on break, and the company pays them and covers their airfare, arranges the paperwork, gives them a place to stay, and I'm sure they have a great time.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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[quote="Manda"]
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"College" downunder means high school. I think you mean teritiary students |
Actually nobody says "college" downunder, but everyone knows it means university in the US (from Hollywood movies of course ).
Remember that scene in Robocop at the gas station?
"You a college boy?"
*terrified clerk nods, holds up trigonometry textbook*
"So you think you're smart?"
"Think you could outsmart a bullet?"
*clerk shakes head*
*Robocop slams car door* etc..
(n.b. director Paul Verhoeven got his degree in physics from Leiden university)
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