 Poster: A snowHead
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Firstly Hi everyone, I've been loitering for a while, however thought it was time for a post!
I'm trying to plan a weekend break for four of us, we're of varying intermediate levels, but anywhere with plenty of blues and reds would suit us fine.
We're not particularly fussed where we go but obviously availability of weekend accommodation and somewhere that isn't too long a drive from Geneva would be ideal.
I have looked around both snowheads and the internet in general and found plenty of possible destinations, but I think I need some local knowledge to know if there is a chance of getting accommodation whether there will still be snow around in late March, early April etc.
So over to the experts, what are your recommendations and how on earth do I find accommodation that is willing to let me book just a weekend?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Snowy Falls, welcome to snowHeads 
I'd suggest flying into Salzburg and skiing Ski Amade.
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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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Snowy Falls,
We did an independantly arranged weekend a few years ago and it was indeed a nightmare getting accomm just for 3 nights. However we succeeded and had a fab weekend in Courchevel 1850 staying and booking direct with the Hotel de la Croisette (Bar Le Jump) www.hoteldelacroisette.com . The resort ticks your boxes for varing intermediate levels marvellously and is a very good bet for snow security too. We hired a car from Geneva and made good time took us about 2 hours 40mins ish so not on the doorstep but not too bad. HTH a bit.
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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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Snowy Falls, welcome to snowHeads.
Some thoughts...
Most importantly plan your trip outside of peak periods - i.e. best to avoid the Easter weekend
Leave finding accommodation to the week before you go, few hotels will be willing to lose a room for two weeks for a 3 night booking too far in advance.
Be flexible in where you stay (be prepared to stay a short drive from the lift), but you may get lucky and be closer.
You could go through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy. I have stayed at both La Thuile and Cervinia (which would suit your requirements) on short breaks and managed to get reasonable accommodation fairly easily. They would be within 2 hours of Geneva.
Of the places I've been to close to Geneva, Chamonix and Les Houches would suit you as well. I've done a short break there as well and found accommodation fairly easily.
Alternatively you could go with one of the weekend specialist travel companies if you wanted to sort it early for peace of mind. www.flexiblebreaks.com and www.skiweekends.com are two that I know of...
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Snowy Falls, I requested something similar but was going for a few more days. Problem is accommodation. Getting the full week isn't bad, getting anything less is a problem. Other issue is where does your local airport fly to (well actually where do the planes from that airport fly to). Mine was basically Geneva, so after posting what was best place to go to within 1-2 hours of Geneva and having some real useful responses I started looking for accommodation and ended up in Avoriaz. By the way the pierre vacances site seemed to be one of the few operators I found that did less than a week.
Have fun.....
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The OL and her mates have been to Flaine for the last few years, either for long weekends or mid week visits, staying in Les Carroz. It's very handy indeed for GVA(the nearest major resort?), motorway almost all the way and a very decent ski area. LC is nothing to get excited about, but perfectly OK. There are several other places to stay; Flaine itself and Samoens to name but two.
They have also been to Chambery (PdS), which is OK; it's pretty handy for LGA (round the top of the lake on the motorway and then up the hill, roughly speaking)access to the rest of PdS is good (by PdS standards), but Chambery is nothing at all to right home about.
I've been allowed to go with them to each place once, and I preferred Flaine.
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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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Thanks for the feedback everyone this has been most enlightening.
I certainly wouldn't have thought about Ski Amade and the comments about Les Carroz are definately food for thought.
Unfortunately Courchevel 1850 probably tips the balance on costs a little too far, although having never skied Courchevel I would love to go!
I have just spoken to the four members of the party and it looks as though 2 have dropped out, so I'm back to the drawing board again 
Out of all the suggestions, Ski Amade or Les Carroz are my favourites at the moment on both cost and convenience, although with two of us it might work out better / cheaper just to get a very last minute TO deal for a week!
However in the mean time I'm off to Belle Plagne a week on Sunday (with the family) and can't wait!
Thanks for all the help and I'll be sure to post back if and when I do come to some conclusion!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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PhillipStanton, Thanks I'll have a look at these...
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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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Snowy Falls, I would recommend Austria, there are plenty of resorts within say an hour/hour and a half of Salzburg. We have done short breaks (3 nights) in St. Johann and Saalbach and both were excellent trips. I don't know what their snow records are like at that time of year. Alps and Cities often have nice short break options in Austria and loads of people fly to Salzburg.
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