 Poster: A snowHead
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please excuse my ignornance. i was only expressing an opinion. my opinion.
thanks 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Wear The Fox Hat, I think queen_sheba was merely sharing her opinion on the subject... PDS would certainly tick a lot of peoples boxes, they do hers. If people suggested resorts they consider to be rather top draw you would probably soon find some correlation, and thus determine those resorts that most  consider to be the "best" in their opinion. It's not an exact science, just an opinion shared on a forum.
Any prolific suggestion for a specific resort would certainly make me take note... and consider for a future trip, i've got my heart set on Aspen after your comments in other threads!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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yep i'll be checking out zermatt (albeit in summer) and hopefully whistler at xmas next year. however i'll always remember where i first learned to ski!
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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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To be fair PDS would be hard to make it to the top 5 of the French resorts and even harder in the Swiss resorts.
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saikee, which is the "best" resort you've visited?
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ski-finder, I think we both posted at the same time above. My apologies to queen_sheba if I sounded harsh.
Just trying to make the point that if someone's opinion is based on limited experience, then that needs to be considered.
e.g. User A: Wengen is the best resort in the world.
User B: Where else have you been to?
User A: I have never been to anywhere better than Wengen.
User B: Where else have you been to?
User A: Nowhere. Wengen is the best in the world.
User B: Yes, but if you've only ever been to Wengen, then Wengen is also the WORST resort in "the world".
So, how about asking people to rate one resort as better than another (that they have visited) because...
e.g.
3V is better than Milton Keynes because it has more km of slope
Milton Keynes is better than 3V because it is closer
Saalbach is better than Solitude because of the apres ski
Solitude is better than Saalbach because of the quiet pistes
etc.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
| So, how about asking people to rate one resort as better than another (that they have visited) because... |
Maybe it would just be better to describe the differences, because everyone has different value judgements about what is better?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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hey there - no worries.
however i think people's levels need to be taken into account too. eg now i might like PDS but when i'm good at blacks i might prefer cham or off-piste i might prefer whistler.
and what if you want - closer, good apres ski AND quiet pistes?! lol...a challenge i know!
surely the best resort is the one that offers the best cross-section of pistes, apre-ski, accommodation etc?
sorry - cat amongst the pigeons here!
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Wear The Fox Hat, accept the experience popint, and like that solution a lot... I was just getting annoyed by everyone saying "you can't say which one is THE best"... of course you can't as it is completely subjective... but I would certainly prefer some opinions on resorts, rather than simply comments about the structure of the question itself 
So here's a few from my limited experience:
Saalbach is better than Avoriaz for Apres-ski
Avoriaz has better/more varied terain for skiing than Saalbach
Saalbach is prettier than Avoriaz
St Johan is prettier than Saalbach
Austria has better atmosphere apres-ski than France
Any more for any more?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
| So, how about asking people to rate one resort as better than another (that they have visited) because... |
Maybe it would just be better to describe the differences, because everyone has different value judgements about what is better? |
Yes, describing differences would be good, but it would put paid to all the "which is best" threads!
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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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Wear The Fox Hat, maybe we should add a "What is the best way to ascertain the best of something?" thread? 
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Wengen is better than Vail because it is a chocolate box town
Vail is better than Wengen cause it's easy to get around on and off the slopes.
Aspen is better than Val d'Isere cause the airport transfer is under 30 minutes.
Va d'Isere is better than Aspen because the total time from a UK airport is under 10 hours.
The Canyons is better than Deer Valley because it is more relaxed
Deer Valley is better than the Canyons because it has lots of perfect groomers.
The Canyons is better than Deer Valley because it has lots of ungroomed skiing.
Beaver Creek is better than Val d'Isere because it really does customer service.
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You know it makes sense.
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My top 3 ratings, based only on personal experience and preferences:-
1. Big White - uncrowded, great snow, great in-bounds off-piste, great gladed skiing, great ski-in/out, great accommodation, friendly atmosphere
2. Lake Louise - as above, but a bit chilly and not really ski-in/out. Some of the higher lifts were a bit slow too (1997)
3. Whistler - great terrain and vertical, great ski-in/out, but crowded and sometimes wet. A bit too popular for my taste, but superb nonetheless.
Also skied quite a few large and small resorts in France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and not forgetting Scotland, but generally prefer the more chilled out North American experience. Favourite European resort was probably Tignes or maybe Courcheval. But no real preference between the big purpose built French resorts. I've had some great holidays in smaller, less trendy resorts like Valmorel too. As always, it depends as much on the weather and who you're with than where you happen to be skiing.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Tue 12-02-08 14:27; edited 2 times in total
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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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May be there is a way out of this "best resort" saga if we break it into different targets like:-
How about a list of the nearest resort to a specified airport (or for the easiest transfer)?
How about a list of largest linked resorts of a specified country or a continent? since some countries count size by piste lengths while others counts by skiable area.
How about a list of largest "unlinked resorts" or domain of a specified country or a continent? These unlinked resorts can only be skied by bus rides.
How about a list of the most exquisite resorts, that need a really deep pocket so that the majority of the skiers are priced out?
How about a list of resorts most snow-sure? high altitude, has glacier skiable even in summer?
How about a list of affordable resorts, good value for money?
How about a list of most difficult and challenging resorts for the skiing junkies? offpiste, extreme skiing and scare enough to wet the pants of an average skier?
etc
etc
etc
ski-finder,
Don't have a best resort yet. But I like a resort tidy, treats its clients as important guest regardless of how much he/she spends, has top notch infrastructure, has altitude to guarantee there will be snow even in a season where snow is in shortage elsewhere, has reasonable transport facilities to it, not massive in size so that it will be flooded by people, does not have a huge number of skiers competing space on runs......
I think Zermatt, Lech and Ischgl are among my choice at the moment if I choose a correct time to visit them.
Haven't done USA yet but Whistler is not my favourite. I might if I enjoy talking to fellow skiers to kill the time when queuing at the bottom of its gondola stations.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Zermatt is pretty (Matterhorn), has fantastic food, skiing is ok, but it is a bummer to get to the slopes. Les Arcs, is ugly by comparison but the skiing is on the doorstep and I prefer the fact that it is on the doorstep as opposed to Queuing for bus (first one full, second one full, third full,) get in taxi, arrive at cable car, queue and get a up the mountain, ski off take another chair and gondola and you are there!!! I know I could take the train but could be waiting for that, the funicular is probably quickest but if you are not on the doorstep you will still have to wait for the bus, easier I accept going back into town.
Beautiful yes, convenient NO. So queen_sheba, your opinion does matter to me and possibly more than others. Although you may not have skied as many places as you would like you are still grounded.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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lol - thanks Roy.
I don't like queuing. i like to get up and walk to the bottom of the lift, get on it and ski off at the top. simple basic requirements.
although a pretty village, good apres ski, pool venue, plenty of sambuca and a night club you can blag your way into pretending to be a seasonaire then spend 17 euros on a corona and short is good for me!
expense is also important - i think a lot of resorts are pricing people out of the market - i mean my group at xmas paid £525 for 9 days accomm - fully catered. Whistler wants over £1000 for a week! never mind two weeks or 10 days! and as for zermatt - crikey it's tough even trying to find something reasonable in the summer - i can only imgaine how the winter is! andorra is benidorm on snow (so i've heard) i think 3V or meribel might be my next place to try.
so all of these things and a reasonable price leaves a fairly limited selection (as well as good beginners slopes) this is why i believe PDS wins on all of thse points! i'm sure my opinion would change as i get better skills wise...
xx
sarah
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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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| ski-finder wrote: |
| Wear The Fox Hat, accept the experience popint, and like that solution a lot... I was just getting annoyed by everyone saying "you can't say which one is THE best"... of course you can't as it is completely subjective... but I would certainly prefer some opinions on resorts, rather than simply comments about the structure of the question itself |
Just keep in mind there're also some people who are annoyed by the question of "best". Best for whom? Best for what?
To be consider "best", a resort must be better than all others in all aspect that's of interest to any skier, whatever their level and preference. Such resort simply doesn't exist.
So in short, "the best resort of the world" doesn't actually exist. Asking such a question simply invites abuse.
There're many resorts that have many strong points, which may lead to many people consider some "one of the best" for themselves. But that's a different question than what's being asked here.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
Wengen is better than Vail because it is a chocolate box town
Vail is better than Wengen cause it's easy to get around on and off the slopes.
Aspen is better than Val d'Isere cause the airport transfer is under 30 minutes.
Va d'Isere is better than Aspen because the total time from a UK airport is under 10 hours.
The Canyons is better than Deer Valley because it is more relaxed
Deer Valley is better than the Canyons because it has lots of perfect groomers.
The Canyons is better than Deer Valley because it has lots of ungroomed skiing.
Beaver Creek is better than Val d'Isere because it really does customer service. |
.. but everything is better than septic-land as there are less of them !
But your points are valid ... 'Best' is bollox ... and Wengen isn't 'Best' under any criteria I know of , other than 'Brit-ified' ....
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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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Let's look at customer service at 3 resorts.
1. Beaver Creek.
Get your skis for you from the resort bus when you arrive
Heated pavements, so little ice at resort
Escalators outdoors at resort level so you don't have to walk up and down steps in your boots.
Free fresh home made cookies.
Free postcards
2. Deer Valley.
Heated pavements, so little ice at resort
Get your skis off your car ski rack and carry them for you to the ticket window.
Free sun block/moisturiser in toliets
3. The Canyons. (if you stay in the right place)
Heated pavements, so little ice at resort
Heated car park, so the car's not iced up either.
Free ski servicing
Boots dried every night (and then stored in your locker)
Skis carried to/from main gondola for you
Which is the best?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Of Whistler, Aspen, Verbier, Tignes, Val d'Isere I'd say that order...
* Amount of accessible terrain
* Variety of terrain levels from flat to vertical
* Ski schools (Esprit + especially Extremely Canadian)
* Excellent interconnection between all ski areas
* Off piste is de rigeur, av-controlled, patrolled and encouraged
* Excellent trees
* Polite, efficient queues (if they exist)
* Massively friendly natives
* Wide open spaces
* Cleanliness
* Accommodation
* Town (shopping/eating) facilities
* Non-skiing facilities in the area
Despite:
* distance/travel
* cost
* possible wet weather in town
Yep - it's the best
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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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Of about 40+ so far, I would pick Zermatt in Europe and Jackson Hole in North America.
Planning to look for others in the future though 
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abc, he he, fair point, well made...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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PDS is toooo low - the highest ski-ing is only about the height of Val Thorens village.
My favourites are Whistler, Argentiere and Zermatt.
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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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stephen buck, Out of your favourites are any of them ski in - ski out? I like the convenience, that said Zermatt is pretty!
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Roy Hockley, Whistler has some ski in/ski out - definitely at the Blackcomb base, and ski-in at all three bases.
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You know it makes sense.
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I've heard the snow dome in Dubai is the place to be.
Actually Whistler, BC, Canada is awesome. I live here, and am very happy. Especially the last 3 seasons.
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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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wbsr, Stop making us jealous!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Roy Hockley, I think that altidude / snow quality would probably be my main selection criteria.
If it were convenience, then I'd plump for the 3 valleys or Espace Killy ahead of the PDS.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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That answers the question exactly, there is no "best" resort as we all have different criterea.
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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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Re: the 1-on-1 comparison option - it is a well known technique for evaluating competitive tenders from multiple bidders, to determine, according to your criteria as the buyer, the "best" option from what appears on the surface to be a difficult decision making process.
OK, so you don't often have 13 thousand sellers to choose from, as here, but it would be theoretically possible to rank, according to your individual preference ALL resorts, based on ALL the criteria that you want to include, and mathematically evaluate 'the best' result for the individual doing the scoring. I guess you could then norm those results across .
(WAKE UP up at the back...)
Take each resort and compare it with each other resort, 1-on-1, for that particular criteria alone, and score which is better (in your judgment), with a neutral score meaning a criteria in both targets that is "of equal merit". Repeat this one on one comparison across all evaluation targets.
Input the values to a highly complex and formulae-ridden spreadsheet I just happen to have for exactly this purpose, and out pops your answer.
Then iteratively redo the figures until you get the answer your boss wants...
Or just accept that the current ski domain you are in is by default the best, and leave it at that.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| JimW wrote: |
Input the values to a highly complex and formulae-ridden spreadsheet I just happen to have for exactly this purpose, and out pops your answer.
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But, the whole point of the exercise should really be to define what the question is. Just ask Deep Thought.
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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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Castleford - Leeds
Why? Don't think the OP cares but it meets the criteria as he doesn't specify most runs or least runs. He may be one who hates skiing mileage.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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JimW, That works very well for me in my business, because I know what I want! The companies that fit my criterea are shortlisted and the then the evaluation of price, quality, delivery, training etc can be analysed.
The problem asking "which is the best resort"? Can not be evaluated in any way, what is the criteria bearing in mind that it is intagiable, location to particular airport! snow sure! chocolate box villlage! Amount of Kms! Michelin starred restaurants!! the list goes on and on. Someone elses criteria could be as simple as say, above 1500m, and CHEAP. The classifications are too numerous to evaluate because each persons criteria IS different. So the answer is no resort is the best, best for that person yes, but not for everyone else. "Blacksilver" will say as he always does St. Moritz, others will say ugly, bland, expensive, reasonable skiing, picturesque, full of Russian hookers and their squires, pompous brits etc. etc. However "Blacksilver" finds it great and he fits in there
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Depends on if you're talking this world or the next.....
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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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mountainaddict, Amen
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To get this into perspective, I've only ever been to three resorts: Valmeinier 1800 Jan 2005, Achensee March 2006, Zell am Ziller February 2007.
And for me, Valmeinier 1800 was sheer class. Odd choice i hear you cry? Well, when we were there it dumped for the first two days and then we had 4 days of sunshine with heaps of powder next to the slopes with nobody touching it. no queues all week, ski-in ski-out, great snow, good range of pistes, and cheap. For a beginner I think that it would have been hard to beat. I highly doubt that Valmeinier 1800 could even be considered one of the top 20 resorts in the world - However, for me it suited perfectly, and for my limited criteria it was WORLD CLASS.
Just to contrast, I skied one day in Mayrhofen on my last trip to the Ziller Valley, which has a reputation as one of the best resorts in Austria. I know this isnt a fair comparison because i was there at the height of the high season, but - massively busy pistes, big queues to get up and DOWN the mountain, dangerous drunk skiers is not what makes a resort good in my eyes.
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FAQ
No problem with expressing an opinion, but it's good to know what an opinion is based on.
