 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey Guys, i'm new here, i was wondering if you coulld give me some advice about good places to catch snow in early december, i'm going on my honeymoon and we'll be leaving on the 7th, for either 1 or 2 weeks, we'd like to keep the budget fairly low but its flexable, my OH will be snowboarding and i'll be skiing we're both OK but not diehards, i'm not too bothered about where we go but obviously plane tickets are an issue.
all advice gratefully received.
Tom
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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tsedgman,
Welcome to snowHeads 
Normal best advice is wait and see where it falls. Probably not ideal for a honeymoon trip though. If it was me I wold want somewhere vaguely picturesque/ romantic.
In Europe Saas Fee or Zermatt may suit. If you can afford a bit of extra time to cross the pond Banff gets good reports.
PS although Zermatt is a bit pricey at this time of the year there are often a lot of deals that are inclusive of passes +/- equipment hire ,lessons etc. You should be able to get a reasonable price at some hotel.
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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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tsedgman, Short of there being some epic snowfall across Europe, many resorts wouldn't even consider opening their lifts this early, which would leave you with the normal suspects who offer 'all-year round' skiing - think along the lines of Tignes, Hintertux etc.....alas this may compromise the 'romantic' options somewhat.....
Sorry 
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Even when there is good snowfall like this year. There isnt normally a substanial amount of pistes or lifts open until till Christmas week. There simply isnt enough demand before christmas.
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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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what's your budget on air tickets/honeymoon?
we're just back from lake louise/banff in canada and they hold the first world cup event of the circuit there most years due to it having the best snow record for that time of year. you can get flights relatively cheap to calgary through Zoom and once you're there, food and drink is way cheaper than it is in many french/swiss resorts and the skiing just as good, if not better. Just had a quick look and going from Glasgow (other uk airports may be more or less) is only £99 + taxes each (probably about £60 or £70 on top).
worth considering.
If you really need to do europe, then maybe somewhere like Val Thorens or somewhere else with glacier skiing that will guarantee you snow. As has been pointed out though, not always the most romantic or scenic of destinations.
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How about Obergurgl? More attractive than Val Thorens - not as attractive as Saas Fee.
We got married first week of December but deferred skiing honeymoon until early January.
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tsedgman, welcome to snowHeads
You could just book the flights now and decide much nearer the time on the resort, you wouldn't have a problem finding accommodation for that time of year.
I would suggest Salzburg for Obertauern, Schladming, Kaprun etc (or Hintertux if it is real bad)
Alterntatively, you might want to fly to Geneva with the fall back of the glaciers of Tignes or Zermatt if there isn't much snow generally.
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| shoogly wrote: |
what's your budget on air tickets/honeymoon?
we're just back from lake louise/banff in canada and they hold the first world cup event of the circuit there most years due to it having the best snow record for that time of year. you can get flights relatively cheap to calgary through Zoom and once you're there, food and drink is way cheaper than it is in many french/swiss resorts and the skiing just as good, if not better. Just had a quick look and going from Glasgow (other uk airports may be more or less) is only £99 + taxes each (probably about £60 or £70 on top).
worth considering.
If you really need to do europe, then maybe somewhere like Val Thorens or somewhere else with glacier skiing that will guarantee you snow. As has been pointed out though, not always the most romantic or scenic of destinations. |
Actually, the first world cup event of the year is normally at Soelden in Austria (on the glacier of course), a week or two before Lake Louise.
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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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tsedgman, Banff. Lake Louise and Sunshine generally spin after the first week of November followed by Norquay (Which does open for a bit at the start of Nov) but opens for full use in Dec.
Ross
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| shoogly wrote: |
what's your budget on air tickets/honeymoon?
we're just back from lake louise/banff in canada and they hold the first world cup event of the circuit there most years due to it having the best snow record for that time of year. you can get flights relatively cheap to calgary through Zoom and once you're there, food and drink is way cheaper than it is in many french/swiss resorts and the skiing just as good, if not better.
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Lake Loiuse typically opens around November 10th, but it's man-made snow and rarely extensive until well into December. It's reliable for racing because it's reliably cold, so making snow is easy. I wouldn't go in early December expecting great conditions. And remember this is the 'Rocky' mountains - a fair bit of snow is needed before you don't get severe base damage if you slip 1m off piste. A few decent groomers on the front side is more likely.
March/April is by far the best time to go to Banff for snow conditions.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you're keen on the snow, and the lack of ambiance is not too big a problem, I'd go for Tignes. And there'll be loads and loads of accommodation available, so you could certainly leave it till nearer the time to book.
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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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come to serre che and book the big suit at the mont thabor hotel in villeneuve, it is awesome has a jacuzi in your room and the room is huge!!!
even if you go to two resorts come and rent this hotel room cos it rocks! i spent my wedding night there! was totally awesome!
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What about somewhere in the Dolomites? Lifts due to open at very end of November. If the snow's not great you'll at least be guaranteed some skiing - and it's so beautiful it would suit Honeymooners way more thant the like of higher resorts such as Tignes and Hintertux...AND at that time of year you would be able to get a fantastic hotel (try Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, www.rosalpina.it - it's good enough for Tom Cruise and Katie H, one of the restaurants has Michelin stars) for an excellent price! And the slopes will be EMPTY! I've spent seasons there and believe me, early season is fantastic with empty pistes, beautiful mountains and tons of atmosphere.
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You know it makes sense.
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Ischgl opens end of November, with reliable snow up high, I believe. Great place ...
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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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tsedgman,
Did my honeymoon in Lake Louise arriving 29th November. Plenty of snow and great location. I choose LL because I was 100% sure conditions would be great at that time of year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnboy wrote: |
tsedgman,
Did my honeymoon in Lake Louise arriving 29th November. Plenty of snow and great location. I choose LL because I was 100% sure conditions would be great at that time of year. |
Please can you tell the rest of use whare will be good and where will be bad next December then?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Go high.
The village must be atleast 1800m. And preferably have a yearround glacier.
Try:
Val Thorens
Tignes
Val d'isere
Zermatt.
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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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| Whitegold wrote: |
Go high.
The village must be atleast 1800m. And preferably have a yearround glacier.
.... |
Why say that about the village elevation and therefore deliberately exclude Les 2 Alpes from your list, which has arguably the biggest glacial skiing area?
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Whitegold, None of those French glaciers you list above are open 365 days/year.
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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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| boredsurfin wrote: |
| Whitegold, None of those French glaciers you list above are open 365 days/year. |
To be fair, he didn't mention "open" 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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boredsurfin, And they'd all be open in December! None of them known for their romantic Ambience though!
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The Arlberg region of Austria has a pretty good early snow record and Lech/Zurs get more snow than pretty much anywhere else in Europe, think they open about 7 Dec.
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Just checked upper averages for lech and zurs for the week beggining 8 dec (last 10 or so seasons), 78 cm for Lech and 84 for Zurs, so unless you are freakishly unlucky you should be ok
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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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| JimSearle wrote: |
| Just checked upper averages for lech and zurs for the week beggining 8 dec (last 10 or so seasons), 78 cm for Lech and 84 for Zurs, so unless you are freakishly unlucky you should be ok |
I believe Ischgl is similar, as most of the terrain there is above 2000m. Ischgl/Lech/Zurs are decent romantic locations, I guess?
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I honeymooned in Ischgl - look to stay at the Trofana Royal - you won't care what the snow conditions are like, believe me 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It seems that over the last couple of years (not sure before this, can't remember), that Austria and Switzerland seem to get better early snow....(sorry if anyone disagrees). I've been to Saalbach, which isn't the highest of resorts, in that week twice and there was sufficient snow both times
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