 Poster: A snowHead
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OK, we're looking for a resort for two couples, one of whom are taking their 18 month sprog, plus granny to look after her. We're pretty mixed ability, from a timid 3rd timer, to a confident black run monster. We'll also need somewhere with a fair bit for non skiing granny to do. I did think of Courmeyer (sp?), but it does seem a bit limited in terms of extent. Any other thoughts? We've never been to Austria, so some suggestions there would be helpful.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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With a mixed group like that - a key question is how much you want to ski together? Will there be lessons involved (there should, IMO, but each to their own).
No ideas on Austria I'm afraid...anyway -
If the group will naturally separate during the day, you could do worse than Chamonix. While you'll almost certainly get the usual round of "but the buses are crap" later - they're not crap and the skiing is varied enough for a mixed group.
More importantly, the town has much more to do than usual ski resorts, hopefully keeping granny happy. Ski wise, depending on how timid the most timid is you can have "group together" days at Le Tour for example or days where the timid ones stay there and the more confident head to Grands Montets or Brevent-Flegere.
If you all want to ski together all the time (I'd be surprised) - you need somewhere really quite different. Megeve maybe? Cortina possibly?
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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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Thanks for that David. We tend to ski together now and again, have lessons in the mornings, and it all seems to work well for us. We've been away together before, but not with the baby and granny in tow - hence a bit more thought than usual about stuff for non-skiers.
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ajpaul, do you definitely want to head to Europe or is NA an option?
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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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ajpaul, Wengen might be worth considering. Non-skiers can get up the mountain by train to meet skiers for lunch, they can also get out of the resort easy by train. Plus there are plenty of gentle runs for timid skiers.
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rich.ll, not a bad idea although not a great deal of challenging stuff. Depends how active Granny wants to be...lots of pretty views..
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I was going to say Wengen too - it would be easier to get around that whole area, with a baby, than Chamonix would - the trains are so brilliant. I have been to both areas with a non-skier and the fun to be had around Chamonix (including meeting the skiers for lunch) required a lot more driving and strenuous walking. I don't know about off-piste in the Jungfrau region, though.
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David Murdoch, Yes. I was focusing my attention on the timid-skiers and non-skiers. It should be mentioned that the MSB has been in Wengen the last two years.
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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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rich.ll, and in fairness, I would expect that you could find some good guided off-piste...certainly around Mürren it looks like there is?
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what does grandma want to "do"? A lot of the "non skiing activity" vaunted in resort literature is stuff like dog sledding, ice-skating, sports centres etc. Is she that sort of granny? (in which case she should be out on skis.) When my mother came skiing with us what she wanted to do was gentle walks on prepared surfaces, looking at the mountains, meeting somewhere where we could all have a coffee together, and watch the skiers, and sit at home in a chalet with a nice mountain view, and read. She also liked a gentle swim in warm water as long as she didn't have to "go anywhere". Our first holiday together was in St Oswald, a satellite of Bad Kleinkircheim, in a lovely warm (and big) self catering apartment, with a heated spa pool in the garden. Very limited skiing, but was just right for first timers. Much later she joined us in Les Gets, where we rented an entire self catering chalet. We could drive her up to the bottom of the main lifts and she could sit in a cafe watching the activity and her grandchildren could show off their skiing. She also appreciated a trip up the Mont Chery gondola one day, to admire the views. Many resorts provide that sort of "activity". Of course, in very cold weather or poor vis, she would not have wanted to be out and about much - in which case she would have been happy enough reading. In no case would she have wanted to go shopping, for example - she was not a big fan of shopping in any case and it was the last thing she'd have wanted to do on a holiday in the mountains. But I have a sister in law for whom a week without shopping would be a sort of purgatory. That's why I was wondering what grandma would want to do?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w,
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18 month sprog, plus granny to look after her
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I'm not sure that what she 'wants' is relevant. 
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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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How about Schladming in Austria? Easy transfer from Salzurg airport and a friendly interesting place to stay. Should suit all the skiers and there is a train to Salzburg for Granny and littl'un.
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pam w, sounds perfect for what were after in a couple of years... in somewhere like Bad Kleinkircheim did you find there was enough for them to do to keep her/them amused in addition to the babysitting... my folks are up to a trip like this, but are quite active... any similar suggestions?
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You know it makes sense.
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In reply to the 'Thread' title, how about a selection box or maybe a big box of Quality Streets?
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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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Pam W - I'm not really sure what she wants tbh! I think general pottering around with the little 'un in nice coffee shops, maybe a spa of an evening, that sort of thing.
Schaldming or Wengen seem popular suggestions for Austria - I'll get my research head on now - thanks to all.
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Poster: A snowHead
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ajpaul, Wengen is in Switzerland not Austria.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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St Moritz.
Zermatt.
Davos.
Val d'Isere.
Lech.
Aspen.
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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,
Davos? Are you mad?
Val d'Isere? Are you mad?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I don't know Davos but Val D,Isere is certainly mad, from more than one point of view. As a granny, I can't imagine many places I'd want to hang around in with a todder less.
It's odd the way sometimes people think that the question "is there much for a non skier to do" makes sense, without specifying what sort of non-skier they are. People specify what sort of skiing/skier (timid, aggressive, big mileage, likes trees, likes bumps, like the park, etc). I didn't like Bad Kleinkirchheim much, from what little we saw of it - though the swimming pool was fairly spectacular. We went there for 2 weeks and did BKK on the middle weekend changeover day. I liked St Oswald much better but from what I can remember it would only suit beginners - which we all were.
Some non skiers (me, for instance, if I couldn't ski) would want beautiful scenery, some accessible walking/snowshoeing, and a comfortable attractive place to sit and read half the day, with some gondola lift to take me up the mountain to sit in a restaurant when I wanted a change of scenery. A well equipped kitchen to do some nice cooking in would be good. Others would want shopping, spas, ice skating (nearly killed myself last time I did that) or TV.
It might be a good idea to ask grandma what she fancies, especially if ski-baby sitting is to be a regular event. It can work really well, and it's a great way for three generations to holiday together. But it needs 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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<<<<non skiers (me, for instance, if I couldn't ski) would want beautiful scenery, some accessible walking/snowshoeing, and a comfortable attractive place to sit and read half the day, with some gondola lift to take me up the mountain to sit in a restaurant when I wanted a change of scenery. A well equipped kitchen to do some nice cooking in would be good. >>>>>
Couldn't agree with you more. You've described my perfect holiday - ski-ing just makes it even more perfect.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
You've described my perfect holiday - ski-ing just makes it even more perfect
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Seconded.
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David Murdoch, I'm a bit puzzled... Whitegold is, of course, stark raving mad as any fule kno, and he demonstrates it by making one of his recommendations the cliched Tarantaise hell-hole that is VdI what is it about his selection of Davos that makes you remind us of the fact? Presuming she's not and Aesthete or an Architect there's loads for 'Granny' to do and the skiing range would suit the party well surely? (I'm presuming you've been there...)
Explain yourself Sir!
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I also think Davos would be fine - lots of buses and trains to get around, buzzy town, beautiful scenery, extensive and varied skiing on and off piste for the skiers. What's not to like? Espace Killy, on the other hand...totally charmless and I shall not return, even though I recognize that the skiing is good.
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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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red 27, haven't been there but the OH does an annual secret mission there and was decidedly unimpressed...it's not on our list of places to visit...but I remain very open to have my mind changed. Just not the needles, please, not the needles...
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David Murdoch, I went there on a business related thing expecting it to be ghastly and was blown away by the skiing - so much variety and individually stunning runs. It's one of those places where the piste map doesn't do it justice.
Yes the town looks ugly on the webcams but at street level it's pleasant - never choccy box or really even alpine, but a nice, affluent Swiss town and perhaps that's it - it is very 'Swiss' and of course that's not to eveeryone's taste - possibly that's why your OH doesn't dig it...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Zell am See in Austria would fit your reqts, also consider Saalbach or Hinterglemm, though probably a bit less to do for the non skiers as they are a bit smaller, skiing is superb though for all grades of skier. I also skied for the day at Grossarl (Dorf Gastein) and Hochkoenig (Maria Alm), though I didn't stay at either place, again good skiing though limited for the 'monster'. Atmosphere, food and beer are all excellent in Austria as is the welcome from the locals who invariably speak good english.
Good luck with your holiday planning.
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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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red 27, we live in Switzerland...
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You know it makes sense.
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One vital requirement for that kind of holiday group is that the skiing needs to be close to the accommodation for liaison/handover/rendezvous etc. I don't know Zell am See (though I've always thought it sounds lovely) but don't you have to trek a bit to get to the skiing? Ideally you want a nice caff, with both an indoor and a terrace option, where any combination of the group and toddler can meet right by the lifts somewhere, within easy toddler walking distance of the accomodation. If it's snowy you can hire one of those little pavement sledges for the toddler. Make sure granny has 100% bombproof and non-slip boots.
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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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Thanks again to all. As granny will be toddler sitting during the day, its more about pleasant shops and cafes to potter about in, maybe meet us for lunch, and then a bit of indulgence for her of an evening. We're not on a tight budget, but I suspect the likes of Davos may be beyond us. I don't think I mentioned, we'll be looking to rent a decent sized (i.e 4 'proper' bedrooms) apartment and self cater - unless a smaller chalet for the 5 of us is feasable.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Kitzbuhel. The town is nice, and has a train station, so you can do day trips to Innsbruck and Salzburg (both are worth a trip).
pam w, Zell is a town, so some of the accommodation is away from the lists, but there is a reasonable amount close. As there are 3 main access points to the skiing area, there are plenty of options close to lifts. The City Xpress lift is the best placed for access to town, and has a number of pensions and hotels within 2 mins walk.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| ajpaul wrote: |
| Thanks again to all. As granny will be toddler sitting during the day, its more about pleasant shops and cafes to potter about in, maybe meet us for lunch, and then a bit of indulgence for her of an evening. We're not on a tight budget, but I suspect the likes of Davos may be beyond us. I don't think I mentioned, we'll be looking to rent a decent sized (i.e 4 'proper' bedrooms) apartment and self cater - unless a smaller chalet for the 5 of us is feasable. |
In which case, St Moritz will be your best bet. The place is rammed with trophy wives and glamorous grannies shopping and coffeeing.
Easily affordable and not as expensive as the hype suggests, provided you shop around.
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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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| David Murdoch wrote: |
Whitegold,
Davos? Are you mad?
Val d'Isere? Are you mad? |
Wasn't Murdoch the mad one off the A-Team?
Davos is a nice enough place to spend the day pottering around.
Ditto for Val d'Isere. Especially this year, as they will be pedestrianizing and gentrifying more of the high street, to prepare for the World Champs in Feb 2009.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If Granny likes shopping and eating out then your first thought of Courmayeur would be a good bet...although from what I recall there is a bit of traffic there.
From what I remember Courmayeur is good for intermediates and has a few lovely mountain restaurants. Depending on when you are going the expert skiers could do a day trip to Chamonix and could also do the vallee blanche run one day (somebody corrected me on another thread saying it is not open all season...I did the vallee blanche mid feb and it had good snow cover then).
I have only been to Austria once so I expect others can give better advice there.
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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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| David Murdoch wrote: |
| we live in Switzerland... |
My condolances to you both...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Try Gressoney, Champoluc and Alagna, in the Italian Alps...
Ciao
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skiwithmax, how do those resorts suit the particular group described?
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I tend to believe that for baby-sitting the first requirement is a good apartment. Second, safe conditions underfoot with flat terrain and third a few things to do - like swimming pool or horse and cart rides. Megeve on all counts. Chamonix too, but it is more spread out.
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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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Whitegold, yes, Murdock was indeed the mad A-Team member.
Whitegold, & red 27, the OH thought the Davos uplift a little dated and the town didn't have that much to recommend it. I admit I haven't been myself. But I do trust her judgement... of course, as ever, I'm quite happy to be proven (or indicated) wrong 
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FAQ
If she is a game old bird go to St Anton, get her tanked up at the Mooserwirt, strap some planks to he feet & give her push - she might like it ! 
. Mum timid blue runner, Dad black run fiend.
plenty of relaxed nightlife for families and livelier stuf if the adults want to go out and party.
