Poster: A snowHead
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I am looking for a resort which offers something for my non skiing wife (she likes to walk and sketch/paint). We have been to Les Gets a number of times and love it - very pretty, good walks, lots of trees & stunning views etc, but I'm worried about snow coverage for first week in April 2009. So... can anyone recommend a good looking resort with reliable snow for early April? I was thinking about Avoriaz - good snow but I don't think it will be a patch on Les Gets for how it looks and things to see and walk to whilst I'm on the slopes. Cost is a consideration too... Any help appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What about Zermatt ? I know it has a reputation for being expensive but I have been there twice and you can find good value. No problem with reliable snow in April and some stunning views. Your wife can even ride up to the glacier on the cable cars. I haven't been to Avoriaz, but from what I've read it isn't too picturesque.
Almost forgot, there is also access to the mountains by train and your wife could also do a day trip to Saas Fee where there are some great walks and mountain scenery.
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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 recommend Wengen. You can get out of Wengen (both up and down) by train, and the scenery is spectacular.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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rich.ll, I would also go along with that, as I did Wengen and Zermatt last year. Eiger or Matterhorn, tough choice. Do them both.
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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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Thanks for that. Haven't heard of Wengen before. Have searched the net - it has some good reviews but some have said snow is not that reliable. Is that your experience or do you think it will be ok in April? Cheers.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Flamenco, Monetier-les-Bains, lots of fantastic walks, scenery,hot springs, bus to Briancon, a world heritage site. More info on my website (see signature)
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Saas Fee is very nice and has very reliable snow
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rich.ll wrote: |
I'd recommend Wengen. You can get out of Wengen (both up and down) by train, and the scenery is spectacular. |
Yes Wengen would be great as there are loads of marked walking trails right into ski area,and scenery is spectacular and would be great for an artist.You could even take train up to top and meet the skiers for lunch.Not a lot to do in town,but rest makes up for that.
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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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Apologies if this sounds like apartment owners bias, it really isn't meant to. I have spent time in both Wengen and Monetier-les-Bains as a non-skier (weather related), and there is certainly more to do in Monetier.
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Flamenco wrote: |
I am looking for a resort which offers something for my non skiing wife (she likes to walk and sketch/paint). We have been to Les Gets a number of times and love it - very pretty, good walks, lots of trees & stunning views etc, but I'm worried about snow coverage for first week in April 2009. So... can anyone recommend a good looking resort with reliable snow for early April? I was thinking about Avoriaz - good snow but I don't think it will be a patch on Les Gets for how it looks and things to see and walk to whilst I'm on the slopes. Cost is a consideration too... Any help appreciated. |
Try Chamonix - it's a big year-round town (more visitors in the summer than winter) with great facilities: a huge municipal pool with slides and saunas, indoor tennis, an ice rink; multiscreen cinemas and art galleries; loads of shops etc. The scenery's spectacular: at least the equal of Zermatt and Wengen, and plenty of the lifts are designed for pedestrians as much as skiers (e.g. the Aiguille du Midi has a restaurant at 3,800m right next to Mont Blanc; there are mountain trains up to the "Sea of Ice" and up and down the valley. There's a huge range of restaurants (at least 100 in the main town) and plenty of bars to choose from. It's an "impact" resort in an amazing setting with loads of history (the "birthplace of mountaineering" etc) and is also a short drive from great places like Annecy and Courmayeur in Italy, both of which are cracking towns. Paul
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Serre Chevalier.
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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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Helen Beaumont, Lizzard, Hopefully after this winter I'll be agreeing with you
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Why not come over the hill to Morzine. Les Gets is on the edge of the system, Morzine is more central, easy access to Avoriaz for the skiers. And we now have a bus service (1 euro per trip) down the valley as far as Le Jotty, so days out for her indoors to walk and paint some of the pretty hamlets.
http://www.valleedaulps.com/tourism_vallee_d_aulps_hiver_anglais.html
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You know it makes sense.
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Ppaulus, welcome to snowHeads
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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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Another vote for Chamonix (A must do in your life) Took my non skiing parents and non skiing grand parents for a week last March and they loved it,so much to do and see
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Poster: A snowHead
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Flamenco, Iwould be careful of going to Wengen late in the season as they're apparently not allowed to make snow after 1st March. Walking would be great for your wife, but there's not much else to do. Either Zermatt or Serre Chevalier would be excellent, but Zermatt is prettier. Your wife can also go very high on the cable car system at Zermatt and see (and sketch) the Matterhorn from altitude - all without skiing. BTW: why doesn't she ski??
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