Resorts for non skiers

A snowHead

Does anyone have any ideas for good resorts for a mix of skiiers, kids and non -skiing nanny and grandad. Main problem is that the resort needs to be fairly low of snow itself as my dad is very unsteady on his feet and nervous of walking on slippery surfaces, facilities like swimming and cable car access up the mountain is also necessary so there is plenty for them to do while we are skiing. May not work out but worth a bit of research we thought. Catered chalet would be best. We thought of Morzine as there is often no snow in the town itself, but any other ideas would be great. :blush:

A snowHead

Morzine's a bit limited to subject a non-skier to. Chamonix would be better, and could offer an easy day out to Geneva too. Kitzbuhel in Austria has plenty to offer. My father's going there in a couple of weeks with my brother, and he won't be skiing.
Alternatively, even if you go somewhere high around Easter time the resort streets are very likely to be free of snow. One of the big high Swiss resorts like St Moritz or Zermatt would be great for a non-skier.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Thanks David, we particularly want Xmas. Kitzbuhel sounds hopeful, is the skiing itself high enough to have a good record that early in the season? Please let me know how your father gets on. As my parents have never been to a ski resort in their lives as my father had polio when he was a child and my mum hates heights, this is very much a first for them and it would be good if the resort was pretty and festive looking.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Serre Chevalier could suit with it's combination of traditional villages/towns and ski resort.
Briancon and Chantemerle both have cable cars up to the mid-station (and beyond), there are natural spring baths in Briancon and an old fortified town that's worth exploring. At 1250 and 1350 respectively, you might find that the towns are clear of snow at that time of year - a few snowHeads that live/work in the region might be able to give on-the-spot advice.
I'm not sure if there's enough to keep one occupied for a week, as I've not had to consider the option, but a bit of digging around may provide more insight, and perhaps one or two of the "locals" could chip in.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Pila could be one. You could stay in Aosta which is in the valley, and get the gondola up every morning.
Aosta is an old Roman town (the town centre's nice, though the outskirts are a little industrialised), and has both bus and train links to Turin & Milan and places (also good for transfers). There are also buses and trains that run up the valley towards Courmayeur (Morgex). You can visit other ski resorts in the valley on the lift pass if you fancy a change from Pila (as there's car hire places in town you could just hire a car for a day, or get the bus).

You'll need to Register first of course.

sally, I'd go with DG's suggestion of Kitzbuhel, it's a town rather than a village so there is more to see, it's low at 800 metres and it has a beautiful old medieval centre. It also has a superb swimming pool/spa and some very good hotels, there's even a casino. The snow record at Xmas would be my only concern.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I would agree with Chamonix and Zermatt, I tend to have one holiday per year with big group of family plus hangers on with a mix of skiers and non-skiers and have been to both with these kind of groups. Wengen is also good because the trains mean there is good mountain access for walkers and grannies, & pretty village/nice scenery for Xmas atmosphere.

After all it is free

Thanks everyone, keep it coming. Liking the sound of Chamonix and Zermatt, haven't been to either resort, but I'm sure they both have good records for snow at Xmas.

sallyanne, another possibility besides Kitzbuehel would be Zell Am See. Really nice town, by the side of a lake. Reasonable skiing from Zell itself and right next to the glacier at Kaprun, which also has pretty good skiing and is of course immune from snow problems at Xmas. Good ski bus service from Zell to the glacier.
Give it a try!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

You all know what I am going to say about Kitzbuhel, but here goes anyway. It is just SUPERB for Christmas. I just loathe the basic English Christmas as it is so tacky and commercialised but Kitz will restore your faith in all appropriate solstice-passing festivals. It is the prettiest town and if you do it all the Austrian way it is simply lovely. This means hit the Christmas street market in the town square around 4 o'clock and listen to the music, drink gluhwein and eat hot chestnuts. Christmas Eve there is a huge bell ringing outbreak and all the locals turn out to put candles on their family graves. This is a truly magical experience even for a non-believer. Everyone is on the streets and the air is like wine. Festival skiing and sunshine on Christmas day. Magic. We took a friend and his ageing mum (78 yrs) last year and she loved the trips to Salzburg and Innsbruck and sat on the terrace in the sun on the Horn as we skied round her, dropping in for drinks from time to time on Xmas Day. Short ski days at that time of year means plenty of time to take in the variety of bars etc in town.

As for snow, it should be OK. It is the eastness of Austria that gets it snowy early. We have been the last 3 years and had plenty of snow. There is a state of the art swimming pool and plenty of other entertainment options.

We are forcing ourselves to go to another Austrian town next year, but it certainly is a real ski town with lots to offer. They are also very good at clearing the streets of snow, so that should be OK too. Our son forgot his street boots but was OK all week in trainers, so it should be good for your Dad. Either way, Austria is the place to do Christmas.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

What about one of the low villages in the ski amade area? For non-skiers, they are pleasant places in their own right - Bad Gastein close by for warm springs, and Salzburg isn't too far away. For the skiers, there is lots of good early and intermediate skiing. I stayed at St Veit, on the edge of the area, But I think I would now go for Wargrain or Flachau. I have good memories of an enjoyable week - albeit nearly 20 years ago. Anyone been there recently?

snow reports

Milton Keynes?

sorry Skullie

You know it makes sense.

This is surreal Very Happy

The boys usually can't wait to recommend Wengen, Grindelwald et al. I'd have thought they were ideal, some incredible scenery and excellent public transport for day trips to Interlaken for example and probably Bern and Thun as well. Plenty of winter visitors to the area who never venture out onto the slopes.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Sorry ise I've been busy today, Wengen.

Train and cable car from center of the village both go on up the mountain plus you can get a walking pass which covers the main lifts but not the minor ones so the elderly relatives can meet you at the top on sunny days and go down to Interlaken and beyond as Ise suggests on other days, Several hotels with excelent facilities available to non residents, saunas, pools etc. Ice rink in village center, nursery slopes in village center, I think they still have a kindergarten for any really young kids, great atmosphere, superb scenery, there may be snow in the village street but they put down plenty of grit to ease walking, what more could you possibly want

A snowHead

Chris Bish, I agree with everything you say about Kitz. Wonderful town, and great skiing, second only to St.Anton in my (humble) opinion. Unfortunately the snow situation at Xmas can be a bit tricky. I've been going to Kitz for the last twenty years and have experienced a few early seasons where there was practically nothing but green grass to look at. That's why I would recommend somewhere with a glacier for fallback if an Xmas trip is what you want to do. Alternatively, of course, head for the Arlberg, which basically always has snow. If the Arlberg doesn't have snow then you can be pretty damn sure that nowhere else will, including the glaciers!

A snowHead

Thanks everyone for your ideas. Chris, love the sound of Kitzbuhel - I did think of Austria because of the atmosphere, but only worry is the snow situation, however, as it won't be our only trip next year maybe worth the risk, will do some research. Last time I went to Austria, Zell am Zee many years ago we stayed in a hotel. Is this the best option, or can you do a catered chalet? DGO Interlaken another good idea, I have stayed in Interlaken on a non=skiing trip and had a good time, so another thought. Thanks again, any other ideas, let me know.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

To put a different slant on it... how bout Whistler? Gondola access up the mountain, and day trips to Vancouver (maybe even Victoria).

You need to Login to know who's really who.

sallyanne, Interlaken is fine for the non skiers but it adds almost an hour each way for the skiers which is never welcome, much better to be up at Wengen even if it means getting a taxi each day to take the non skiers to and from the accomodation, for Christmas I'd definately be tempted to stay in a hotel, they are usually much better set up with deccorations special meals and so on, also it should be easier to work out a suitable room allocation well in advance, you haven't said in total how many are going or how you propose to get there but given that it will be a busy time you should give it serious consideration, with Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year that will create problems as well so start sorting things out well inadvance

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

sallyanne, Austria is mainly hotels, usually half board. There are very few Chalets other than the Arlberg region where I've seen tour operators offering more choice. Kitz would be fine, but some of the hotels are located on the hill up to the gondola which can get quite steep near the top. One of these is the Montana. I would stay right in the town centre. Bad Gastein also creeps up the mountain. Zell am Zee would be good, with Kaprun near by. One other option is Engelberg in Switzerland. I have a friend who goes so I can't give you first hand experience but its high and he stays in Lake Lucerne which I think is fairly close.

You'll need to Register first of course.

sallyanne, also something to think about re: chalets. They're usually converted homes and more often than not the front door is accessed via a set of steps/narrow path. If snow or ice gathers on the steps the chalet staff are responsible for clearing it and sometimes they don't do it at all, or they do it inadequately. Chalets are usually multi-level (more steps). Often adds up to a dangerous situation for elderly folk who're unstable on their feet. Hotels on the other hand tend to front main roads with doorways and pavements that are routinely cleared/salted/gritted by the local authority, and have ground level reception doors with elevators to all levels. Unless you can find the ideal chalet, nana & grandpa may prefer a hotel.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

sallyanne, for Christmas Kitzbuhel is sadly risky. Zermatt has a lot of snowmaking, a glacier and high terrain, though it's in a bit of a 'snow shadow' compared to the Italian slopes just across the border.

But you'd be unlucky not to enjoy good skiing in Zermatt at Christmas.

After all it is free

..hum, this is turning into an interesting challenge, loads to take into consideration - but we have a year to do it. I suspect that the financial side may put the skids on it but will keep researching...

sallyanne, good mates of mine did just what you are intending last Christmas. They took out Grandad and Grandma alongwith rest of family: mum, dad and 2 girls. They went to Chamonix. They stayed in some fancy American styled appartment near the centre of town with large swimming pool. The whole holiday was a great success. Grandparents thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

sallyanne, while I love Chamonix, and notwithstanding what Jonpim says above, I would be a little wary of it for your purposes. It is a genuine town with all the facilities - and gear shops to make the most hardened addict drool - but it's not itself the most picturesque in the world (e.g. compared to your typical Austrian/Swiss village/town), despite the fantastic full-on mountain scenery. There is a great cable up to the 12000' Aiguille du Midi for day trips, but it can be extremely busy and crowded with hard mountain men, particularly if other runs are shut due to lack of snow. Which brings me to the biggest problem at that time of the year - the skiing. I've been there twice at new year and the resort has only really just been opening by half way through the week. One other year friends of mine had to drive around to Verbier to get anything other than one artifical run. Argentiere needs about 1m of snow base to properly cover the rocks (as I found after buying new skis there one year), and the other slopes are not much more accomodating. (If you've not been there before, Cham's comprised of 4 disconnected ski areas connected by free bus running along the valley floor - ski-in/ski-out nobbut a wild fantasy). The best bets for low snow cover are down the valley at Les Houches and Megeve, which are grassy meadows rather than rocky hillsides - but on different lift passes to the rest of the valley. There is of course reliable skiing at the top of the Grands Montets and the Vallee Blanche, although only for strong intermedate/advanced upwards, and that latter's glaciated guide-only territory. With plenty of early snow though....wonderful! You don't say how old the kids are, but there is a very good creche/snow-school called Panda Ski at Argentiere (with offices in Cham itself).

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

From Kitzbuhel you can also do a day trip to Salzburg. Lovely old town (even has a mediaeval town gate) and the skiing is fine for intermediates, but not much above that (nothing remotely like the challenges and huge off piste of St Anton!)
Wengen is traffic free and already part way up the mountain, and your non skiers can go off in comfort up the mountain and over to Murren and Grindlewald on the cog-railway. It will even take them up through the middle of the Eiger (views down the infamous North Face on the way) to the glacier at the top.
Chamonix is a handsome town with good shops and eating places (though not the mountain prettyness of the other two (it even has a good museum) and the rides up cable-cars to restaurants and view points are spectacular. But the valley is so narrow and steep-sided you don't get much sun in the town, and the skiing is really best for advanced skiers.

snow reports

sallyanne, basically what the majority seem to be suggesting is that your group may prefer Austria or Switzerland over other countries for nice places to stay, but that France may have slightly better Christmas skiing potential, if you have a group with more than 4 pairs of adults don't even look at the smaller hotels, they don't like to take big groups as they run a high risk of loss if the group cancels, look for 50 room hotels or better, however bear in mind that the larger the hotel the less likely you are to get good persoonal service.

I thought I had all my holidays sorted for this year but now I've got the taste for next Christmas! I've emailed round the family to gather support - looks like Kitzbuhel/Zell Am See here we come (hopefully!!!) Very Happy

You know it makes sense.

Do it. You'll never want to spend Christmas in yUK again!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Thanks everyone for your replies, Sue - Kitzbuhel sounds good doesn't it? Will research over the next couple of months. Had a family conference on Sunday, my parents want a nice hotel with facilities i.e. pool as they are the non-skiiers, if anyone can recommend any that would be very helpful. Thanks again.

A snowHead

sallyanne, only just seen this thread - others will not be surprised to see me second GrahamN's Megève recommendation. The town is low (1113m), but it has a large-ish connected ski area which is usually fully open by Christmas. The Rochebrune and Côte 2000 areas will always be open because there's extensive snow-making and the sun only peeks above the horizon there for about 10 minutes at that time of year (I could tell you the exact spot if you like)!

The centre of town is very pretty. It has good (but expensive!) shopping, cinemas and good sporting facilities. It's also close to Geneva (1 hr 15 mins).

A snowHead

Sounds interesting. Any hotel recommendations?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

sallyanne, I've always gone to Simon Butler Skiing who offer instructional holidays based on two chalet-hotels with the normal breakfast/afternoon tea/dinner formula. It's pretty good value for money, I think, but note that there's no discount for those who aren't interested in instruction.

Other accommodation options are on the Megève web site. I've no direct knowledge of any of them, but if any take your fancy I could comment on their location.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I'd give Megeve a miss, and anywhere in France if you're looking for a good hotel at a reasonable price. Austria and Switzerland are the only game in town for decent hotels.

Kitzbuhel, Wengen etc, Zermatt were about the best suggestions. Somewhere near Innsbruck might also work, it's a nice town ad some good skiing nearby.

People I work with go to Leukerbad a lot, they don't ski and use the spas etc. There's plenty of accommodation and it's a reasonable price.

I could add Meiringen as well, home of the meringue and near to Reichenbach Falls where Sherlock Holmes fictionally met his end. My parents were over here in the spring and were really knocked out by the area. Like Wengen this is popular destination for non-skiers, it's also close enough to get to the Jungfrau area, or, in reverse somewhere to go to from the Jungfrau.

Help!!

Resorts for non skiers

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Resort Reviews and Trip Reports