Christmas Day ski 2013

A snowHead

Hi! Going skiing for the first time this Xmas, probably from the 21st-28th December. I am getting mixed reports about different resorts and how snow sure they will be. The main resorts I'm
Looking at are zell am zee,mayrhofen, arinsal and cervinia. Not looking for anything too crazy just a nice resort, snow and some Xmas atmosphere ! Top of the list I think is mayrhofen and mannis sport hotel but am open to all suggestions! Thanks

A snowHead

Xmasski, Welcome to snowHeads!

If you want Xmas atmosphere than of the 4 resorts you're looking at I would say Zell am See would be the best - they have a Xmas market in the town square in the days preceding Xmas, and on Xmas Eve the town brass band and choir perform traditional Austrian Xmas carols and music. Also has a nice lakeside setting.
I don't know anything about Arinsal, but as regards snow sureness you should be OK in any of the other 3. If conditions on resort slopes should be bad then Zell am See has nearby glacier skiing in Kaprun as an insurance, as does Mayrhofen with glacier skiing in nearby Hintertux. From Cervinia you can get over to the Zermatt side which has glacier skiing also.

Hope this helps!

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Xmasski, another welcome snowHead

There's a thread running on something along these lines. The chances there will be no snow for Xmas week are pretty rare, I'd imagine it can be quite difficult unlike at other times of year waiting to see how things pan out if you want a specific resort I can see accommodation/flights being difficult to get last minute-more so the latter.

Of the resorts you list all have pluses and minuses. Arinsal being in Andorra you don't have the back up of a glacier that the other resorts have, I not 100% but I think the Pyrenees have got snow later than the Alps and not as much in the last few seasons. There is of course nothing to say the coin couldn't flip this season. It's a looooong time since I skied in Andorra, I have found memories of skiing there as it's where I spent many of my early ski holidays as a kid. You may want to check previous reviews-but with a pinch of salt as regards to conditions: http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1412884&highlight=arinsal#1412884

It really depends on your ski level all are well suited to intermediates, IMO Mayrhofen has the most challenging terrain-on piste. You should also factor in that depending on exactly where you say you have to get a gondola up to the main ski area and also download too. This bothers some and others not so much, queues can be bad if you hit it at the wrong time and would imagine the issue is exacerbated at Xmas when I expect it's busy. It's also a bit of a party town but easily avoided if it's not your thing.

Zell is a beautiful resort and is streaks ahead of the others for Xmas atmosphere, if the worst comes to the worst there is plenty of non-skiing activities to keep you entertained. Skiing wise if the snow isn't great the area is pretty limited, you have the glacier but like with any resort that has glacier access if needed the queues will be killer.

If there's no snow in Cervinia then it will be dire most other places, it's high and once has snow keeps it. The link to Zematt is tedious and prone to closure by high winds. The village by Italian standards is a bit ugly and lacks charm but the ski area is great for intermediates-pretty exposed in harsh weather though.

Hope this helps, there are plenty of other resorts you could consider, Zell if you want Xmas atmosphere wins out of the ones you mention IMO.

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Thanks for those tips! We are both beginners and are open to suggestions on completely different resorts if you have some?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Xmasski, IF you're 'complete' beginners try to get some tuition prior to your holiday. You can become pretty competent learning to ski on an artificial slope with enough hours-better still one of the UK's many indoor 'fridges'. These run learn to ski in a day type classes-well worth a look as it's a bit of a waste of precious ski time IMO being told how to put your boots and skis on while on holiday. Have you had any tuition/previous holidays?

There are 1000's of resorts, some you can whittle down for example if you want some Christmassy charm, others are more suited to beginners more than others. You don't need a huge amount of mileage if beginners-you may look at resorts which have 'home' runs suited to beginners-but never be afraid to download on a lift or gondola at the end of the day. Nothing worse then ruining a good days skiing by chancing a home run that is packed and icy for example.

Allot of the Austrian resorts are based on 'real' towns rather than purpose built resorts although plenty of these exist in both France and Italy too-don't rule Switzerland out it is expensive but has many areas with exactly what you're looking for.

If you're looking at Zell take a look at Kitzbuhel, very pretty town without the lakeside setting of Zell but a more extensive ski area.

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Have never had any lessons but will definitely book a day long lesson before I go. Looking at Seevilla freiberg hotel in zell am zee , looks nice ?

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

Xmasski, Just also be aware that the French and Italians (I don't know about Austria) celebrate Christmas in a very familial fashion on the 24th. There is much less of the commercialised nonsense that's seen in the UK. That said, there's a house near us that must take nearly 100% of the local grid supply to power its decorations.

Street decorations do get put up, but in French resorts they often stay up for most of the winter.

None of this is bad, just a little different.

After all it is free

I don't think you will go too far wrong with Mayrhofen and the Mannis Sport. Good spot on the main street and has a cool heated pool on the roof. I stayed there a number of years ago and had no complaints.

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Xmasski, As under a new name says, in the Alps including Austria the locals celebrate with their family on Xmas Eve - you'll find that a lot of the shops close early on Xmas Eve and your hotel will probably put on a special dinner on Xmas Eve rather than Xmas Day. Xmas day on the slopes is a normal day and ski school etc operates as normal.

As you've said that you are beginners then I'd say that you should also consider Alpbach in Austria as it's ideal - the nursery slopes are conveniently situated right in the middle of the village, and it has also been voted (by the Austrians) as the prettiest village in Austria. See http://www.alpbachtal.at/en/region/alpbach

I actually learnt to ski there and I'd certainly recommend it. Many UK tour operators e.g Inghams, Crystal etc offer Alpbach in their brochures.

snow reports

Have a look at Valloire. Easy to get to, picturesque village, pretty good snow record, nothing too challenging for beginners and a reasonable lift ticket price.

The Andorran ski areas offer excellent pistes; the "el cheapo" reputation remains (but not on the lift ticket prices) so you get a lot of beginners going for a first time. The resorts aren't generally pretty and lack a decent range of bars restaurants because most offerings are all-inclusive hotels, which are very good. A plus side to it being popular with beginners is that most of the ski domain, bar the run from the first gondola back to the village, is empty!

Mayrhofen's pretty; and if you go stay in the Alpenhotel Kramerwirt - the food is superb; even the butter is home-made on their own farm. However, beware that you need to take the cable car up onto the ski area; queues are horrific. I think there're two cable cars in the village, but you can't get from one area to another via the lift system - it's quite disjointed. Queues to get back down are equally bad at the end of the day.

Help!!

Christmas Day ski 2013

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