 Poster: A snowHead
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hi everyone jst joined today and im after someone to tell me whats best for the money i have £2000 - £2500 to spend on a skiing holiday for me and the misses and wanted to know where the best place to go is, ive heard borovats (if its spelt properly) is a bit boring even for a beginner and just wanted what you all thought and if you have any alternative recomendations its a weeks holiday in december were looking for. any help would be really appreciated.
Roy
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you're both beginners, I would head out to Obergurgl in Austria. It's one of the most snow-sure resorts & is ideal for beginners.
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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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royston, when in December? Early december isn't necessarily the best time for snow. £2-2.5k is a pretty good budget, I used to reckon £100-110 per day all in although that didn't include any sort of instruction.
If you're looking at Xmas week, prices are much higher.
"Budget" resorts temd to be so for a good reason. Never been to Borovets myself but it doesn't appeal.
Wherever you go you'll want a good ski school - English speaking if you don't speak native. If you're beginners it's totally worth the effort. Private lessons arguably a good idea, even one on one.
Check out www.ultimate-ski.com for ideas.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not skied at all or just a week or so Royston? This will make a difference to peoples replies. Welcome to snowheads. Let everyone know your experiance and you will get good help.
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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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were looking at end of december as we are both working until then being teachers we cant take the time off when we want 2, weve never skied before but we are thinking of getting some lessons before going
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Roston, recommend a a couple of lessons down the road in Manchester at the trafford centre. Gets you to know which way the skis point, putting boots on, skis on, Poles and a lot of basics which it would be shame to learn in a fantastic resort. A lot of basic stuff, so you are up and running so to speak. If your budget includes all clothing, you need to set aside around £350 to £400 each for somthing Like Columbia stuff, which is good quality and reasonably priced and OK on the fashion stakes I supppose. That leaves £1000 per head tops, which as has been said as long as you avoid Xmas should be OK. From Liverpool, loads of flights to Geneva but bit rubbish elsewhere. So unless you like giving a tour operator a generous 15-20% on top of what you need spend, ( few discounts early doors I would have thought), France would be the best bet. If you prefer an operator for the ease of it, and dont mind flying from Manchester, anything goes. In France Samoens would be good, as a gondola takes you up to 1600 metres and it has very good begginer slopes. It also has a decent snow record. Avoriaz would be good from a learning and snow perspective, but it would be appartments unless you fancy the quite expensive Hotel Dromonts (they may have a deal prior to xmas). THere are many others in France, not least the linked resorts of Flaine, (of which Samoens is one, and probably the best for your needs), but if booking now, snow record is very important. Obergurgl in Austria as has been suggested is great, with an excellent snow record and a lovely place, Obertauern is also very snow sure early season. Both from our neck of the woods are best done vai a tour operator because of the flights. Cervinai in Italy is snoe sure and once you get going has good slopes.
A few to go at. See what others say. 
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We have teachers in our family - so I know the problem. I guess that Christmas and New Year weeks are the only ones you could get away? New Year is about the busiest and most expensive year on the slopes. If you're stuck with either Christmas or New Year weeks the former is preferable, really. And Christmas in a ski resort is lovely.
A lot of tour operators offer "learn to ski weeks" including all you need as beginners. Looking, as an example, at Neilson's suggestions at http://www.neilson.co.uk/Snow-Beginners-Where-to-Stay.aspx it is notable that some of the Austrian "beginners ski packs" are very expensive. Obergurgl is £419 which certainly makes Borovets (£149) look cheap. Borovets gets a lot of criticism from most (but not all) contributors to this forum who have been there (do a search). Some of the other Austrian resorts are a lot cheaper but may have other drawbacks. La Rosiere in France is a lot cheaper than Obergurgl - £285 for the ski pack. There are loads of discussions about La Rosiere - it's a bit of an "in joke" on Snowheads - but it is a good place for beginners and, being high, you have a good chance of finding plenty of snow at Christmas.
You'll need to think about what style of accommodation you want - self catering apartment, hotel, B & B, catered chalet etc. You'll find heaps of relevant advice and info on snowheads but your best bet is probably to read through some of the websites of the major tour operators (such as Neilson) and some of the middle sized ones (Ski Olympic gets a good press on Snowheads) and get a feel for what's available. Then ask some more specific questions.
It doesn't matter how basic your questions are - many SHs are on a mission to ensure people enjoy their first ski holiday. 
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£350 to £400 each for somthing Like Columbia stuff, which is good quality and reasonably priced and OK on the fashion stakes I supppose.
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I'd say you don't need to spend anything like that much. TK Maxx is your friend. Trespass jackets at about £50 a throw will be fine, with sensible layers underneath. Same sort of price (or less) for trousers/salopettes. They also sell warm hats/gloves etc. And if you have friends who ski - try to borrow some. Most staff rooms house plenty of skiers. Find some colleagues who are skiing at half term and ask nicely if you can borrow their gear.
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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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thanks TWOODWAR much appreciated clothing wise weve got it all we went a bit crazy in cotswold and other places the other day, i'll have a look into those destinations see what the misses thinks and her friends, oh and we popped to manchester the other day for a quick look around at the lessons and they seem reasonable as i dont want to be spending all my time at the resort learning i want to get out there.
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good idea Pam w
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| royston wrote: |
hi everyone jst joined today and im after someone to tell me whats best for the money i have £2000 - £2500 to spend on a skiing holiday for me and the misses and wanted to know where the best place to go is, ive heard borovats (if its spelt properly) is a bit boring even for a beginner and just wanted what you all thought and if you have any alternative recomendations its a weeks holiday in december were looking for. any help would be really appreciated.
Roy |
I think you mean Borovets - one of the three biggest Bulgarian ski resorts; you can book low cost flight to Sofia airport with EasyJet or WizzAir; as for the hotels you can find quite good deals for 40-50 Euro/person halfboard per night in 3-4star hotels, lift pass 140 euro/person for 6 days, transfer to Borovets from Sofia airport from 90 Euro (return transfer total for the two of you or 45 Euro per car per direction) etc.... i think for a week for each of you incl. full ski equipment, lift pass and ski schools and transfers you will not need more than 650-700 Euro/person excl.flights (add some 150 Euro/person more for them)
cheers!
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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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| royston wrote: |
| were looking at end of december as we are both working until then being teachers we cant take the time off when we want 2, weve never skied before but we are thinking of getting some lessons before going |
why don't you take the lessons on spot? in most of the places based on your experience you can choose betwen 2 and 4hrs daily group tuition and the rest of the time you can practise on your own (at least in Bulgaria....)
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Hi everyone.
We've always done flight + catered skiing but this Christmas we are self-catering in Plagne Soleil for the first time. We plan to drive down from Calais reaching Chambery / Albertville area about 9am on the Saturday morning. I've heard the supermarkets are very expensive in the La Plagne resort with not such a great choice.
Can anyone recommend a large, value for money supermarket at the bottom of the Alps where we could stock up on fresh meat, fruit, veg etc. en route to La Plagne?
Many thanks in advance.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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royston, have a look at the current thread about the waits of up to 2 hours at the gondola in Borovets (with very useful and precise advice from skibulgaria about how to avoid the worst of the queues) and do a forum search before making any decisions about Bulgaria. It is cheap, but there are some downsides too.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Pam - that's great info, thank you. I see from the link you provide there is also a Casino supermarket in Aime which is less than an hour away so may go for that. Great tip about the bags! Thanks again.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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royston, if you can be flexible about where you go and not over the christmas/new years period, i reckon you'll be able to pick up a last minute booking - start looking about 2 weeks before you want to go, set a price range, narrow down where you want to go to by the snow reports and suitability, then as soon as you see it -book. it's really exciting. self catering per person £200 for flights, accomodation and transfer. £400 for lift pass hire and lessons would leave you £400 to £600 each for meals beers etc.
actually i've just seen you and the wife + friends - the larger the group the harder it is to find last minute deals - how many friends?
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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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| pam w wrote: |
would that be Saturday 19th? Expect it to be pretty busy; don't plan on being able to drive to the speed limit all the way. There are loads of supermarkets. In Albertville's "Centre Commerciale" which is just beside the motorway (on the left as you arrive from Chambery and clearly signposted) there's a huge "Géant" with everything you could wish for. Also a sizable Decathlon nearby in case there are any gaps in your inventory of ski gear. There's a Casino Caff too, in the Centre, a good and cheap option for breakfast/snack.
The supermarket will be heaving. But certainly usefully cheaper than shops in the resort.
One tip - no supermarkets in the area provide free plastic bags. So either take plenty of big strong bags of your own or pay for them. And be sure to have a euro for the trolley!
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Personally i prefer to go to the smaller super U which is a couple of junctions past the centre commercial. Take the exit after the electicity station is on the left. Much smaller but less busy and you can park right outside and nip round in 20 minutes. Will have all the bit's 'n' pieces incl. bread, wine, milk, bogroll you need at valley prices. Plus they do free cardboard boxes - so load up with a box of stuff and away you go.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I have been to borovets and i can say that i would never go back again, food was terrible and the skiing was very limited
The gondola ride up is a long one as well as people have pointed out
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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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Try st johann in austria, i went there for my first ski trip as a biginner and i loved it, it is a lovely village. being to bulgeria aswell it was ok but for your first ski trip i would do austria, a bit more expensive but wort it, or just hold your money and see what deals are going in december and then book last minute, then you will know what resorts have the best snow, thats what im doing this year. nothing worst than booking now and finding out theres no snow just before you go.
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jayo, do you mean St Johann in Tirol or St Johann im Pongau? My first trip as a beginner was to the former, a very nice place. Though I think both St Johanns might not be the most reliable places for snow in December.
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