 Poster: A snowHead
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So my wife wants to go for a long ski weekend somewhere "nice". I decode this as meaning pretty, charming, typically alpine, good skiing etc. Not great shopping or fancy restaurants (I hope I'm right on this...).
I'll add in my constraints - about 1-1.5 hours from an airport, not hideously expensive.
We're looking at the end of January and would prefer to avoid the PdS. Chamonix is an obvious choice, but it would be good to escape France altogether.
We won't need a huge resort because it's only a few days. Any ideas?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Megeve?
La Clusaz?
Villars/ Les Diablerets?
Admittedly all Geneva-based....
the restaurants aren't too bad Glencoe way 
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 21-12-09 17:44; edited 1 time in total
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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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michael stocking, what airports can you fly into?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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kitenski, coming from London so most are OK (Geneva, Grenoble, Turin, Innsbruck, ummm Stornaway...)
hopeless, I took my wife on a 2 week camping tour of Scotland 10 years ago and I still haven't heard the end of it (it rained every single day). Hotel Golf in Villars has come up before, so thanks.
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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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michael stocking, Courmayeur fits that perfectly - easy access from Geneva or Turin, pretty village, flattering skiing in a compact area, great food. Nice shopping is a bonus
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lech?
Selva Gardena?
Zell am See?
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nbt, Courmayeur - nice idea, I'll get on it.
horizon, thanks for those. I always thought Lech was hideously expensive though?
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michael stocking, funnily enough, Lech was the first place I skied outside my home country, at a time when I earned little. Maybe I got a good deal in a B&B on the outskirts of the resort - it's certainly expensive in a posh hotel! I'd say it's worth checking out the offers, since it checks the other boxes, and looking elsewhere if prices are too high.
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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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Stuben?
from Geneva :
La Clusaz
Les Carroz
From Zurich,
Flims, Laax?
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michael stocking, Would suggest flying to Innsbruck and hit one of the numerous resorts within an hour or so from the airport, Paznaun valley for Ischgl/Galtur/Kappl, the Arlberg for St Anton/Lech/Stuben (might struggle to get something for long weekend in St Anton though), Ziller valley or possibly Kitzbuhel and surrounding resorts - although Hannenkahm usually late Jan.
Would highly recommend Oberlech if you could afford it but it is pricey but would make up for the camping trip to midgieland 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ischgl and Lech definetly. I took my non skiing other half for a weekend to Lech a couple of years back and she had a good time (er I think). There are walking paths and the cable car up to Oberlech where we would meet for lunch. She also went across on the bus to St Anton where there is a bit more shopping and the swimming pool and sauna etc which is ideal for an afternoon.
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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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Of the places I've skied.
I'd second Lech, but what about Kitzbuhel or Kirchberg.
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You know it makes sense.
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michael stocking, how about this place in Arosa (as long as your two "constraints" are more 'nice-to-haves' rather than 'musts'....)? Trying to tempt my other half to a weekend ski break to supplement our week in L2A but she's not biting. If she doesn't go for this I might as well give up...
http://www.tschuggen.ch/en/18/tschuggen_grand_hotel.aspx
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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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Obergurgl. Epitome of charming alpine resort / the anti-Meribel.
Plus you can ski in and ski out and it is effectively snowsure. My girlfriend loves it
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Poster: A snowHead
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Arosa is nice indeed. I stayed at the Tschuggen on a company-paid trip. NICE spa!
Skiing area mainly above tree line, in a great bowl, not dissimilar to Resort Z. Lenzerheide, with more tree runs, is over the hill. I skied over there but offpiste, can't remember if there was a piste link.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Great tips. My plan now is to ply her with Cava until she agrees not to go to Lech. Or she sells an internal organ - it's up to her.
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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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Samoens is a great place and sounds like it would fit the bill for you both. Lech doesn't really fit your constraints, it's probably more than 1.5hr from Innsbruck or Zurich and it's pretty pricey.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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michael stocking,
any ideas what organs she is up for selling - i am sure we can all help with getting you and her to Lech 
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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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sah, I just thought of Samoens, as I've wanted to go there for a while. One of those "prettiest villages in France", close to GVA, uplift to a good altitude.
The Cava didn't work. I've now lined up oysters...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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michael stocking, How about Cortina D'Ampezzo in the dolomites. With a car, it's about 1 h 30 from treviso and not a great deal further from Marco Polo. It's prettyish (although I don't think you could call it typically alpine) fantastic scenery, great food, and... to hedge your bets, it also has nice shops. It's best with a car - as there are several outlying ski areas worth a visit. Probably just enough skiing to keep you occupied for a long weekend as well. It will be very quiet on the slopes in January. You could also try corvara (on Sella Ronda circuit), flying into Innsbruck.
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Would recommend Champoluc from Turin. Short transfer, good hotels, great skiing.
We went with Ski2 who specialise in short breaks and, for a bit extra, offer a Champagne transfer from the airport! Brilliant.
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Zell am See. 1 to 1.5 hrs from Salzburg Airport and very pretty. Enough good skiing for a weekend and lots of nice hotels.
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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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how bizarre - "nice" suggests somwhere Nice 
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Igls is a 15 minute taxi ride from Innsbruck Airport, very pretty, good hotels (e.g. Sporthotel) and good ski-ing. Also has a tram (free with ski pass) to the centre of Innsbruck, very nice for apres ski shops, patisseries, bars etc (even has an opera house!)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Fly to Turin, there are so many charming resorts accessible from here. Champoluc is gorgeous!
Alternatively, if you want somewhere a little different why not take her to Norway: Hemsedal. It's so charming, not crowded (excl. easter) and the scenery is unreal. Romantic little cabin just an our and a half from Ryanair's hub....?
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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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Italy's the winner so far - good snow, good food, cheaper than some other places mentioned. I'm on the case.
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Also took my non skiing other half to Aosta and the rest of us skiers used it as a base to do surrounding resorts, Pila, Courmayeur and Cervinia. There was plenty for her to do in the town and she also got the bus to meet us in Courmayeur so she could come up the hill and have lunch with us.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just got back from Xmas in Champoluc (with Ski-2) and would also recommend. Short transfer (90 mins from Turin, 2hrs from Milan Malpensa (we flew Lufthansa Italia from Heathrow to Malpensa) and Champoluc is a charming trad little village with lovely hotels (we stayed at the Relais des Glaciers) with excellent food.
Zell am See also a good suggestion if you can get a cheap flight to Salzburg, we found it cheaper to get to Munich on Lufthansa but transfer is longer from there.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm going to Wengen, flying in to Berne which is just over an hour transfer, has been described as small, charming etc...! Fairly cheap too for end of Jan
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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And the winner was... Champoluc! Flying into Malpensa at the end of the month, staying at a private hamlet of old barns halfway up some mountain only accessible by a man with a cat-tracked automotive device. I was convinced by a great article on the Guardian site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/sep/27/top100skibreaks.italy
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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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See my review on Zoldo in the Dolomites, if you're looking to do something similar again...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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michael stocking, if this is the accommodation run bey the Breithorn its a fabulous place - I think your wife will be thrilled, and almost certainly you will be too - I'm a little jealous.. 
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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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Mountain Haddock, I don't know. It's called Stadel Soussun: http://www.stadelsoussun.com It sounds the perfect antidote to the French ski factory resorts I've spent too much time at. Anyway, if she doesn't like it, it's Bansko for her next year...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ellmau would be a good bet for absolute charm and scenery with some good quality interlinked skiing...and away from France too if thats on the brief.
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FAQ
Certainly if she's anything like my wife... 