 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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davy-boy, welcome to snowHeads 
Valentines day is in the middle of half term, so holiday prices are at a premium and you would be lucky to find anyone at that time that will be willing to give up the opportunity of losing a week's income for a short break. Not impossible though, and I have done a short break at half term, but that wouldn't be something you'd want for a romantic break!
End of Jan/beginning of Feb should be OK. My advice would be to book the flights and leave the accommodation until a week before you go. At that point you can see what the snow situation is and it should be easy to source hotels via the tourist office website and book accordingly.
For a short break you want somewhere near an airport to minimise travel time. Ski Amade area in Austria is easy travel from Salzburg, Portes de Soleil resorts are good from Geneva. Loads of other options though.
There are some companies that specialise in this if you don't want DIY.
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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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If you don't want to DIY, you could use Interski. I've been away with them (last year) for a 3 night break early Jan, and enjoyed it so much that we are going back next week for a 4 night break.
They specialise in the Aosta valley in Italy (Courmayeur, Pila and La Thuile), and you can book a mini break with them that includes equipment hire, lift passes, accomodation, 3 meals a day etc, then just book your own flights. We're flying Easyjet to Geneva, and then Interski pick us up from the airport in a mini bus for the 90 min drive to Courmayeur.
It's not the cheapest option, but very hassle free so all you have to think about is skiing and apres ski!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We stayed with apex morzine for 4 nights last Feb half term in Morzine, DallyPaul on here. They are very flexible on dates. Don't know if they have any availability but they are in Morzine (Portes du Soleil) which has loads of skiing, and is close to Geneva
http://www.apexmorzine.com/index.htm
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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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Usually for a short-term ski break I try to avoid the period between the last week of january and the first week of march. If you look hard enough however you'll find weekend accomodation in any resort.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
If you look hard enough however you'll find weekend accomodation in any resort.
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I don't think that's actually true, certainly not in mid February. I failed here, even in mid-January, to find a one night accommodation at 6pm (even in the expensive 3* hotel) even though I knew the resort was fairly deserted. We pressed the sofa cushions into service, in the end......
However, waiting till nearer the time is definitely good advice, and if you have a hire car there are plenty of places where you can stay in the valley and drive to resort, if all else fails. But in France, at any rate, definitely avoid the last three weeks in February and the first week in March unless you enjoy busy slopes.
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Try the UCPA website for france - La Plagne and Flaine Les Lindars have the most twin / double rooms available and they do some 4 night breaks but you will need to arrange your own transport.
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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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ive used both skiweekend and skiweekends - 2 very different approaches and both excellent; both do midweek as well as weekends so they have a portfolio of accom suitable for 4 night stays
we skid with skiweekend (no "s") during half term in Chamonx during the last winter olympics and had B%B in a good old 3 star hotel for very good price, and their service taking us to0 and fron the best slopes each day was worth its weight in gold ! They always took us to the best area each day, and skid with us - in fact on one day when my wife was unwell, one of the guys from the office picked me up, stopped at his flat on the way to pick up his ski gear and skid with me on my own all morning
Also in Chamonix one year a group of us used Bigfoot for a 4 night stay.
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Ernalow offers some self catering for 3/4 nights in a few of the big name french resorts? I'm using them to stay in Flaine early Jan for a long weekend. In austria it's easier imo - just hit the local tourist office site, easy to find b&b or cheap hotels for odd numbers of nights. For france/italy geneva is probably the airport of choice, salzburg is excellent for a lot of the more popular austrian resorts - we've hit the ski amade (schladming is the biggest name) from there for some very sucessful weekends in the past. Happy hunting! aj xx
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Davy-Boy,
Me and my partner are off to Avoriaz in jan for 4 nights. We booked flights with sleazy jet to Geneva then will either hire a car or get a transfer to Morzine/Avoriaz. We booked an apartment through a private firm and the guy was really helpful. All we need to do when we get into resort is get our lift tickets.
We choose Avoriaz because we have been there before, can fly locally to Geneva and it's a fairly short transfer. If there are no delays then we should be on the slopes in the afternoon of the day we fly out which is always a bonus when going for a short break.
PM me if you want any further details.
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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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Another big recommendation for Moutain Sun. 3 full days in La Plagne cost us £330 each, incl flights, transfers, food, lift passes, the lot. It's ski in/out and 3 mins walk from Les Coches' bars.
They also do Tignes and their hotel gets good reviews. I'm there end of Jan.
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Last couple of short breaks I have done, I've done DIY with flights, car hire and rented and apartment, but it's been late season and finding accom. wasn't too bad.
That said, in the past I've also booked flights to Turin and then used Flexible Breaks http://www.flexiblebreaks.com/, they basically do any length of stay. Not super cheap, but not expensive either, and it all worked very well when we used them - works out better if you get one of the flights that qualifies for the free transfers.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'd recommend the guys at www.skiweekender.com in the Aravis region. Catered chalet, pickups from Geneva & ski passes included. Ski hire is onsite if need be and they are 5 minutes away from 3 resorts - La Clusaz and Grand Bornand. Pickups & drop offs in the mornings & evenings if you don't want to use the free ski bus.
Really friendly & well run team. Well worth a look imo.
( and no I don't get commision  )
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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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davy-boy, We have accommodation available for short breaks and can help with arranging flights and transfers. I have sent you a PM.
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Poster: A snowHead
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skichampcouk,
hi - am looking for something similar in mid-march for 3 or 4 good intermediates
What is champigny like , and do you need a car ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Amazing number of replies - thankyou so much!! Just about to have a look throught the ideas and options you've all given me 
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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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davy-boy, I think you'l be looking at seperate bookings. For accomodation try Val Thorens, Le Hotel Val Thorens. They have sorted out odd duration breakes for me in the past.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Sunshine81 wrote: |
Me and my partner are off to Avoriaz in jan for 4 nights. We booked flights with sleazy jet to Geneva then will either hire a car or get a transfer to Morzine/Avoriaz. We booked an apartment through a private firm and the guy was really helpful. All we need to do when we get into resort is get our lift tickets.
We choose Avoriaz because we have been there before, can fly locally to Geneva and it's a fairly short transfer. If there are no delays then we should be on the slopes in the afternoon of the day we fly out which is always a bonus when going for a short break.
PM me if you want any further details. |
Good job those sleazyzet people fly to GVA then. 
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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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sev112, Champagny is a relatively unknown village linked into the La Plagne ski area and just a 20 minute drive to Courchevel and the 3 valleys. You can see more details on this thread http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=53015.
You don't need a car but ,for a short break, it is usually a lot cheaper and more convenient if you rent a car
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FAQ
