 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, anyone got a recommendation for a small resort, 1-2hrs transfer (flying Liverpool / manchester) to take kids, (8 and 10 can ski difficult greens) lessons in the morning, but Dad's can stay relatively close by but with a few blue/reds??
looking to go late April??
thanks guys
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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1063roberts, welcome to SnowHeads 
I'm not an expert in the area of late season skiing, but this may be difficult as you will need to find a 'ski' airport which has flights from Man/Liv, but also a short transfer at the other end, AND is still operating those flights at the end of April. Whichever resorts meet those criteria, would also need good snow conditions very late in the season, which is going to mean high, and this may be hard to find within an hour or two of the airport. Off the top of my head, Val Thorens would be OK for snow (Snow Heads runs it's EOSB - End of Season Bash - there then), but is further away from most entry points. Avoriaz may also be OK, but is a bit off a faff to get to with kids, and you may not be able to find accommodation for a short stay. Someone may be along shortly with some suggestions, so fingers crossed 
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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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1063roberts, welcome to snowheads. that's a very tall order as few resorts are even open in late April. Avoriaz closes 25 April. To be fairly sure of decent snow I'd go to Tignes - it's a bit further to drive than Val Thorens but the snow will probably be better. Mid April you would have more choice - you could try Flaine, which is very close to Geneva, but it would be a gamble. Could be lovely, or could be a slushfest.
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Are you looking for a long weekend with 4 days skiing or a long weekend allowing for getting there and back with a couple of days skiing, and what sort of budget? Depending whether you want to book ahead or hold off to see how conditions/weather pan out I'd be flabbergasted if CairnGorm Mountain is not open for snowsports late April and there are decent length green runs at the very top of the snowsports area so are the most snow sure slopes. Snow permitting it's possible to ski from the top of the area to the Base Station entirely on green slopes, 1650ft of vertical, or 1300ft to the mid-station of the Funicular Railway.
It would be possible to travel by train overnight from Manchester (d 23.20 Fridays) to Aviemore for CairnGorm, connecting with the ScotRail Sleeper at Preston at 00.17hrs and return to Manchester for 6am Monday. Travelling overnight like this depending on your own work pattern this could be done any weekend as it wouldn't require time of school/work.
This would also work for Crianlarich for Glencoe, but the easier green runs are limited to the lower parts of the mountain, so for your criteria, maybe one for sooner rather than later. See the Glencoe by sleeper thread: http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1404373&highlight=sleeper#1404373
For a family on the sleeper you can get 2x 2berth cabins side by side with an interlocking door between the cabins. See www.scotrail.co.uk
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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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Wow, thanks guys, I did Morzine / Avoriaz with the lads, loved Les Gets. So I could venture back there. I do like the idea of Cairn Gorm. The train would be an adventure for the kids restricted with the flights from L'Pool etc
time for some research on your advice, many thanks
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loved Les Gets. So I could venture back there
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not to LG you couldn't, closes 18 April.
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1063roberts, I suspect small resort + late april will equal a small, closed resort 
You could try La Tania, that will shut 25th April, it is linked into the huge 3 Vallees ski area, but it's a 'small' resort in it's own right. It has a green and a blue down to it, but with one gondola and one chair you can get easy access to some lovely greens and blues in Courchevel 1800, and with a bit more effort get over to 1650....then get the kids into the Indians ski run, which they will love!
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Until 25 April there is a reasonable range of options, though lower and/or southerly runs could well be very slushy, unskiable or even closed. After that, options are severely limited. But conditions in Tignes should still be good - though it's a 3 hour drive from Geneva. I'd go the extra mile to Tignes rather than Val Thorens, personally.
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