 Poster: A snowHead
|
Long and the short of it is...
I want to ski/board, with my 9 year old son, from December 18th but want to be back home in the house for Christmas Eve evening.
My first thought is to just rent an apartment for a week and leave two days early.
I'll drive, fly, do DIY, use tour operator or anything else. But I can only leave this country at earliest on Friday 17th and have to be back for Christmas as my wife will want to see my son on Christmas eve/day. She cant come with us as she has to work.
Any country and any resort will probably be fine. Would prefer as low cost as possible as its in addition to our other ski holidays.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Best to go somewhere like Tignes with a glacier. I've done the week before Xmas 3 times now, twice in Tignes and once in Saalbach. The snow in Saalbach was abysmal and we were carted up to Kaprun most days, but Tignes was great both times with the majoriy of runs open. Plenty of high resorts around, so probably head to one of those. There'll be plenty of people here who''ll have better knowledge of specific ones though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
I've been to Val Thorens before Christmas before and snow was very good. If i drive i can wait to see what snow is like in resorts. Long way to drive with just two of us though and would only want to drive to France.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
garethjomo, i've been on a few coach journeys and would agree with you there, France is a lot closer than Austria and Switzerland. Val T is def another option. Les Deux Alpes also opens early and has a glacier so might be an option. Never been to either of those early in the season though, an d it probs depends on what standard / extent of runs you want to see open. I reckon Tignes is always a good bet, I'm considering buying a place somewhere soon and Tignes is number 1 choice given the extent of both runs and 'snow sure' ski season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I spent a weekend in VT just before Christmas in 2008, snow seemed fine, but on a 2.5 day trip we did encounter the worst gale the area experienced for the whole winter which closed all but the retour for a whole day which was a bit disappointing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
As Megamum, says while high resorts are liekly to have the most snow early season they're also likely to have the worst weather that could see the high lifts closed, moreover, the terrain high up is very rocky and needs more snow to fill in. I'd suggest finding somewhere that has high stuff but also lower stuff in the trees to maximise your chances of having a decent amount of skiable terrain. Maybe, if it has to be France, Paradiski would be worth a look: plenty of altitude combined with a lot of tree skiing; similarly Val D'Isere might be a better bet than Tignes as there are more trees around La Daille while still having glacial stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swirly, good point. Trees are always good to have in close proximity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kuhtai, Austria
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| snowgirl123 wrote: |
| France is a lot closer than Austria and Switzerland. |
Well, just for the sake of getting it nearly right... according to Via Michelin, Val D'Isere France is 999km from Calais, St Anton Austria is 995 and Verbier Switzerland is 876. I just chose 3 world class resorts at random there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
garethjomo, as you are doing a "non-standard" duration, DIY could be a good bet, rent an apartment for a week, and just leave a couple of days early, as you suggest. The high resorts are the best option if you have to book now, but if snow is generally good you'll do much better somewhere lower.
But it is a very long drive for less than a week, especially with a 9 year old; mine would have hated it at that age. One alternative might be to look at http://www.mountainsunltd.com/short_breaks/view/tignes-chalet-hotel-les-melezes
it might be possible to arrange a short stay with mountainsun, including transfers from Geneva - I'd suggest it would be worth giving them a ring. With just two of you, transfers can be a bit of a killer, financially, if you do a DIY flying trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Look at B&B in Austria or Switzerland - they'll usually do less than a week
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Bode Swiller, I tend to agree with that based solely on what I feel when we are travelling. Having gone plenty of times to Zurich and Graubunden area of central Switzerland by car and now also done VT and Les Arcs the same way I def. think the trip to Switzerland 'feels' shorter than to the French alp areas that I've been to and your figures confirm this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Only reason i say I'd only want to drive to France is because I know the roads etc so well. Got nothing against driving somewhere new but not when its only my 9 year old with me. Have got Sat NAv but not always reliable
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
garethjomo, Perhaps my faith in my satnav is a little misplaced, but mine does a fine job in delivering me to an obscure little ski station in central Switzerland, and one thing I will say is that driving in Switzerland, should you consider it, is a doddle compared with driving in France IMV. The Swiss know about road markings, and their road signage is outstanding - as good if not better than in the UK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
how journeys "feel" is a function of so many things- sometimes when we've travelled off the autoroute and fiddled round the country roads and had a night in a nice "chambre d'hotes" on the way, the journey has "seemed" shorter - certainly less boring than charging straight down the autoroute in a day, even though it's taken more than twice as long. Val D'Isere is a faff to drive to - there are plenty of closer French resorts; Morzine for example is 888km and practically all autoroute (not that I'd suggest booking it in advance for Christmas).
But driving with a 9 year old for 5 days is a bit of a mission. I would fly - book flights as soon as they are available - then wait. A nice Austrian B & B could be just the job, or it could be surrounded by acres of grass and a long bus ride from the snow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
The Swiss know about road markings
|
Shame they don't know how to indicate on roundabouts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I usually have faith in mine until the power chord broke at the base of the tom tom on saturday morning. Luckily i knew the way home. I've got nothing against Driving in switzerland or any other country but Mrs Garethjomo would be a lot happier if i was driving somewhere i knew, She's not too keen on me taking him at all without her!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
there are lots of cautionary tales here about relying on a satnav in the mountains. And in Switzerland British ones (which show speed cameras) are illegal, as I understand it. Even if the're switched off and in the boot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I drive with just my daughter (now 14) in the car and have done so since she was about 6. I find the drive from Calais to L2A in one hit OK (if the weather is decent). However i wouldn't do so for that short a break.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
pam w, it's OK if you turn off the show speed camera setting (according to the RAC or whoever I checked with before coming out) although working out how to do that is a pain in the @r$€. I've never had any problems using one in the mountains, you have to use common sense of course and I'd recommend knowing where you're going first. I mainly use mine to (a) know the speed limit, (b) know how fast I'm going in km/h as my speedo is pretty rubbish anyway and reading the km/h is easier off the sat-nav and (c) to get an idea of how steep any bends in the road are, useful at all times but especially at night as having beam deflectors on an old car removes the majority of light output from the headlights. I also think it's safer than using a map when driving alone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
pam w, They are only illegal, if I understand things correctly, if you have the Swiss camera's installed, so I just delete the Swiss camera database on mine. I also never travel without a paper map as well and a list of road numbers and junction numbers for route changes. In addition my daughter, at around 9 years old, was becoming quite OK at starting to find her way around a road map. However, not all 9 year olds may be as reliable.
In fact I was quite prepared and indeed had booked this year to take my 7 and 10 yr old by myself in a S registered 1300cc motor, to Switzerland this year and it was only luck that meant in the finish BMF_Skier was able to come with me. It's a journey I've done with the kids with a partner since the eldest was about 5 yrs old. If you have a half decent car, a map, a satnav, a nine year old and are to boot a bloke (which implies slightly more savvy about car matters than a lot of us women folk - sorry girls, but I think its a truth in a lot of cases) then I should think you are laughing wherever you decide to go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
S registered 1300cc motor,
|
Luxury.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I skied the week before Christmas in 2002 and 2006-2010, Courchevel 3x, Val D'Isere 2x, Arc2000. Have been really lucky with the snow every year and enjoyed the quiet pistes. Don't know about Austrian resorts. Could try small companies like Skivolution who may be flexible with dates. Hopefully some snowheads who run chalets etc. will have flexible accommodation suggestions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Unless their laws have changed they were a lot more restrictive. This thread details them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I done week before Xmas twice now - Obertauern in Austria 2007 and Livigno this winter.
Livigno had good snow and Obertauern even more so.
The atmosphere in Obertauern was very very good, fairly busy with more apres ski than you would normally get in the late march for example.
I think Austrian resorts tend to open much quicker and have better atmosphere before Xmas as they get more day trippers and locals driving by car if the condition are good. Bigger French resorts might not be fully open as they base on tour operators and they are normally quiet in December.
In Austria you can easy get B&B for just a few nighs and if you fly to Salzburg you have plenty of choice within one houre drive or very cheap transfer.
If there is a good start of the season you could have head to lower resorts like Schladming, Saalbach or Flachau. If it is really bad you still got Obertauern or Kaprun glacier.
PS there are cheap Ryanair flight to Salzburg from Stanstead if this is close for you.
Livigno is good as well but more than 4h transfer which is also more expensive than transfers around Salzburg. However they offer free ski pass for the weeks before Xmas if you book certain acommodations for more than 4 days. This resort is very good for boarding.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sun 11-04-10 20:57; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Colin B, possibly but I did check before driving out, also to prove that I have them installed on my sat-nav would require turning them back on which requires at least an advanced degree in electronics.
Mind you I wear a rucksack on chair lifts 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
PamW, speed camera detectors are also illegal in Austria, but it clearly states that Satnavs with speed camera locations are not illegal. Is this not the case in Switzerland also?
As for where to ski before Christmas, we did Les Menuires / Three Valleys last year and the snow was spot on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Is this not the case in Switzerland also?
|
I think not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
garethjomo, worth trying the snowHeads' favourite http://www.mountainsunltd.com/. They'll do Les Coches at that time and are usually flexible with dates though all operators quite reasonably try to max out the peak Xmas/NY period. It isn't that high but has comprehensive artificial cover and is well linked into La Plagne. Otherwise, as others have suggested it's worth trying for Tignes or Val Thorens in France. However I'd probably go for either Hintertux or Kaprun in Austria, both of which are easy to drive to (ideally from Munich and Salzburg respectively), have loads of cheap accommodation (just email tourist offices with your requirements) within minutes drive of the bottom lift stations (choice of ski-bus or parking).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Always been good out here since we arrived 4 seasons ago... December is a great time to come out as it is nice and quiet!
PM me if you want any specific details... but next season we can offer discounted ski passes for the first time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
City break to (and stay in) Innsbruck and ski the local resorts on the free ski buses or head up the Stubai Valley (glacier), flying with Easyjet from Bristol (out on Sunday 19th back on Friday 24th am flight), or the short journey to Solden/Kuhtai/St Anton/Ober/etc for a transfer of less than one hour. Door to door leave at 4 am Swansea and be skiing by midday local time 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
pam w - it seems such a shame that they can't all agree on road laws in Europe, though Switzerland isn't in the EU so we can't complain I guess. When we drove from Calais to Austria recently, we went through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and obviously finally Austria, it's quite hard keeping up with what you need where in terms of High Vis jackets, warning triangles, tolls / vignettes etc etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Mike Pow, My kid is very good. Can ski anything. Will have a look for flights like that nearer the time. As long as the days are right etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
