 Poster: A snowHead
|
Help!?
Organising a long weekend skiing holiday as a surprise 40th for my poor partner who hasn't had a sniff of snowboarding or skiing since having babies...
I know nothing..so it has been hard to know where to start...and of course I can't ask him as it is supposed to be a surprise...
wanted to rent a chalet/apartment to sleep about 10 (there will be no babies or children...)
long weekend (3 or 4 nights)
last weekend in March/first weekend April.
Europe
I was hoping to get some advice on where would be a good resort to start my search for accomodation or anyone know of any good chalets or locations they have stayed with a big group that would rent for just a weekend?
Much appreciated if you can help
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
annieo, Welcome to Snowheads! 
Will all the people in the group be skiers or boarders? If there are some non skiers/ boarders then it may be best to pick a resort that has plenty to do for the non skiers as well and is easy for the skiers and non skiers to meet up eg for lunch at midday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Thanks Alastair
Yes it will be a mixed bunch so that is a good point? any ideas/suggestions on resorts to start my search?
thanks
annieo
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
annieo, try Serre Chevalier. Good skiing to be had for all abilities, and the four villages that form the base are all linked by a bus along the valley floor for the non-skiers to use. Plus one of the villages is actually a town - Briancon. Not sure about accomodation, but late in the season, try making an offer and see what you get! I believe some tour operators do weekends but you might need to contact chalet owners. Also try Mel at EurekaSKI Plus - she's based in Monetier (one of the villages) and has plenty of local knowledge (she lives there year-round!) and will probably be able to help 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Hi, I've organized ski trips for groups before and it can be a nightmare keeping everyone happy, standard of skiing and budget. You could try Andorra if there are one or two where budget might be a concern if not Chamonix is a bit difficult to get arround but has a large town with plenty to do. Also try Val d'Isere, my favourite, there's a large town with sports complex and Bourge-St-Maurice is only a short bus ride away. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
annieo, One other consideration is that if you're only going for 3 to 4 days you want a resort with a reasonably short transfer from the airport to maximise time in resort.
In terms of resorts suitable for skiers and non skiers, TallTone's suggestion of Serre Chevalier in France sounds good to me. Alternatively in Austria Zell am See is a nice town with a lakeside setting, has a rail station for non-skiers who may wish to explore the surrounding area, and also has nearby glacier skiing at Kaprun as insurance if the later season snow conditions should be poor. Likewise, Mayrhofen in the Zillertal valley also has a nearby glacier further up the valley at Hintertux.
In Switzerland, the Jungfraujoch region (Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald) has great views of the Eiger Monch and Jungfrau mountains and has an extensive mountain railway system which allows skiers and non skiers to meet up easily on the mountain. Alternatively Zermatt is a great location with the most photogenic mountain in the world (the Matterhorn) and skiers can ski across to neighbouring Cervinia in Italy. However with the current exchange rate against the Swiss Franc, Switzerland is not cheap, but if you're only going for 4 days the accommodation cost won't be as big a fraction of the total holiday cost as for longer stays ( I would think the cost of flights and transfers is pretty much the same for all three countries)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
annieo, sounds a lovely idea. Your problem is going to be finding somewhere to rent for that period, as much accommodation goes Sat/Sat or Sun/Sun. At the beginning of April you're starting to get into the end of season - some lower runs might well be closed, or pretty slushy. You should try to find somewhere with good late season skiing. Which doesn't necessarily mean it has to be very high, but it does have to have runs facing east or north which will get a lot less sun.
Lots to think about - but hang in there, plenty of advice and suggestions will be coming your way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
annieo, I have sent you a PM (Private Message) with some website links you may find useful. (Click on Send /Read Message icon at top RH corner of this page).
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hi, another suggest would be the Grand Massif, good skiing, pretty scenary with views of Mont Blanc. Short distance from Geneva. The main resort is Flaine but a number of villages such as Les Carroz, Samoens or Morillion might suit you too. The skiing is good and there should be some accommodation that does short stays, especially at that time of year. I went there in early April a couple of years ago and the snow was still reasonably good. I stayed in a little gite, so cant help you on the accommodation front.
I would also second Serre Chevalier. Another option here could be the Best Western (Chalet 52) in Chantermerle, I think they do short breaks. It is basically apartments/chalet style, but with facilities of a hotel (restaurant, pool).
I agree that Mayrhoen would be a good choice, easy to get to, plenty to do off slope as well as on. Lots of little places which might do short stays.
Or try Mountain Sun Ltd. They do weekend breaks to a couple of places. As do alpine elements (Igoski).
Good luck, it sounds like a wonderful 40th surprise holiday to me!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
I went there in early April a couple of years ago and the snow was still reasonably good.
|
It does vary a lot at that time of year though. Our apartment is south facing and at 1550m and I've never yet been unable to ski down to it through till the end of the season (around 21 April) but sometimes it's been "only just" and distinctly challenging in the late afternoons (and in the early morning if it's freezing hard). If the group want to stay in a snowy place (rather than somewhere you have to travel up in a lift and even need to take a bus to get to the snow) you'll need to choose carefully. Flaine wouldn't be bad, but it's not a great place for non skiers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
annieo,
As stated above you may be lucky to get self catering or chalets for a long weekend as this takes up two seperate periods from the proprietors point of view. However being lowish season you may get lucky. Many resort tourist offices will fprward a request fro accommodation to all their registered landlords/hoteliers who will send out offers to you. SO if you send out dates to the tourist office with numbers in your party they will get back to you. A personal opinion is that you are more likely to find hoteliers particualrly in more weekend resorts offering accommodation. Swiss hotels are often good in this respect.
Switzerland as a whole is good for non skiers and has pretty good train infrastructure and reasonably short road times if renting a car. Many of the trraditional old resorts like Davos Zermatt and St Moritz have good high skiing and plenty for the non skier though they are pricey.
Others like Saas Fee and Arosa are meant to be excelllent but I have not been.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Chamonix.
|
|
|
|
|
|
brian
brian
Guest
|
|
Zermatt
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
annieo, have a look at
http://www.chalet-la-giettaz.com/The-Chalet/Apartments/
miranda is a snowHead so you could PM her for details. I've booked to go here in March with friends and it looks fab. Other snowHeads have been and speak very highly! Drove past a couple of weeks ago, and can confirm it's in a lovely situation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
