 Poster: A snowHead
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hi guys, and girls.
looks like i'll be skiing 29th/30th Jan next year, with my mum sister and Girlfriend ( i'm 25, mum is 50 odd, sis is 23 and gf 24)
All competant skiers except the gf who has never really done proper skiing, only in scotland where there was hardly any snow!
Anyway, i have shortlisted a few places based on cost and departure airport and am just after some advice really.
Nightlife is not important, and for our budget we are looking at self catering.
Resorts are as follows, deals are based on specified dates using Crystal Ski and total for lift and ski prices are in brackets!!! i have done all the big resorts but as this is the first skiing trip which i have to arrange as opposed to my dad, i dont really know where to begin! for snow sure conditions i would prefer higher resorts although i know beggers cant be choosers!!
Here goes: flying from Bournemouth or Gatwick on sat/sun 29/30th Jan for 7 days
Prices based on 4 adults sharing.
Val Thorens - Le Chamois d'or apts. - £347 sc (£248)
courchevel 1550 - Les Brigues apts - £351 sc (£261)
Saas Fee - Allalin apts - £372sc (£338)
Nendez - Veysonnaz '3' appts - £347sc (£309)
Bled - hotel park -£356 half board (£248)
Courmayeur - Hotel Croux - £398sc (£258)
Bardonecchia - Apt rive campo smith - £321sc (£216)
La Thuile - Apts Planibel - £302sc (£241)
Serre Chevalier - residence l'alpaga - £324 sc (£226)
Vars - £329 - l'albane apts - (221)
sorry for the long winded essay!
in an ideal world id go for either - v/thorens, Courcheval or saas Fee but although he actual holiday prices seem very reasonable, i would assume lessons and food/drink are going to be considerably morfe expensive?
Out of the others La Thuile sounds good as its flys from Bournemouth (we live in Bournemouth) and serre Chevalier.
having only been to V/T, Courcheval and Nendez on the list can someone please point me in the right direction!!!
THANKYOU!!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jimmi85, a key thing to watch is the size and layout of the apartment. Given the make up of your party, you're not going to want to be all sleeping on top of each other in a couple of 2foot wide bunk beds in the hall, are you? Will you get 2 bedrooms - one for you and GF, one for mum and sister? If not, have you decided who will be on the sofa bed or whatever? some of the French apartments are tiny - anything which says it's suitable for 4 is probably far more suitable for 2.
That is a very good time of year to go, and barring very bad luck you should have pretty good snow all over. It's also a very cheap time of year, in France at any rate, and there are some good apartments to be had at around £400 - with 2 proper bedrooms - in the smaller resorts (I'm talking Frnce, which is all I know).
That's £100 each for accommodation. If you look at the cost of easyjet flights from Bournemouth to Geneva, and of hiring a car, that will give you an idea of how much a DIY trip would cost you. If you have a car it's much easier to do a big supermarket shop - then all you need to buy in the more expensive resort shops would be some veg and salads etc. You can also lay in a stock of beers, soft drinks, nibbles, wine etc.
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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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you're right, the size and practacality of the apartment is likely to be the main issue, although based on our budgets (not so much me, more so the girls!) we will have to make do. i am reluctant to drive from Geneva as i am a bit concerned about a) gettign lost and b)skidding on ice and killing all 4 of us!
before i definatly say no to driving, can anyone please recommend a decent site that offers affordable accom and hire car companys? i think i have decided on Serre Chavalier now, unless anyone can tell me otherwise?
thanks!!
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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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| Quote: |
based on our budgets (not so much me, more so the girls!) we will have to make do.
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be aware that renting a whole apartment from a private owner (ie not going with a TO) could well be heaps cheaper. £400 for 2 beds, no problem. If you don't want to drive, you can easily get a private taxi transfer from the airport. Just pick an apartment fairly close to an airport. Apartment owners could probably advise on local taxi firms which are reliable.
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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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Have a look at Snowtrex. We've used them last season and are using them again this. Reasonably priced apartments means you can go for a larger apartment and just under occupy, prices also include lift passes.
We've booked for April for 4 in a 6 person (2 bedroom) apartment for £700 including passes. Yes you've still got to get there but you've an awful lot of money left in your budget to do that with.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jimmi85, the Alpaga apartments are OK, bu you may be cramped with 4 adults, unless it is a 2 bedroom apartment you are booking.
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The ski hire and ski pass prices are high, almost definitely better to book direct, either in advance or in resort. Check each resort's website for euro prices. You've listed well-known Swiss/French resorts, why not go for cheaper French ones? I'd book with Easyjet from Bournemouth and go to the northern Alps. Portes du Soleil, Grand Massif, Val du Mont Blanc, val d'Arly, Aravis. You'll easily find an apartment at £100 a head, flight and transfers (could be more expensive that the flight) perhaps £150 a head, ski hire and ski pass as little as £200 a head.
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thanks guys,
Snowlamb, was that 700 each or 700 for the 4 of you?! had a quick look on snowtrex and looks good value.
can any suggest high resorts fairly close to geneva please?
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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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There should be plenty of snow at the end of January and you don't need to go too high. As wildnoon says, big resorts are Portes du Soleil (Avoriaz/Morzine) and Grand Massif (Flaine + satellites). Flaine is only just over an hour from Geneva and Avoriaz a bit further. Another hour or so and you could get to Les Arcs/La Plagne and Courcheval/Meribel. If you've been to Courcheval and want to be totally sure of snow try La Plagne, a great area and linked to Les Arcs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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right folks, bit of an update!!
after much searching i have managed to source a 2 bedroom duplex apartment with direct slope access in les arcs for....200 quid!!
flights are around 50 odd quid from gatwick or a little more from Bournemouth
only problem is the transfer to Les Arcs! i had been on the net all day today and had everything planned, was planning on going to Flaine as we could get return Transfers for around 220gbp.
but, a friend has offered us his apartment in Les Arcs for a really good price but as its further away transfers seem a lot more expensive!
any ideas??!!
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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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jimmi85,
I think car rental would be your best bet. It should cost less than £250 for a car for a week and it's a straightforward drive to Les Arcs from Geneva.
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ok, i have found a ski bus (bensbuses) which takes us to Bourg st Mourice then we get the funicular up to Les arcs 1800 for 69pp return.
best we're gonna get?
thanks
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You know it makes sense.
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| jimmi85 wrote: |
thanks guys,
Snowlamb, was that 700 each or 700 for the 4 of you?! had a quick look on snowtrex and looks good value.
can any suggest high resorts fairly close to geneva please? |
that's for the 4 of us.
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