 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone.
Next January my wife and I intend to go on a 2 week ski holiday. week 2 and 3 so the cheap weeks. Not tight but we avoid the kids then.
I'm not bad at the sliding but my wife is a novice (tentative snowplough at Xscape). She also has mild MS so can get a bit tired if she exerts herself.
What we are looking for is a good place to go for 10 days in the USA or Canada or somewhere in Europe with absolute beginner slopes. And somewhere to treat herself in the Spa if she is a bit tired after a couple of days on the easy slopes.
IE I can ski away on the difficult buts but my wife would not be bored and stuck with nothing to do.
I've seen a few nice places in the Crystal Brochure but because I never go on package holidays all the supplements for 2 people (even in a hotel (Eh!!!)) have confused me.
THe alternative is a luxury cabin from a Snowhead in a nice place.
Help me snowheads.... your my only hope.
Cheers
Bob
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| glasgowcyclops wrote: |
| I've seen a few nice places in the Crystal Brochure but because I never go on package holidays all the supplements for 2 people (even in a hotel (Eh!!!)) have confused me. |
It's just a North American thing - it seems the norm to have two double beds in a hotel room (or at east that's what the UK TOs seem to get).
If you're thinking about Canada, try Canadian Affair - booked with them a while back and they were considerably cheaper than the 'high street' TOs on the same dates/hotels etc and have so far proved very efficient.
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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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In North America you get either a king bed or two queen beds in a room, both these are designed for two people not four sharing. Its only Uk tour ops trying to max their profits and off set the flights. Its either a king or a twin room 
If you booked direct with the hotel you only pay the rate for the room without any supplements - try a DIY trip booking flights and finding a hotel room, we havent paid more than about £60 per night per room for B+B in a hotel in North America inc. buffet breakfast.
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Whistler absolutely fits your requirements. Great beginner runs on both mountains served by gondolas so if your wife tires she can simply download to resort rather than risking an injury. Loads to do off the slopes for you both & a far far better standard of accommodation that Europa.
We've been the last 2 yrs and are returning in March. Happy to help & provide more specific information. Please PM me.
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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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I can recommend the Aspen Lodge in Banff, Canada and you can book it with Canadian Affair. Two hot tubs and bed and breakfast included. It's really handy for the town centre and you've got three ski areas all with good beginner slopes. We're off there for our third visit at Easter. Can't recommend it highly enough. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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THanks folks.
The info is really helpful. I've always home brewed holidays because I would go there once a year on business and tag a week on the end.
I have a friend in San Diego I may visit but I wouldn't mind the ease of a package this time.
Thanks for the tip of Canadian Affair and the Banff Aspen looks good. I don't mind paying more.... is the Fairmont chain better? One thing I found weird is that Crystal only allow 15kg on luggage and ski transport is not priced. I'd like to take my own skis and boots.
I think I'll also look at St Anton. I'd looked at France but I couldn't believe the prices for what looks like basic accommodation. I'm looking for a 4* + hotel.
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Try Panorama in Canada. Canadian Affair will get you just about the best deral you can get.
Alternatively Try the Hoel Central in Zauchensee - Austria, but you'll have to book independantly for this one (fly to Salzburg, then 45min Taxi)
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glasgowcyclops, wouldn't the altitude of many of the USA resorts cause problems for your wife if she already has MS-related tiredness? Maybe the lower Canadian or some of the European resorts be better in that case?
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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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we used the mount royal hotel in Banff, it really is dead centre of town, so great for shopping if you wife needs a lazy day off
http://www.mountroyalhotel.com/
The problem with Fairmont hotel is it is 20min walk out of Banff, so you end up with having to eat in the hotel or get taxis into town. It looked quite luxurious, but people told us the costs added up, taxis, eating in the hotel was expensive, drinks more expensive than town, depends how rich you are I suppose.
Fairmont at Lake Louise was a better setting, but totally isolated, no shopping trips.
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+1 for the Mount Royal.
Also, Banff is THE place to go for the Spa experience: soak in the hot springs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Fairmont Whistler is good, been there in summer rather than winter but location is good, has nice areas for relaxing and dawdling about and Whistler has lots of shops to entertain. Think it would be a good bet and not too expensive (I had thought all Farimonts would be an arm and a leg but actually not much more than the average hotel.
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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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glasgowcyclops, if you can afford Oberlech - it would tick all your boxes
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boabski, +1
If they are thinking about Canada and the USA, then Oberlech or even Lech, or Stuben or Zürs would be more than OK.
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You know it makes sense.
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I have to say that the Crystal website in really bad. Every location I chose says there is no availability. Every resort? Looks like a database query problem. or it doesn't work with chrome
I've had a look at the CAnadian Affair website. Really nice and easy to navigate and prices are quoted for 2 and 4 people.
THey are also cheaper that Crystal.
The mount royal hotel looks very nice.
Samberg Sue. I'm not sure what affect the altitude would have. I'll look at some research papers n reputable journals.
I've been looking at Canada etc because it seems to be a lot cheaper for the same standard of hotel. I think I'll use Canadian Affair for Canada and look into homebrew for Europe.
I cant see where OberLech is but in Lech there are a few nice hotels. My budget is quite variable but I'd probably be looking at 1200 each for a week in europe and up to 1400 each in Canada for 10/11 days. In general if it was just me I'd go cheap but I prefer my wife to have a bit of luxury. She deserves it.
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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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Found Oberlech on Booking.com. Looks nice but the walk from town seemed to be a bit of an issue for some so I have a concern there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Glasgowcyclops,
We've done Whistler for the last 2 years with Ski Safari, they are excellent. Given that for flights your only option is either BA or Air Canada scheduled services rather than a chartered Crystal flight I personally wouldn't use a high street To like Crystal, Inghams, etc as their staff simply do not have the experience to advise - This is my opinion. The hotels are not run or managed by the TOs and the transfers are managed by third parties so use a specialist who does bespoke trips as their standard offering. If you want a chalet in France you'd use a specialist like Crystal or Inghams.
We also looked at Ski Independent & Frontier Ski but Ski Safari won hands down on both price and service. However, you will need to manage your expectations, you won't have a rep in resport (not that you need one). Therefore, you'll have to plan your overpriced bar crawl to the worst venues in town with 'free' drinks yourself !!!
PM me if you want specific advice about the resort.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I`ve used Canadian Afair 3 times now, and whether i`ve got them to organise the whole trip or just flights, they have been great, just got back from Banff.
Can I suggest Sun Peaks if you are looking for a resort with a good begineer area, it has a magic carpet as well as a button lift, which is easier, and the begineer area is in the centre of the resort so it would allow you to to meet her easily after her lessons. It`s also got a health spa and a green run from the top of the mountain which is 5 miles long !
Wherever you go, I would recomend Canada as the lift line-ups are almost always small, and the runs are rarely as busy as Europe.
Have a great holiday
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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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Hi Folks
Lots to think about here. I'd like to thank you all for the VERY helpful advice. I'm certain I'll go to Canada now. I may also get in a week in Europe or a quick jaunt to Norway at my sisters.
I'm very busy this year in work so I dont think I'll get away to check places out on my own. SnowMonkey69, I'll have a look at Ski Safari and thanks for the custom specialist hint. I appreciate the value of custom advice (I do that in microscopy for a living).
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Try Sun Peaks or Silver Star we used Can aff for flight reasonable luggage allowance then westjet to get to the local airport or its a very long drive. Booked condos on line either with resort or allura.
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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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glasgowcyclops, just be careful with Can Aff - the headline price doesn't include internal connecting flights
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