 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi folks
Sister, brother in law and 20yo niece are visiting from Australia in mid-January. B-I-L and niece want to ski for say 3 days whilst my sister doesn't. Here lies the criteria:
1. Ease of transfer, say under 2 hours
2. A resort that a short stay is going to be possible at.
3. VERY easy slopes for absolute beginners. My niece hasn't even seen snow as yet!
4. Good tuition for absolute beginners
5. A resort with plenty going on or at least plenty going on nearby to keep my sister occupied. Please don't just say spa's and cafes because she isn't going to sit all day for 3 days drinking coffee or getting massages, facials etc.
With respects 5. I was thinking one of the resorts nearby Salzburg, as an example.
Can you assist?
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Aviemore / Cairngorm. then they can "do" scotland as well 
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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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nbt, funny you should say that. They went 25 years ago and spent a day or two there. I think they'd like to try somewhere new
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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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Peter Leuzzi, What does your sister like to do?
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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nordicfan, actually, she would like to "experience local culture" as well. Perhaps a gallery or a museum? A day trip to something touristy perhaps??
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Bring her to Morzine - if they bring over some Cherry Ripes i'll drop her in Annecy for the day 
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Nadenoodlee, its on the list. I luuuuurve Cherry Ripes. First thing packed on way back to the UK and I always seem to get them for my birthday!
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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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Peter Leuzzi, Innsbruck. Shortest transfer in skiing, tons to do, loads of skiing very close and accessible by bus, taxi or even lift from just north of the City centre. Maybe ski in Igls.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nordicfan, yep, good idea but I think they'll want to be in a resort for the apres etc so given my sister is the one killing time, she can travel!!
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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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Bode Swiller, good shout. What other resorts are we talking about?
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Innsbruck.
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You know it makes sense.
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Chamonix - don't laugh. Excellent dedicated beginner area at bottom of Le Tour, top tuition & the whole Mt Blanc/Aiguille de Midi/daytrip to Courmayeur experience possible for the non-skier. Beats Thredbo for views anyway.
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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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Second Chamonix. I was just going to suggest it when fatbob posted it. It would be a great adventure for all. Le Tour does have an excellent beginner area and there's the small Les Planards area right in town which would be fine for a starter. Your sister could do plenty of stuff there in town, take the bus to Courmayeur, and, if adventurous, go up the Aguille du Midi lift for a look around the roof of the Alps..
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Poster: A snowHead
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Peter Leuzzi,
I guess it depends on where you can fly easily to.
If you can get to Turin, Briancon is not far away by car is an attractive town and has good skiing for all abilities.
From Munich Garmisch is meant to be quite a lively place with plenty for the non skier to do, though I have only driven through.
A bit off the usual skier route I stayed last year at a place called Thollon les memises which is easily reachable from Geneva an attractive little place with views over lake Geneva and the possibility of excursions to Evian or on lake Geneva for the non skier. The skiing was over by the time I arrived so can't comment on it but probalby plenty for a beginner with just three days to spend.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Stay in Granada. Ski Sierra Nevada. Visit the Alambra.
Should tick all your boxes except for 4, about which I'm afraid I can't comment.
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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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In the Geneva area you have some good choices if they want to hire a car?
La Clusaz and Grand Bornand are under 1 hour from Geneva. Thats 1-4 ticked. For number 5), its then under an hour to go exloring round the lake Leman, and an hour to Chamonix for a great day trip to go up the aiguille de midi etc. Great experience.
Wouldn't recommend Chamonix for beginners, lots of better places for that, but otherwise I would agree with that as a suggestion.
Others that tick 1-4 and keep Geneva/Lac Leman and Chamonix open for day trips are;
Samoens and rest of the Grand Massif. Samoens is a stunning town in itself. Good beginner area at top of the main lift out of town.
St Gervais a very unique spa town. Good ski area.
Enjoy!
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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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Samoens and rest of the Grand Massif. Samoens is a stunning town in itself. Good beginner area at top of the main lift out of town.
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Agree, that beginner area is almost like a mini resort in itself.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Peter Leuzzi, will you hire a car wherever you end up? It might broaden your options if you do. And your main aim is to give your sister, BiL and niece a real slice of Alpine experience, rather than a trip for yourself isn't it?
I think your thoughts about Salzburg or Bode Swiller's suggestion of Innsbruck fulfil your needs quite nicely. There are regular buses going from Salzburg Bus Terminal each day through to Flachau with the fare including the day pass. The bus timetable is here:
http://www.salzburg.info/en/sights/guided_tours/shuttle_service/salzburg_flachau_ski_shuttle
and for the Innsbruck one: http://www.innsbruck.info/sistrans/erleben/winterurlaub/skigebiete-skipaesse.html
I think either Mutteralm or maybe Axamer Lizum would be your best areas there for the beginners. They are much closer to Innsbruck than Salzburg is to Flachau.
Then again, flying into Geneva and entering the PdS area from the Swiss side will also give a wide variety of options - Champèry or Morgins for example. You have all the wonderful places along the Rhône valley for your sister to explore using the Rhône Valley railway. I can't remember what the slopes are like on the Champèry side, but Morgins has some nice beginner areas.
Another option would be to stay in a place like Annecy (beautiful in its own right) and take the skiers up to Le Grand Bornand where there are some superb beginner slopes that are relatively quiet as well. Les Contamines is also in that area with some nice easy progression slopes.
As we say here your only problem is "der Qual der Wahl" (the torture of the selection!)
Sue 
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FAQ
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