Poster: A snowHead
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I have got flights to Zurich on 31st March for 5 days - I'd love to hear from anyone who can recommend a nearby (<3hrs) suitable resort for us for first week in April skiing? I guess we are looking at Switzerland or Western Austria. Also I'm told on another thread to look for North facing slopes and high altitude at this time of year.
We have two girls age 7 & 5 who have just 4 days ski experience - so we need somewhere with lots of nice access-able blue/green slopes for them to improve their confidence on. Also local swimming pools etc would be a nice bonus.
I usually go to 3V or Les Arcs (both areas would be perfect for the kids) but that's a 5 hour drive from Zurich. If necessary we'll do that but thought we might gamble on somewhere new!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lech or St Anton.
Look for cheaper accommodation in either Stuben or Pettneu.
Or The Montafon.
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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 need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Engelberg 1h30min drive from Zurich, most snow in the alpes now I think, good beginner area on the glacier, then glacierskiing most time is easy,
Ski lodge Engelberg is a very good hotel run by scandinavian, so the speak perfect english, its a perfect place with very good value for the money,, http://skilodgeengelberg.com/
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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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Engelberg for beginners!?!?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Simonskis, Davos maybe? but maybe not ideal for the girls...
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Myself and the other half are travelling from Zurich to St Anton (via train) on the 2nd April. It cost use 64 EUR per person for a first class return and ther journey takes 2 hours 39 minutes. Rail travel in Europe really does put the UK to shame. We got our tickets from http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp. I hope this helps
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Simonskis, Galtur is probably a little more than three hours but is not a difficult trip. It has some decent North facing skiing although not desperately high, neither is it low with a base of 1600m it should have plenty of good snow for the kids, it would certainly be the kind of place I would have taken mine to at that age. It is a small ski area but very pleasant and there is a sports centre in town with a swimming pool.
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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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BobinCH,
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Engelberg for beginners!?!?
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Yes,,, there is not only for good skier
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Just checked a return ticket for 1 adult and 2 children aged 5 and 7 from Zurich airport to St Anton cost £72, pretty good price. The Swiss train website can be set in English. I just bought tickets from it today, found it easy to use. Bought using a UK credit card.
I looked at St Anton's lift prices and your children get to ski for free as they are under 9 years old.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ischgl looking good - anyone got any feedback? Particularly for families?
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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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Simonskis,
I have been there for the last five or six years with my family but caveats around my advice are that a) my kids even five years ago were older and more experienced than yours and b) We have been there in the feb break, not at Easter so conditions and crowds may vary.
It is a great place to ski, there is plenty of varied skiing. For kids when learning the main area is up at Idalp at 2300m it is a very good learning area if a little crowded at times. The lifts up can generate significant queues in the morning thereafter it is not bad. The runs back down at the end of the day narrow at the bottom and get very crowded, not for the faint hearted or early intermediate young kids. I would recommend downloading. Much of the area is north and north west facing though the easy slopes at Idalp face West and will probably get pretty soft as the day progresses.
Being a bit of a cheapskate I have not stayed in the town itself but elsewhere in cheaper accommodation along the valley, this is easy to do as there is good parking only a short walk from the lifts. Some of the accommodation is a significant distance from the lifts and if the kids are new to skiing it might be an idea to make use of the storage facilities at the bottom of the lifts or at Idalp.
If you do opt for staying elsewhere in the valley (other than Mathon) you cannot buy the cheaper Ischgl /Samnaun pass but have to buy a full valley pass.
We have not used the ski school as the first time we went we went to Samnaun and have stuck with ferrrying the kids across to there each morning, however the kids who do use the ski school generally seem happy.
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