Hey Guys,
Please help, I'm a teacher looking to take a group of school kids on a ski trip to Europe next year, The ideal date for us to go would be the week of Dec 15th to 22nd as this is holiday time for us but not for most schools so the kids get a big discount. The only worry i have though is the amount of snow and so wanted a bit of help, or ideas, on which areas are good for that early in the season. Two options that suit us so far are Interski (lots of good reviews on Snowheads), offering a week at la Thuile and ski plan a week in Morzine.
Any info on these resorts or others that the school ski companies use at that time of year would be really appreciated. Thanks.
Really hard to predict snow levels at that time this far ahead, but I guess you can't do a last minute thing with a big school group...
Your safest bet will be somewhere with a glacier, probably Mayrhofen in Austria would work, and I'm sure other people will be along to recommend French options soon.
How big is the discount? If it's not that significant, I think you'd be better off going later in the season (after Christmas or Easter [depending how late it is], assuming Feb half term will be too expensive).
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
On the whole I'd agree with clarky999 that Easter would be a better bet, and I think the UK holidays don't clash with French ones then. But if you decide on mid December then, as far as France is concerned, you won't do better than Tignes.
PembrokeBen, Welcome to s I would second Colin B's suggestion of The Curling with Skibound. Great hotel, great location and they specialise in exactly what you're looking for. Chuck in a glacier and an already high altitude resort and it's probably the best option for you.
is the website. If you don't like the idea of Tignes for some reason, there are other options in high altitude resorts that may well do.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Sorry to kind of hi-jack your thread, but how early does the snow come as I'm also planning to go that week, either to La Plagne, Alpes D'huez or Meribel (which would be best?)
After all it is free
After all it is free
Iaink wrote:
Sorry to kind of hi-jack your thread, but how early does the snow come as I'm also planning to go that week, either to La Plagne, Alpes D'huez or Meribel (which would be best?)
Completely depends. This season there was absolutely nothing, then it dumped majorly not long before Christmas (and continued...). Season before there was lots of great snow and powder in November, then very little after. 08/09 was brilliant from mid-November on, and all the way through the season.
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hmm, I can book a chalet for 12 in Meribel for a touch under £1.2k for the 15th, worth booking do you think or just wait 'til closer to the time?
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Iaink, personally I'd not book in advance for Meribel in mid-December. Like clarky999 says, there's no way of predicting what the snow cover will be and his recent examples illustrate the wild variation of recent years. Everybody got ridiculously excited about snow in November the season before last, then it all disappeared. Everybody got ridiculously gloomy about the lack of snow in mid December last season, then it arrived in abundant quantities before Christmas. At that time of year, which is low season, it's probably best to book about 3 days before departure, and be flexible about destination.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
AFA early season snow is concerned - as others have said very difficult to predict. However many higher resorts (I can only really speak for France) open late November or into early December.... Personally I always think that by the time I get to the week of 15th December and coupled with great snow making facilities that the season is in full swing by then not 'just starting' - but that is just a personal reflection of feelings living there.
This year, at just over 2000m on the 7th December in Val d'Isere (sorry I know I have posted this before elsewhere but I think it is relevant as it shows what we had) we got into the swing of things with this:
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.
But on the other hand I left Tignes only 3 or 4 days before that video and there was still very little snow, just glacier skiing. Then it all came suddenly.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I have gone skiing that week in the past to Courchevel in Dec 2010, St Anton Dec 2000 or 2001 ( it was a long time ago) and Obergurgl Dec 2004.
Each time we were lucky and had great skiing St Anton was exceptionaly cold when we went there
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Colin B speaketh the truth (he is out of shot, bottom left of this photo)
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Schuss in Boots, Hard to believe isn't it? I believe all will be put right at this year's PSB though.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I think Montgenevre is usually open that week and would be a good resort for a school trip. However I haven't personally skied there that early.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Steve Angus, whilst a great video clip it's hardly a true representation of the average early december conditions is it????
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 for all the replies so far guys, will definitely have a look at Tignes and the other glaciers. From talking to the ski reps there seems to be lots of other schools booked in to various places that week so i guess there must usually be something to ski on!
Thanks for all the replies so far guys, will definitely have a look at Tignes and the other glaciers. From talking to the ski reps there seems to be lots of other schools booked in to various places that week so i guess there must usually be something to ski on!
There will be something to ski on for sure, just the quantity and quality is less assured than at, say, Easter or Feb half term.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
kitenski, True, but then neither is my photo - which I put in for balance The accurate image for average conditions would be somewhere between the two.
I think I'll save the big group trip 'til Easter then, I'll just go with Family/small group at Christmas
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
My kids' school goes to La Thuile at Easter. The trouble with December is the snow is unpredictable and so is the weather - can be very cold (-20c is COLD) and that's really not ideal for kids learning to ski. March/April is a better bet imo.
After all it is free
After all it is free
FWIW I took a group in April to a fairly averagely medium altitude resort (St Sorlin D'arves) and had 5-6 beginners and the conditions were pretty perfect, plenty of snow, not too cold, a bit slushy further down by about 3 but the beginners had had enough by then anyway, Easter's a pretty good bet, It's worth checking Feb half term though as it may just be affordable as a school group booking early
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Iaink, But I wouldn't mind betting than in 2011 St Sorlin had hardly any snow in April. By booking well in advance a very high resort, especially one with a glacier, for very early/late trips does de-risk things.
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.
PembrokeBen wrote:
Thanks for all the replies so far guys, will definitely have a look at Tignes and the other glaciers. From talking to the ski reps there seems to be lots of other schools booked in to various places that week so i@1 guess there must usually be something to ski on!
The two golden rules for early ski bookings are:
1. Make sure the village is at an absolute minimum of 1800m, preferably 2000m, in the Western European Alps in Dec.
2. Make sure the summit is atleast 3000m, ideally with a decent, skiable glacier.
Tignes, Val d'Isere and Val Thorens, all in France, should be the top 3 on your list.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Whitegold, or it's not in France......
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
JUST in Case
Do Not under any circumstances use or become involved with a company call Ski Link Ltd, Westward Holidays Ltd. see the link bwlow for more detail.
I ski usually 1st week December, for Europe Obertauern, Obergurgl, Ischgl are my favs
Obertauern probably the most suitable for a school group.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
There must be schoold trips to Montgenevre and Claviere
when we were there in 2010 i spotted a Traveelers Choice coach (our local firm in Cumbria) and when i spoke to the driver he said he was with a school party from Knutsford school in Cheshire
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Whitegold wrote:
The two golden rules for early ski bookings are:
1. Make sure the village is at an absolute minimum of 1800m, preferably 2000m, in the Western European Alps in Dec.
2. Make sure the summit is atleast 3000m, ideally with a decent, skiable glacier.
Tignes, Val d'Isere and Val Thorens, all in France, should be the top 3 on your list.
I'd take Kaprun, Hintertux, Stubai over those any day. Cervinia or Stelvio worth a look for a school group too. And skiing in December at 3000m isn't all that pleasant a lot of the time. Much better looking east and slightly lower where there's tree-lined skiing if there's snow lower down and a glacier area up the road just in case there isn't. The OP isn't going THAT early, in a normal season you'd expect lower areas in say the Kitzbuhler alps to be open.
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?
cockerhoop wrote:
There must be schoold trips to Montgenevre and Claviere
when we were there in 2010 i spotted a Traveelers Choice coach (our local firm in Cumbria) and when i spoke to the driver he said he was with a school party from Knutsford school in Cheshire
Rocketski has a place right on the front in Montgenevre - "Club Hotel Les Rois Mages"....was full of school trips when we were there in April.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 22-05-12 11:48; edited 1 time in total
yes thats a really good for cheap beer and bar food plus sky sports tv
its a little basic but how many school trips include ski from the door
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
PembrokeBen, Les Deux Alpes may be worth a look if you are after a glacier resort. Nice gentle runs at about 2000-2200m which may/should have some snow by mid-December, and some nice nursery slopes at resort level which have the advantage of not being cross-roads or run offs for jester-hat wearing out of control numpties. Snow at resort level less reliable, though.
also think about Les Diablerets - if there's snow, great, if not, you have the glacier ...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
PembrokeBen, Flaine is open that week and has special half price passes available. The skiing can be fantastic as the slopes are deserted as it's pre-season week when all the seasonaire parties etc take place - I always try and grab a few days with the locals as this really is a great week to ski. Bear in mind that not all of the lifts open this week due to the low numbers, but if there's powder
After all it is free
After all it is free
PembrokeBen, Tignes all day long, but wrap up warm, and stay in Val Claret.
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pam w, Les Gets tend not to be as well prepared as Flaine and whilst open if it's extremely cold/icy it can be very unpleasant when and it general the snow conditions aren't usually quite as good as Flaine, which as you know from my previous post's, snow apart I am not a huge fan of the resort due to its lack of charm. Les Gets/Morzine is worth a day trip but Flaine would trump it 9/10 at that time of year. I tend to ski those and a handful of other resorts few resorts during that week on a regular basis, so that’s from recent/ongoing personal experience.
Bear in mind that as one poster Whitegold above recommended a high village for that week –think carefully as if it’s not well prepared and there is a lot of snow that moving around the resort could prove a challenge as the rest of town may still be concentrating on preparation rather than snow clearance! Consider somewhere with good fat lift access/gondola’s – However Tignes is a good idea one especially as they often promote some very good lift packages at that time of year. Worth talking to Mountain Sun for that one –a quick search on google/snowheads
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Quote:
Les Gets tend not to be as well prepared as Flaine
I pointed out in response to the OP that Les Gets/Morzine (like many French resorts) is not down to be fully open till 22 Dec so not a good bet for that period, no matter how big the discount on offer. There are not many arguments for booking up months ahead for that week, IMV.
FAQ
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