 Poster: A snowHead
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Been looking into Les Arcs or La Plagne for 2014 but packages with TOs are stupid prices with it being France, so we are looking at other countries. Loved the atmosphere of Austria on a recent trip, but found the blues more challenging than expected. We, we are after a proper "cruisey" blue resort (similar to the Les Arcs level of cruisey....where most people would find the runs boring (not flat, just "cruisey").
Are there any cruisey resorts other than those in France. We are after AT LEAST 100km of runs (total, not just blues/greens). Dont mind doing occasional reds to get to long blues etc but just prefer to hit the blues all day and enjoy the scenery, stop for a hot choc etc. Would love somewhere with a decent jump park (to watch, not jump). The one in Soll was awful but LA was great fun to watch.
Basically, we want Les Arcs style of runs and jump park but without the prices. Not bothered about 450km of runs as we wouldnt hit half of them and therefore dont want to pay £250 for a lift pass where we will do a 10th of the runs
Sorry if this has been asked before. I know I asked a similar question this time last year and Soll was recommended. After this years trip, Soll was too challenging for what we are after
thanks again
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jon Ford, Sounds like the Dolomites for you then 
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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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Wengen would be a good option but not sure it'd be any cheaper than France.
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Cervinia although I don't know what the park is like.
Laax would fit the bill well, loads of blues and a great park. Switzerland isn't cheap atm though.
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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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thanks. To be honest, not too bothered about the Snow park. A nice bonus watching the occasional big jump. Wengen looks nice but at £900 each for Half Board and £260 for Lift pass, its very similar price to LA (just a couple of hundred too much)
CP, where abouts in Dolomites? Been to Passo Tonale (realise its not in the dolomites, but very close) Although we enjoyed at the time (as a step up from Bulgaria), we wouldnt want to go back. Looked in Sella Ronda, but piste map looks very confusing and not easy to get from resort to resort.
Claude B, Cervinia looks OK but looks like its all above tree line - we love skiing through forests. Sorry, forgot to mention that I am proper picky!! he he! Still looking for that perfect resort!
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If you can find a decent price (plenty of accomm a little out of the village(s), Portes du Soleil would be ideal. Tbh, if you asked for a large cruisy/easy resort in Austria, the SkiWelt/Soell would probably have been my first answer... What did you find challenging about it?
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Jon Ford, getting between resorts in the Sella Ronda is very easy - online piste maps are confusing, but when you get there you just pick up the local one for each town you ski to, and it's much easier. They are quite well signposted anyway.
Have a look at Selva, Ortesei, Alp de Suisi, Colfosco, Corvara or San Cassiano for blues. There is a nice blues/trees/park area at Plan de Gralba/Monte Sura, easily accessible from Selva side. Plenty of tree skiing too.
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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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Soll in Austria
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Corvara imo is best for accessibility to other villages (not just sella ronda villages but others over the back eg La Villa, San Cassiano, Pedraces) and for cruising about. But it's not cheap, try Colletts who have chalets in Corvara, but you need to book your own flight. Alpe di Suisi next to Ortisei is also good for blues but no tour operator seems to go there at the moment. Arabba used to be cheap but no longer. Madonna di Campiglio also nice in a different part of the Dolomites, Folgarida linked nextdoor to it a lot cheaper and with good snow conditions is a great blue area to ski.
All of us who promote the Dolomites here have obviously been doing such a good job that demand is pushing the prices up! However, Italy is definitely cheaper than France once on the mountain, and food is great with lots of mountain huts to choose from. Austria is cheaper still on the mountain, maybe look at the Ski Welt again, Ellmau, Scheffau this time? Soll area is a bit steeper. Lech also good but not cheap.
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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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Jon Ford, never skied in Italy before, but we are off to Madonna di Campiglio on Sunday. From the reviews I have looked at it sounds exactly the sort of thing you are after. Loads of cruisy runs, perfectly groomed pstes, and a reputation or being snowsure and sunny. We looked at Arabba, but the resort runs are, I gather, much more challenging so we avoided it. If you are interested, look up Enchanted Holidays and speak to Dominic. They specialise in MdC.
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| Quote: |
Just 'cos you've looked at an expensive mega-resort don't assume that all of France is just as expensive.
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This. France probably has the widest choice of very cheap options as well as some of the most eye-wateringly expensive. Even with TOs sometimes, though you will do a lot better going DIY, especially if you have to go in school holidays.
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a reputation of being snowsure
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actually, I don't think the Dolomites has a reputation, long-term, for being snowsure, but they do have extensive snow-making so if the weather is cold enough coverage of artificial snow on piste will be fine. Still, it's a wonderful area though accommodation is likely to cost more than France food is cheaper and the coffee is much better. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Jon Ford, San Cassiano, loads of lovely cruisey blues with no hidden surprises, and the chance to go further afield if confidence grows. The reds are pretty tame as well!! Oh and more places to stop then I've seen in many other resorts!!
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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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Brenta Dolomites (Folgarida/Marilleva with the Madonna di Campiglio extension - even the reds are cruisey - and their piste grooming is outstanding) or Corvara.
As mentioned, Arabba is very pleasant, but the runs back to resort are more challenging if cruisey blues are preferred.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I've asked a similar question before and got some good replies here http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1695374&highlight=quiet+blues#1695374
I would have said Passo Tonale, but see that you have been there. Have you thought about Norway? I loved Trysil. Although the prices of drinks in bars are eye watering, and mountain food is nothing to write home about, the self-catering accommodation, lift passes, lessons etc are all reasonably priced.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Corvara
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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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Masella, Spain.
Combined with La Molina - connected by runs and gondola, they have about 120km.
Some greens, lots of blues (including 6.5 km run), reds, a few blacks and a couple of double diamond blacks! (yes, add to the fact they divide greens into beginner and very easy on the markings, 6 grades of run) - the reds are not more difficult than many French blues, half the resort has beautiful tree-lined runs, plus the half is above it.
Prices good to.
www.masella.cat
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Crikey. loads of replies. thanks. Will look into all the named above.
clarky999, due to the V heavy snow fall when we were there, we were put off Skiwelt. It made the skiing very hard and to be honest, we werent a big fan of the runs (even on the bluebird days). There wasnt 1 run that we went down thinking "would love to do that again". Even the long blue going towards Sheffau! (it was nice, but not amazing).
Dont get me wrong, we are pretty good skiers, but we just love cruising around. We found that with Les Arcs, we could cruise from 1 blue to another without worrying about what was coming next or thinking "cr4p, the only way to a half decent blue is via a bad red". It just seemed to flow a lot more than Skiwelt (plus the piste signs in skiwelt were shocking..."turn left for Blue 61" - got there and no sign of Blue 61 (this is just an example).
janeed, We did like Passo T at the time (as a step up from Bulgaria, but once we'd experience Les Arcs, it left it standing) - doubt I would go back to PT.
kitenski, San Cassiano looks really nice from the map. Will deff look into that one a bit.
Chasseur, Ive been told about the Madonna di Campiglio so will research prices for there
foxtrotzulu, can you post a message/reply after your holiday and let me know what it was like, We would be going v end of Jan so conditions may be different to what you experiance, but it all helps (have a good holiday)
A lot of reading up to do...who would have thought a ski holiday could be such hard work. But as we only do 1 ski hol a year, I want to make sure we get the most out of it. I love reading the brochures and posts on here. Never planned this far ahead for a holiday!
thanks again all - really appreciate it
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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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| Jon Ford wrote: |
Chasseur, Ive been told about the Madonna di Campiglio so will research prices for there
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Staying somewhere nice in MdC won't be cheap - it is quite a chic Italian town. Folgarida is a much better bet (although quieter) - justy take the area extension. You can always have a night in Madonna (which is easy and not too expensive to get to) if you fancy it (worth it IME).
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thanks Chasseur, will look into
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Jon Ford, Fair enough. I do agree with you to some extent about the SkiWelt, when there I stay pretty much exclusively in Westendorf - but doesn't sound like the place for you either. Take a look at Saalbach - Hinterglemm, the Kohlmais area particularly sounds right up your street.
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thanks clarky999, we ventured over to Westendorf as I want to film the snow park. Unfortuately, we chose the worst weather day of the week. Couldnt see more than 20ft in front of us. Made the long blue to the bottom a very long trip...and no one was on the jump park!
Would prob love the resort on pure sunny days as made conditions much better on the 2 sun days we had, but there were still some hard blues and easier reds.may just save some more money and go back to LA or LP next year. At least we know there are good slopes and loads going on
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Another vote for the Dolomites. I think (not having been) Val Gardena/Selva would suit your requirements best - Arabba is probably too challenging.
I might throw in the Italian Via Lattea (Milky Way) resorts as well - Sauze D'Oulx, Sestriere/Sansicario and Claviere being the main ones with TO service from the UK.
Lots of nice cruisey blue/red pistes, nothing massively difficult (although there are some tricky blacks and the Women's Olympic Downhill run in Sestriere to try) and some of the towns (Esp Claviere/Montgenevre and bits of Sauze) are quite pleasant too, compared to the French mega-resorts. Added bonus, being Italy, food/drink and lift pass will be cheaper than resorts of a similar size in France. Many of the lower altitude runs are tree-lined and lovely to ski down even in bad weather. I think it's a little lower than Les Arcs so might not get the best snow at the start and end of the season but there's also skiing well above the trees so I'm sure you'll find something to your taste. I'd say, in much of Italy, most of the red runs are similar to blues in France.
We went to Bardonnechia as well, I was a two-week skier and got down all the reds and blues no problem. About 100km of runs, mostly tree-lined. Really nice skiing when we were there but the town isn't much to look at. It's a nice cheap option, though, and if you don't need masses of runs, it's a pretty good choice IMO.
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thanks Felonius_Monk, will look into them now. Lots of people saying Dolomites. As long as better than Passo Tonale, Im happy! Wanted to look into S'Doulx this year, but Austria got the better of me
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Jon Ford, Serre Chevalier is usually less expensive than the Tarentaise.
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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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Jon Ford, the Dolomites and Brenta Dolomites are in a different class to Passo Tonale in every respect IMHO.
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thanks Chasseur, a few people have said not to judge Passo T to the dolomites so will look into that area.
Hells Bells, do you know if Serre C is cheaper or similar prices to Les Arcs? (not sure whre Tarentaise refers to)
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You know it makes sense.
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Jon Ford, If you're looking at Wengen, then also look at Grindelwald as it has access to the same ski areas, indeed, First (Grindelwald's own ski area) is probably more cruisey and bluey than Kleinne Scheidegg.
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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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La Tuille sic Italian to suit OP
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Poster: A snowHead
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Jon Ford, Terentaise is Les Arcs, La Plagne,Val d'Isere, 3V, etc etc. All of those mega resorts in that general area. Having skied both, Serre Chevalier is definitely more reasonably priced, although apart from Val Thorens , I haven't skied there for a while now, but depends on your individual requirements too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jon Ford, I'd agree with Hells Bells too. Having experienced all those places, SC is, broadly speaking, more reasonable.
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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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thanks Chasseur, and Hells Bells, Just been looking into it, Looks good resort. Just trying to find a nice accommodation that isnt stupidly priced. Self Catering if fine, but hate paying the excess for poeple 3 + 4. Most rooms only juts comfortably fit 2 people in unless you take kids. It adds another £400 to the cost!!
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I have skied both Les Arcs and Serre Chevalier in the last 12 months. Whilst Serre Che is the nicer resort (it's cheaper, food is better, scenery is better, easier to get around), I wouldn't say it was "cruisy". IMO, anyway. I found the skiing much more challenging in Serre Che. For example, there are no green runs in Les Arcs, and the blues in Serre Che can be steeper than some of the reds in Les Arcs.
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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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With apologies in advance for a lack of experience (others will correct me I'm sure)Jon Ford, just about to dash off a quick TR having returned from Sauze d'Oulx on Saturday - would seriously recommend, loads of nice cruisy blues/reds which I think would be greens/blues in France (my OH was skiing for first time and was on the reds within a few days, I was on my second week still very much a beginner and felt comfortable on virtually any of them) and fantastic runs through the trees. Plenty of space with links to Sestriere and Montgenevre. Plenty of decent, if not luxury, affordable accommodation and not expensive on the slopes or in the resort.
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thanks Jenniper, will bear that in mind. Very similar costs so if had to choose, would go for LA over SC
Curzonian, will look into S'D. A few people have brought that one up now
thanks again
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Madonna Di Campiglio +1 (and yes it has a great snowpark just to complete the list)
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Thanksishay, always good to have a good snow park
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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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Not sure I'd agree with the lack of cruising in SC, I've been doing a lot of it this week.
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Yeah, I thought that was strange - one of the things I like about the place when you chuck in the sense of travel. That said, it did take several visits to work out the various options by trial and error to establish the cruisey links - its not obvious.
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FAQ
