 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
I have a colleague at work who is looking to take his wife away for a few days for their 25th anniversary, however, she doesn't want to ski, she just wants to spend a few days in a small village (ideally French) where she can get up in the morning and have snow on the ground, sort of a 'picture postcard' type of place. their anniversary is on Dec 6th which means it needs to be reasonably high but not one of the newer uglier resorts... ideas welcome, also, he wants to drive to the resort so they can visit other places en route, cheers, Tony
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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TEECEE, not that many resorts open that early if he is planning on going to France, although the higher uglier ones will be. Somewhere like Megeve would be ideal if it is open though.
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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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TEECEE, I'd agree with Hells Bells, very few French resorts will be open then, and the ones that are open are high and purpose built. More chance of finding what he is looking for in Austria, I'd say. There are some places with nice Christmas market-type things. Megeve will be largely closed, and rather gloomy, even if there is a bit of snow around. Just as likely, if not more likely, to be raining down that low.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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What about Scandinavia?
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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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And rain does not make for a romantic break.
We celebrated our anniversary in September with a drive through France stopping at hotels and Michelin restaurants on the way, which is a fabulous way to do it.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Guaranteed snow on the ground in the village is pretty hard to guarantee (outside the high purpose-built ski factories - but are usually pretty hideous). You could try Neustift in Austria - good snow on the Stubai glacier, and the Sporthotel is lovely, would be a great place for a romantic anniversary. The wellness area/spa is also gorgeous (and fairly extensive), she she can have a nice time relaxing while he skis, and the Christmas markets in Innsbruck (think they'll be on by then) will be worth a visit in the evening.
Also consider Ischgl, it's pretty good for snow at that time of the year, and won't be in apres-mode by then, so will be quiet and pretty.
From what I hear of it, Zermatt would likely fit the bill too.
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I think Ribenarockstar is on to a good thing with Scandinavia, Are Sweden is a favourite of mine, overlooks the frozen lake, husky sleds, snowmobiles, spa facilities, zip wires and a more alpine feel to the center of town than many scandi resorts.
Easy access from Trondheim airport in Norway, take the train direct to Are. Do stock up on duty free spirits at the airport but the price of a pint is no worse than the major French resorts. Its not high but the snow is reliable there from what I have experienced. They have started getting some at the top of Areskuten down as far as the vm8 lift currently so the base is beginning to build for the season.
If you want any info PM me, I've clocked up a bit of local knowledge over the last few years.
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Murren? Scenery is spectacular snow or not, nice hotels, nice restaurants, etc.
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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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1. Zermatt, Switzerland;
2. Aspen, USA;
3. Ruka, Finland.
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If it isn't a silly question, why does he want to focus their wedding anniversary break on something his wife doesn't want to do? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w, a good point.
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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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It's the wife's idea, she has some sort of romantic vision of a chalet in the snow, she's never skied and doesn't want to, crazy I know..
The husband asked my advice as I did a season 2 years ago but that was in Le Praz which at 1300M is a bit too low for reliable snow in December....
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How about somewhere with a pedestrian cable car/gondola to get high enough to get some pics with guaranteed snow that time of year?
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You know it makes sense.
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How about somewhere with a pedestrian cable car/gondola to get high enough to get some pics with guaranteed snow that time of year?
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plenty of those, but it doesn't sound like what she's after. There was a recent thread on Finland, and some cosy romantic log cabins, which sounded just the thing. Driving there is out of the question, realistically, but it sounded as though there were a lot of fun activities, other than skiing.
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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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Again not France but Saas Fee has a good chance of snow at the village level by then, guaranteed higher up and is picture postcard pretty which sounds like what is being looked for. Non skier friendly lifts for getting up to the snow too.
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Poster: A snowHead
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TEECEE, Leave it until late November and see how the snow is panning out. Availability of accommodation won't be a problem then, and if everywhere's white over, virtually any small, pretty, Austrian village (and no doubt a few French and Swiss ones) would fit the bill. She sounds like a romantic, so a Sound of Music tour of the old town of Salzburg seems to be called for.
If, heaven forbid, the Alps are still green, a shortlist of high, snowsure resorts would be useful. I agree about Zermatt - the Matterhorn and horse-drawn sleighs - how picture postcard can you get? (Although much pricier than the Austrian option and doesn't really fit with the wanting to drive and visit other places).
Places worth visiting en route to the Austrian Alps (700 miles/10 hours from Calais) include Rheims and Strasbourg. Alastair Sawday can no doubt advise on some suitably romantic places to stay en route.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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dec
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if everywhere's white over, virtually any small, pretty, Austrian village (and no doubt a few French and Swiss ones) would fit the bill.
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Even if there's plenty of snow most French resorts, especially the small pretty ones, will still be closed. The same might apply to small Austrian ones. Alpbach, for example, which is very pretty and romantic, seems to be opening 14/15 December.
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Places worth visiting en route to the Austrian Alps (700 miles/10 hours from Calais) include Rheims and Strasbourg
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I don't think I'd drive Calais to Salzburg via Reims.
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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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pam w, [quote]
The same might apply to small Austrian ones
[/quote
I haven't checked on Alpbach (which certainly springs to mind) but resorts like Zell am See, Kaprun, Leogang, Saalbach, Hinterglemm open at the end of November.
Come to think of it (being of a romantic disposition), how about the Erlhof at Zell am See? Here's an extract from its history, copied from its website:
The Erlhof was built around the year 1050. It is one of oldest settlements on Lake Zell am See. In the Salzburg archives, Erlhof is first mentioned in 1137. On November 8, 1151 the Burggraf Hartnid bequeathed the lake-side estate to the Monastery of St. Peter after the death of his beloved wife.
1648 1648 Purchased by Christof Freiherr von Khuen – Belasy
1692 Georg Dietrich Khuen – Belasy.
1712 Vinzenz Auer.
1741 Ruep Scheiber.
1782 Johann Herzog.
1902 Agathe Whitehead, née Grafin Breuner, inherits the estate. Rittmeister Georg von Trapp marries a Whitehead daughter and so came the famous von Trapp singing family to Thumersbach/Erlhof, where they maintained a summer holiday residence until 1935. Since 1974, the estate has been owned by Hans Michel Piëch.
In 1976, after extensive renovations, the Erlhof was rebuilt into a modern yet traditional country hotel.
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I don't think I'd drive Calais to Salzburg via Reims.
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We always have - according to the Michelin route-planner, the French route Via Metz is the quickest. Haven't tried the alternatives though.
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Chamonix can be a good option! It is close to Geneva - and there are plenty of nice places nearby to visit (Annecy, Yvoire, Montreux...) and it has year around skiing. You might not get snow on the ground but there will be plenty around.
It is also a town with great hotels, restaurants and shops... And it's in France.. 
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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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Another vote for Zermatt (other than it being Swiss rather than French), but a lengthy drive for a long weekend.
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