 Poster: A snowHead
|
HI folks,
Any help appreciated. Been given 2 months off work from December. We are thinking of staying in Europe for this time skiing. Aim for adults to improve skiing and 9 year old son to learn to ski, although he has already decided he wants to be a snowboarder. Which resort would be best, for accommodation (looking for an apartment), variety of skiing and other stuff to do. Accommodation needs to be price realistic (ie we don't have a huge budget!!)
One of the other aims is for learning a new language, so the earlier we sort out, the more practice beforehand!!
Many thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
6 weeks skiing.........
V jealous.
My 2ps worth.
If you want to learn another language go somewhere still French ish. But for 6 weeks needs to be a decent sized resort.
I would be looking at somewhere like serre chevalier. Still reasonably priced and great sized resort with a bit of charm as its still really villages not a purpose built resort.
Or you could look at somewhere like les sybelles area. Good skiing, very French in some villages or there is le corbier, still very cheap for apartments, ugly but ski in ski out.
Sure there will be loads of other suggestions.
Still very jealous though 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Hmm.. won't get far on the bargain accomodation given that your 6 weeks presumably include peak Xmas and NY weeks. As for Europe you are likely to be taking your own car I'd consider valley towns with good access to a ski area - I'd think about Austria then places like the Bourgs and Briancon in France, maybe Aosta in Italy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
alfie2, If you avoid the peak weeks you can get accommodation for a resonable price. I'm going to Les Deux Alpes for 7 weeks next winter, but in 2 trips. 3 weeks in January then another 4 from mid March. Avoiding Christmas, New Year and the french holidays has enabled me to get a very good deal on an apartment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
alfie2, try Austria as hotels don't vary quite so much in terms of supplements for Christmas and New Year. For example the place I stay in in the middle of the Ski Amadé region cost me 1200 Euro for 16 days Half Board over Christmas and New Year (that included my drinks bill as well by the way!). There are lots of family run Gasthofs/Hotels where you can get a good deal for that length of time.
Self-Catering you may find that the prices vary more, but if you get in early enough then you may be able to negotiate - loads of 1 and 2-bedroom places in Altenmarkt im Pongau or St Johann im Pongau. Better known resorts or technically "ski in/ski out" locations are at a premium and will cost more wherever you are. Flachau and Wagrain for example although not that well-known in the UK, are extremely popluar with Dutch and Scandinavian tourists, so the owners know they can get a good price out of the demand. One of the flats I look after was sold out for the entire season because it is in Flachau (also a bloody good flat in a terrific location).
Alternatively get in touch with our own flangesax who runs a small family pension in Radstadt and also has 2 children that would be company for your boy. Avalanche Poodle stayed 6 weeks or so with them this season. They also have lots of contacts in the area that may provide a suitable alternative. As Radstadt is below the radar in terms of lots of countries, the prices are not too bad, especially for a longer period.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
2 children that would be company for your boy
|
I think that's quite an important consideration for 6 weeks - though presumably in that case the children would be English speaking!
Learning a language is quite a tall order, actually, unless you very specifically plan it in. Certainly there are French resorts where little English is spoken (I have an apartment in one, Les Saisies!) but in 6 weeks, in the normal tourist course of events, you wouldn't expect to speak a lot.
Do you speak any French, German or Italian already? If so it might be easier.
There is a language school, which I have used, in Les Saisies - http://www.alplingua.com/Etarifs.htm
I can thoroughly recommend it but obviously it will add considerably to costs. The school has contacts with accommodation providers.
There is plenty of skiing to keep you occupied - I've spent months there. Private lessons are very reasonable but group lessons are largely francophone (because there are so few anglophone visitors, which is good if you are trying to speak French a bit - bigger ski resorts are chock full of competent English speakers who would rather speak English to you than let you struggle in French or German).
If your lad is keen to learn to snowboard, why not let him? Might help make up for being expected to learn some French or German!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before you ask the audience, may I suggest you go 50/50 and decide first whether you want mountain-based, ski in/out convenience or valley-based, drive-and-ride variety.
Mountain: time saving, instructor rapport, easy navigation
Valley: variety of slopes, cheaper accommodation, real life
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
valley-based, drive-and-ride variety.
|
bear in mind ski pass costs. If you choose an area where you can get a season ski pass with a variety of resorts (ski amadé, mont blanc evasion, for example) you could have masses of choice, but you would need a car to get the best out of them, obviously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
pam w, indeedy. And conversely, if you're gonna be stuck in one resort for 6 weeks then it'll probably needs to be a big (expensive) one.
That's why I suggested that the OP narrows the field a bit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
if you're gonna be stuck in one resort for 6 weeks then it'll probably needs to be a big (expensive) one.
|
not necessarily, it all depends what you want. I have spent a lot more time than that in Les Saisies and surroundings and somewhere like St Gervais, a bigger town but not particularly expensive, is a good centre for the Mont Blanc Evasion area. I've not been to the Ski Amadé area but it sounds as though there are plenty of smaller, inexpensive, resorts in that area.
There are no facilities in a big, expensive resort (e.g. Val D'Isere, St Anton) that I would want or need, over and above what is available in small places. If you want to spend time learning a language, a resort with a language school is a good bet!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
We rented a place for the season for a couple of years in Les Carroz-very nice villagey feel. Part of the Grand Massif ski area so lots of skiing that includes Flaine. Les Carroz is quite French too, but very friendly. The skiing in the whole area is lovely-lots of trees, and nice places to go if the weather is pants. They do say the GM has 265km of pistes but I would say that you should take that with a pinch of salt as some of that is below 1100m, The lift pass for the season was a real bargain if bought before about 15th December (half price). 2 years ago it was 420 euros for an adult, and half that for a child which was up to and including 17 years old! Should you need to get back to the UK quickly Geneva is an hour away. This also makes it really good for having mates out for the odd day or 2 as it is really easy to go and pick em up and drop em off, especially if they fly in from Gatwick as there are lots of flights each day so being a cheap taxi service doesn't interrupt the serious business of skiing. We loved it! I am assuming you will be taking a car so you're not quite so much in need of ski in/ski out-that opens up rentals that aren't quite as "prime" in terms of location, but you can still find some lovely places with more charm and space then something bang in the village centre. The local estate agents tend to be the best source of properties. The GM is just around the hill from the Portes du Soleil ski area too and season passes usually offer day passes to other local resorts too.
Season just gone we had a lovely apartment in one of the hamlets next door to St Martin de Belleville (3 Valleys), about a mile from the lift-had it for 7 weeks in total. as to an idea on price-we had a 3 bedroomed apartment in an old converted village house, nicely finished and comfortably slept 6-7. We rented it with a mate from 22nd december until 15th Feb just before most people's half terms (but not ours  ). I think the total rental (split between 2 families) was £5500, including bills. (I should add-we're not there the whole time, we came and went via Geneva). We bought a flexi skipass, but for 6 weeks you'd have to shell out for a full 3V season which is most definitely NOT a bargain, but the skiing was fantastic! Geneva was just over a 2 hour drive though, so it was more of a chore to pick people up from the airport.
For 6 weeks, I think it's nicer to be in a "real" place rather than a rather sterile "resort"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd have a look at Serre Che/Briancon. The latter is a proper town, there are baths and more in the valley, and it's easy to get up to La Grave, across to Monty etc. Lovely little resort, superb skiing. Chantemerle would be my pick of the villages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Hi folks,
Many many thanks, lots to be going on with. Will be driving out, so options more open. We were looking more for the traditional village, and then drive/bus/long lift to resort. Thoughts are the more traditional town/village the more we will need to use our french and Ben can start to use school boy french for real.
Not thought of Austria, having never skied there
Many thanks again
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
alfie2, Might be a good time to broaden your horizons then! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
alfie2, I'm not sure if you told us when you go out. If going out early Dec then most of your time will be at touch-and-go time of year snow-wise so you want somewhere high to be sure of snow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
A few years ago annie on here took the family( husband and one son ) to st gervais for tthe season she i am sure could give you a lot of advice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
alfie2, Welcome to YHM!
But a couple of further thoughts from me;
1) YOu don't really need a "massive resort" as some have said you can really enjoy some of the smaller resorts, I've lived in resorts with as little as 100+km of Pistes and enjoyed them just as much as resorts with 600km+ of pistes!
2) If you're thinking early December until end of January then you won't actually have that much time of skiing as the majority of resorts wont fully open until near Christmas!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Have a look at villages around the Grand Massif. The season pass is really reasonable if you buy it before the winter. There are many apartments up for rent. In Les Carroz there is a great school where they are used to having English-speaking kids and the village itself is lovely. Send an e-mail to http://www.snowbeds.com - they may be able to help. The guys who run it have had kids in the local school so should be able to give you plenty of info.
The Grand Massif is one of the best ski areas in France in my opinion and the variety is great!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Second Grand Massif and also Paradiski area is huge and offers something for everybody. You can stay in any of the Les Arcs resorts, La Plagne or even down in Bourg St Maurice (much cheaper accomodation) and use the funicular and buses as part of the ski pass to get up into the mountains.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With 6 weeks one should sample the best of European Alps of Switzerland, France, Italy and Austria. Why stay in one place or one country?
Just hop into a car and check out the best, the largest, the most scenic, most prestigious and the most famous you can find. Just book off-resort accommodations and you can enjoy the best at the affordable cost.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi folks
Many thanks, loads to be going on. Like the sound of Bourg, Les Carroz and Brides les Bain. Just now looking for the most affordable accommodation options.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Not appropriate for alfie2 unfortunately but for someone who could do a few weeks outside of the Christmas/New Year and 4 weeks of French half term mid February, Megeve does a €230 season pass that covers 300km weekdays outside of school holidays and you get 3 half price day passes to use in other Haute Savoie resorts too. The Espace Diamant does a loyalty card offering Saturdays for €18 (and I think if you do that 6 times the 7th Saturday is free or something) It's a pretty good combination I think for someone going for 2 weeks + off peak.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
