Resorts you've been to that didn't quite live up to expectations.

OK. The intention wasn't to get under peoples' skin so let's try a slightly less contentious title. here goes;

1: Pas de la Casa: My second ski-trip (after Borovets). For a so-called party-town, we found the nightlife totally underwhelming. Skiing was good for me as a 'second weeker'. Ski-school excellent (as was Borovets).The most annoying thing was the price of the drinks. Beer was 'for nowt' in the shops, but wasn't much cheaper than home in the bars. For a duty-free town, I reckon the bar owners were having our pants down.

2: Livigno: Better apres and nightlife and miles cheaper than Pas. Just found the skiing a bit 'same-ish.' Some old, slow chairs and more out-of control, 'flying herberts' than I have encountered in any other resort. On the plus side, we stayed in a cracking little penzione with a superb restaurant that was used by lots of non-residents. Opened my eyes to the delights of Italian hospitality.

3: Courmayeur: Lovely, classy town. Just not enough skiing. Bus-ride to and from the cable-car was a ball-ache, even though it was laid on free by the hotel. Free trip to La Thuile/La Rosiere was a 'lifesaver'. Mont Blanc tunnel was closed after that dreadful fire, scotching our hopes of going to Chamonix.

There, I've played nicely -) . Anyone else?

I have already done mine on tut other thread, but i will comment on yours
Agree with Pas, Agree to an extent with Livigno when you holiday there you need to also take in bormio which is included on the lift pass and is 30 mins on the free bus .... but I could not find a nicer place to spend a week or two, the resort is big enough so you don't meet the twats.
And what was the other one Courmayeur I think it is nice area driven past many times but again much like Livigno you need to utilise the other surrounding resorts.

I find this a bit of a negative thread, and all the more surprising from a great contributor to J2!

I am fortunate enough to have skied hundreds of areas, including Europe, Australia, Canada, USA. There is no place that I would not ski again, or that I have not enjoyed. Every place has different strengths.

Given that I have climbed the Lake District's Cross Fell, carrying skis, in order to ski up & down 25 yards of snow, I am hardly likely to be phased by the price of a beer, or having to catch a bus.

I can easily go in the other direction, and add attributes to some wonderful mountains, some great runs, interesting stubles, classic powder, fabulous people.

No, for me, skiing is the ultimate. No weak aspects, no negatives, no easy way. Every ski opportunity is a positive.

You never hear a boarder being negative...... They know.

I have to ecvho Dave's sentiments that this is indeed a negative thread. However, it raises some interesting issues for us recreational skiers who take skiing holidays 1, 2 maybe 3 times a season, as all the issues such as town, ski area, prices etc are all relevant.
Dave, I know you've lived the life and have a certain place which is special to you, and I have agreed not to comment regarding that place where it is inappropriate to do so.

However, Gaz has asked the question and I am happy to answer honestly:

1. Sauze d'Oulx. Some lovely runs and a nice little town. But I found the snow terrible on my 2 visits despite us being able to ski full week both times. The lifts were rubbish, and the link over to Sestriere was closed for half the week as there wasn't enough snow. I would go back though, as theres tons of skiing, but I'd only go after a big dump of snow.

2. Niederau. Having been offered the chance to see it for myself, I didn't get what the so called magic of the place was. For me its far too small a ski area, and too quiet a village. Nothing more to add to that.

3. Andorra generally. A distinct lack of mountains to look at or ski around. It all looked like little hills and the skiing itself was nothing to write home about, apart from Arcalis which is a small area on a limb. Pas de la Casa is a horrible dirty place and the whole thing gave me a feeling of Magaluf on snow. I would not go back unless someone paid me to.

Hope this doesn't get under anyone's skin as it isn't intended to. Just being honest.

I always do quite a bit of research before going somewhere, so I've very rarely been disappointed.
Only ski area which didn't quite come up to scratch, or at least the lift system didn't was portes du soleil. I loved the skiing, but the lift system was light years out of date compared to other big resorts at the time (about a decade ago).

Just one out of the 40 to 50 resorts I've been to on holiday.

That was Fernie - it was good, but I felt absolutely over-rated. The lift system was antiquated and inefficient and the snow was awful with a lot of closures, which I suppose is just one of those things, but coloured my thinking. There was only an occasional shuttle bus to and from town, which needed the rucking and mauling skills of a Gloucester loose forward to board at the end of each day (so much for the polite Canadians!)

I'd read so many rave reviews about fantastic it was - and it was a little bit of a let down. When I was there, the SCGB was holding what it called a 'powder paradise' holiday. It should have been retitled 'slush slide' that fortnight!

Still enjoyed myself, but I was hard-pressed to see what the fuss was about.

andyhull wrote:I always do quite a bit of research before going somewhere, so I've very rarely been disappointed. ).

Yes me too, so its worth pointing out the Andorra trip was a freebie I was asked to take, and the niederau trip was as a short trip as a result of being told I needed to see it for myself.
Sauze was mainly disappointing because of the weather, so maybe its unfair to be as critical, although I was aware the weather there is erratic to say the least.

Went to Romania -Poiana Brasov a good few years back, as a beginner it did its job, very cheap, excellent lessons - all day 9am - 5pm every day, very limited ski area (even for a new beginner) was a bit like boot camp "You will ski and you will enjoy" After skiing France, Italy etc since would die if I had to go back.