Beginner looking for a late season resort

Hello everyone,

I'd appreciate some expert help:

I'm looking for a good skiing resort in Europe to go to with my brother, late april. I've Skied once as a child, so obviously I'm quite a beginner.

I have two main preferences:

1. A place where we can also hike, climb, trek etc...
2. Preferably France.
3. A nice town with bars in the area to go out at night.

Any input\feedback\advice will be appreciated and put into use. :)
Thanks in advance, and I apologize if this is the wrong place to post my question.

Ben

Hello and welcome!

Firstly if you're looking for expert advice don't expect to find it here. You will soon find that most people on here are quite mad.

Of course I'm kidding (about the advice).

For late April you will more than likely need a high resort that is also ok for someone of your ability.

If you also want the hiking etc I would suggest Chamonix in France, there is good beginners skiing up the mountin (Brevent), the town is quite large and commercial these days but theres lots of choice for accommodation and entertainment.

I know there will be loads of other suggestions and people will probably mock me for suggesting Chamonix (its quite an extreme winter sports area), but I learnt to ski there, I also learnt to climb there so I know there's a ton of choice.

Hope that helps!

Hi Nelly,

Thanks for the (Entertaining) reply! I was and still am considering Chamonix, as it seems to be quite a popular option. I feared it might be a pro-only type of resort, but your suggestion implies otherwise. I'll definitely look into it. Thanks! :)


I'd love to hear other options as well.

Ben

Late April is a bit weird. In a ski resort it's the end of the season, not many people around. It's not the start of the summer either. Chamonix being an all-year round place is a good bet. Serre Chevalier, Val D'Isere (not as good for hiking).

The resorts with glaciers in France tend to be rather ugly. I'm thinking Tignes, Deux Alpes etc.

Book late. It could be -20c and 6ft of snow or a heatwave like last year.

Don't expect to ski beyond lunchtime. err. Otherwise try Lapland for good snow conditions in late April.

Hi Volf, thanks for you reply.

After doing some research we decided to book for late March. So, if that changes anything in terms of choosing a resort, I'd be happy to hear your opinions.

Right now we are planning to go the Chamonix way. I hope it is a place to learn how to ski though.... :)

I would recommend waiting until end of Feb beginning of March to book (Even later if you dare) that way you can 'follow the snow' as they say.

I went to Serre Chev the last weekend of the season three years ago we had three amazing powder days and the rest were blue bird. Probably one on the best ski holidays I have ever had. Its really hit and miss, if we have a season like last year you may be turning it in to more of a sun holiday then a ski one.

That's important information. Can I count on weather predictions being accurate? If so, assuming I'm going late-march, when should I look up weather forecasts and such? Will a month in advanced offer reliable information?

I would doubt it to be honest, I would think no more then a week in advance. If you leave it late at least you will know which resorts still have a decent snow base etc. Plus the later you leave it the better deals you will get. I'm still waiting to book mine and its so hard to hold out but fingers crossed it will be worth it in the long run.