where shall we go?!

hey guys.

Hopefully someone can help me.
The other half and i (25 and 26 years old) are looking to go skiing in Feb next year, the week after half term. I have around 20 weeks experience behind me and have skied most of the main resorts in Europe. The gf is very much a beginner and had her first week snowboarding last year in Les Arcs.
For some reason unknown to me, she doesn't want to go to the 'main' resorts and instead wants to try resorts in Slovenia, Bulgaria and Andorra. I have never experienced skiing in these countries, and although they are cheaper in every way imaginable, do you still get value for money? i.e - lift passes are cheaper, but the ski areas are far smaller. But if she's not going to ski a huge area because of her lack of experience, does this matter? one thing I am concerned about though is the potential lack of snow. all the mentioned places seem to have far less snow than most of the other resorts in France and Austria etc. Is this normal? The reason i am so undecided is a 7 night stay half board in Banksco, Soldeu and Kranjska Gora is around £200 compared to £5-600 in the 3 valleys etc.
Would you be prepared to risk no snow, fewer runs and older lift systems (i think?) if it meant you saved 60-70% on a French ski holiday?
Are there any other places I've missed out which we should look into? FYI i'd ideally like to stick to under £600 all in, including lift passes and ski hire. I'd happily spend far more, but the other half wont let me :-)
thanks!

jimmi85 wrote:Would you be prepared to risk no snow, fewer runs and older lift systems (i think?) if it meant you saved 60-70% on a French ski holiday?

I wouldn't, no, but I'm not you... 8) It sounds like you're asking the right questions but most of them have answers that only you can provide!

Smaller resorts have a lot of advantages for building familiarity and confidence in early skiers / boarders and it sounds as if your GF is thinking that way. Maybe you can look at a week in a small resort, developing skills, as an investment for the future?

If you want the snow in France then find one of the smaller resorts and go there - prices are generally much more reasonable if you go where the Tour Operators don't.

Of the other countries you mentioned, I'd look at Slovenia and add Slovakia to your options - always good to try somewhere new, and I've heard good things about both.

thanks Admin, Slovakia and Slovenia were actually one of our options as well but i forgot to mention those!
I am going to snowboard with her i think, i am a very competent skier but never really tried boarding except for a few days last year. I think that will help her build her confidence up if we're both as rubbish as each other! I also want to do lessons together, either privately for a few hours or in a group. I'm assuming that pretty much anywhere will have ski schools?
If i had my way i would spend a week in ST Anton or, Verbier or Courcheval. I don't think I'm going to get my way though!
You mentioned smalled resorts in France etc, can you recommend any that are 1500m or higher please?
thanks!

Jimmi85,
if you are planning to go to France a week after 1/2 term; I,m assuming you mean 'our' 1/2 term?
You will likely find that your week of choice is one of the French 'zones' 1/2 terms and will be very busy. Would recommend avoiding France through all of Feb to be honest.
Also, from what research i have done snowboard schools ( or at least recommended ones) are few & far between ( with several running lessons only in the afternoon).
Am planning my first boarding trip ( after some time skiing) & trying to tie up a good deal in a resort with a 'recommended' board school isn't easy.
If you want to stick with France ,there are some 'smaller' resorts located along the Maurienne valley that have some decent height & you will find not to painful on the wallet.

How did your GF get on at Les Arcs? That's somewhere I've been considering but wasnt sure if it is suitable for 1st time boarding?

FB

Gf was nervous to be honest! the snow conditions were awful, we went in January and it was around 8 degrees on the lower slopes, and hadnt snowed for almost a month! problem was, she doesnt like chair lifts ad cant do Drag lifts so the nursery slopes were out of the question, and even if she could do the chairs, the slopes were pretty much green!
The gondolas also posed a problem, as she didnt have the confidence to ski down to the bottom, so it was a bit of a nightmare to be honest!!
I think if she got a few hours lessons under her belt she'd be ok, so i am really crossing my fingers!
You made a good point re the French holidays, as i wouldn't want the slopes to be crowded for her.
Reading back through my posts, it does seem as though i am hoping for the impossible! Slovakia does look so will definatly look into that further, but am still concerned about the lower altitudes and lack of snow.
i Tried boarding for a day last year in Les Arcs and i felt pretty comfortable to be honest, so i would recommend it.

Been doing some research and Vaujany seems like a good option. Seems good for beginners, lots of gondolas and cable cars, not many chairs, and can explore other areas like Alpe'd'huez if we get bored. Resort is high so snow should be good,
has anyone been there before?

Twice last season we managed to get a week in Are Sweden for 600 each including snowboard school for my other half, lift passes for us both and hired ski's for me. Google skistar sweden or check out neilson for cheap deals. We went self catering, ate in at night, bought beer from the national offy (roughly same price as GB, pubs much more expensive for spirits, beer about same as euro resorts) food on hills not too bad pricewise, good quality and most places free coffee refills, warming huts and bbq's scattered so you can heat your own food too. Skiing was great approx 100km across 3 areas, plenty green and blue for your GF, some more challenging reds, few blacks, great off piste available too. By feb whole mountain opens up and days are longer, we skied til about 5 plus there was option of night skiing on same lift pass. Don't be put off by the amount of drags, my BF progressed real quick from zero to red runs by end of first week probably because of the drags! Oh and the snow was awesome, fresh snow a plenty.

Nothing wrong with smaller resorts as such.
But choice of country and then resort in that country is vital. You dont want to run the risk of not getting on the slopes or not liking the place. With that in mind, I'd forget eastern europe. Andorra I think is marmite territory, you either love it or leave it well alone. I did a long weekend and it was ok, but I wouldn t be booking a weeks holiday there, its really NOTHING like the alps.

Can you answer these questions:

* Do you like plenty to do off the slopes?
* Do you like a cutesy village or a bustling town?
* Is apres ski important to you?
* If the GF doesnt get out, do you want a variety of terrain or happy to slide around on the same old slopes?
* Any other factors that are important to you?