Back from Niederau today

just edited those videos. the first link I had put up was Jack, he is so dramatic!! you want to see him now! the pair of them just have no fear!

this is a pic of the snow and conditions on the day it dumped 2 foot of snow at the top of the mitermoos

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and what it was like on the nursery slopes the same day (notice the volume of people still in the background)!
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the kids having fun in the snow, throwing snowballs (or snodgers as us geordies like to call them!)

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and I had to post this little clip it of the ski school entertainers at the ceremony evening
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Well that is probably all Ive got for one night. I hope I havent bored the pants off you! Well you know what its like when you go to a friends house and they get all the photos out then start showing you holiday videos! you can only take so much :wink: You just have to tell me! lol

Not at all,great vids - roll on 07/03 in N.

Karen. Well done for posting an honest review on Niederau.
A ski holiday is a very personal experience, as we all have different expectations and want different things. However, from your reports I think I would simply add the following comments:

1. Dont go during school holidays, for as long as it wont affect your kids education. I always took my kids out of school holidays until they were in main exam years, and both of them are going to uni so it didnt do them any harm. What you will find is that you can avoid queues and congestion, as well as the rudeness of the others around you, and also do it for considerable less cost.

2. Go somewhere that suits your own needs. Niederau is supposed to be a great place for beginners. You rightly discovered that its a very very limited ski area, but the problem that no one points out is that you go from the nursery slopes at the bottom, to the flat areas at the top where you end up poleing or walking for a reasonable time, and after the 2 pleasant runs at the top by the T bars, you are faced with some pretty difficult slopes back down. I am a reasonably experienced skier and none of the those runs off the mountain, before the schuss, were easy at all. Looking at your pics you had some lovely bluebird days but also some horrible whiteouts. Nothing is easy when its like that.

Dont let this holiday give you an impression of what a ski holiday is like, as the next 3 or 4 will be different again. However, for yourself as an intermediate who wanted cruising to go at for a distance you need to look elsewhere. Go somewhere which has good reports for all levels, but where you feel you can go off and do your own thing in comfort. I would suggest you consider Sauze d'Oulx, but its not great for total beginners, and the snow record is erratic. However, for early intermediates looking to gain confidence and improve, its perfect, with lots of lovely long cruises. The town also has plenty going on, take it or leave it if you want. Cervinia might be perfect for you?

I do seriously suggest you consider going early January when its cheapest and also when its quietest.

I really hope this hasnt tarnished your view of a ski holiday, I just dont think that everything clicked into place for you, and that could have happened everywhere. Niederau maybe wasnt the place for you, it clearly is for a lot of others.

Try somewhere else, and if you go out of holiday time, try a value package deal because as much as people slag off the flying and transfers, you can be in resort less than 6 hours after leaving home. Less wear and tear on your own car as well! I have never paid more than £300 per person for a week half board in January, February or March, and have had a week in a catered chalet for as little as £260 in Verbier.

Anyway, thanks again for the honest and personal report. Keep the faith, keep skiing and it will all fall into place soon.

It was nice to see sun on the nursery slopes - there was none when I was there! Having just come back from St Martin in the 3V my husband has said that he will categorically NOT go anywhere else. Loads of on piste accommadation (cheap too if booked with tourist board or local Immobilier). Lovely village atmosphere, lots of sun during the day and access to the largest ski area in the world. Jerusalem Run (often cited as THE best run in 3V) on your doorstep...Paradise :lol:

Sun on the nursery slopes was one of my worries as I knew the kids would be spending the majority of their time their. When Tony H was there I dont think there was much sun at all on the nursery slopes but when we were there they were never in the shade (except when it snowed lol :wink:).

I think going to Niederau has defintley cemented what we want as a family out of a skiing trip and that is to find a resort that has lots of long easy cruises with loads of lifts and I have a few ideas at the minute but decideing whether I should wait till last minute to book or book ahead of time. What kind of discounts do Tour operators make for children? do you get free child places? is it like a summer holiday?

Karen

karen72 wrote:

I think going to Niederau has defintley cemented what we want out of a skiing trip and that is to find a resort that has lots of long easy cruises with loads of lifts

My trip there did the same for me. It made me realise just what fantastic places I have been to which offered exactly that, although not so much of the "easy"!!!

I think it has to be relatively easy for us as a couple of years ago hubby snapped his achiles tendon and he was saying he felt his good ankle going the same way (although the doc has said this is tendonitis and he has to learn to live with it). On the last day of our holiday his instructor took them down from the top of 23/24 to join with 19 and to the bottom and he managed it (much to my surprise) so we could manage the odd difficult run, but in the main I think just sticking to cruising with the kids in tow will suit us fine. I have been quite surprised I didnt take any stick for my report. phew :lol: