Skiing in April

Thank you very much for all your kind input, have not responded until now as you have given us a lot to think about. I think the top resorts in the running are Obergurgl, Zermatt, Saas Fee, Alpe d'Huez and Tignes, so as you can probably tell still quite a way off making a decision!

It will deffinately be the 13th April we will be going but we have come across another problem, of the major package holiday companies we have checked so far don?t cater for that week in April (which has concerned us further about the snow cover prospect) when flying from Manchester. Would anyone be kind enough to suggest a holiday company that would arrange a package at that time of year, as we don?t relish the prospect of arranging all the transfers ourselves on this particular holiday!

The websites of most resorts offer very reasonable and hassle free transfers (It's probably in their best interests!).

I know that http://www.obertauern.com (which is another high Austrian resort) offers a 1hour transfer from Salzburg airport for 39 Euros return. We used a service similar to this for Saalbach this year and it was very well run.

Marv wrote:Thank you very much for all your kind input, have not responded until now as you have given us a lot to think about. I think the top resorts in the running are Obergurgl, Zermatt, Saas Fee, Alpe d'Huez and Tignes, so as you can probably tell still quite a way off making a decision!

It will deffinately be the 13th April we will be going but we have come across another problem, of the major package holiday companies we have checked so far don?t cater for that week in April (which has concerned us further about the snow cover prospect) when flying from Manchester. Would anyone be kind enough to suggest a holiday company that would arrange a package at that time of year, as we don?t relish the prospect of arranging all the transfers ourselves on this particular holiday!

The general suggestion of Austria is excellent, pretty much always scenic.

But, of the 5 you short-listed I'd drop Tignes and Alpe d'Huez immediately if it's your honeymoon unless Bracknell and Basingstoke were also on you honeymoon short-list of course. From a ski point of view they're good bets for snow in April but not very special places to stay.

Obergurgl will be a good bet for snow and has a really, really long season, I don't know the village well, I've stayed up at Hochgurgl which isn't too special.

However, Zermatt and Saas Fee are something else, Saas Fee has the disadvantage that some of the slopes lack sunlight for some parts of the day as does the village although the snow record is excellent.

But, of that list, there's only one answer for me and that's Zermatt. People come from all over the planet to Zermatt, to ski, to climb or just be impressed with the views. The town is pretty nice, although they're are slightly nicer, but the mountains are something else.

As for the conditions, it's end of season but they'll be some skiing, I was last there back on the 22 April this year (photos) and I think the pistes were fine at least in the morning. Without a crystal ball it's hard to know but it's a safe bet as far as it can be.

The UK mass market has pretty much stopped after Easter which is March next year so I'm not surprised you don't see too many options in the mainstream brochures. You can always just book direct, the tourist office would be delighted to help if you called them and told them you were looking to go for a honeymoon. It's very accessible via air and rail, the train will take you right into Zermatt after (I think) one change from Geneva.

German speaking of course, apart from the hotel staff who'll speak Portuguese.

Ise wrote,

But, of the 5 you short-listed I'd drop Tignes and Alpe d'Huez immediately if it's your honeymoon unless Bracknell and Basingstoke were also on you honeymoon short-list of course. From a ski point of view they're good bets for snow in April but not very special places to stay.

Dear Marv,
I agree with Ise's comments about Alpe d'Huez as a place to stay. However you can get the best of both worlds by staying at Oz- en- Oisans, Vaujany or Villard Reculas. They are all attractive small resorts within the Massif des Grandes Rousses ski area which is also served by Alpe d'Huez. The snow conditions have been reliable in April in the last few years.

Ryanair fly round the year to Grenoble. It is certainly possible to get buses from there to Vaujany and Oz-en Oisans.

Geoff smith

Geoff Smith wrote: Ise wrote,

But, of the 5 you short-listed I'd drop Tignes and Alpe d'Huez immediately if it's your honeymoon unless Bracknell and Basingstoke were also on you honeymoon short-list of course. From a ski point of view they're good bets for snow in April but not very special places to stay.

Dear Marv,
I agree with Ise's comments about Alpe d'Huez as a place to stay. However you can get the best of both worlds by staying at Oz- en- Oisans, Vaujany or Villard Reculas. They are all attractive small resorts within the Massif des Grandes Rousses ski area which is also served by Alpe d'Huez. The snow conditions have been reliable in April in the last few years.

Ryanair fly round the year to Grenoble. It is certainly possible to get buses from there to Vaujany and Oz-en Oisans.

Geoff smith

Good point, I'd heard reports that the satellite villages were quite nice but couldn't dredge the names from memory. Likewise Grandes Rouses.

Mind you, it's still not Switzerland and the Matterhorn :D

Wel, Ise, I understand what you are saying and having ski-ed in some of your recommended resorts, way back, I can confirm that they take some beating.

Having said that I have to say that the Massif des Grandes Rousses has a fantastic perimetre of mountains and some awesome skiing. The 'off piste' possibilities are superb and the range of pistes, from easy stuff for beginners in the bowl above Alpe d'Huez, to the blacks through the Tunnel and down the Sarenne are in the top league along with other leading Alpine resorts.

France clearly has a problem with having created so many sixty style 'concrete' resorts in that decade. But the French Alpine resorts are now getting their acts together beautifully and making a big effort to face lift the old conrete blocks with timber facades and pitched roofs, including A'd'H and Tignes, and , as a result managing to combine excellent ski areas with much more attractive resorts within which to stay.

I am biassed but I suggest that subscribers would be hard pressed to find better and more extensive ski domains, and easier lift systems ,than in the big French resorts.

Best,

Geoff Smith

Geoff Smith wrote:
I am biassed but I suggest that subscribers would be hard pressed to find better and more extensive ski domains, and easier lift systems ,than in the big French resorts.

I think that's probably beyond question, some sacrifices have been made in my opinion at least, if some of those stations can successfully turn the dial back and get some atmosphere back and up their standards in terms of service and accommodation they should hit an unbeatable formula. Of course in some stations they never lost that anyway.

Marv wrote:Thank you very much for all your kind input, have not responded until now as you have given us a lot to think about. I think the top resorts in the running are Obergurgl, Zermatt, Saas Fee, Alpe d'Huez and Tignes, so as you can probably tell still quite a way off making a decision!

It will deffinately be the 13th April we will be going but we have come across another problem, of the major package holiday companies we have checked so far don?t cater for that week in April (which has concerned us further about the snow cover prospect) when flying from Manchester. Would anyone be kind enough to suggest a holiday company that would arrange a package at that time of year, as we don?t relish the prospect of arranging all the transfers ourselves on this particular holiday!

Marv, you're very welcome :D It's been so long since I took a package, I'm stunned that the main tour operators are quitting the mountains so early next winter. I've looked, and it's true :shock:

For Switzerland
If you are keen on buying a tour op package, Crystal are still carrying outbound passengers to Switzerland on 12th April, so their A La Carte department, may be able to sort out your flights, transfers and accommodation.

Another option is to contact Switzerland Travel Centre in London.
http://www.stc.co.uk/
I have not used this company as I prefer to sort out my own travel and transfers, and they do state that they will create tailor made packages. The blurb says they are a company of..

The Swiss Railways SBB, and Switzerland Tourism

I have travelled to both French and Swiss ski resorts by public transport, and the Swiss system is miles (km's?) better. :D