J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by lilywhite

Livigno has tax free shopping!
We loved Are Sweden, not extensive shopping (supermarket, ski gear shops a plenty some clothing and gift stores) but you could make use of the train station by the Holiday club which has an excellent pool with flumes.
Also available is husky dog sledding, the dogs are really friendly, my oh's kids were happily cuddling them, something they could not do in France!
There is a chocolate factory you can visit.
Also a glass factory in the old train station (I bought a stunning paperweight that looks like it has a snowstorm encapsulated in it)
There is a moose farm you can visit where you can even kiss the moose (if you want!)
We saw reindeer wandering free too.
The Swedes speak excellent English, there is a lot of English programming on tv including the muppets etc (with Swedish sub titles)
The Bergbana (funicular railway) means non skiers can access a couple of restaurants on slope for lunch meet ups and at least once a week has free toboggans available. We bought a cheap pull along sled from the supermarket (to transport beer and shopping really) but the kids had fun with it and a tea tray! At xmas time the place lights up and it has plenty of Alpine style charm.
I have a feeling there was a creche at the holiday club but oh's kids were 8 and 12 so we didn't use it or research it.

January is low season, I doubt the accom will be difficult to find,flights may be a problem particurly from regional airports as they book out quick and tend to go up in price.
It is possible to get a real bargain if you wait, it is also possible to end up with extremely limited choice and a cock o clock flight time from an airport further from home than ideal.
If your going DIY I would be tempted to book flights now then narrow down resort from weather conditions later on.

lol! I'm not the only one then. I feel like the new kid at schoolfor the first run of every holiday. :)

I ski short too, 5'11 and 154cm ski, it's more fun and lighter too.

I was going to query the crap spelling and ask if you really wanted to be taken seriously? The train etc question is nonsense too. Is english not your mother tongue?
I see others have already drawn the same conclusion. :roll:

You might consider Maria Alm, part of the Hochkonig area. Runs link through to Muhlbach a few villages further on. Largely made up of blues and reds and a nice feeling of travelling through the areas.
Not for real party animals but still some nice bars and eateries available. A short transfer from Salzburg.
We went the second week of January last year and had fresh snow daily, conditions were superb and the area was fairly quiet with rare queues.
Quite cheap for beer and food 3-4 euros a pint.
Pretty village with largely friendly people. I would definately go again.

OldAndy wrote:I do wonder if some of the perceived difference in customer service standards is purely a language thing?

In part for sure, also in part the American reliance on tips in the service industry to supplement poor wages.
In my experience tho the other side of the pond there appears to be more of a willingness to help, it is blindingly obvious no matter what language you speak if someone is a beginner/child/scared/uncomfortable as body language is not country specific, the American/Canadian contingent seem proactive in these circumstances rather than impatient.
There are of course exceptions both sides of the Atlantic.

billip1 wrote:

andyhull wrote:Across the pond they do a lot of things that the French don't...

Andy, never having skied in the States I'd be interested to know what are the "things they do over there" that aren't usual in European resorts ?
Thanks.

Mountain hosting at a variety of times/levels free daily, usually done by an enthusiastic local in exchange for free liftpass.
Sniffle stations on the lifts, tissues then 6 feet further on a bin to dispose of them in.
Friendly staff that slow the lift for kids/beginners and help them out.
Singles queues to fill every seat everytime reducing time spent queueing.
Smiles and helpful information when asked about suitability of terrain for your 2nd week skier daughter etc rather than the standard "Bleu" response.
Don't get me wrong I love skiing in Europe, size of resorts, relative ease of travel/cost, quality of food all are better than US/Canada but customer service skills across the board? With the possible exception of the Scandies the US/Canada have got that sussed.