J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

If you recovered from your injuries and you miss skiing go for it. If everyone who ever got a ski injury never went back to it slopes would be empty.

I am not made of money and generally budget when plan my expenses but I've never taken exchange rates into account when planning the holiday. Who cares if it's up or down? When I want to go somewhere, I buy tickets and book accommodation and change money at the airport whatever the rate. I am only aware of UK/Swiss franc rate because I go there fairly often (and I didn't complain when I had to outlay 2.25 francs for a pound) and of euro because I go shopping across the border. Holidays are not the right time trying to make savings anyway. I like going to Scandinavia and the fact that it's even more expensive that Switzerland and not even in euro-zone doesn't put me off. Likewise I believe that many people who like skiing in Switzerland will keep coming here regardless of exchange rate.

Chamonix offers very good varied skiing with massive vertical and dramatic scenery and a classy year-around town with nice restaurants? not one of those purpose-built monstrosities. Yes, it's "disjointed" but it has own benefits as you can choose the area according to weather/snow conditions. Buses are frequent enough too - we never waited for longer than 10 min, plus there is a timetable so it can be timed. It can be brutal in Flegere due to wind, but at Le Tour that is further out in the valley and faces different direction it can be very pleasant. Also sometimes it snows more on one side of the Mt Blanc range than on the other, and if snow is getting a bit old in Chamonix you can find fresh snow on Courmayeur side. These days with Internet and phone apps it's easy to see what conditions are like and what is open where and plan your day accordingly.

You got the perfect timing for your holidays - it was the best week of the seasons so far in these parts.

France is big and you should choose a resort first and also be more specific what is a sensible price :) This will help you to narrow your search.

Admin wrote:Great write-up from a great trip - again! Thanks Tony - looks like Club Med is about the best (only?) option for keeping control of your budget in Switzerland...

If you self-cater it's not very expensive at all. But if people like being served here they generally have to pay for it $$. Club Med is a good set-up to control the budget but not the only one.

relative to the price of the house whatever you spend on a holiday - unless you go full-on VIP - is very little, so go.

Somewhere where there is lot of snow :)