J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by AllyG

Well, I think you're all very mean. Up until last year I was wearing my daughter's old, cheap, black teenage size salopettes, and my normal everyday waterproof jacket, because ski clothes are so expensive, and I was walking around Borovets in welly boots (came in handy when the snow all melted and there were huge puddles everywhere!). I dare say if you'd seen me I'd have been worth a photo.

Up to date designer ski wear is very expensive. My daughter made me buy some new stuff last year, because I was an 'embarassment'.

What's wrong with old stuff, as long as it functions O.K.?

Ally

How come you don't fall over, leaning over like that? Don't they have gravity in Scotland then?

The snow looks amazing.

Where do you order packing fairies? I could do with a couple next time I go on holiday. They seem to do a very neat job.

Lovely photos,
Thanks,

Ally

Hi Karen,
I had a look myself, because I was interested, at ski resorts near Geneva.

Apparently Samoens has just been voted best small resort in Europe by the famous Hardy's ski-ing and snowboarding guide 2009. It's 55 km from Geneva, transfer time 1 hour, has a good snow record, is linked to Flaine etc. in the Grand Massif, and has a total ski area of 265 km. And it's very good for families and beginners.

It's also recommended by the Telegraph, www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski

Peak Retreats go there, and have several hotels, chalets and self-catering accommodation in the area. e.g. La Renardiere apartment for 4 people (with a luxury real bedroom!)17th Jan £667 if making own flight arrangements. Private return taxi from Geneva (more luxury) with Peak retreats £273. Flights with easyjet from Newcastle probably £400. Total for week (at this year's prices)£1340.

Ski club of Great Britain says 'Stunning views and virtually no queues, listed village, medieval fountains, rustic old buildings and ancient church'.

I'd never even heard of it before myself, which is presumably why it has small lift queues, but it sounds great. Maybe someone here has been to it?

I think the first thing to do is buy the plane tickets to Geneva as soon as they become available and you have a date. There are masses of resorts and plenty of accommodation around Geneva, and you can take your time picking which one.

Ally

Hi Karen,
Well, if you definitely decide to fly into Geneva, why don't you make that your starting point, and look at good resorts that are easy, quick, and cheap to get to from Geneva?

I do it on that basis, only I'm looking at resorts within easy reach of the ski train. It does help to whittle down the choice.

My limited experience of French resorts is that they are more functional and modern than the Austrian ones, which are generally lower down and based around traditional villages, so they look nicer. But you don't usually get ski-in, ski-out, in Austria, like you often do in France, because they are lower.

Ally

Pablo- my grandmother came from Glasgow, and I'm going up to Pitlochry in a few months for a family get together with my Scottish relatives.

So - your real name is probably Hamish, or Angus or something?

If you get good at cooking maybe you could be a chalet boy?

Well, the way the banks/stockmarket/housing market/pound/general business/jobs etc. is going, it will be a miracle if any of us get to ski next year. But I'm still going to dream about it.

Ally

Pablo - sorry, geography was never my strong point.

But ... I thought Columbia was Canada and Colombia was South America - in fact we had an au pair from there once and I'm pretty sure she spoke Spanish and called it Colombia. Do other Colombians call it Columbia or what?

Ally

Pablo,
Courchevel next Feb half-term.

I thought Santiago was in Chile, South America, not Glasgow?

Ally

We try and go somewhere different each holiday, and next Feb half-term we are going to go to Courchevel, because we will have someone with us who is very fond of window shopping, and Courchevel is supposed to be very good for trendy shops, as well as good for ski-ing. And I would like to see some trees again.

We are going on the direct Eurostar train, and I have registered my interest so hopefully we will get the cheap tickets this time. And we will go out on the day train and back on the night train, which is something you can't do (as far as I know) with the tour operators. The tickets should be available around July. This way we shouldn't be too tired to ski on sunday, and we'll get an extra day ski-ing on Saturday (it worked out very well this year, the pistes were pretty empty on Saturday in Val Thorens).

And we're planning on staying in a cheap Pierre & Vacances self-catering apartment in Courchevel 1550, Maeva Les Grangettes, which seems to be right by the piste and the gondola up to Courchevel 1850. But we won't be able to book it until their new winter brochure comes out, probably also July. If someone knows anything bad about this residence or location, please say something before we book!

I have been looking at lessons, and I think we'll have to go ESF because the others are too expensive, and book morning and afternoon again. Ideally we want teenage lessons and Upper Intermediate/Advanced (depending on their standards and whether I get chucked out again for not being able to ski moguls fast enough - I am going to the Manchester snow dome for some mogul lessons).

I don't know what the prices will be because the brochures etc. aren't out yet, but I'm hoping they won't have increased, and the pound will recover some more against the euro.

Ally