J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andyoneil

Thanks Dids

Hadn't thought of flying SqueazyJet - have always just booked a package (except for the time we got snowed in in Pas de La Casa, missed the flight by 24 hours and paid for it again to get home!!)

But that's a really good shout! - Most of the package people fly to Geneva from Toon so we're used to some long transfers to 3 Valleys etc

Late Booking should be fine - as long as we can get some kind of transfer included with the chalet (I'm on holiday so don't really want to self drive and have hassle with snow chains etc)

I'll have a look!

Thanks

Andy

Hi All,

Off to VDI in less than two weeks (hurrah!) so naturally am thinking of next trip!

It will be mid to late March - flexible on dates but have the 20th in mind as a starting point

This trip will be only the wife and I so we don't want to go self catering as the under occupancy will likely kill us. We've been chaleting the last few times and really like it - especially the cost certainty on food and wine given the pound v euro issue (though I'm not wedded to a chalet if better value can be proved elsewhere)

We're keen intermediates who can ski most things on piste but have never done any off piste (may try in Val depending on conditions and how we're feeling). We'd ideally like an area with lots of differing runs as we've turned into mileage hogs over our last few trips to Val Thorens/Verbier/Killington and now the Espace Killy.

Resorts that I have considered are ADH, Flaine, Les Arcs/Le Plagne, Serre Che, Courchevel - but happy to go other places than France!!! :-) as we really enjoyed Kitzbuhel for instance but found it too low to ski back to on good snow in January so March would be a real problem. Sauze d'Oulx was good too but a bit isolated and Sestriere seems impossible to do from Newcastle.

Biggest issue is that we want to fly from Newcastle as the trip to Manchester (which is always an early morning flight) adds over £100 each with hotel/parking/diesel costs, not to mention the faff factor coming home.

I'd like reccomendations on resorts/accomodation from you good people - have trawled the web of most of the usual suspects and look to be paying around £750-£800 for flights/chalet/lift pass etc so this is an idea on where we are; not low budget (though obviously cheaper would be great) but dont want to spend a fortune either!

Dunno if snow will be an issue at that time but assume we need something high (VT would be fine again but not many chalets)

Let the suggestions commence.....

Thanks in Advance!

Andy

under occupancy supplements can be a real racket - a cheap holiday on paper becomes very expensive when you get into it

If there are only two of you then I'd look at hotel / chalet rather than self catering as these are based on two sharing - not 4 or more

Yes it will be more expensive as an "up front" price but you'll know what you're paying without searhing for extra costs etc. A chalet is more expensive but the attraction of wine with dinner and tean and cakes as you come off the slopes may be a value add that makes it more cost effective overall - especailly with the Euro so strong and the French mega areas being so pricey these days

Andy

Dunno about actual amount /depth but in Pas de la Casa in Andorra a few years ago was so badly snowed in that we had to dig about 50 other cars out of the car park before we could free ours.

Missed our SqueezyJet flight in Barcelona by 24 hours so our "cheap" skiing holiday was anything but in the end - an experience though!

Hi Dan - welcome

Bummer about your Borovets trip but I can see how you made your decision - being a beginner with no snow could put paid to you skiing ever again and you don't want that!

I've been skiing (badly) for a few years and took my wife (then girlfriend) 5 years ago and we've never looked back - to the point that she's actually said that if money ever became a real problem she'd sooner forego her summer holiday than her winter one (or two). You'll have a great time and it's even quite romantic (aaaaaah).

As to your list then I can't speak for all those resorts as I've not visited but could add some thoughts if I may:

France is rather expensive at the moment due to the Euro so lessons/lift passes/hire etc will add significantly to your budgeted costs (I'm off to Val d'Isere in 2 weeks so trust me on this).

Italy is the cheapest of the main Alpine countries in terms of living expense etc and I'd reccommend Livigno (see other threads) as a great place for beginner/intermediate combo that won't break the bank (its duty free in the resort) and is also quiet so will allow you to gain in confidence - transfer can be a pain though depending on where you can fly to/from.

Kitzbuhel in Austria is wonderful - a famous resort that will give you a real sense of being a "proper skier" but with some good beginners and intermediate terrain - beware however that the village itself is low at 900m so runs home may be slushy (less of an issue as a beginner as the Hanenkham may be a little tricky for you :-)

The other place I'd consider is Andorra - not as dirt cheap as it was but still reasonable - it too is duty free. Loads of varied terrain across Pas de la Casa/Soldeu/Grau Groig and a great beginners ski school (loads of Brit instructors).

Hope this is of some use (even if it does add more to your list) - keep asking questions as I only found this forum days ago and its already saved me money this year :-)

Enjoy it wherever you go !!!!

Andy

My main jacket is a Dare2B - warm and stylish (well for me anyway)

Jacket was warm enough for -20 in Vermont last year!

Wanderer wrote:

andyoneil wrote:If it works for me I'll buy you a pint in Dicks! (just the one you understand as that's about the same price as a £100 saving on lift pass) 8)

From memory, the pint in Dicks is quite reasonable early in the evening but gets progressively more expensive as the evening wears on and the punters no longer notice or care! Be warned!

Absolutely - in my one trip in there 5 years ago I was so astonished by the prices that I stole the menu for posterity's sake!

NellyPS wrote:Good team work :D

Absolutely!