J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Wanderer

Tony_H wrote:You like Soll, dont you? )

It may surprise you to find that it is not my favourite - St Anton would probably top that particular list. Other favourites would include 3V and Alpe d'huez.

However, I do think it is a pretty decent all-round resort and suits me particularly well for long weekends out of Dublin because of the flight times. Its also really convenient for Munich - a quick and easy flit down the motorway.

In fact, I have just booked flights today going out for 3 days skiing on 23rd of Jan - yippee :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

That should keep me going until my main trip at the end of Feb (to Flaine) :lol:

Sauze d'oulz might be worth considering. It has an extensive ski area with plenty for novices. A bit of reputation for rowdy apres ski but I think this is easily avoided if you want to.

I would, however, have some concerns about snow quality pretty much anywhere in Italy that late in the season. Haven't been there but I think Cervinia is high and pretty snow-sure and may be worth considering.

Scarlet

Will probably be in Soll for a few days from 23rd. Maybe we'll get to watch the rugby somewhere together and have a pint, though I will be more interested in the London Irish v Leinster match obviously!

Anyone else in Soll around that time?

Hi guys

I would recommend Soll. Its a large ski area with plenty of intermediate skiing. Its also got pretty decent apres ski.

Its an easy 90 minute drive down the motorway from Munich airport so I would hire a car (very little driving on snowy/icy mountain roads), though the road can be very busy at the weekends during peak season.

A 10 year old girl from Ireland fell 10m from a lift in Westendorf. It appears that the safety bar was not in place. Thankfully, she is ok. THe reaction of the German couple who were on the lift at the time is interesting to say the least!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0106/1224261730212.html

I've organised a few long weekends in Soll for the past couple of years. The flight times from Dublin mean that we can fly into Munich early Saturday morning, hire a car and buzz down the motorway to the resort in about 90 minutes. This means we can be on the mountain by late lunchtime!. We fly out Tuesday evening after nearly a full days skiing. So for 3 nights away and 2 days off work, we ski for 3.5 days.

Soll suits a boys weekend reasonably well - decent and pretty extensive skiing, great afternoon apres ski (bars full of Germans and Austrians bellowing out Europop and traditional songs - great fun), usually plenty of laid back live music around the pubs in the evenings and reasonably cheap as ski resorts go.

I would recommend it but it is really the flight timings that make it work - you want somewhere with short transfers and flight times that enable you to ski on arrival and/or departure day.

Tony

If I were you, I would not put off doing the Sarenne. If you get a fine day early in the week, go for it. If the weather is anyway iffy, the wind can knock out the cable car and then you find the week is over and you will be annoyed that you have not had the chance to do this beautiful run. So my advice is get on it as early in the week as you can.

I would also be careful about picking Signal l'Homme for your first morning. IIRC, the main red runs over there are fairly demanding and can be icy. Depending on conditions and crowds, you might be better off getting your ski legs back on the main area.

Anyway, enjoy and have lots of fun!

Unfortunately, there does not seem to any consistency on whether you can carry skiboots as part of hand luggage with different rules and interpretations being applied by different airlines and by airports. As bandit says, it is not just the airline that you have to worry about - it is also airport security and just because your departure airport allowed you take on does not mean that security at the returning airport will do so ....... aaarrrgghhhh!

Then if you have to repack (assuming you have room in your checked bags), you have to watch out for overweight charges. I suspect many airlines are now making more out of luggage than out of ticket sales!

Furthermore, the same dilemma arises for helmet wearers. A pal of mine was not allowed bring his helmet through security in Chambery and had to go back out to check it in. AS you don't go through security in Chambery until your flight is ready to board, this did give rise to some anxious moments!