Latest posts for the topic "Moving on from Arinsal.."

Moving on from Arinsal..

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:48:20 GMT

Hi,

hopefully this hasn't been covered elsewhere but with fingers croosed here goes my first post.

We've been to Arinsal in Andorra for the last two years staying in the Princesa Park. Previously I'd had a week prior to that in Livigno though my girlfriend was a beginner arriving in Andorra. These were all booked as packages flying out of Belfast. For us the skiing was good beginner/inter stuff, hotel was nice and comfy, reasonable food, near the gondola, a few bars to have a beer in but not packed out. Generally a non stressed experience..

At this stage we are looking to move on and try new pastures this coming year, maybe France or Austria. We're basically looking for the above but in a different location with more intermediate skiing. We now have our own skis, boots etc and at this stage we may well skip on ski school this year and maybe pick up the odd lesson depending on how we're getting on.

To be honest I thought this choice would be quite straight forward but if I'm honest I'm baffled with the number of choices available. Oh I'd thought maybe Austria or France, to maybe narrow things down a bit. I've been reading the ski club Ski Europe guide which has great info but so much choice... My girlfriend favours booking some cheap flights to Geneva and doing our own thing which might give us more options though that only makes decision time even more difficult. Our budget would be in or around GBP1600'ish for the two us if we're half board again..

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark.

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:59:13 GMT

I know exactly what you mean Rocksy - a bewildering and baffling amount of choice!
If I were you I would start by narrowing things down a bit.
What time of year? Early or late you need to stay high.
Ski in ski out? Or would a 5/10 min bus to the lifts be OK?
Linguistic skills? Either of you speak a bit of French, German, Italian .....Slovakian? Could point you in the right direction.
Accomodation preferences? Really comfy, a pool etc? A bit more basic with decent food but perhaps a set menu? That sort of thing.
British run, so Brits making up the clientel - or locally run so skiers from all over the place likely to be there.
There are loads of resorts out there that would suit someone like you, ready to spread your wings and try some more extensive terrain.
I'm sure you will get loads of suggestions on here.

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:35:35 GMT

Thanks 'Old Andy' for your reply.

Time of year we'll hopefully get to Scotland for a few days around New Year so February after the half term, maybe the start of March if the French school holidays would make February too hectic?

When we were in Arinsal we had a locker at the top of the gondola and not carting gear about suited me to a T. Ski in/out sounds fun though I've no experience of that, access via bus sounds less fun if you have to carry your kit with you but otherwise I'm sure it would be fine.

Language'wise I'm afraid I can only say please, thanks and excuse me in various languages but I'm ashamed to say that's about my lot.

Accommodation wise, at least basic and clean with decent food would be good. If it's better than that I wouldn't complain. I guess you get what you pay for. I do like the thought of somewhere locally run with skiers from all over the place likely to be there..

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:56:09 GMT

Hi Rocksy,

as Old Andy says, there are loads of factors which will effect what you like as a resort for your holiday, and these will be different for most people.

Having said that, personally I would suggest that you check out somewhere like Tignes. Tignes is part of the Espace Killy and has a pretty extensive ski area, linked with Val D'Isere. There is plenty of intermediate skiing, along with plenty of more advanced options should you decide to get adventurous. You could also look at Val D'Isere, but from what you have said I think Tignes may suit you better.

Tignes is split into three villages, and I think it will offer you what you are looking for in terms of apres ski. There is a full range of stuff from quiet bars to nightclubs. Most of the accommodation is very close to the snow, and if not actually ski in/ski out, is little more than a very short walk. I've not been there for a few years, but the buses between the villages used to be covered by your lift-pass, so plenty of options in the evening.

I don't know where you live, but another advantage of Tignes (and the surrounding areas) is that you can go by train, which is nice for those of us down in the South East :)

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:58:10 GMT

Oh and Rocksy,
I would suggest that you go for a package rather than turn up in Geneva.
Your choices will be exponentially greater if you try to sort everything out for yourself and the possibility of something not working (commonly known as a cock up) is far greater.

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:50:30 GMT

Get yourself to the Dolomites (Italy) - cheaper while your there than Austria and way cheaper than France. Huge area for intermediates to explore.

Transfers can be longer than other places but if you've been to Arinsal in the past it's similiar I'd imagine so no hardship!

Though we ski lots of places each season we always reserve at least a week for the Dolomites now.

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:16:43 GMT

As the others have said the ski world is your oyster. Some good intermediate resorts (but not limited to) IMO are:

Meribel (France) Part of 3 valleys huge area plenty of everything.

Davos (Switzerland) loads of reds, many people have rightly been put off this season by the strength of the Swiss Franc but to counter this tour companies have some tempting deals @ around GBP500 catered chalet or HB with 2 for 1 lift passes this would really take the sting out of the costs.

Les Arc/Le Plagne, both huge ski areas in their own right but linked with the vanoise express makes a intermediates paradise, loads of everything.

Saalbach in Austria is very nice and good for intermediates but it's not cheap. The cheap option for Austria tends to be Soll past of a huge area with loads to keep and intermediate happy.

One word of caution is to be careful when you book your accomadation to check out a piste map. To appeal to as many people as possible ski resorts can be a bit liberal with their gradings. A Red run back into La Plagne 1800 when busy gets icy and gets pretty black.

Generally France has many more ski in/out options than Austria. Austria has resorts which you need to get a gondola to get onto the mountain initally (Mayrhofen as a example). Austria is cheaper when you're there and the Apres ski doesn't compare......

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:29:57 GMT

Les menuire or Les Arc

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:26:10 GMT

In response to the original post, I would say definitely book a package rather than DIY just because its easier and everything is organised for you.
You want to concentrate on the skiing and develop, see the new place, rather than worry about a bus turning up or the road being closed.

I learned in 3 valleys, and haven't been back since, not particularly fussed to rush back there either. Since then, I developed by skiing Mayrhofen a lot, but have skied it to death now. However, its a good place for intermediates, with lots to go at, and one or two really challenging runs too. Cheapish packages, food and drink also well priced.

Other places I would recommend from personal experience;

Verbier, Switzerland
Great ski area, good snow record, lots of chalet accommodation. Not cheap though.

St Anton, Austria
Fantastic skiing, just a fabulous place to ski as a developing skier, lots of chalets as well. Some well priced packages.

Serre Chevalier, France
Big ski area, not crowded especially early March when I've been twice, not purpose built like much of France, good choice of places to stay, cheap in comparison.

Sauze D'Oulx, Italy
Good fun resort, cheap as chips, good cruisy skiing and uncrowded pistes. Not the best snow record however.

I reckon one of those (well, all of them actually) would be ideal for you.
I can recommend going chalet board - breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner included, as well as evening drinks with dinner. Try and get ski in ski out and a sauna, hot tub, jacuzzi and you won't want to go any other way again!

Let us know what you decide.

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:13:33 GMT

Thanks so much to everyone for taking the trouble to reply to my post. In the end we went for a catered chalet in Chatel that my girl friend sourced and yes the big hot tub was a vote winner. Fingers crossed for lots of snow as well...

In the meantime some snow on Glenshee and a Scotish New Year would be a fun interlude, fingers crossed..

Cheers and thanks again,
Mark.

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:19:18 GMT

:D You are welcome Rocksy. Don't be a stranger and dissapear off the forum. Now you are booked it's time to get all excited about the forthcoming trip and get involved in all the banter here on the boards :twisted:

And we want to see some pics when you get back, especially the hot tub :shock:

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:03:48 GMT

I think there is no danger of a lack of excitement though I think if I don't shut up soon, my better half might lock me in the shed for some peace and quiet.

Having been awed by Franz Klamer winning his gold in 1976, yes I'm that old, I didn't have the opportunity to go skiing until well into my forties so I'm now making up for lost time. )

Looking forward to getting away to Europe at least once this coming season and having had a snowy New Year in Scotland earlier this year, hope to do a repeat in December/January. Fingers crossed. 8)

Re:Moving on from Arinsal..

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:38:10 GMT

Rocksy

Glad you've found something suitable. In your original post, you mentioned skipping ski school and possibly having a lesson or two.
Can I urge you to have some instruction at some point during your holiday.
Bad habits, that can dog the rest of your skiing career, are so easy to acquire. If you aspire to ski anything and everything in style and safety, a solid basic technique is a must. Even after nearly 40 years skiing, I still try to have at least one private lesson a trip. It really does make a difference.