Latest posts for the topic "where shall we go?! "

where shall we go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:04:19 GMT

hey guys.

Hopefully someone can help me.
The other half and i (25 and 26 years old) are looking to go skiing in Feb next year, the week after half term. I have around 20 weeks experience behind me and have skied most of the main resorts in Europe. The gf is very much a beginner and had her first week snowboarding last year in Les Arcs.
For some reason unknown to me, she doesn't want to go to the 'main' resorts and instead wants to try resorts in Slovenia, Bulgaria and Andorra. I have never experienced skiing in these countries, and although they are cheaper in every way imaginable, do you still get value for money? i.e - lift passes are cheaper, but the ski areas are far smaller. But if she's not going to ski a huge area because of her lack of experience, does this matter? one thing I am concerned about though is the potential lack of snow. all the mentioned places seem to have far less snow than most of the other resorts in France and Austria etc. Is this normal? The reason i am so undecided is a 7 night stay half board in Banksco, Soldeu and Kranjska Gora is around GBP200 compared to GBP5-600 in the 3 valleys etc.
Would you be prepared to risk no snow, fewer runs and older lift systems (i think?) if it meant you saved 60-70% on a French ski holiday?
Are there any other places I've missed out which we should look into? FYI i'd ideally like to stick to under GBP600 all in, including lift passes and ski hire. I'd happily spend far more, but the other half wont let me :-)
thanks!

where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:38:19 GMT

jimmi85 wrote:Would you be prepared to risk no snow, fewer runs and older lift systems (i think?) if it meant you saved 60-70% on a French ski holiday?

I wouldn't, no, but I'm not you... 8) It sounds like you're asking the right questions but most of them have answers that only you can provide!

Smaller resorts have a lot of advantages for building familiarity and confidence in early skiers / boarders and it sounds as if your GF is thinking that way. Maybe you can look at a week in a small resort, developing skills, as an investment for the future?

If you want the snow in France then find one of the smaller resorts and go there - prices are generally much more reasonable if you go where the Tour Operators don't.

Of the other countries you mentioned, I'd look at Slovenia and add Slovakia to your options - always good to try somewhere new, and I've heard good things about both.

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:45:43 GMT

thanks Admin, Slovakia and Slovenia were actually one of our options as well but i forgot to mention those!
I am going to snowboard with her i think, i am a very competent skier but never really tried boarding except for a few days last year. I think that will help her build her confidence up if we're both as rubbish as each other! I also want to do lessons together, either privately for a few hours or in a group. I'm assuming that pretty much anywhere will have ski schools?
If i had my way i would spend a week in ST Anton or, Verbier or Courcheval. I don't think I'm going to get my way though!
You mentioned smalled resorts in France etc, can you recommend any that are 1500m or higher please?
thanks!

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:01:17 GMT

Jimmi85,
if you are planning to go to France a week after 1/2 term; I,m assuming you mean 'our' 1/2 term?
You will likely find that your week of choice is one of the French 'zones' 1/2 terms and will be very busy. Would recommend avoiding France through all of Feb to be honest.
Also, from what research i have done snowboard schools ( or at least recommended ones) are few & far between ( with several running lessons only in the afternoon).
Am planning my first boarding trip ( after some time skiing) & trying to tie up a good deal in a resort with a 'recommended' board school isn't easy.
If you want to stick with France ,there are some 'smaller' resorts located along the Maurienne valley that have some decent height & you will find not to painful on the wallet.

How did your GF get on at Les Arcs? That's somewhere I've been considering but wasnt sure if it is suitable for 1st time boarding?

FB

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:46:40 GMT

Gf was nervous to be honest! the snow conditions were awful, we went in January and it was around 8 degrees on the lower slopes, and hadnt snowed for almost a month! problem was, she doesnt like chair lifts ad cant do Drag lifts so the nursery slopes were out of the question, and even if she could do the chairs, the slopes were pretty much green!
The gondolas also posed a problem, as she didnt have the confidence to ski down to the bottom, so it was a bit of a nightmare to be honest!!
I think if she got a few hours lessons under her belt she'd be ok, so i am really crossing my fingers!
You made a good point re the French holidays, as i wouldn't want the slopes to be crowded for her.
Reading back through my posts, it does seem as though i am hoping for the impossible! Slovakia does look so will definatly look into that further, but am still concerned about the lower altitudes and lack of snow.
i Tried boarding for a day last year in Les Arcs and i felt pretty comfortable to be honest, so i would recommend it.

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:19:51 GMT

Been doing some research and Vaujany seems like a good option. Seems good for beginners, lots of gondolas and cable cars, not many chairs, and can explore other areas like Alpe'd'huez if we get bored. Resort is high so snow should be good,
has anyone been there before?

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:18:35 GMT

Twice last season we managed to get a week in Are Sweden for 600 each including snowboard school for my other half, lift passes for us both and hired ski's for me. Google skistar sweden or check out neilson for cheap deals. We went self catering, ate in at night, bought beer from the national offy (roughly same price as GB, pubs much more expensive for spirits, beer about same as euro resorts) food on hills not too bad pricewise, good quality and most places free coffee refills, warming huts and bbq's scattered so you can heat your own food too. Skiing was great approx 100km across 3 areas, plenty green and blue for your GF, some more challenging reds, few blacks, great off piste available too. By feb whole mountain opens up and days are longer, we skied til about 5 plus there was option of night skiing on same lift pass. Don't be put off by the amount of drags, my BF progressed real quick from zero to red runs by end of first week probably because of the drags! Oh and the snow was awesome, fresh snow a plenty.

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:57:15 GMT

Nothing wrong with smaller resorts as such.
But choice of country and then resort in that country is vital. You dont want to run the risk of not getting on the slopes or not liking the place. With that in mind, I'd forget eastern europe. Andorra I think is marmite territory, you either love it or leave it well alone. I did a long weekend and it was ok, but I wouldn t be booking a weeks holiday there, its really NOTHING like the alps.

Can you answer these questions:

* Do you like plenty to do off the slopes?
* Do you like a cutesy village or a bustling town?
* Is apres ski important to you?
* If the GF doesnt get out, do you want a variety of terrain or happy to slide around on the same old slopes?
* Any other factors that are important to you?

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:58:22 GMT

jimmi85 wrote:Been doing some research and Vaujany seems like a good option. Seems good for beginners, lots of gondolas and cable cars, not many chairs, and can explore other areas like Alpe'd'huez if we get bored. Resort is high so snow should be good,
has anyone been there before?

Done ADH and its a fantastic ski area. Didnt stay in Vaujany though, looks a quiet pretty little place. Might be ideal.

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:50:43 GMT

Austria with resorts like Soll, Zell am See are nice places in Feb had some great skiing there in my early beginner years.

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:07:56 GMT

Tony_H wrote:
Can you answer these questions:

* Do you like plenty to do off the slopes?
* Do you like a cutesy village or a bustling town?
* Is apres ski important to you?
* If the GF doesnt get out, do you want a variety of terrain or happy to slide around on the same old slopes?
* Any other factors that are important to you?

It would be nice to have other options other than skiing, more so as a back up than anything else i guess but certainly not essential. the GF will be happy going back to the hotel/apartment and sleeping/read a book if she gets tired while i'll ski the rest of the day.
Apres ski isnt particulay important no, but a few bars and restaurant would be nice.
I'd happily try and ski all the 400km the paradaski area has to offer, or the 250km in the ADH region if on my own, but happy to ski same slopes as long as i was with my gf.

i have looked at soll but was concerned about the village height and i think the highest lift was pretty low too?
snow at resort level i think is important to gf.

i will check out Are in Sweeden. We did Levi in Lapland in Nov but couldnt ski due to a severe lack of snow, so she will probably like Sweeden!

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:24:50 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Nothing wrong with smaller resorts as such.
But choice of country and then resort in that country is vital. You dont want to run the risk of not getting on the slopes or not liking the place. With that in mind, I'd forget eastern europe. Andorra I think is marmite territory, you either love it or leave it well alone. I did a long weekend and it was ok, but I wouldn t be booking a weeks holiday there, its really NOTHING like the alps.

Can you answer these questions:

* Do you like plenty to do off the slopes?
* Do you like a cutesy village or a bustling town?
* Is apres ski important to you?
* If the GF doesnt get out, do you want a variety of terrain or happy to slide around on the same old slopes?
* Any other factors that are important to you?

No

Village

No

Variety

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:07:36 GMT

lilywhite wrote:Twice last season we managed to get a week in Are Sweden for 600 each including snowboard school for my other half, lift passes for us both and hired ski's for me. Google skistar sweden or check out neilson for cheap deals. We went self catering, ate in at night, bought beer from the national offy (roughly same price as GB, pubs much more expensive for spirits, beer about same as euro resorts) food on hills not too bad pricewise, good quality and most places free coffee refills, warming huts and bbq's scattered so you can heat your own food too. Skiing was great approx 100km across 3 areas, plenty green and blue for your GF, some more challenging reds, few blacks, great off piste available too. By feb whole mountain opens up and days are longer, we skied til about 5 plus there was option of night skiing on same lift pass. Don't be put off by the amount of drags, my BF progressed real quick from zero to red runs by end of first week probably because of the drags! Oh and the snow was awesome, fresh snow a plenty.

have looked into Sweeden and it does seem appealing. i can get flights and accomodation for GBP350pp which seems pretty reasonable. i am concerned though about the amount of drags and chair lifts. I know it seems silly, but because she Boards she says there really difficult to use! I have seen there are 2 gondolas though, are they at village level or higher up?

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:09:32 GMT

Re Sweden, Theres a chondola from base to 3/4 way up then a smaller gondola to the very top, if your GF is very nervy it is unlikely she will want the very top of Areskutan tho. There is also a cable car to the very top that usually runs from Feb onwards, an 8chair, 6pack and twin chair not to mention the funicular railway which all access parts of the main Are and Are By slopes which are interconnected, the other areas Tegerfyall and Duved have only 1 6chair and the rest are drags.
If your GF is planning lessons she will almost certainly unless private lessons have to use the drags at least part of the time. I'm a lower intermediate with a serious back injury and struggle with drags, I had a couple of private lessons the second trip (not so cheap but learned more in an hour than a week of snow school!) Then avoided all but the shortest drags for the rest of the time without feeling short changed on choice of terrain. However my first time snowboarder BF progressed very fast BECAUSE of the drags, he fell a lot first few days but was competently doing red runs on day 3. He's in his 40's and not very skinny so anything is possible!
P.s best restaurant on the hill is Ulladalsstugan which is well worth suffering a very long drag for- potato pancakes, smoked bacon and lingonberry preserve, AMAZING!!!

Re:where shal lwe go?!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:20:05 GMT

Jimmi85,
Just occurred to me, Cervinia would be perfect for your GF ( slopes wise)........not much in town but sure she would get to grips on those easy blues & reds of Cervinia
Go for it.
FB