Latest posts for the topic "Short break that wont cost too much???"

Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:01:49 GMT

I know that I am asking a difficult question but is it possible to get a few cheap days on the snow?
Due to young family myself and a few other lads always go for 3 or 4 day trips to the snow and it usually costs far more than a week package trip. I know that with charter flights and week long accommodation the tour ops can offer such good deals but I am gonna try my best not to break the bank this winter.
I have booked for a 3 day trip to Meribel in December which is far from cheap and have to organise another trip the early part of March.
Another problem for us is that as we are flying from Dublin we are very limited to ski airports now as our good friends at Ryanair have cancelled flights from Dublin to Greoble and Salzberg to name just two. Geneva,Lyon, Munich and Milan are the only airports that we can get to handy enough.
We can all ski pretty much wherever we go but anywhere with a good mix of pistes is perfect for us.
So any suggestions?
All help greatly appreciated.
Gar.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:59:11 GMT

I feel for you Gareth,

If it were me I would start with flight. Best value route.
Then a resort as close as possible to airport.
Then start looking for self catering accomodation that is owner rented.

Owners abroad and people like this are your friend here.
Reason being that renting suitable sized accomodation is probably going to be the easiest part. OK - have to pay for a week but so what?

For example - Dublin - Geneva - Portes du Soleille (anywhere) for example.

Loads of resorts close to Geneva - http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Airports/Geneva.html for the list. Bound to be some good value accomodation in one of these.

Not so many resorts close to Lyon or Milan. Don't know the Austrian end of things very well so won't comment.

Proximity to Airport means either public transport or inexpensive mini bus type transfer.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:06:11 GMT

Yeah, I would advise you to fly to Geneva and look around in the Portes du Soleil area. Lots of nice places to stay/ski.

Cheerz,
Stefan

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:30:41 GMT

Thanks guys. We usually fly to Geneva and have been to Morzine which was reasonable enough cost wise but we had to get the bus to Avoiraz every day to ski as snow cover was not great so low down.
I a really wondering if anyone who might do something similar has any other ideas?

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:12:33 GMT

You could fly to Nice. That's right Nice, from there get the train http://www.limonepiemonte.it/turistico/index.php?options=com_limone&view=articolo&idArticolo=61&lang=en to Limone http://www.riservabianca.it/ where it's possible to get 2 days half board including lift pass (exc. weekends) from 121 Euro or 4 days (inc. weekends) from 239. If there are enough of you they might do a 3 day package http://www.hotelskipass.com/eng/offerta.html

When it snows there it can really snow.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:47:50 GMT

Munich is a good airport to arrive at. There is a station in the airport, train departures are frequent, and do not cost too much. From the airport station, you can get to Kufstein, then taxi to the Skiwelt. Further down there is Worgl station, change to go to Kitzbuhel, or taxi up to Niederau. Further along the line you can access Alpbachtal, Zillertal, then Innsbruck.

Costs are about 30/35Eu train fare and 15/20Eu taxi, (each way) For a 3/4 day trip, I would consider a low cost car hire.

Accomodation should be about 23/27Eu B&B. It is cheap to eat and drink in Austria. I paid 45Eu HB in Scheffau at New Year, normal would be about 35/40Eu.

Mind these are among the lowest cost in the area, based on years of errm, "research"!

Accomodation location is critical when on a short visit, ~ you do not want to spend time on a bus when you you could be on the gondola.

In early March, snow is invariably there in Tirol.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:21:07 GMT

Geneva is not just the gateway to the PDS.
You have the GM on your doorstep too and Cham not to far away.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:45:35 GMT

Hey Gareth,
I've done a few short breaks
One to Alagna in Italy - fly to Milan Malpensa
Two to Foppolo - fly to Bergamo
Two to Samoens France - fly to Geneva.

Alagna lovely place, but absolutely freezing and blizzard conditions so links to Champoluc and Gressoney closed exept for 1 st day. Quite a long way from airport for short break so didn't go back.

Foppolo - went with a group, ok, but limited and twice was once too often.

Samoens (and this is where I know I always rate the place) but you did ask for suggestions.
10 of us stayed in chalet and apartment Les Terrases. 3 night break.
http://www.samoenschalet.com/
Emailed the owner asking if short break available. We went early Jan and not too busy, so he was happy to do it.
Booked a minibus for transfer to resort. Flight from Bristol 7 am. On slopes by 2pm.
Had 3.5 days skiing for 4 days off work.
Catering. We made a list of stuff to take in advance, milk (frozen, stuffed in ski boot!) tea bags, coffee, cakes etc. And shared it out between us.
Had a kitty for food. A couple of nice restaurants in the village.

Caught an evening flight home.
All very successful.
We chose Samoens because one we like it and two we knew our way around so didn't have to spend ages reading maps.

It definitely didn't cost as much as a weeks skiing, but we were very lucky with flights being cheap at that ti e in te season.
Good luck :D
Dids

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:55:41 GMT

Have a look at flying to Milan and skiing Champoluc, very good for short breaks done that twice, excellent area.

Try looking at snow secrets for the accommodation.

The Hotel Campoluc is at the bottom of the run back into the village so you can be on the lift in minutes in the morning, worth checking out if you can book direct with the hotel.

Also Ski2 specialise in champoluc, again worth comparing but they tend to feel a bit more expensive but service from them was excellent there may be deals to be had with them too, plus transfer is included with them, ski pass and lunch vouchers and they will ferry you around the village if needed plus their own ski hire is very reasonable and free ski deposit at the lift.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 01:07:14 GMT

Tc, would you agree Champoluc a better base than Alagna?
I recall a very high gondola to link the areas, which when open was amazing, but skiing at Alagna itself without link was limited to lower Alagna slopes. The viz was very poor on days 2 and 3 unfortunately.
Stunning ski area though.
Dids

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:38:17 GMT

Yes to Geneva flights, but why Samoens? Les Carroz is a shorter transfer and easier access to Flaine if snow is dodgy or problems with links. Have a look at http://manxski.com - we're just 45 mins from the airport, a major factor in weekend breaks

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 07:15:55 GMT

chris callow wrote:Yes to Geneva flights, but why Samoens? Les Carroz is a shorter transfer and easier access to Flaine if snow is dodgy or problems with links. Have a look at http://manxski.com - we're just 45 mins from the airport, a major factor in weekend breaks

Well, yeah, good point but Gareth asked for experiences of others so I just gave mine.
Les Carroz would be a great shout am sure. Same ski area - in fact LC is my fave part of Grand Massif to ski. I've just never stayed there.
:)

Your place looks great by the way.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:49:50 GMT

chris callow wrote:Yes to Geneva flights, but why Samoens? Les Carroz is a shorter transfer and easier access to Flaine if snow is dodgy or problems with links. Have a look at http://manxski.com - we're just 45 mins from the airport, a major factor in weekend breaks

Am I right in saying your chalet is 45 mins from Geneva? Do you do transfers?

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:50:53 GMT

Sorry, I ask questions before looking at websites, am off to look now :oops:

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:53:34 GMT

OK, now I do have a question. What do you consider a weekend?

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:45:16 GMT

We do short breaks (2 night minimum) whether across the weekend or midweek - fully flexible! Just replied to an inquiry out of this thread, if that was not you, then why not get in touch?

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:48:56 GMT

Thanks for all the ideas, I love Italy so am gonna have a good look at a couple of areas there.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:59:38 GMT

Gareth Fair,

The "tough decision".

Like you I always looked for the best pleasure/cost ratio.

I have four children and wife who love skiing, I am not of the upper SES level so counted my money.

The tough decision is to find that great ski holiday at lowest cost.

I have found over the years several points or factors to consider.

Time : never go on major holidays. I have taken my children out of school on non-holiday periods and many years later they thanked me for it.I made sure school work was done and had them do school work during ski holidays.

Place: avoid the "tourist traps". If you do not know what these are find out via net. Just think of the "herd mentality " and it will help you. There are many ski resorts away from beaten path that offer amazing prizes.

Context : define what you want in a ski holiday.

Hope you find your special holiday Gareth.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:27:13 GMT

Tc, would you agree Champoluc a better base than Alagna?
I recall a very high gondola to link the areas, which when open was amazing, but skiing at Alagna itself without link was limited to lower Alagna slopes. The viz was very poor on days 2 and 3 unfortunately.
Stunning ski area though.
Dids

Not sure about staying in Alagna being better as I haven't done it.

Always stayed in Chapoluc, if the weather closes in and lifts stop there is a smaller area just above Champoluc at Antagnod, 5 minute bus ride away that was always open when we have been there and the higher lifts shut because of high wind or very poor visability, so at least we could ski.

Can access Gressoney very quickly if you bus up to the new funicular saves 45 mins ski time to access Gressoney and over to Alanga.

Just think the area in general ticks a lot of boxes.

Re:Short break that wont cost too much???

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:12:59 GMT

Champoluc does sound a better place to stay then.

Were limited to just one slope when higher lift was closedin Alagna.