Latest posts for the topic "Planning for 2016/17 already "

Planning for 2016/17 already

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:34:34 GMT

I'm sure there are plenty of you, like myself, who have had their trip/trips for the season already, and are looking ahead to next season in terms of planning possible trips.

Some of you will, no doubt, be returning to the same old haunts for the umpteenth time......certain places (mentioning no N N N N Names) seem to attract a cult crowd for some reason......but I'm already scouring the pages of WTSS for somewhere I would like to see for the first time, or a return to a place I haven't been to in some time.

This morning I sat in bed and drew up a spreadsheet (Yes, I have too much time on my hands) of results based on every single resort in the guide, rating them as either Visited, Keen, would go, wouldn't go based on my own research, experience or the experience of others.

Everyone has their own criteria when considering somewhere to ski, be it a certain amount of KM of marked piste, altitude, off slope activities, ease of driving to, short transfers, etc. I like to look at a combination of some of these, mainly extent and altitude, although I do appreciate there are some lower lying resorts that I really MUST consider, but need to think about when to go or book it late.

So, needless to say I surprised myself when I came up with a shortlist of 20 yes twenty resorts on my potential hit list for next season: some I have looked at time and time again and then never bothered following up, others that in the past I may have dismissed, and a few that I never really looked at at all before. Some I know absolutely nothing about, only what I have read or based on someone I know who has been there, others I could tell you everything about the area without having ever visited it!

So, I am left with the following:

AUSTRIA
Ischgl
Saalbach (concerns over lack of snow a sa friend has experienced several times)
Schladming
Hochkonig (Maria Alm)

ITALY
Arabba
Corvara
La Villa
Selva

SPAIN
Baqueira-Beret
Formigal

FRANCE
Megeve (altitude could again be a concern here)
Les Arcs/La Plagne
Val d'sere/Tignes

SWITZERLAND
Arosa
Verbier (been once, 8 years ago, Mrs H hasn't been)
Crans Montana

I also have another list of 15 or so resorts I'd also consider, places I have been to and really enjoyed and would happily return, and other new places I like the sound of, but they don't jump out at me.

Any ideas, other than be more ruthless????

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 18:20:42 GMT

Tony I thought saalbach had great snow making now

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:48:38 GMT

Probably. As does most of the Dolomites. But that's not the point.....I want to go somewhere with natural snow, and lots of it.....don't we all?
I can't face going somewhere with brown strips through green fields.

I'm siding towards Ischgl.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 10:22:14 GMT

Mate, get yourself to Baquiera. They've had a load of snow again this season and I've read that they've replaced some of the older lifts.

I'm gutted I didn't get away this season after all (knee injury in Dec, op in Feb didn't go well) so massively looking forward to next season. Trying to convince the Mrs that 3 trips will be allowable, as I've now missed 5 seasons!

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:24:55 GMT

My one criticism of Megeve would be that it is overpriced. Especially when you consider how low it is. I do like the ski area though.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 13:18:23 GMT

Jimbobilini wrote:My one criticism of Megeve would be that it is overpriced. Especially when you consider how low it is. I do like the ski area though.

I have a client who absolutely swears by the place.....what I read is that you can do it on a budget as well as particularly high brow, and believe me my client is proper high brow! And yes, altitude is a big concern, but I like the sound of the resort and the ambience people talk of, and allegedly quiet slopes as well.

Just did a quick search for a holiday to Megeve and you're right - horrendous prices!!!

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 18:19:47 GMT

Ischgl is on my list as is Lech. We're really keen to try Austria having skied 5 countries so far.

I have a business friend who skied Ischgl in January and was very impressed.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 20:35:23 GMT

Lech is pretentious and tacky. Have you considered Andorra at all?

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 13:30:51 GMT

Brucie wrote:Lech is pretentious and tacky. Have you considered Andorra at all?

Lech is swanky and upmarket, and the only way I would afford to go there would be chalet board! I have done St Anton twice and liked the skiing in Lech and Zurs. Tacky it most certainly isn't.

Andorra.....I had 3 days there a while back, Soldeu was totally closed due to a lack of snow so I only skied Pas and Grau Roig on the big area, but enjoyed Arcalis a lot.
Soldeu is the only place I would consider, but having looked at it every year, it always gets taken off the list, hence why it isn't on the list above.
It just doesn't do it for me, and yes I am fully aware of your regular experience out there.
It would have to be a freebie or ridiculously cheap offer to tempt me I think.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 16:49:06 GMT

Tony, just back from Arosa/Lenzerheide. Full trip report to follow. You might like it...

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 07:21:56 GMT

I based my lech observations on a visit to a slopeside cafe where a group of heavily tattooed fat Russians were stripped to the waist and drinking Krug by the neck at 11am!
I didn't consider that swanky and upmarket but maybe some would!

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 10:45:05 GMT

Brucie wrote:I based my lech observations on a visit to a slopeside cafe where a group of heavily tattooed fat Russians were stripped to the waist and drinking Krug by the neck at 11am!
I didn't consider that swanky and upmarket but maybe some would!

You can find Russians doing that anywhere in Europe, it wouldn't be fair to judge Lech on it ;-)

Maybe I would be wrong in basing my observations on Pas de la Casa from skiing down into it and sitting at a bar, just like the other 20 nearby, full of heavily tattooed British people smoking weed and drinking Skol by the barrel load listening to blaring house music?

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:18:58 GMT

Ach Tony you're too easy. AND I was talking about the women. Imagine what the boyfriends/husbands were like!
We do agree on Pas however, hideous, loutish place.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 17:28:49 GMT

Some excellent areas to choose from there, Tony. We are just looking at returning to Les Arcs, it's a brilliant ski area for so many reasons. Just regarding Italy, I see that Skiworld have pulled the entire range for 2017, due to such poor snow conditions over the last 2 years (their words). Good luck in your choosing, it's one of those nice dilemmas!

Ps.....Barney, I've done lech twice. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Cheers

Steve

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 18:02:08 GMT

stevie999 wrote:Some excellent areas to choose from there, Tony. We are just looking at returning to Les Arcs, it's a brilliant ski area for so many reasons. Just regarding Italy, I see that Skiworld have pulled the entire range for 2017, due to such poor snow conditions over the last 2 years (their words). Good luck in your choosing, it's one of those nice dilemmas!

Ps.....Barney, I've done lech twice. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Cheers

Steve

That 'entire range' in Italy amounts to two resorts - Courmayeur and Madonna which suggests that company was losing interest in Italy long before the last couple of 'poor' years.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 18:12:13 GMT

of that list Tony you know that I'm a big fan of VDi/Tignes

yes it CAN be expensive but it can also be dirt cheap (you dont have to drink in Dicks) - like anywhere you CAN get ripped off and there will always be somone who tells hysterical tales of 15Euro a pint and igniore evidence from people like me and BB who have paid more like 3 in Happy Hour

the EK has a HUUUUUUGE variety of skiing so well worth a shout

I also like Verbier but (as discussed with you before I think) I though the interconnection a little poor (itinerary or cable car the only way down from Tortin I think though VSB will correct me if I'm in the wrong place in my head). I also dont like only 2 lift stations (and 2 runs back) to serve the whole town. Busy if you like to be on first lift and come down around 4pm as we do. Also Verbs CAN be expensive and make VDI look cheap (but again you can do it cheaper too)

never done selva but hear good reports of the Sella Ronda - snow concerns me though - one patchy bit makes the whole cisrcuit a non starter from what i understand. great to add a tru classic downhill on the Camel Bumps to one's ski CV though!

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:50:12 GMT

We had a really fantastic week in Megeve in 2015 - yes it's expensive if you want it to be, yes it's lower than some other resorts. But there was way more than we could manage in a week (all decent skiers who are out all day) and I would very happily go back.

I've just paid our deposit today for an apartment in Serre Chevalier next February - looking forward to it already :)

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 15 Apr 2016 00:12:37 GMT

I have just finished, (or looking at the forecast, maybe not), a winter of five ski visits, 41 days. This is a bit higher than normal, but is occasioned by an early decision to join good friends in Vail, Colorado.

I have two next season visits already mindset, with one other semi-fixed and one widely open.

But, before anyone gets into a "rich git" mode, I pay Easyjet prices, GBP70 return, and Euro30 as a general nightly cost, and a really good knowledge of transfer possibilities. I also link multi-area visits buying a large area pass ~ ie Tirolpass in January, Obergurgl in March.

Of course, because I return to the same Austrian village every year, I have several advantages, in that I can leave a number of skis in the keller, along with some other kit. Hence, travel hand baggage does the job.
I guess my strategy is to retain my favourite Austrian resort, plus the regional areas, along with one or two other national areas, plus some opportunistic Scottish days.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:04:39 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:I have just finished, (or looking at the forecast, maybe not), a winter of five ski visits, 41 days. This is a bit higher than normal, but is occasioned by an early decision to join good friends in Vail, Colorado.

I have two next season visits already mindset, with one other semi-fixed and one widely open.

But, before anyone gets into a "rich git" mode, I pay Easyjet prices, GBP70 return, and Euro30 as a general nightly cost, and a really good knowledge of transfer possibilities. I also link multi-area visits buying a large area pass ~ ie Tirolpass in January, Obergurgl in March.

Of course, because I return to the same Austrian village every year, I have several advantages, in that I can leave a number of skis in the keller, along with some other kit. Hence, travel hand baggage does the job.
I guess my strategy is to retain my favourite Austrian resort, plus the regional areas, along with one or two other national areas, plus some opportunistic Scottish days.

Thanks for sharing that with us. Not really assisted me with my shortlist for next year, but at least you will have a fantastic number of days skiing next season by the sounds of it.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Sun, 24 Apr 2016 14:02:32 GMT

I would pick one of the Swiss ones on the basis of Milka chocolate and:
Austria no longer gets any snow
Italy you chose the wrong area
I don't trust the snow reports of anything in Pyrenees (France/Spain/Andora), web cams always tell a completely different story.
French resort you chose are manmade monstrosities except for Megeve, where your insurance policy could be a car which can take you to plenty of high altitude skiing within 40min. I seemed to recall a desire to do a Vallee Blanche.

Re:Planning for 2016/17 already

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 09:11:21 GMT

Ranchero_1979 wrote:I would pick one of the Swiss ones on the basis of Milka chocolate and:
Austria no longer gets any snow
Italy you chose the wrong area
I don't trust the snow reports of anything in Pyrenees (France/Spain/Andora), web cams always tell a completely different story.
French resort you chose are manmade monstrosities except for Megeve, where your insurance policy could be a car which can take you to plenty of high altitude skiing within 40min. I seemed to recall a desire to do a Vallee Blanche.

Right :shock: