Latest posts for the topic "Snow holiday for a couple"

Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:08:51 GMT

Hello!

This is my first post :)

I'm trying to organise a ski holiday with just me and my boyfriend, but the problem is that he's a beginner snowboarder (had a few lessons at snow dome but never on "proper" snow), and I've been skiing about 8 times, so am reasonably competent.

He'll need lessons, but I don't want to be stuck skiing on my own every morning. I don't mind joining an advanced group or something.

What would be the best sort of holiday to book? Are there any all inclusive ones which cover everything? We have quite a reasonable budget, so price isn't too much of an issue, and we're looking to go mid-March.

I'm also quite lazy, so prefer places where I can ski to the door. :roll:

Can anyone give me any recommendations of where to start looking?!?! I prefer France as I can speak the language.

Thank you in advance,

Gadgetgirl

Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:12:43 GMT

gadgetgirl79 wrote:Hello!

This is my first post :)

I'm trying to organise a ski holiday with just me and my boyfriend, but the problem is that he's a beginner snowboarder (had a few lessons at snow dome but never on "proper" snow), and I've been skiing about 8 times, so am reasonably competent.

He'll need lessons, but I don't want to be stuck skiing on my own every morning. I don't mind joining an advanced group or something.

What would be the best sort of holiday to book? Are there any all inclusive ones which cover everything? We have quite a reasonable budget, so price isn't too much of an issue, and we're looking to go mid-March.

I'm also quite lazy, so prefer places where I can ski to the door. :roll:

Can anyone give me any recommendations of where to start looking?!?! I prefer France as I can speak the language.

Thank you in advance,

Gadgetgirl

If price isn't an issue France is your oyster.

Alternatively you could learn to snowboard too :wink:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:23:03 GMT

lol well I have my own ski boots that are SO comfortable, so I think I'd prefer to stick to the skiing!

Plus I frequently see snowboarders having to "scoot" or walk along flat bits - that looks FAR too much like hard work!! Maybe next year!

Are club med any good?

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:31:45 GMT

Hi gadgetgirl79, and welcome to the forum.

My initial thoughts are to suggest using one of the big TO's who do ski guiding for their guests.

This way, you oh can get lessons boarding, and you can hopefully ski with a suitable group and a rep, who will show you round the mountains. It is often that after a few days, friendships develop with other skiers and then you can make your own plans.

Another option might be to book a room in a chalet, and hope that you can make friends with the other guests, and ski with them. Better yet, do a chalet room with a TO doing guiding.

Hope that helps.

FQ

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:53:40 GMT

Thanks for the replies!

Who would the main TO's be?

I went with Thomson to Cervinia, but was meeting up with 40 others, so didn't require lessons! I've just priced up a holiday, and it comes to about GBP1500 a person, which seems quite a lot! I was hoping for under GBP1300pp.

This is actually my first couples holiday! :o

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:00:52 GMT

I've just booked up with UCPA for a week all-inclusive, ski/out, in Flaine. For approx Euro600 I've got meals, all equipment hire, lift pass, and lessons. The offer the packages with or without lessons, and you can ski or snow board. Have a look on www.ucpa.com (or http://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/ if your French isn't great- book through UCPA though cos I think it's a bit cheaper).

Lessons are split by skill level, so you could both go off for a couple of hours each morning with appropriate groups at your level, then meet up at lunch.

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:13:24 GMT

Nielson are quite good for young people - my son went with them to Deux Alpes over New Year - they organised pub crawls and allsorts. As Far Queue says a catered chalet usually has some guiding included. Pleisure Holidays in Courchevel Le Praz specialise in snowboarding and are young person orientated and offer guiding. http://www.pleisure.co.uk/about.html

I have looked at some of the deals atm and If you are not tied to school holidays wait for one -

http://uk.holidays.travelzoo.com/ski-and-snow/

Scroll down and there is a GBP299 holiday to Banff departs 27 January - some other good catered chalet deals too - don't pay GBP1500!!!

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:25:09 GMT

Thanks again for all your help! I'm currently looking through all the links.

We're in our early and mid(ish) 30s if that classifies as young?!? :shock:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:35:11 GMT

Consider Snowcoach chalets, but take the flying option. Get him sorted in snowbaord school, Snow coach supply a ski guide, who will take guests to various mountains as long as they ski abit. Company on the slopes and get to know the other guests at the same time. Snowcoach do mainly France and would be well within your budget. You must know this already but France is well exy for Apres!!

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:37:14 GMT

gadgetgirl79 wrote:

Who would the main TO's be?

Thomson, Crystals and Neilson I am pretty sure do ski guiding, as do Mark Warner.

gadgetgirl79 wrote:

I've just priced up a holiday, and it comes to about GBP1500 a person, which seems quite a lot! I was hoping for under GBP1300pp.

:shock: Ouch, that is either a Mark Warner price, or during the half term holidays? When are you thinking of going?

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:45:55 GMT

Far Queue wrote:

:shock: Ouch, that is either a Mark Warner price, or during the half term holidays? When are you thinking of going?

Hoping to 6th or 13th March, as I prefer the slightly warmer weather and longer days in March, and this is outside UK and French holidays!

It was a Thomson price when I added on lessons, lift pass etc...

Currently looking at a Club Med one for about GBP1200pp which includes 4* hotel, full board, flights, transfers, lift pass, and lessons for 5 days.

I'm a creature of comforts so like my 4* hotels and nice food I'm afraid :shock:

I've looked at some of the links, but am nervous about booking flights separately, as if they get cancelled, then it can end up costing a fortune!! (As did happen to some friends of mine...!)

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:49:35 GMT

Ahh, sorry I did not realise your cost included all the passes, lessons and things. That would explain it.

The best tip I could really give for you, would be to wait till nearer the time and get a last minute deal. However, that may mean you would take a bit of pot luck on the holiday location.

gadgetgirl79 wrote:I'm a creature of comforts so like my 4* hotels and nice food I'm afraid :shock:

Nowt wrong with that :)

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:35:51 GMT

Can you speak Norfolk, we have plenty of snow here :wink:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:54:45 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Can you speak Norfolk, we have plenty of snow here :wink:

Apart from lack of slopes and chairlifts, I think gadget girl should also be warned about the locals...

:lol:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:13:48 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Can you speak Norfolk, we have plenty of snow here :wink:

Apart from lack of slopes and chairlifts, I think gadget girl should also be warned about the locals...

:lol:

Have you been hacking into my iphoto account :lol:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:22:40 GMT

No I haven't actually...But I thought there was a good chance they would be relations of yours! :wink:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:27:59 GMT

ParalyticSkiCrazie wrote:

I have looked at some of the deals atm and If you are not tied to school holidays wait for one -

http://uk.holidays.travelzoo.com/ski-and-snow/

Scroll down and there is a GBP299 holiday to Banff departs 27 January - some other good catered chalet deals too - don't pay GBP1500!!!

Thanks PSC,
I had a look at this, and spotted a catered chalet in St Anton with Ski World, reduced by GBP460 to GBP329, leaving Sunday 17th Jan from Gatwick. This looks pretty good to me. Shame I'm too busy to go!

Gadget girl,
If you can afford to wait you could try and get one of these last minute offers, as PSC suggests, they can be amazingly good value.

As for lessons - you can generally get advanced lessons with ski school - I'm doing slalom and my daughter's doing off piste - but lessons are quite expensive. The ski club of Great Britain also does touring days in the resorts where they have a rep, which are free if you join them (and you can get various discounts as well), and you should be able to get 3 days out with them (the other days will be easy ones for lower intermediates).

I quite agree with you about how expensive it becomes when you total everything. Our Feb half-term holiday to Courchevel is going to be about GBP1100 each once we've paid for the train, transfers, apartment, ski hire, ski pass and lessons, and that's not counting the cost of the food we're going to buy while we're on holiday. But if we were to go in a chalet we'd probably be paying that just for flights and the catered chalet.

Ally

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:18:59 GMT

Club Med would be perfect - he'll get his tray lessons and you'll be able to ski with a group of a similar ability with an instructor - you'll also be able to meet up at lunch, and can swap around tables for all your meals.

The Club Med in Alpe D'Huez is ski in/out I believe, and Club Med often have some good late deals.

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:27:28 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:No I haven't actually...But I thought there was a good chance they would be relations of yours! :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Love it. Love it. Love it!!!

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:41:14 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Can you speak Norfolk, we have plenty of snow here :wink:

Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:55:48 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:No I haven't actually...But I thought there was a good chance they would be relations of yours! :wink:

Thats the spitting image of my dad and brother :shock:

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:02:03 GMT

gadgetgirl79 wrote:Thanks for the replies!

Who would the main TO's be?

I went with Thomson to Cervinia, but was meeting up with 40 others, so didn't require lessons! I've just priced up a holiday, and it comes to about GBP1500 a person, which seems quite a lot! I was hoping for under GBP1300pp.

This is actually my first couples holiday! :o

blinkng flip, GBP1300 you should have done with it and go to Portillo in Chile, for that money they will warm your boots with the smouldering embers of Mountain Gods. The skiing is not half bad either ;)

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:27:01 GMT

tino_11 wrote:
blinkng flip, GBP1300 you should have done with it and go to Portillo in Chile, for that money they will warm your boots with the smouldering embers of Mountain Gods. The skiing is not half bad either ;)

Sounds good!! :D

I've been saving hard last year, hence wanting a luxury holiday now! There's nothing quite like the satisfaction blowing your savings! I'm swaying to the club med ones... I quite like the look of the La Plagne one, although it's been 15 years since I last went to La Plagne!

snowb4ndit wrote: Apart from lack of slopes and chairlifts, I think gadget girl should also be warned about the locals...

:shock: I do actually have family in Norfolk, so am well accustomed to their peculiar ways... (and in some areas, I do believe a translator is required???).

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:33:42 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:No I haven't actually...But I thought there was a good chance they would be relations of yours! :wink:

Thats the spitting image of my dad and brother :shock:

...and who is the other one?

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:49:36 GMT

Learn to snowboard with your boyfriend.

I had skiied for 5 years but my wife and family had never fancied it. I was shocked when a couple of years ago she said we should do a family ski holiday. I was stuck with the same dilema of me skiing alone whilst the rest of the family were learning. Instead we all decided to learn to snowboard, it was very strange to go from skis to board but at least we could all learn and laugh together. We are off to Austria in 3 weeks for our 3rd year as boarders and we love it.

So learn to board (it's cooler!) and I'm nearly 50!

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:59:57 GMT

If you want luxury, go here:

http://www.maison-jaune.com/luxury-chalet-chamonix.php

I had a week there last week and I can't recommend it highly enough! Great area to ski/board too

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:38:14 GMT

Dunno if this has already been said as haven't read the whole topic but look to resorts with lots of chairlift access rather than surface lifts. T-Bars aren't too bad if your a strong skier and can go on the inside, doing all the hard work!

Re:Snow holiday for a couple

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:39:47 GMT

Yay, I booked for Courchevel 1850 in March! So excited! I've been before, and am determined to go and try the black run I fell over on last time!!