European ski holiday help
Jul 3rd, 2005, 05:43 AM
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European ski holiday help
We are Aussies trying to plan a ski trip for Jan 2006 in Europe. All beginners and a range of ages - 55, 43, 23, 24, 13, 11. Need recommendations for either France, Italy or Austria where we can spend 7-10 days skiing and then take in a week in Austria before heading to family in Italy. Chalet acccomodation preferable. Not top of the range. Pls help.
Jul 3rd, 2005, 06:33 AM
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I spent a week at the Club Med in Chamonix. It was very enjoyable and the skiing was great. There are lessons for all levels and every meal is provided with the club. I'm an intermediate skier so I don't know what the beginner lessons were like, but the intermediate lessons was more like a tour of the mountain and a little bit of technique.
Jul 3rd, 2005, 09:24 AM
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I recommend for Chalet accommodation the villages in the Switzerland.
Take a look into
www.lauchernalp.ch
They have a small & fine skiing area and they offer a chalet-style accommodation.
Austria has also lot's of skiing-resorts suited for beginners, but Chalet's are very rare.
Take a look into Lech-offers.
www.lech-zuers.at
Take a look into
www.lauchernalp.ch
They have a small & fine skiing area and they offer a chalet-style accommodation.
Austria has also lot's of skiing-resorts suited for beginners, but Chalet's are very rare.
Take a look into Lech-offers.
www.lech-zuers.at
Jul 3rd, 2005, 07:09 PM
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Check out www.serre-chevalier.com
It's a very large ski domaine in the Hautes Alpes in a traditional setting, rather than a purpose-built resort.
It's a very large ski domaine in the Hautes Alpes in a traditional setting, rather than a purpose-built resort.
Jul 3rd, 2005, 08:30 PM
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Definitely consider Kitzbuhel -great beginner skiing, lots of accomodations, great food and nightlife. Then head to the Pearl of the Dolomites - Cortina d'Ampezzo - and brag to your Italian relatives, They will be impressed!
Jul 3rd, 2005, 09:14 PM
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Gooday fellow Aussies!
Given the large number of people in your party, I would definately recommend an apartment where you can 'self cater' some of your meals. We have done both, and the 'all in' places like Club Med are around AUS$2000 per person for one week, which adds up! Remember that the Euro is quite strong compared to the poor old Aussie dollar. Last January we rented a very up-market apartment in Pontresina, Switzerland (with a view of St Moritz). It only cost around $200 per night, and had could easily accomodate six. We then alternated expensive meals out with el cheap self cooking ones. Wherever you go, there are plenty of options for ski lessons in English for all abilities.
Given the large number of people in your party, I would definately recommend an apartment where you can 'self cater' some of your meals. We have done both, and the 'all in' places like Club Med are around AUS$2000 per person for one week, which adds up! Remember that the Euro is quite strong compared to the poor old Aussie dollar. Last January we rented a very up-market apartment in Pontresina, Switzerland (with a view of St Moritz). It only cost around $200 per night, and had could easily accomodate six. We then alternated expensive meals out with el cheap self cooking ones. Wherever you go, there are plenty of options for ski lessons in English for all abilities.
Jul 3rd, 2005, 09:36 PM
#8
There are two popular spots for "apres ski" and pisten fun: Solden and Ischgl. I'd say Ishgl is even more popular. They are both located in Austria. Ischgl is on the border of Austria and Switzerland. You can ski one day in Austria and one day in Switzerland (Samnaun).
Jul 3rd, 2005, 10:53 PM
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I do not recommend Courchevel for a beginner. It is a great ski-resort, but a beginner would pay a lot for expensive ski-pass, whith an advantage for experts.
Better you choose a small village, where you do not have to finance all the expensive investments into new Gondolas.
I recommend Lofer, which has a very good ski-areal for beginners. You can find more information under
www.salzburgersaalachtal.com
Better you choose a small village, where you do not have to finance all the expensive investments into new Gondolas.
I recommend Lofer, which has a very good ski-areal for beginners. You can find more information under
www.salzburgersaalachtal.com
Jul 4th, 2005, 12:09 AM
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My head is spinning - there are so many alternatives and options. I am even considering Club Med as everything is taken care of - as much as I would like the chalet life. You need to make it simple for me. Looks like Chamonix or Val D'Esire are coming in first - what do you think? Is hiring gear easy,organising lessons - and apres ski for those in their 20's
Jul 4th, 2005, 12:45 AM
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Again Val d'Isere and Chamonix does not give any value add for a ski-beginner.
Val d'Isere is a pure ski-resort and does not give much alternatives, if you do not want to ski. The advantage of Val d'Isere is the huge ski-areal and that they offer lot's of appartments. Val d'Isere is a nice & old village, but several others (Lac Tignes) are beton villages, without an own style.
Chamonix has surrounded by very high mountains. I would say, this is to cold in januray.
Apres-Ski is very expensive in France. If you have a focus on Apres-ski than I recommend Austria (Ischgl, Soelden, Saalbach).
Take a look into www.snoweye.com. You can view web-cams and you will get an impression, if you like the village or not.
Val d'Isere is a pure ski-resort and does not give much alternatives, if you do not want to ski. The advantage of Val d'Isere is the huge ski-areal and that they offer lot's of appartments. Val d'Isere is a nice & old village, but several others (Lac Tignes) are beton villages, without an own style.
Chamonix has surrounded by very high mountains. I would say, this is to cold in januray.
Apres-Ski is very expensive in France. If you have a focus on Apres-ski than I recommend Austria (Ischgl, Soelden, Saalbach).
Take a look into www.snoweye.com. You can view web-cams and you will get an impression, if you like the village or not.
Jul 4th, 2005, 01:59 AM
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Thanks everyone - I will spend tonight checking out the links and sites you have all recommended. No doubt I will have more questions tomorrow. Feel free to recommend an itinerary for us !! Perhaps flying into Austria and skiing there may be the better option??
Jul 4th, 2005, 02:22 AM
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For your group, I would certainly check out the Kaprun-Zell-am-See area of Austria. Wonderful skiing for every level...great villages..convenient to so much..great train service in Zell-am-See for short trips to other area places...do check it out!! Enjoy.....
Jul 4th, 2005, 06:02 AM
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Ro -
Whatever you decide, I recommend strongly that you pick a town at 1000 m. altitude or higher. You don't want to risk having no snow in town!
If you are beginners, you won't be able to take advantage of the great pistes at Kitzbuehl, Cortina, Val d'Isere, etc., so you can look for somewhere smaller and cheaper. Make sure there is sledding (rodelen) nearby if you're in Austria!
Whatever you decide, I recommend strongly that you pick a town at 1000 m. altitude or higher. You don't want to risk having no snow in town!
If you are beginners, you won't be able to take advantage of the great pistes at Kitzbuehl, Cortina, Val d'Isere, etc., so you can look for somewhere smaller and cheaper. Make sure there is sledding (rodelen) nearby if you're in Austria!
Jul 4th, 2005, 11:23 AM
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In Italy you might want to consider Livignio. It's at 1800m, so snow is pretty well assured, and is mostly beginner and intermediate terrain. It's also in a duty-free zone, so there's good shopping to be had.
A good web-site to help choose a resort is published by the Daily Telegraph at:
http://telegraph.ifyouski.com/resorts/
Enjoy the skiing.
A good web-site to help choose a resort is published by the Daily Telegraph at:
http://telegraph.ifyouski.com/resorts/
Enjoy the skiing.
Jul 4th, 2005, 12:34 PM
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Hi - May I suggest that you check out
www.ski-europe.com - This is an american site which gives really good information on european resorts.
I would imagine that there is generally
more self catering accommodation available in France rather than other countries. Top resorts would be Zermatt in Switzerland. Courchevel in France.
St. Anton in Austria and Madonna di Campiglio in Italy. Many of what were smaller resorts are now linking up to create larger ski terrain - such as Espace Killy - Val d'Isere etc.
Have a wonderful holiday!
www.ski-europe.com - This is an american site which gives really good information on european resorts.
I would imagine that there is generally
more self catering accommodation available in France rather than other countries. Top resorts would be Zermatt in Switzerland. Courchevel in France.
St. Anton in Austria and Madonna di Campiglio in Italy. Many of what were smaller resorts are now linking up to create larger ski terrain - such as Espace Killy - Val d'Isere etc.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Jul 4th, 2005, 01:05 PM
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I strongly suggest you don't use websites to help you sort this out.
There are hundreds of resorts in the three countries you suggest, with all sorts of good arguments for each. As a perpetual beginner, for example, I love Courchevel because its restaurants are geared to prosperous, middle-aged Milanese (and therefore consistently fine), and it's a pretty village (such as you rarely get above 1500 m), with a comfortable lift up to the ski area, where you can keep your gear all the time. So in a 7 day holiday, you only really need to manhandle the kit once. Also, you get Italian mountain restaurants (the absolute finest kind), many accessible from beginner, intermediate and advanced pistes, so you can all meet for a not appallingly priced plate of pasta on the pistes at lunchtime, with a couple of decent glasses of rosso, as well as starting the morning with a confidence-creating glass of something that would be banned on any American ski slope. France and Austria just don't do skifood anything like as well IMHO.
But others, as we can see above, have different views
You can go round all the variations endlessly. And THE best source for helping you go round is the Which? (= UK Consumer Association) skiing guide, published as The Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide every autumn, but the 2004 edition is still available from Amazon.co.uk.
You will also find getting The Sunday Times (usually available from Monday each week in your capital cities) gives you by far the best range of chalets.
Remember, where there are British-operated chalets there are almost always chalet girls. Which means proper breakfasts every day, tea (with cake) on the table when you come in off the slopes, expert guidance on local clubs and enough class to make Moonie Ponds almost civilised.
There are hundreds of resorts in the three countries you suggest, with all sorts of good arguments for each. As a perpetual beginner, for example, I love Courchevel because its restaurants are geared to prosperous, middle-aged Milanese (and therefore consistently fine), and it's a pretty village (such as you rarely get above 1500 m), with a comfortable lift up to the ski area, where you can keep your gear all the time. So in a 7 day holiday, you only really need to manhandle the kit once. Also, you get Italian mountain restaurants (the absolute finest kind), many accessible from beginner, intermediate and advanced pistes, so you can all meet for a not appallingly priced plate of pasta on the pistes at lunchtime, with a couple of decent glasses of rosso, as well as starting the morning with a confidence-creating glass of something that would be banned on any American ski slope. France and Austria just don't do skifood anything like as well IMHO.
But others, as we can see above, have different views
You can go round all the variations endlessly. And THE best source for helping you go round is the Which? (= UK Consumer Association) skiing guide, published as The Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide every autumn, but the 2004 edition is still available from Amazon.co.uk.
You will also find getting The Sunday Times (usually available from Monday each week in your capital cities) gives you by far the best range of chalets.
Remember, where there are British-operated chalets there are almost always chalet girls. Which means proper breakfasts every day, tea (with cake) on the table when you come in off the slopes, expert guidance on local clubs and enough class to make Moonie Ponds almost civilised.
Jul 4th, 2005, 04:35 PM
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Thanks everyone and thanks flanneruk - there are so many options and so many opinions for an aussie traveller. We have organised 2 european holidays - 4 wks in 2003 and 6 weeks in 2004 - and did it all ourselves with help from the Fodors community. This time we may just do Club Med to get us into the skiing thing and then look at another week at the end of our trip in Italy. Any feedback on Club Med's skiing?
Thanks
Thanks
Jul 4th, 2005, 10:58 PM
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I have some experience from summer vacation in a club med resort.
The instructors are all young people without a professional education (advanced experts). They will do their best to advice you in sport-activities, but it is not their profession. The club language & instruction language is French. Maybe you will find someone speaking English, but this is not guaranteed for all activties.
The club visitors are mostly between 20 & 30 (can differ from club to club). The rooms are simple (2 people in one room), because the visitors shall active participate in the activties.
Food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) is included, but you have to pay for all drinks. They had an artificial currency for the drinks at the bar (we had to pay with oysters instead with real money). They have an own exchange rate for their club currency.
The instructors are all young people without a professional education (advanced experts). They will do their best to advice you in sport-activities, but it is not their profession. The club language & instruction language is French. Maybe you will find someone speaking English, but this is not guaranteed for all activties.
The club visitors are mostly between 20 & 30 (can differ from club to club). The rooms are simple (2 people in one room), because the visitors shall active participate in the activties.
Food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) is included, but you have to pay for all drinks. They had an artificial currency for the drinks at the bar (we had to pay with oysters instead with real money). They have an own exchange rate for their club currency.
