Ski Resorts

Swagger187

Swagger187

Swagger187

Associate
Joined
4 Oct 2011
Posts
1,548
Location
Newbury, UK
Hi all,

Me and a few mates are looking at going Skiing/Snowboarding next year in mid Feb.

I have been looking at St Anton, Austria but some of the guys can't afford it :/. What resorts could we go that you lot could recommend? This doesn't just have to be Austria could be anywhere.

We have never been Skiing/Snowboarding before but will be getting some practice done in the snowdome in Tamworth.

Cheers,
 
What's important to you? Price? Nightlife? Snow surety? Presumably if you are all learning you are not going to be too picky about the terrain.
 
Cheap... Well Andorra is generally considered cheap (relative) and maybe look at some of the eastern European resorts. Of you're all beginners then the terrain and lack of runs won't be an issue.
 
Zakopane in Poland? I've been their a few times but I haven't really experienced other places apart from Zakopane (because im Polish lol) and some in Slovakia but I know the overall stay was cheap and really fun.
 
Thanks for you replies so far. My bro has done a bit of snowboarding in Canada and I can stay on a skateboard so I am hoping its similar.

Were looking at a £1000 max which would include cash for drinks, eating out etc. I would like long runs as well which has different variety.
 
We went to La Plagne and the UCPA (Plagne Centre) there has been refurbished last year and was really good. I was a bit apprehensive with it being sort of a hostel but it was more like a hotel. There were 8 of us so we didn't need to share a 4 person room with anyone we didn't know. The accommodation was modern and clean, the food was unlimited and awesome, the instruction was also really good too, we got a ESF instructor instead of a UCPA one and she was a Brit which really helped with the explanations.
It was about £650 all in, that included 3 meals a day, room, instruction, equipment hire and lift pass. Add a cheap flight to Geneva and transfer and you'll be a fair bit under your £1000 limit.

La Plagne also has a lot of blue runs which I found great as a beginner, you'll be off the green runs and onto the blues after the first day unless you're absolutely useless.
 
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I'll second La Plagne plenty of runs and plenty of bars etc. My brother is out in St Anton at the moment (working) and says the snow is amazing.... I'm so jealous :'(
 
I had a good trip to la Plagne earlier this season. That could be a good fit.

I would also consider Port du Soleil for France on a budget. You could stay in Chatel which is cheap and has a nice village feel and easily get to Avoriaz which is higher (after your first couple of days as you will need to be somewhat competent to head there)

You may find avoriaz itself is a good bet if you can do it for the budget. Alternative is to to rent a flat somewhere between you. That should open up a lot of resorts for your budget.
 
Andorra is pretty cheap, but is not very good for people who have skied before. The blacks are like easy reds, the reds like blues and the blues like greens.

Courchevel is very good, along with the other ski resorts in the Three Valleys. A bit expensive though, so you'd have to find a good deal and stretch your monies.
 
I've not long come back from Bansko in Bulgaria.... Flights from Gatwick and accomodation in a really good apartment cost us £130 each for the week.... Almost unbelievably cheap.

If you are interested you are more than welcome to drop me a message and I'll point you in the direction of the apartment owner.

A ski pass, if booked in advance will cost you £125 for 6 days through the Bansko Blog website.

I've been skiing to a few destinations... I was travelling with some very experienced skiiers whom have tried most of the main destinations and they were very impressed with Bansko.

Worth a look :-)

Bansko Blog: http://banskoblog.com/
 
Andy__C said:
I've not long come back from Bansko in Bulgaria.... Flights from Gatwick and accomodation in a really good apartment cost us £130 each for the week.... Almost unbelievably cheap.

If you are interested you are more than welcome to drop me a message and I'll point you in the direction of the apartment owner.

A ski pass, if booked in advance will cost you £125 for 6 days through the Bansko Blog website.

I've been skiing to a few destinations... I was travelling with some very experienced skiiers whom have tried most of the main destinations and they were very impressed with Bansko.

Worth a look :-)

Bansko Blog: http://banskoblog.com/
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+1 to this, also check out Jansa, ive had this chalet recommended a few times to me http://www.chaletslovakia.com/
 
Skidder said:
I had a good trip to la Plagne earlier this season. That could be a good fit.

I would also consider Port du Soleil for France on a budget. You could stay in Chatel which is cheap and has a nice village feel and easily get to Avoriaz which is higher (after your first couple of days as you will need to be somewhat competent to head there)

You may find avoriaz itself is a good bet if you can do it for the budget. Alternative is to to rent a flat somewhere between you. That should open up a lot of resorts for your budget.
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I stayed in Chatel Jan this year, had good snow. It's a good area with the local Chatel runs and also the wider area pass. Cool underground bowling, bar place there too!
 
Can't beat the french alps for combing low prices, good terrain, good snow assurance.

Most of Europe is doing well for snow so that makes it eay.
 
Hank_Marvin said:
I stayed in Chatel Jan this year, had good snow. It's a good area with the local Chatel runs and also the wider area pass. Cool underground bowling, bar place there too!
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I like Chatel, haven't been for years but have a soft spot for it. So far this year La Plagne and Niseko in Japan. Meribel next week and Chamonix in March! and yep, I'm pretty smug about that:D
 
Evoss said:
Chamonix, France. You wont get any better skiing in Europe.
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I love Chamonix and spend a lot of time there but wouldn't necessarily put it top of my list for complete beginners. Les Houches would be pretty good and brevent but there are plenty of places where beginners can get easier access to the slopes.

Having said that fantastic nightlife and can be done cheaply if you stay in cham sud, and use one of the transfer services from geneva
 
Enjoy your beginnerhood. There is absolutely no point going to super expensive resorts with amazing runs because you will be arising around on blues and baby slopes. I have done shed loads of skiing and can't stand small resorts when I'm skiing but as I am a numpty beginner boarder I am going to Andorra for my second week of boarding . Last year La Plagne (first week of boarding) was too advanced for first week boarders and wasted on us.

PS by enjoy I mean go somewhere cheap. Huge resorts in the Alps will be wasted on beginners
 
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