Need to organise a skiing trip - help required!!
 

I need to sort out a skiing trip for 2 people as a present.

I'm not looking for a travel-agent type recomendation, but more of an independant view as to where's best to go for a 4-5 day break(doh!!) that can be flown to directly and has decent service levels.

Personal recommendations are always best in my book.

I'm not the best at organising these sort of things, so does anyone know of a site with info, or can anyone suggest a suitable skiing location and hotel (Probably 4 star or similar)that can be flown to directly (without plane swaps) and offers a great experience both in terms of skiing and apres??

I know I'm leaving it a bit late and choice may be limited, but I need to be able to minimize the hassle getting there and maximise the enjoyment whilst there.

I'm looking at mid-March for this, I assume that's not leaving it too late??

Thanks in advance
Tim:ninja:

[Edited on 19-1-2005 by Rattler]

i would consider chamonix, can get there in an hour from the airport; not bad in skiing terms. great village/restaurants/bars. skiing areas are a bit fragmented but with a car it is easy.

I always do catered chalet hols as they're far more friendly than staying in a hotel, and you tend to get lots of very good food and reasonable plonk.

As for location it'll depend on skill levels. You can't go wrong in Courchevel 1850 especially for the range of skiing, but I prefer Argentiere in the Chamonix valley as it's a bit more nuts. Italy is better for beginners and those more interested in the food/fashion than the skiing with Cortina d'Ampezzo probably my fave. In Switzerland Verbier sounds like it's closest to your needs, but nights out can get very silly indeed.... :D

You should be fine for booking for March. I rarely book before the week before, but I tend to only be looking for one room in a chalet. As far as companies go , I'd recommend Simply Ski for the mid-range budget and Collineige for the top end. There's quite a few very good small companies around so it's worth searching around.

Overall I'd say head for the Chamonix valley if you're not too fussed about having the skiing on your doorstep, Verbier if you want some serious apres-ski, and Courchevel 1850 if you want to spend every waking moment on the slopes.

Having said all that I haven't tried St Anton in Austria, but it always gets very good reports, and I've never been to the states as I don't like the idea of Ski police!!!

Have fun.

Ali

Thanks guys

Davos. I think you'd fly to Geneva. Good ski area for 3/4 days. Independent hotels will give big discounts when booked at short notice. Be prepared to haggle. It's where the Swiss go for late season skiing and it's well organised, as you'd expect for Switzerland.

Or you could book them into the snowdome at Milton Keynes :lol::lol:

Wehey, I'm off to Chamonix on Feb 5th :D

I would look on the teletext or ski club of great britain, at the weather report. Bit useless having the best hotel if thres no snow!
For what my opinions worth, find where has a lot of snow and then look again at teletext for the best package for that resort.

BYandM Id avoid France, full of frernch no scenery and poor quality Hotels.....for a man of your standing! ;)
Switzerland is very expensive...........:o If Cervinia in Italy has the snow, and it aint at the minute........Id look there Italians food, friendly, good skiing, you can cross into Zermatt, and its really called Breil cervinia!!

Probably looking at Zermatt or Salzburg at the mo - anyone been to either of these?

Plenty of resorts around Salzburg, but no really world class ones. Bad Gastein isn't bad but hardly on the same level as the others mentioned here.

Zermatt has fantastic scenery, skiing, efficiency, and is very pretty, but tends to attract those that think a wild night is a second bottle of montrachet.... A ski snobs heaven!

If I was spending that sort of cash then it'd go on a Collineige chalet in Chamonix and helicopter transfers from Geneva (c.£60 each way p.p./25 mins: companies: CMBH/vachoux).

I'm sure you'll have fun either way.:)

Cheers,

ali

Keep your eyes open Tim, you might bump into these two...

i went to Cervinia a couple of years ago, was lucky with snow as we got loads of it! Would recommend it for beginners/intermediates nice resort. Not too full on etc
You can also cross over into Zermat!
It depends a bit on if you a skier or boarder!

off to Park city in 3 weeks with 17 mates!:frog: git some!!:D

[Edited on 20-1-2005 by chillo]

ooh I was in Cervinia a couple of years ago. Excellent snow and hotel, and as you day Italy is a bit beginners/intermediates......However go across to Zermatt, and you can ski there, and the black runs ARE black runs!! :o

Rattler, stay in Cervinia , and with the full pass go on to Zermatt everyday!

Incidentally, see that Rossi is being sued due to a skiing incident!!

Hey Rattler, book on line with thomson and get a £100 discount!! And.......you can enter your details as Mr, Sir, or even Lord!!! :lol::lol:

For Davos , come into Zurich ... Geneva would make it a 5 hrs transfer!

Switzerland is fine ... but food and drink are expensive. And other than some isolated resorts (Zermatt, Wengen, Verbier) they don't really do apres ski ...

That's why I go th Chanomix next saturday .... and it's gonna snow all next week. And it's snow here at the moment ...

For a quick Geneva transfer also look at Morzine / Avouriaz

[Edited on 23-1-2005 by the phantom pieman]

I'm gonna book directly with a hotel, arrange flights seperately and ski hire and passes can be sorted once there.

There mighyt be a £100 discount with Thompson, but they'll still be making plenty dosh on the deal - cut out the middleman I say.

Lordy Lordy

Tim!!!

Bit cheapskate, not really what id of expected! Your not Northern are you? :lol:

Yes, one comes from North Surrey!!!;)