Need all some advice!

Lou33

Hi guys,

I going to book my ski holiday today right and just looking for your advice!
Ive been over to Canada (Whistler, Lake Louise, Banff) and Les Arc amongst others before, but this is the first time im actually booking it myself (as opposed to going a whole group and it being booked for me ! The Dates: 8th March for a week

a) Can you recommend a good operator to book with (Ive been mainly looking at Crystal Ski)?

b) A cheap enough resort (Ive been looking at Bulgaria (PAMPOROVO)? The person im going with has never skii'd before so doesnt have to be the best slopes, just with decent lifts and snow for the time of the year, dont have the money this year to go nuts on price either : ( )

I know this is a very generalised question but any help would be great!

Thanks a mill in advance!

Lou

ShayK1

I've never booked with an operator. I just book stuff myself.

I like Oberstdorf.

Book flights with ryanair from dublin to Freidrichschafen, get a bus to from the airport direct to whatever accom you have booked. 90 minute journey for €20. You can find accom pretty cheap online and there's a free bus that takes you from town to the slopes.

If you want links I can give you them too.

Static M.e.

Hey Lou33,

If you have been over to Canada (Whistler, Lake Louise, Banff) and Les Arc, I would think Bulgaria wouldn't suit you at all.

Its a fine resort for people who have never Skied \ Snowboarded but for anyone with a little experiance, I just think its not up to standard, espically if your use to like of some of the major attractions like Whistler and Les Arc. Its not even in the same ball park.

Have a look at Oberstdorf, you could also try Soldeu Andorra, 320 Km of Piste for you and good instructors for your friend. Its also got alot of Blue runs so its great for begineers, plenty of decent chair lifts and its quite cheap too.

Ive booked with CrystalSki before and quite liked the service. If you do decide for Andorra ask to stay in "Le Bruxelles" its a great little 3 Star Hotel.


@ShayK1 Could you post some links if you have them please, if could be very helpfull if anyone ever looks back at this thread. Thanks

Static M.e.

Hey Lou33,

If you have been over to Canada (Whistler, Lake Louise, Banff) and Les Arc, I would think Bulgaria wouldn't suit you at all.

Its a fine resort for people who have never Skied \ Snowboarded but for anyone with a little experience, I just think its not up to standard, especially if your use to like of some of the major attractions like Whistler and Les Arc. Its not even in the same ball park.

Have a look at Oberstdorf, you could also try Soldeu Andorra, 320 Km of Piste for you and good instructors for your friend. Its also got alot of Blue runs so its great for beginners, plenty of decent chair lifts and its quite cheap too.

Ive booked with Crystal Ski before and quite liked the service. If you do decide for Andorra ask to stay in "Le Bruxelles" its a great little 3 Star Hotel.


@ShayK1 Could you post some links if you have them please, if could be very helpful if anyone ever looks back at this thread. Thanks

Lou33

Thanks for that! Just looked at the Piste Map online there and it looks like there are only a few runs right? We are going for a week so might need somewhere with a bit more to do (or was I looking at the wrong map )?

Has anybody been to Bulgaria before. I was looking again at the Crystal Ski website there and the following places seem to be going for about 1K for a week for the both of us including Lift Passes:

Borovets
Pamporovo

This seems to be the cheapest ive seen? Any one have any idea what they would be like at the start of march/have been before at this time of the year?

Places like Livigino etc jump in price to about 1.5K : ( i know they have great snow at that time of the year but just cant stretch that far!

Also do you guys think im nuts for going through an operator full stop

Thanks again!

Lou

Lou33

Thanks Static!

I really loved the places ive been before (just the whole set up with great lifts etc as well as the snow) just would love to go somewhere with a similar set up just not the price. The holiday isnt really for me you know, id like to go somewhere with lots of variety of runs etc but I just really want the person im going with to have a good time so its not that important. I suppose the only things that are important are

The Snow
Good Lifts and general all round set up of slopes
Alright Hotel
Price

Just heard from some people that some of the resorts in Bulgaria are full of drag lifts etc you know, just seems ive been lucky up to this point with the places ive got to go! Just want something similar (doenst have to be massive ski range or difficulties or anything like) but for a bit less money unfortuantely!

Ill have a look now into that place in Austria you mentioned Static and get back to you!

Thanks again for your help you guys!

Lou

Lou33

Soldeu Andorra is coming out at over 1.5K unfortunately

(Just too add, thats with skidirect.com)

Lou

ShayK1

www.ryanair.com fly dublin to freidrichschafen
http://www.oberstdorf.de/index.shtml?en_quartier_vacation_home book a nice room or holiday home
http://www.allgaeu-walser-express.de/index.shtml?en_allgaeu-walser-express the connecting bus, they ask for your destination so book the accomodation first then the bus.
http://www.oberstdorf.de/index.shtml?seite=en_marktplatz&pid=23 links for snow stuff
http://www.snoweye.com/?page=de-schwaben&detail=oberstdorf&big=18 Fellhorn webcam
http://www.bergfex.com/kanzelwand/ handy link for piste map and ski pass prices and stuff


Am I leaving anything out?

tywy

1.5K each?!? or between you?

I got to Livigno 2 years ago with a group from college for €600 each. That included everything except lessons...

If you stay in apartments rather than a hotel you can save a few quid too...

Griff77

Hey, I went to Flaine in France this year and last year. We did it in a DIY fashion, booked our appatments online and got our flights and transfers through Crystal Ski. The whole deal including a weeks lessons with ESF(v. good) ski rental (ski set has great gear) etc was in the region of €850. The ski area is big with some good off piste but as you are bringing a beginner, there is a great progression of runs from greens to easy wide blues to more difficult reds. There are a few tough blacks too if you want to challenge yourself. I cant reccomend the skiing there enough. I went with a large group of mixed abilites (beginners - advanced) and all had a great time. We had great conditions and a huge array of runs to choose from. As it is a French ski resort beer etc is expensive and the nightlife in Flaine itself is reserved to say the least!

I have included a link below. This site has links to ESF, accomadation and ski rental's

http://www.flaine.com/en/index.php

Enjoy, wish I was going....

Lou33

Thanks for all that guys!

Yeah it was coming out at 1.5K for both of us sorry!

ShayK1, would that resort have enough in it for the whole week? Ive looked at the prices and it looks really good, return flights with Ryanair are only €20 and the hotel is working out at about 400 for teh week for both of us!!!

Have you been over there before around the first week in March and can you expect good snow?

Thanks Shay!

Anyone else who wants to throw their $0.02 is more thank welcome, still no holiday booked here

Lou

ShayK1

There's alot of runs there. I haven't ventured around all of them yet. I've only be there once before and that was my first time EVER boarding. There's 3 mountains there, Nebelhorn, Fellhorn and Solerach each with lots of runs. I love the place. THere's a shuttle bus that runs from the Town out to the slopes and its free if you are going with snowgear in hand.

The best compliment I can give it is that I'm going back tomorrow!!! I'll be back on thursday and I'll give you a review on Friday.

Wish me luck