Ski holiday for singles (beginners)

obsydion

Hi all,

Is it possible to go on a ski holiday if one is single and totally new to skiing/snowboarding (and snow in my case)? For lack of a better description, are there companies similar to 'Contiki' in terms of setup? Not the juvenile binge drinking aspect of it, although a warming few drinks in the evening are not out of the question :P. So basically the package deal accommodation, food, equipment, lessons, social aspect etc.

I will be in Zurich for work in January and was thinking of Austria or similar for the holiday afterwards. Perhaps 5-7 days would suffice. Please let me know if you need more information, I'm a newcomer to the Northern Hemisphere!

robinph

Not actually made use of them myself but have heard mention of Neilson a few times for doing single deals without adding excessive suplements on-top. Clicky

Although, if your going to be hanging around close to the Alps for a month or so anyway you might well find that you can head to the snow some weekends easily or just join whoever your working with when they head in that direction.

AMHRASACH

. .researching this myself - with Robinph help, see that Hotel Edelweiss, Obergurgl, does not charge a supplement. Skied there last January & was well pleased with the resort facilities. Thinking of a week in December.

obsydion

robinph wrote: »

Not actually made use of them myself but have heard mention of Neilson a few times for doing single deals without adding excessive suplements on-top. Clicky

Although, if your going to be hanging around close to the Alps for a month or so anyway you might well find that you can head to the snow some weekends easily or just join whoever your working with when they head in that direction.

Thanks for the info Robin I'll see if I can convince my colleague to come with me but chances are slim...he's a workaholic

RATM

Check out www.freshersskiweeks.com

obsydion

RATM wrote: »

Check out www.freshersskiweeks.com

That sounds awesome! Thanks! I've been trying to find the catch but I guess there really isn't one, the participating companies will get your flight and accommodation costs so that would be it. Anyone else interested?

flikflak

Hi there

If you are new to snow and thinking of heading out on your own then I would suggest booking yourself into a catered chalet and signing up for beginners ski school. That way you can make friends in your daily class and get to know the people in your chalet in the evenings.

Google search for a catered chalet in the area you want to go and book it up!

There was a thread on snowheads from a guy who was asking if it was weird for a single guy to book a room in a catered chalet and the general consensus was that no it was not. There were posts from single guys who had stayed in them and they said it was great as you got to know the people in the chalet well - it was better than being an anonymous person in a big hotel.

You will get to know the people in your ski school class too. When I was learning we all used to go to the bar after class and have a few drinks while laughing about how many times we (ok it was just me!!) fell over!!

EileenG

Or think about the French Youth hostels. They do a week long package including full board, lift pass, and sometimes ski hire and lessons. No single supplements, and usually great craic. I've been skiing on my own several times, and enjoyed it.

Sidney77

Ive heard nothing but good things abouit Bulgaria for beginners

EileenG

My sister has skied there a few times. She said it's great if you are in a good hotel and the snow is good, but it can terrible if the snow is bad, or your hotel has bad food. I find it interesting that even though she is on a budget, she never goes back there.

Teaspai

Looking for ski break out of Cork after Christmas/beg New Year. Sick of recession blues! Been once before, ok on v easy blue by end of week so suppose am ok beginner. Looking for new group as not part of a couple. Any ideas for non currently coupled up skiiers in their thirties to either create/join a ski group to beat the supplements and have a bit of a larf??

Teaspai

EileenG wrote: »

Or think about the French Youth hostels. They do a week long package including full board, lift pass, and sometimes ski hire and lessons. No single supplements, and usually great craic. I've been skiing on my own several times, and enjoyed it.

Hi, re the places mentioned any idea of the age profile of skiiers or where would be good for an ok beginner/improver?

EileenG

Very mixed age wise. They have family rooms, so you sometimes get young children, and after that, you get all ages. Definitely not confined to teenagers.

Most hostels have their own ski and board equipment so they can kit you out at a lower rate than the local ski shops, and they will arrange ski classes for whatever level you are. Some even have their own teachers: one of the teachers in the hostel in Val Cenis seems to have taught half the French ski team, he certainly introduced me to people I recognised from the television!

The price usually includes all meals, including a packed lunch in the bigger resorts like Tignes or a cooked one in the smaller ones like Val Cenis. It helps if you speak a bit of French, but there is usually a mix of languages, including lots of English.

AMHRASACH

. .for a skiing trip out of Knock airport? Really need to get to Obergurgl.

paulicove

check out www.coveyski.com with just an hour airport transfer from geneva it seems pretty interesting.

Teaspai

Thanks

drakiel

Form/join new Ski Group
Looking for ski break out of Cork after Christmas/beg New Year. Sick of recession blues! Been once before, ok on v easy blue by end of week so suppose am ok beginner. Looking for new group as not part of a couple. Any ideas for non currently coupled up skiiers in their thirties to either create/join a ski group to beat the supplements and have a bit of a larf??



Hey. just wondering if you had any takers on this. I am also interested in a ski holiday this year and none of my friends family can afford it. I am mid thirties and have only ski'd twice before so still at the beginner/improver stage

vanti

Hi All,

I'm in the same boat. not quite 30...yet, but single! Have ski fever after I went with some friends last year. What's a kinda typical price for a week to somewhere not to fancy, but good snow? I'm kinda thinking 900 all in but really I'm not sure if that's good or not. I think that was to Soll I was quoted. I'm not sure - I'm still very much a novice but I was thinking about Andorra but would love to be a bit more adventerous and try Norway / Sweden / Finland...maybe even Canada. Anyone been and can give advice?

Or if anyone is planning something similar - maybe we could organise a group?

Cheers,
Vanti!

robinph

You should definitely be able to find something for under €900 including spending money, although that depends a lot on your appetite for apres and buying anything else that might take your fancy whilst out there. Andorra is always a good bet for beginners but although it is not as cheap as years ago it still won't break the bank.

Got lots of time off work coming up myself shortly due to redundancy so intending to try and fit in as much skiing etc as I can before I need to look for some other form of gainful employment again. So if anyone is up for going on a trip then let me know as I'm certainly interested.

Static M.e.

Perhaps we could organise a boards week away depending on the dates im certainly up for it. Open to all, begineers to advanced.

Where would we go?

robinph

I quite like the idea of doing Austria for some reason, probably just to tick it off the list before heading down south for the summer again. Andorra is a safe bet though as far as it's a huuuuge area and plenty of runs suitable for beginners and enough to keep the more advanced amused, although they don't really have anything too tricky untill you go to the parks. Or there is Livigno for the Irish Champs week which I'm sure will be busy.

Static M.e.

heading down south for the summer again

Surely not, thats quite unfair!

robinph

Currently trying to decide on New Zealand, which has several options, or Argentina, which looks to work out cheaper and would be somewhere else new to go.

Static M.e.

Thats a tough choice..Argentina would all be new so it would probably be more fun.

You could always go back to NZ and try to visit every snowfield though

Teaspai

Hi to all on this thread,
Haven't looked at this site in a while
Won't be able to go skiing after all this Jan/Feb but thanks to everyone who posted replies. Hope you form a group to go.
T

mcgratheoin

I'm finding it tough to get people to go with this year as well. I know plenty of groups that I could tag along with, but I never have anyone to ski with as they're all beginners/intermediates and I just want to do blacks & off-piste.

There's a handy website called pistepals though and there's a forum there of people in the same boat who want to join a group.

robinph

So those that have suggested that they might be interested are their any preffered dates.

For me any date after the 23rd January is good.

vanti

I'm definitely interested. Any date is good with me. Should only need a few days notice too

_jude_

Bump...

Is anyone still interested in going skiing for a few days? I wouldn't mind tagging along, if you've organised something. Otherwise, I could help organise something.

I'm single, and have skiied some but am no expert. I would love to go skiing for a few days (up to a week), preferably before the end of the month.

Anyone?

AMHRASACH

. . skiclub.ie group to Zell-am-See 21 02

_jude_

Thanks for the info!