Early December skiing in Europe

LeoD

Hi there,

Have never gone skiing this early in the season so just wondering what it's like re. crowds/craic? I was disgusted last year after I wasted 2 weeks holidays doing nothing at home in October and then saw the snow conditions and great holiday deals for December (pre-Christmas) so I'm keeping a week in the tank this year to avoid the same thing happening. The plan then is to recover financially to go again in late Feb/Mar. I'm a fan of Austria and like a bit of comfort so any advice much appreciated.

Fattes

For Austria I would try Hintertux/Mayrhofen that early in the season. You are guaranteed snow on the glacier and if the conditions are really good you have the whole zillertal valley to play inIf you want to try somwhere else Sass Fee in Switzerland will be really nice that time of the year very high 3,600 at the top so snow cover is normally good in early Dec.

Imposter

Advice based on Austria from 8th dec - weekend before christmas:
Accomodation should be fairly cheap - during the week and possibly on saturdays you'll more or less have the slopes to yourself. Sundays can get a bit busier but nothing like main season. Towns will be fairly dead with not much going on. In certain places all restaurants and bars won't be open.

For skiing it's probably the best time of year for a ski holiday. Apres ski will be ok at weekends but dead during the week and nightlife will be very quiet.

As above - if you have to book somewhere early make sure there's a glacier nearby should the lower resorts not have any snow.

LeoD

Imposter, that's just the kind of info I was looking for - cheers. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to bring someone on their first ski holiday at this time of year so if they're looking for lively aprés ski action then!

skibum

I spent a week in Livigno last December, booked a 1 bed studio appartment ( which wasn't as small as I had expected) for €390 for the two of us. There was a deal where the lift passes were included in that price.

We hired a car for the week but it was so cold that even with additives and half a tank of local diesel the fuel still froze! had to get a taxi back to the airport which cost us €270.

We booked through http://www.mountain-toursltd.com/ fantastic service from Jacquie and her husband, they live in Livigno.

Would love to go back again this December but the transfer is a bit long. Might try St Anton....

Mountain_Surfer

Hi - France is also do able. We went with a massive group to Les Arcs 13th - 10th Dec last year and conditions were great. More snow than you could shake a stick at. It was the 1st week that the resort was open. As regards to the crowds, well there werent any, we pretty much had the mountain to ourselves! The only reason apres ski worked was because there were almost 200 of us!

LeoD

200 of ye?? Must have got one or two free ski passes thrown in too! December skiing is looking 50/50. Will wait until then and see if there are good last minute deals. Thanks for all the advice.

glanman

Is Glacier skiing very difficult? I have been skiing twice before, how good do you need o be and what are conditions like??

Fattes

Glanman:Most Glacier skiing is red and blue pistes but it varies from Glacier to Glacier. Some are steeper than others Sass/Hintertux have allot of terrain suited for race training where Kaprun is more mellow.

Conditions can change quickly weather closing in and lifts closing etc

Altitude sickness can sometimes be an issue ie Sass is 3,500 meters at the top

Snow conditions can vary but are Best at the end of the season and in from approx Dec on.

Some Glaciers only open for half days in summer others full days.

Operate as normal ski areas during the season and are snow sure being the only real diffrence

Tends to be allot of Drag lifts because of shifting ice.

kevin79

Aer Lingus has flights to Geneva for €5.99 in December. Loads of resorts nearby and loads of private accommodation in Chamonix anyway. If you just book the flights you can follow the snow when it falls....If you can keep your nerve!

Poster King

Have had very succesful early season long weekend trips the last two years.
2007, 11 of us went to St Anton the first weekend in December. Flights, car rental, accomodation and ski pass came to €400 for 4/5 days on the snow. Had 4 days of the best powder I've every had (well nearly, Vail was better). Resort was just opening and we ended up having great Apres ski because each night a different bar/club was having their Opening Night to which they invite all the saisonaires and we all crashed the parties.
Last year we went to Zermatt the last weekend in Nov, which is Thankgiving and the place was full of Yanks, which was actually not too bad. Got 3 days skiing, two of them epic in with sunny poweder on empty mountain.
Have already got our sights set for this season.
Those Aerlingus flights to Geneva will be booked soon. There are loads of options from there, Chamonix, Val d'Isere/Tignes, Zermatt,Saas Fe and more.

LeoD

That St. Anton trip sounds deadly. Cheers PK, I think you've made my mind up for me.

macalase

Hey guys,

I am thinking of doing the same thing, prob off to St Anton 2nd weekend in Decemeber. There is going to be 2-3 of us going, will a possible 2 more.

Could you guys let me know what kind of package you booked, was it a lodge beside the resorts or a company online that you booked with.

Thanks,
Mac

Skyhawk

1 m of snow on the Kaprun glacier last week, its close to Zell am See. A bit wide and flat though, however, good for off-season skiing.

Skyhawk

glanman wrote: »

Is Glacier skiing very difficult? I have been skiing twice before, how good do you need o be and what are conditions like??

Depends on the weather, ice can often be a problem so make sure your edges are sharpened before you go. Also they can get fairly cold, so bring appropriate thermals. In terms of difficulty, many glaciers are wide and flat so its the ice that can make them tricky.