Skiing/Snowboarding Christmas 2011

amdublin

Looking to going snowboarding for Xmas 2011. (or departing stephens day etc)

A group of ten people aprox. Departing from Dublin.

As "budget" ie cheap as possible But open to going anywhere.

Any suggestions?!

Anyone gone skiing at Christmas before? Where'd you go? Who did you book with etc etc.

Thanks in advance!

Rowley Birkin QC

Going to Montecampione. Booked direct with the agency on the ground out there.


Flying with Ryanair to Milan(Bergamo) : €82 return including taxes, charges and 1 checked bag.

5 days skiing including hire and passes, on piste self catering apartment accommodation and transfers to and from Bergamo (about 90 mins) : €296 per person.

All done for less than €400. Third time going back there so had some "pull" with the guy I dealt with on the ground out there but still an excellent price.

amdublin

Cool Rowley

And you were able to book for Xmas this far in advance with Ryanair?

Rowley Birkin QC

Sorry I thought you meant for this January, I'm flying in 10 hours! :D

If you want I'll PM you all the details next week.

amdublin

Oh lucky you! Enjoy!

Yes that'd be great. Or maybe post a trip report or something?!

Have a ball

Rowley Birkin QC

Well I'm back with two days now, we had a ball.

There was no snow falling in the time we were there but they blow out "fake" snow on the lower slopes. It can be icy down near the bottom but if you go up the mountain it gets better. Up higher they had ploughs "harvesting" snow and setting up the runs every night. Transfers, apartments and ski hire was all perfect, no hitches at all.

Skiing was good, spent all my time on the reds and blacks with only one black run closed. All lifts were open and the resort wasn't crazy busy until about 15:00 every evening when the ski schools would infest the place.

4 of our group of 13 were beginners and found the lessons to be excellent, on the first day they had an hour of lessons for €14 each with 1 instructor to every 2 of them. They were up and going on the red runs by the morning of day 3.

It was my 3rd time back to Montecampione and I'm done with it now to be honest. It's super cheap but I've done every run the place has to offer so will be looking for a new challenge next time. Plenty of easy blues, easy and complex/fast reds and some quick blacks. Some great fun to be had there and the chair lifts are very comfortable in the main. Only one red run has a drag lift rather than a chair lift. Skied from 08:30 - 16:45 every day and was able to eat at various pit-stops on the resort. Access to the resorts swimming pool was also included so that gave some relief from aching legs in the evening!

Flights ran on time with Ryanair and transfer to the resort is about 75 mins on a very comfortable air conditioned coach.

View from 2000m.


Flights were €80 incl. 1 checked bag.
5 days On piste apt. accommodation, ski hire, lift passes for the 5 days were €296.
Spending money: I spent about €300 from the time I left my home in Cork to when I returned incl. petrol, parking, food in both airports and drinking and eating money for the week. It's ridiculously cheap out there.


Start of one of the easier reds.

I've been looking at a few sites for next year already and at the moment I really can't see where I'm going to get the same value.

amdublin

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Going to Montecampione. Booked direct with the agency on the ground out there.


Flying with Ryanair to Milan(Bergamo) : €82 return including taxes, charges and 1 checked bag.

5 days skiing including hire and passes, on piste self catering apartment accommodation and transfers to and from Bergamo (about 90 mins) : €296 per person.

All done for less than €400. Third time going back there so had some "pull" with the guy I dealt with on the ground out there but still an excellent price.

Hi Rowley,

Having major problems

What is the name of the agency you booked with please?

Rowley Birkin QC

What kind of problems?

Monticolo Vacanze is the agency on the ground there.

amdublin

Everything, everywhere is booked out for Xmas 2011 already!!

Great will try them!

a148pro

The week after New Years is usually one of the cheapest times to go skiing as all the continentals are back in work, so if you're flexible with your dates maybe check that out

Rowley Birkin QC

a148pro wrote: »

The week after New Years is usually one of the cheapest times to go skiing as all the continentals are back in work, so if you're flexible with your dates maybe check that out

+1

This is when I have gone the last 3 years and it's incredibly cheap.

Have done Montecampione for the last 3 years and I'm looking for somewhere else to go. Top priority is value for money. Not too worried about lessons/beginner slopes, looking for somewhere for intermediate level skiing.

Cheers.