3 days skiing just before Xmas - 2 adults 4 kids

BenEadir

Hi all,

Myself and a pal brought our (then) 5-8 year old kids to Rovaniemi http://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/in-english a few years ago and whilst there we the kids spent two days learning to ski and picked it up pretty quickly.

The kids are now aged 9 to 12 and want to do another "Dad's" trip before Xmas but this time focused exclusively on skiing.

As we are complete novices I'm reaching out to my fellow Boardsies for help.

What do we want?

1. Cheap and cheerful. It's 2 Dads each with 2 kids so we are happy to "rough it" a little.

2. Depart Dublin Airport either very late afternoon (school that day) or evening Thursday Dec 19th or early morning Friday the 20th.

3. Return Monday 23rd.

This is primarily about the kids so cheap flights, family room/chalet, friendly slopes etc. The whole Apres Ski/Nightlife angle won't be relevant to us other than sorting dinner each evening.

We are thinking of Eastern Europe maybe with Ryanair or something like that but given the whole Xmas rush on flights etc maybe this isn't a runner???

Suggestions and tips much appreciated.

Cheers,

Ben

Fattes

Ben,
Try Flaine in France, less than an hour transfer from Geneva, cheap lift pass, cheap shops, ugly accommodation and ski in ski out. Really good snow record especially early in the season and pre Christmas would be a gamble in most lower resorts and eastern European locations.

So late flights out of Dublin and quick transfer means you should be in resort before 11. Tons of skiing, and always a good atmosphere, food and drink are cheap too. Austrian prices in France basically. Tons of handy transfers available from Geneva and back, and if the flights work out you will get a full day skiing on the Monday too.

BenEadir

Thanks Fattes,

I'll have a look at Flaine. My initial question would be "Is it high enough for guaranteed snow in mid/late December?"

Ben

Fattes

Ben, Village is around the 1,500 Meter mark highest lift is 2,500+ and it’s a massive North Facing bowl with the best snow record and highest snow fall in France pretty much every year for the last 10 years. .

It’s a very safe bet! That said I am not responsible for Mother Nature. If you want to be really sure have a look at a Glacial resort, Tignes and Hintertux are the two that would jump out for your requirments but its a fair aul transfer for a weekend to Tignes and with your limited flight times, and Hintertux might be tough to get just a weekend booking at that time of year but not impossible.

hawkwind23

flights are gonna be expensive at that time of year!
what about a weekend in UK? chillfactor or the likes? take the ferry.
or take them for a long weekend in Jan/Feb?

Fattes

Ferry will be about €250-300 that week, and then a day pass at chill is somwhere in the region of £60 or £45 for a 4 hour pass. it is also silly busy Christmas week, long lift q's and terrible snow conditions.

Same goes for Hemel, Glasgow or Castelford although prices vary slightly.

Dr Nic

How exactly are flights going to be expensive? Have u checked? Cause I'm getting 155 EUR return to Geneva dec 14 til 21 for a trip I've planned...

By the way fattes, u ever go to argentierre? Or heard of the ucpa? They're doing an all inclusive off piste boarding course on the above wk in argentierte. Gonna go for it. Good reviews online....

Fattes

Argentierre Hell yeah, its part of the Chamonix valley and home to the Les Grands Montets ski area, see blizzard of Ahhhhs for reference! Although it does gets tracked out much quicker these days.

I have never used UCPA, but they are a French equivilant of something like Foroiga clubs, but better. There mission is to make outdoor sports affordable for all, they have a really good reputation and I have only ever heard really good things about them and I know plenty of people who use them.Accomidations can be a bit basic but other than that.

The Office Bar and the Saoive bar are great craic for a few beers after skiing.

hawkwind23

Dr Nic wrote: »

How exactly are flights going to be expensive? Have u checked? Cause I'm getting 155 EUR return to Geneva dec 14 til 21 for a trip I've planned...

By the way fattes, u ever go to argentierre? Or heard of the ucpa? They're doing an all inclusive off piste boarding course on the above wk in argentierte. Gonna go for it. Good reviews online....

how exactly?
have i checked?
cause?

well bully for you old chap , your getting €155 return !

i didnt check , no , i was merely trying to help out.
it usually is the case that flights are more expensive around the Christmas period and i applied this logic.

good luck on your trip , i wont say the rest