Ski Season 2019/2020

a148pro · 02-09-2019 9:36am

Iamkipper wrote: »

Momma Lauder!! Momma Lauder!!! - Germans in Maxs Pub used to go Mad when this song came on

What would be good place to go for Easter 2020 for a 3 day break, just me no partner or kids. Gone to St Johann before for a week but never been anywhere for a short break. Any suggestions

I encountered the above classic in Solden this Easter - its high and there are glaciers which keep their snow so is a good bet for late season. About 3 hour drive from munich though.

In general terms at Easter you want to be going high, depending on how late Easter is. Cervinia (about 3 hours from Milan airports) val thorens (about 3 from geneva) also good safe candidates. Maybe avoriaz which is only an hour from geneva might still be good. I mean in a good snow year lots of places will still be good but the higher the better and some of the lower places might actually close before Easter.

blue note · 02-09-2019 9:39am

Any thoughts on new years skiing? Is snow usually good then or do you need to go high up? And is it crazy expensive?

a148pro · 02-09-2019 1:13pm

I think you'd be unlucky to have no natural snow, and most major resorts are running snow cannons from early season now

Re cost I'm pretty sure its most expensive time of year. A lot of europeans go skiing after Christmas. But I'm sure if you're willing to stay a bit outside of town and drive or get the ski bus you can still do it relatively cheaply.

moycullen14 · 05-09-2019 10:18am

Hi,

Any recommendations for a few days around Christmas flying to Milan?

Looking at 21st Dec to 267th. Intermediate level.

Don't want to travel too far from Milan.

mulbot · 05-09-2019 5:21pm

moycullen14 wrote: »

Hi,

Any recommendations for a few days around Christmas flying to Milan?

Looking at 21st Dec to 267th. Intermediate level.

Don't want to travel too far from Milan.

If you are up for a 2 hour or so drive maybe La Thuile? Quiet enough regarding apres ski but a nice place and lots of area. It's closer to Turin I think though

a148pro · 06-09-2019 9:58am

moycullen14 wrote: »

Hi,

Any recommendations for a few days around Christmas flying to Milan?

Looking at 21st Dec to 267th. Intermediate level.

Don't want to travel too far from Milan.

Anything I've been to from Milan has been 2 and a half - 3 hours away, depending on which airport you land in (there are 3). I think there are some lesser well known and smaller resorts closer but it might be risky over Christmas as to whether they have snow / snow making.

Of the better known resorts Cervinia is a great resort, very high and snow sure, but is susceptible to closures due to wind. Courmayeur is nice but small, Pila nice but really only a day's skiing in it. I've heard good things about Monte Rosa / Champoluc / Gresonney and La Thuile suggested above but never been.

If you go the other directions, North there's another small resort called Madesimo heading up towards Switzerland, or if you're willing to drive a bit further and go East (3 and a half - 4 hours) the Dolomites are stunning and have amazing snow cannon infrastructure. Its colder there than the Alps generally so they run snow cannons and can get like 700km of pistes open with no natural snow. Difficult to understate how beautiful it is up there, but further drive.

AdpRo · 10-09-2019 8:08pm

Going to book Soll for the family, looks like going 14th March for the week.

I've always went with a group of lads in the past and we've always done it DIY but just taking a quick look at the price difference between doing it with top flight or crystal it doesn't seem to be much (if any) cheaper going DIY. Anyone know from experience if this is actually the case? Takes alot of the hassle out of organizing it by just going with an operator!!

maddness · 10-09-2019 9:10pm

moycullen14 wrote: »

Hi,

Any recommendations for a few days around Christmas flying to Milan?

Looking at 21st Dec to 267th. Intermediate level.

Don't want to travel too far from Milan.

Milan Bergamo is just under 2 and a half hours drive to Champoluc. We went last December for four days for the 15th December and had a great time. Very quiet at night but a cracking mountain and great food and drink.

irlirishkev · 11-09-2019 12:32pm

AdpRo wrote: »

Going to book Soll for the family, looks like going 14th March for the week.

I've always went with a group of lads in the past and we've always done it DIY but just taking a quick look at the price difference between doing it with top flight or crystal it doesn't seem to be much (if any) cheaper going DIY. Anyone know from experience if this is actually the case? Takes alot of the hassle out of organizing it by just going with an operator!!

It can be, sometimes, cheaper by DIY, but not always, as you can see. And yes, going with a package takes a lot of thinking out of it.

We tend to do DIY if we need things that aren't available by package. Different Start/finish dates etc.. or if we need a particular accommodation, or certain boxes ticked that we can't get through a package deal. Mostly though, we use Crystal and they're grand.

mulbot · 11-09-2019 5:09pm

AdpRo wrote: »

Going to book Soll for the family, looks like going 14th March for the week.

I've always went with a group of lads in the past and we've always done it DIY but just taking a quick look at the price difference between doing it with top flight or crystal it doesn't seem to be much (if any) cheaper going DIY. Anyone know from experience if this is actually the case? Takes alot of the hassle out of organizing it by just going with an operator!!

Hi. Yea I always book with an operator when doing the family trip. I haven't been able to get cheaper going DIY so it does take the hassle out of it.

manshay · 12-09-2019 12:14am

mulbot wrote: »

Hi. Yea I always book with an operator when doing the family trip. I haven't been able to get cheaper going DIY so it does take the hassle out of it.

I can't agree.

We went to Arinsal, Andorra last February half term, we are going again this year.
I booked both trips DIY.
The trips were at least 40% cheaper DIY. Perhaps the difference is down to the fact that Andorra is served by 3 airlines via Barcelona which keeps flights costs down. Can also travel via Toulouse but its an expensive, Aer lingus only, airport

We (2 adults, 3 children 15,13,10) are staying 8 nights at Ribasol self catering apartments. Flights, accomodation and a hired jeep(xfers similar price) cost €2296.95.
Pricing the exact same accomodation for 7 nights, flights and transfers with topflight costs €4989.
Our flight times are more kind than those offered by Topflight, we get an extra day in the resort, the drive is a pleasant 3 hours compared to a 4 hour non stop bus journey.

kal7 · 12-09-2019 12:01pm

Used to do packages, but now find cheaper to do DIY.

The main problem with package is the poor flight times, very early morning start, from west of Ireland.

DIY I can pay 20 euro or so more and get to fly better time of day.

irlirishkev · 12-09-2019 12:16pm

Something else about going DIY if you do it, is that you can control your own transfer/car hire etc, so it reduces the possibility of waiting for 2 or 3 other flights to arrive in before your transfer departs.

mulbot · 13-09-2019 7:05am

manshay wrote: »

I can't agree.

We went to Arinsal, Andorra last February half term, we are going again this year.
I booked both trips DIY.
The trips were at least 40% cheaper DIY. Perhaps the difference is down to the fact that Andorra is served by 3 airlines via Barcelona which keeps flights costs down. Can also travel via Toulouse but its an expensive, Aer lingus only, airport

We (2 adults, 3 children 15,13,10) are staying 8 nights at Ribasol self catering apartments. Flights, accomodation and a hired jeep(xfers similar price) cost €2296.95.
Pricing the exact same accomodation for 7 nights, flights and transfers with topflight costs €4989.
Our flight times are more kind than those offered by Topflight, we get an extra day in the resort, the drive is a pleasant 3 hours compared to a 4 hour non stop bus journey.

Nice. Yes the package flight times are a pain in the as$. Do you mind me asking who you've booked flights with,and how tryout book accommodation? I'm looking at our trip for January at the minute,be great if I could save a few Euro.

manshay · 13-09-2019 1:15pm

mulbot wrote: »

Nice. Yes the package flight times are a pain in the as$. Do you mind me asking who you've booked flights with,and how tryout book accommodation? I'm looking at our trip for January at the minute,be great if I could save a few Euro.

Hi I booked in May, though I'd originally booked the accomodation through airbnb and then found the same place for €800 less, so cancelled and saved €400 with the airbnb cancellation fee. I use every source to find accomodation; Airbnb, esquiades.com(includes ski-passes in price), direct with providers, hotels.com, booking.com, trivago, there are Facebook groups which have ideas too. Some accomodation is only available from tour operators. As we decided on only Arinsal, it was easier to narrow the search.

I booked flights out with Vueling; they have a family fare including bags and seats that might save a few bob, I've booked Ryanair on the way back as Vueling was very expensive and the Ryanair mid-afternoon flight time is easier for travelling from Andorra.

a148pro · 13-09-2019 10:40pm

https://www.inthesnow.com/tirol-glacier-area-opening-friday-after-55cm-of-september-snowfall/

It begins....

Man I love when it begins to get cold in the evenings and you can really feel the seasons change

TheKitchenSink · 16-09-2019 5:59pm

Hi, we are a group of 8 in our mid 20s thinking about heading to livigno around new years time. Just wondering from anyone who has been there before what are the best areas to stay as I believe there are several towns close by? Thanks in advance

mrsWhippy · 27-09-2019 12:08am

Going to Pila on 28th December for 6 nights. First ski trip in 7 years and bringing the kids, 5 and 7. Flying diy to Milan and got a really central airBnB apartment in Pila town.

We're both setting our expectations low but if we manage a couple of hours ski/boarding a day with plenty of pizza and wine, I'll be a happy camper.

Oh and snow. Snow would be good!!

a148pro · 27-09-2019 9:41pm

Nice little resort, enjoy. I gather the town at the bottom, aosta, may be nice, I think its like a Roman town or something, we just bypassed it to resort. But if you get bored you could always head there. Resort is small but you're planning on family time as opposed to skiing like a Duracell bunny so should be fine.

mulbot · 28-09-2019 5:25pm

Hello all.Juat watching a deal at the minute, If anyone has been to Serra Chevalier I'd appreciate opinions etc, cheers.

Rew · 28-09-2019 9:01pm

mulbot wrote: »

Hello all.Juat watching a deal at the minute, If anyone has been to Serra Chevalier I'd appreciate opinions etc, cheers.

It was me first ski trip. There are 3 or 4 towns that feed into the area and a local and area pass. You will want the area pass if you are intermediate or higher. From what I remember it was a decent skiing esp when you make you way to the other towns. I believe there are busses between the towns too. Where we were (Villard) there was one main lift out of the town so peak times there could be a queue. There was karting on the snow there as well which was great craic. Id look up where the accommodation is in relation to the main lifts etc. There were plenty of apres bars where we were as well.

yer man! · 12-10-2019 6:16pm

Hoping to book a week for mid feb in the next few days but having a really hard time trying to decide on a resort in Austria. I have it down to either, Soll, Mayrhoven or Saalbach. Anyone here with any opinions on these places?

I've only skied once before and the other half has never skied so it's hard to know which place is best. We're also in our late twenties so we want some where relatively lively at night.

a148pro · 13-10-2019 1:17pm

Mayrhofen certainly has a boozey atmosphere, and large british following so would I assume be good for night life. I did a day in saalbach, in very heavy snow, which made it look extra quaint. Its also very popular with brits but I suspect nightlife is more aimed at older audience, I'd imagine live music as opposed to ski techno anthems mit dj jurgen. Never been to soll but it has a very active irish following and a reputation for being ideal for skiers on their early trips who want to have good fun apres ski also.

You won't go far wrong with any of these resorts. But maybe your best criteria would be which suits your other half on her first trip. In this regard, in mayrhofen almost all the skiing is accessed from a lift from the town that climbs up a very steep cliff and you can't ski down. It might be a small bit more intimidating than Saalbach which is quite a gentle mountain environment, more hills like in ireland than jagged mountain peaks.

I think soll might be closer than mayr from munich if you're DIY and saalbach possibly slightly further. shouldn't be a problem but ski welt (where soll is) is quite low. Not sure if mayr or saalbach are necessarily much higher but both have glacier resorts about half an hour away (hintertux and kaprun) in the unlikely event of the snow being bad

If it was me I'd choose saalbach over mayr, mainly because I didn't like over touristed boozey you are a commodity atmosphere in mayr and Saalbach seemed nicer atmosphere. But I'm hard to please and atmosphere in resort is becoming almost as importation as skiing for me! And I know nothing about soll so maybe someone else will help you out (certainly has a reputation that meets your demographics)

God I fcking love skiing

Can I make that my sig?

a148pro · 13-10-2019 1:17pm

You've diverted me from my mornings research of glorious kinder hotels

yer man! · 13-10-2019 5:47pm

a148pro wrote: »

Mayrhofen certainly has a boozey atmosphere, and large british following so would I assume be good for night life. I did a day in saalbach, in very heavy snow, which made it look extra quaint. Its also very popular with brits but I suspect nightlife is more aimed at older audience, I'd imagine live music as opposed to ski techno anthems mit dj jurgen. Never been to soll but it has a very active irish following and a reputation for being ideal for skiers on their early trips who want to have good fun apres ski also.

You won't go far wrong with any of these resorts. But maybe your best criteria would be which suits your other half on her first trip. In this regard, in mayrhofen almost all the skiing is accessed from a lift from the town that climbs up a very steep cliff and you can't ski down. It might be a small bit more intimidating than Saalbach which is quite a gentle mountain environment, more hills like in ireland than jagged mountain peaks.

I think soll might be closer than mayr from munich if you're DIY and saalbach possibly slightly further. shouldn't be a problem but ski welt (where soll is) is quite low. Not sure if mayr or saalbach are necessarily much higher but both have glacier resorts about half an hour away (hintertux and kaprun) in the unlikely event of the snow being bad

If it was me I'd choose saalbach over mayr, mainly because I didn't like over touristed boozey you are a commodity atmosphere in mayr and Saalbach seemed nicer atmosphere. But I'm hard to please and atmosphere in resort is becoming almost as importation as skiing for me! And I know nothing about soll so maybe someone else will help you out (certainly has a reputation that meets your demographics)

God I fcking love skiing

Can I make that my sig?

Thanks a million for the recommendation. I do like the idea of Saalbach and the higher amount of blue slopes compared to Mayrhoven. One thing I have just considered is the transfer time, it looks like Mayr is far easier to access compared to Saalbach. I don't particularly want to rent a car and drive on the mountain roads.

a148pro · 13-10-2019 7:53pm

Google suggests Saalbach about 40 minutes more. Neither are difficult drives, Mayr is in a long valley that is quite flat. Saalbach is only slightly up off another similar valley. There are no mountain roads as we'd usually think of them (hairpins, big drops) on the way to either. Austrians well used to snow and keep the roads open in all conditions, winter tyres are a legal requirement for all rentals. That said Mayr is certainly easier and shorter. You can also get there by train but I'm not sure if that's feasible off the evening Dublin flight.

blue note · 15-10-2019 8:19pm

How early can you go skiing? Would there be many resorts open at the start of November? And would they be mobbed? Much more expensive? And how would the snow be?

Want recommended resorts would be appreciated.

a148pro · 15-10-2019 10:43pm

Snowing lightly at the moment but hasn't been a whole amount of natural snow as far as I know. Maybe resorts start their artificial snow now though once it gets colder?

I've never been before christmas but its almost certainly quiet and cheap. Look at the high resorts - hintertux in austria is open year round. Stubai and solden should be open early. Tignes val d'isere and val thorens probably early enough and cervinia / zermatt also. I'd say most of these will open some time in November.

OffalyMedic · 16-10-2019 9:03am

Booked my first ever ski trip and I'm so excited. Going with a group of friends / mutual friends with experience of all ranges.
We are heading to tignes in January and so far have flights, transfers and accommodation booked.
Any tips or recommendation for ski hire, lessons etc?
I'm a total newbie so other than the ski trousers, coat, gloves what else needs to be brought in luggage?

RedRochey · 16-10-2019 9:07am

yer man! wrote: »

Thanks a million for the recommendation. I do like the idea of Saalbach and the higher amount of blue slopes compared to Mayrhoven. One thing I have just considered is the transfer time, it looks like Mayr is far easier to access compared to Saalbach. I don't particularly want to rent a car and drive on the mountain roads.

I was in Mayrhoven this January, lovely little town and great nightlife

But ya for a beginner it mightn't be the best, they have little baby slopes to train on but that's about it, the next slopes up are blue ones which would be tough for a beginner

blue note · 16-10-2019 11:36am

OffalyMedic wrote: »

Booked my first ever ski trip and I'm so excited. Going with a group of friends / mutual friends with experience of all ranges.
We are heading to tignes in January and so far have flights, transfers and accommodation booked.
Any tips or recommendation for ski hire, lessons etc?
I'm a total newbie so other than the ski trousers, coat, gloves what else needs to be brought in luggage?

Get a couple of lessons in Dublin before you go. I got three before my first week and it was the difference between getting to go on a (very) easy trek to an ice bar at the end of the week as opposed to being on the same three or four runs all week long (one person on our trip got no lessons before and barely got away from base station).

Don't be a scaredy cat. What feels very fast is in fact embarrassingly slow. And once you lose that fear you'll be more inclined to lean forward and be more in control of your skiing and you'll simply "get it" faster.

Book equipment close to the lift and get a locker for your boots. You don't want to be hailing that gear around unnecessarily.

You have to get lessons in case you were in any doubt. You'll be a danger to yourself and others without, you need the instruction in your first week more than ever, you usually get a good group and they're great fun. I'll admit that I've had mixed experience with group lessons, 4 instructors in 2 years. 2 were fantastic and 2 were shockingly bad - I learned nothing from those 2. In my second year I'd have gone off on my own if I hadn't been moved up a class, but in the first year that's just not an option. I was fortunate that they just switched our instructor.

As regards equipment, you'll need ski socks, base layers, sun cream, goggles / sun glasses. I used the sun glasses much more in year one as the goggles were fogging up, I think due to my lack of speed. A neck gator is great for extra warmth and if it gets very cold you can bring it up over your face.

Sports direct stuff tends to be very decent quality for the price and the price is great. Keep an eye out for lidl / aldi ski gear too - again the quality tends to be very good.

It's absolutely the best holiday you can go on. I'm excited on your behalf!

OffalyMedic · 16-10-2019 11:45am

blue note wrote:

Book equipment close to the lift and get a locker for your boots. You don't want to be hailing that gear around unnecessarily.

We have a chalet that we can ski to and from so I assume I don't need locker near slope?

blue note · 16-10-2019 1:24pm

OffalyMedic wrote: »

We have a chalet that we can ski to and from so I assume I don't need locker near slope?

There may be a slope to and from the chalet, but you probably won't be able up ski it at the start of the week and possibly not even the end depending on how tricky it is! You might find yourself walking to the lift each morning.

Usually you can leave the skis with the place you rent them from, so I'd rent near to the lift. It might be a few euro more than going down the town for them, but if it saves even a 500m walk wearing your ski boots and carrying your skis you'll be glad you spent it!

The locker only really fits the boots, but possibly the most satisfying part of a day is taking those things off! So again for a couple of euro each day I'd rent a locker for the week. If it turns out you're fine to ski in and out each day then that's great.

If you have hiking shoes I'd bring them for the week as your footwear too btw. Hopefully the town will be snowy when you're there. And snow melts, so it's nice if your shoes are waterproof.

kal7 · 16-10-2019 2:18pm

Lower slopes at end of a day with traffic, i.e. near to the chalet, can be the worse place to be a beginner.

They get bumps and worn patches, so difficult to navigate.

Ski in /out is rarely a beginner slope, unfortunately, sorry.

a148pro · 19-10-2019 8:46am

OffalyMedic wrote: »

We have a chalet that we can ski to and from so I assume I don't need locker near slope?

You can just sort this out when you get there and the chalet staff will be able to tell you what's best. Unlikely you'll be able to meaningfully ski back to the chalet on your first day but you never know. I think a lot of those chalets offer a service where they get you your skis and also where they will spin you to or from a particular ski lift at the start / end of the day and obviously carry your skis so you may not end up needing the locker, but either way you can suss this out when you get there. Enjoy!

maddness · 19-10-2019 10:04am

As mentioned by Blue Note get a couple of lessons here before you go if you can. It makes a massive difference to your first ski holiday. It’s not just the skiing but also getting used to putting on the boots and skis and getting on and off a drag lift too.

blue note · 19-10-2019 11:07am

Lidl gear hitting stores on 7th November. I skied with a few people who were head to toe in it and never cold or wet. I had some of their gear. I much preferred their socks that cost a couple of euro to the great outdoors ones that were about 15.

fulldnod · 20-10-2019 9:29pm

StockTwat29 wrote: »

I was in Mayrhoven this January, lovely little town and great nightlife

But ya for a beginner it mightn't be the best, they have little baby slopes to train on but that's about it, the next slopes up are blue ones which would be tough for a beginner

the ahorn is a perfect for beginners

fulldnod · 20-10-2019 9:57pm

OffalyMedic wrote: »

Booked my first ever ski trip and I'm so excited. Going with a group of friends / mutual friends with experience of all ranges.
We are heading to tignes in January and so far have flights, transfers and accommodation booked.
Any tips or recommendation for ski hire, lessons etc?
I'm a total newbie so other than the ski trousers, coat, gloves what else needs to be brought in luggage?

i use precision ski in tignes le lac, he gave me his own off piste skis,do a bit of googleing u might get a discount code, bring lots of socks and terminals

kal7 · 21-10-2019 3:54pm

Regarding ski hire, all three main companies do 40% or thereabouts off if you book early and online.

Ski 2000
intersport
skiset

there may be other as well

Rowley Birkin QC · 22-10-2019 3:58pm

Hi all. Heading for 7th trip in February. Have done a day's skiing in Ponte De Legno / Adamello in northern Italy before but was wondering if anyone has any hotel & ski hire recommendations for the area?

Thanks!

mollser · 29-10-2019 5:15pm

<edit> - moved to Aer Lingus thread

sheesh · 30-10-2019 8:52am

*Rushes into thread

ITS SNOWING SOLL!!!!!

and ye know, probably in other places in europe too

woot!

30-10-2019 10:36am

Hi All - Apologies if this has been asked before. Can someone help out with ideas of where to go for Skiing.
Complete novice, forty, good bit of after ski craic, relatively cheap, dates around new year so December 27th for a week.
Thanks in Advance.

a148pro · 30-10-2019 1:53pm

That's the most expensive time of year so if looking to do it cheap you'd have to aim for the cheaper places - andorra, bulgaria, poland, could be a couple of others...

AlternateID · 30-10-2019 6:25pm

I'm booked up for next year. Heading back to Soll for a week in Jan. Have only done day trips there for the last few years and miss the pints. Then I've 1 week in hof/tux in March and the following week in Fieberbrunn to finish the season.

sheesh · 01-11-2019 3:39pm

6541 wrote: »

Hi All - Apologies if this has been asked before. Can someone help out with ideas of where to go for Skiing.
Complete novice, forty, good bit of after ski craic, relatively cheap, dates around new year so December 27th for a week.
Thanks in Advance.

If you are going on your own keep an eye out on the travel agent sites I have gotten deals like €400 for flights accommodation and transfers to some place like soll after that you will have lessons and ski hire you will be looking at €1000 all in. I recommend soll as it is cheaper than other places but it is also fairly laid back and has a lot of english speakers the beginner slope is nice an gentle and big, Westendorf has a good beginner slope too very near the centre of the town

If you fly into Munich a 45min train ride will get you to the main munich train station and from there are trains towards innsbruck are every 45 minutes the ticket machines have an english setting train fares are cheap. these will stop at kuifstein or Worgl and Worgl has taxis and a local bus service that will get you to Soll Hopfgarten Westendorf Sheffau and other resorts.

01-11-2019 6:52pm

sheesh wrote: »

If you are going on your own keep an eye out on the travel agent sites I have gotten deals like €400 for flights accommodation and transfers to some place like soll after that you will have lessons and ski hire you will be looking at €1000 all in. I recommend soll as it is cheaper than other places but it is also fairly laid back and has a lot of english speakers the beginner slope is nice an gentle and big, Westendorf has a good beginner slope too very near the centre of the town

If you fly into Munich a 45min train ride will get you to the main munich train station and from there are trains towards innsbruck are every 45 minutes the ticket machines have an english setting train fares are cheap. these will stop at kuifstein or Worgl and Worgl has taxis and a local bus service that will get you to Soll Hopfgarten Westendorf Sheffau and other resorts.

Can you tell me some of the sites I should check - Sorry I am clueless !

sheesh · 01-11-2019 7:40pm

https://www.crystalski.ie
https://www.topflight.ie/
https://www.directski.com/

a148pro · 02-11-2019 8:08am

Multiple fronts to bring snow to the Alps next week, looks like it could be a good start to the season. Small bit tempted as I've come free in work but only the small glacier area open. Should probably save the pass for a time with more mileage...

Ski Season 2019/2020

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