Where are people thinking of this year?

Going first time snowboarding to Val Thorens in December.
Can't wait, it's through UCPA, nervous as hell as I am going alone and wont know anybody

cormee wrote: »

Prepare to become addicted

I hope so

Japan.

3 weeks of JaPOW for 5 of us, heading to the north island Hakkaido, Probably going to stay around Niseko but am open to trips to other areas.

Anyone been?

give me ALL of the powder please

cormee wrote: »

Very nice! Always wanted to go there, but it's so expensive! Might wait another 4 years and head there for the next rugby world cup (if I win the lotto in the meantime). How much is it looking like costing you, if you don't mind me asking?

I was thinking the same but to be honest if i was doing 3 weeks in Japan , i'd go for the pow and not the world cup.

They are unlikely to overlap.

We havn't booked much yet apart from flights. They're costing €550-590 return from Dublin to Tokyo (via Charles De Gaul). Internal flights are like €50 return up to Sapporo.

Accommodation is going to range widely, not sure what route we'll take for that yet. Probably a hostel / lodge / whatever we can find. Just noticed that Australia Day and Chinese New Year are both taking place whilst we will be in the mountains so it will probably be a bit busier than normal during those dates.

We are purely going for the powder, we all live in the park when abroad but that isnt happening this time. New Powder board is in the post for me, n i know a few of the others are getting some Prior boards sent over from Whistler. Cannot wait!

We will actually be in Tokyo for the final of their rugby league so i am tempted to go to it! G'wan the Brave Blossoms!

Heading for Chamonix for a week, 1st week in Feb I think. 1st time in 4 years I think. Gonna be rusty but can't wait. Literally getting butterflies as I type this

St Anton from 26th December.... for 7 nights...

Thinking Ischgl for mid March!!

Bring it on.....

jvan wrote: »

2 Austrian resorts I'd like to visit someday. Have you been to either before?

Do they are excellent - for skiing and apres -cant be beaten in my eyes...

Yip this is my 3rd Trip to ST Anton and if i make the second trip in march it will be my 3rd to ischgl too...

Was just in Ischgl in Feb... haven't been to St Anton for 3 years now.... cannot wait!!

Been to Saalbach, Lech and Mayerfoen also... but IMO St Anton and Ischgl just cannot be beaten... although my knees aren't the best at the mo.. so they'll probably beat me this time!

Rew wrote: »

Was looking at Ischgl for Feb but accommodation looks either expensive or non-existent

How long you going for??

You looking to book it not as a package?

Ive stayed in both of these!! good value and a good location...

http://www.wolf-ischgl.at/

http://www.gradiva.at/

We always book directly via their own tourism site.

http://www.ischgl.com/en/booking/online-booking

Bit of a hint... i always email them in german... use google translate, most places arent too keen on english speaking people

works like a charm

Rew wrote: »

A week and completely flexible on the package or not we have been plenty of times do DIY is not scary.



Ha! I did read that its the preferred resort for Germans.

When shopping around one of the tour operators gave me a much better deal on St Anton which I was surprised at as it is reputably much more expensive.

To be honest with you.. we normally do 10/11 nights once per year and book it all ourselves - end up not much more that a 7 days package. But my knees are knackered so breaking it up this year with two one week trips.

For one week id say a package is your better option ..

The thing is yes they are both more expensive resorts but what i will say is the ski areas are better, the lift systems are better so all in all for us we'd rather spend more and get more i suppose.

To be honest I prefer the higher resorts not just for the lift system, ski area but the apres ski is wicked and not too many lager lout singing "wonderwall" at the top of their lungs.

Now the apres in ischgl is mental.. but st Anton is apres central... IMO.

Edited to say price wise when your in the resorts St Anton and Ischgl are one in the same

cormee wrote: »

My wife hasn't been snowboarding with me since our son was born, six years ago. Her office x-mas party is in Chamonix most years, so she gets her fill then. I head off with a group a few weeks after. We also have a two year old girl now, so it will be at least five years before we all head off together.

Could you bear to see your little one on skis?! You could bring her much earlier if yes, and it'd give her a taste for snow. My boy hasn't asked to switch to a board yet, but I'm sure he will eventually and I reckon he'll be much more motivated to stick with the learning curve because he's already mastered the skis so he know's what's ahead ;-)