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Looking at winter options..
Tell me about Zell am See at New year.
I have a customer who has a place out there and it seems quite nice. Mostly skied in France but been to Sell am see in summer. I'm expecting it to be busy but will it be like three valleys busy and will the lift queues be crazy... Going with kids and staying at an apartment 10 mins walk from Areitbahn lift..
Looking at various travel options easyJet, train? or Drive? (we usually drive)
We have booked for Easter. Booked accom and pre-purchased liftpasses at 60% off. Have unused Eurotunnel outbound and Ferry return from this year. Just waiting for the snow to come...
From edinburgh we have been taking the Newcastle ferry to netherlands. Still a long journey to the alps but it really takes the sting out. Especially the return journey. Cost wise i recon everything evened out fuel saved vs ferry tickets.
Im holding out til we get a better angle on the virus, we tend to head off the beaten track so accommodation should be ok booking late.
Patience, Grasshopper...
Never too early. Head off to Chile, just about to start the season.
I am not planning anything for next winter, I don't want to build up my hope too much. I'll be happy if I'm wrong, but I can't see the infection percentage being any better by then, particularly in the UK, so we won't be popular in resort. The opportunities for infection in plane, bus, chalet, cable car, cold air (some of the biggest outbreaks have been in meat processing plants) are just too high.
Not aiming to tread on anyone’s toes CFH. 😀
Just thinking about this today. Might need to get something booked for Christmas and New Year.
Was thinking driving would be most flexible/reliable option. But flights seem better cost wise at the moment. Also quite a drive from Bristol. Would local peeps not be pleased to have punters? Depends if they need a job / income, I suppose.
Can we just rename this “The STW Ski & Snowboard thread. The 2020-2021 season?”
I’ll see if I can get a mod on it. About time we had the new one.
Noooooo. Close it and CHF can start a new one.
Well, it’s started now - no point in having another thread. The great thing about the rugby thread is that different people start it every year. About time that happened with the winter sports one.
If the captain isn't on the ball, too bad. We're on the move now.
Having said that I'm very much with @Greybeard, I'm currently writing off the 2020-21 season. If things improve drastically then I'll consider a last minute trip, but there would have to be a major change in the way things are heading for that to be likely to happen so soon. More likely is a longer trip in the 2021-22 season, possibly even the whole season since i now know i can work from home so could arrange to work 2 or 3 days a week perhaps. Whenever we do go, we'll drive down and choose a resort that only has open air lifts: no bubbles, gondolas, funiculars etc.
I was reading the other day on Twitter (think Graham Bell posted it) that 45% of the residents of Ischgl have got coronavirus antibodies. Looks like however it got to Europe, ski resorts played a MAJOR part in distributing it
Booked in for Saalbach but like nbt above I'm wary of bubbles, of which there are many in that resort (even elevators at resort level).
I've sacked off any plans for next year. We were literally chased out if Mayrhoffen this year as the virus spread. Looking back it's obvious how something like that can be passed around in a ski resort. All the guys I went with though jumped straight back in and booked for next year a month or so back. Reckon if I do get away anywhere next year it'll be a summer mountain bike or motorcycle trip instead.
I bought some stupid cheap Easyjet flights to Geneva for Feb but I've not booked anything else. I've tried booking a couple of places on Airbnb with late cancellation policies but so far they've not responded then put price up... Maybe I'll have to risk a deposit too.
We booked to go to the club med in alpe d'huez just before covid hit in January. only paid deposit so we can make a call in October whether it's a goer or not. i'd imagine such a big chain will have plenty of stuff sorted to make it safer and i'd just guess at the lifts being a bit busier than normal as they spread people out more. we'll probably fly over regardless again because the airlines will be pretty strict i'd imagine. plenty of time to see how things go though
We're looking at maybe a single longer trip by car rather than a couple of week trips flying. Maybe at Christmas, but not sure where and it's going to be a fair old schlep from Scotland. Maybe use the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry.
The reason it starts in August (traditionally), is so that I don't spent ALL year thinking about the next seasons trips! I swore off flying last year after a 6+ hour random delay because of fog at Chamberey with no useful information from Crystal for many of the 6 hours wait
I swore off flying last year after a 6+ hour random delay because of fog at Chamberey
I swore of flying to Chambery after too many stories like that from out transfer driver.
How about next door to Zell - Maria Alm in the Hochkoenig.
Great skiing, much quieter, generally no lift queues except for Feb half-term and even then only 10 minutes
STW rates available 🙂
We manage to get to Zell every January, wifes sister has a place there😁, it's a fantastic place that has more than enough terrain to keep you entertained for a week, and its expanding. Never been over New Year but in all the years we have been, queuing has never been an issue...and even if there was, it's all very civil, Canada levels of civil I'd say (been to Chamonix anyone!😳). Beautiful old town and plenty pubs and restaurants too...love it. It should be busy than it is...but thankfully not!
I'm not looking to book anything next year, just hoping we get plenty local stuff in the Cairngorms and it'll be the splitboard all the way. I'll be able to justify some new Spark R&D bindings then too 🙂
Maybe 2022...
choose a resort that only has open air lifts: no bubbles, gondolas, funiculars etc.
Apart from The Mighty One and GlenShee, I'm struggling to think of any.
I suppose Cairngorm falls into that category now too.... every cloud has a silver lining.
thegeneralist
choose a resort that only has open air lifts: no bubbles, gondolas, funiculars etc.
Apart from The Mighty One and GlenShee, I’m struggling to think of any.
I suppose Cairngorm falls into that category now too…. every cloud has a silver lining.
Ah yes, ski resorts do exist outside Scotland, but that's a good point, a visit to Glencoe might be a possibility for 2020-21
Other areas under consideration include Ste Foy Tarentaise (only 4 lifts, all chairs) and the resorts of the Haute maurienne where some resorts have no bubbles, and others only for the initial uplift (must admit I'd thought they were all chairlift only). Mainly smaller resorts that don't have bubbles IME
We were literally chased out if Mayrhoffen this year as the virus spread
Really? We skied that last weekend,(at Saalbach Hinterglemm) right up to the wire and then got the transfer back to Munich. Was a weird weekend on the slopes, but only cos they were all ours!
Not aiming to tread on anyone’s toes CFH. 😀
Yes, you don't want to ruin his fancy shoes!
Bloody attention seeker 🙂
As part of Me and my old mans xmas ski adventure we did the Newcastle/Holland ferry last December, worked really well,
Left Ayrshire lunch time Saturday, Early evening ferry from Newcastle. Arrive in Holland around 11am Sunday. Battered through Holland for a few hours before meeting the German Autobahns*, Entered Switzerland at Basel. Arriving at Interlaken around 7pm for dinner.
We then spent the next 2 weeks on a bit of a Switzerland Greatest hits driving tour.
- Wegen
- Adelboden
- Crans Montana
- Verbier
- Zermatt
Having done the M6 carpark/tunnel/french tolls, I would thoroughly recommend Holland/German route, being two tight Scots, we did plenty of research into the price. When taking all into account,
-Fuel
-over night hotel had we gone via channel tunnel/french tolls
-french tolls
-ferry cost
-Trains in Switzerland(car transporter through the mountains)
both we very close on price, but having now done both i would do the Holland route every time.
- No M6 carpark
- 4hours driving then you have a beer in your hand while you wait on your dinner reservaion
- German Driving was easier than the french auto routes (not sure why just felt better)
If you have any questions just ask,
*Note on Autobahn, awesome driving experience, how motorways should work. Cruise control set to 130kph sitting in the inside lane watching the locals doing some pretty extreme speeds. Totally safe, smooth and efficient.
Nice to hear That Zell am see is more civilised. We did find that Verbier at HT was quite the opposite. Pushy old British ladies shoving the kids out of the way in queues and generally aggressive skiing very close to the kids (possible protective dad issues too)
Yes Verbier is very 'Hooray Henry' full of folk with a sense of self entitlement because daddy owns a chalet, the Skiing is good though.
Not sure id rush back, Chamonix ticks more steeps/less ****s but glad I spent 2 days there ticking it off the list.
Not sure what our plans next season will be, last few years early march we have picked up some last minute deals to Les Arc 2000. Cruising Reds to Suit Mrs D, Steep bits to keep me entertained.
@dair86
Thanks for the info re Newcastle ferry, have been mulling this over trying to work out what's best!
The only bit that stresses me would be getting back to the ferry in time, just means an early departure from resort I suppose.
Anyone skied or have an opinion on Garmisch and surrounding area?
No worries,
I should add we came home via the tunnel, this worked better for us at the time due to the ferry departure times and visiting friends in Geneva on the way home.
The Newcastle ferry makes it feel like you are really only travelling on one full day.
Few hours drive to newcastle on the Saturday then treat the ferry like a floating hotel.
Check into your cabin, pre dinner drinks, some dinner, then a few beers before bed.
Cinema/nightclub/casino onboard if you are that way inclined.
Top tips I was given buy someone who had done it before.
- Get a deal on the ferry that includes your meals, makes them a fraction of the price if you paid the onboard prices.
- Friday sailings can be busy with party groups heading to Amsterdam for the weeken. Our Saturday sailing didn't seem that busy.
- wifi onboard is expensive and no phone signal at sea unless you sign up to the expensive maritime service. Download any entertainment you think you might need before you go.
Thanks.
It's a fine line (financially) between driving to Dover, overnighting somewhere, extra fuel, time, etc!
We've actually been on the ferry, booked into an upgraded cabin that came with free mini bar, wifi and breakfast I think!
It really is a good set up. We drove from West Lothian so it's 2 hours for us.
We were on a particularly stormy crossing Friday night in October and it was pretty quiet, whether that was because of the upgraded cabin or the weather I don't know.
If we don't do the above it'll be visits to the Scottish ski centres, fingers crossed for some decent snowfall.
Although I did see a video of somebody skiing at Glencoe last week and it looked pretty good, they reckon there is 30m of snow in some of the gullies up there!
@dair86 thanks for that - I need to do some more research, but that sounds exactly what I'd like to do.
I live in the Austrian Alps and for the last 8 seasons I have taken the regional season ticket. However this year I don't think I will take it. There is no easy way to social distance in lift queues and it may be even worse if they start allowing only every other seat to be occupied.
I am probably being over cautious but I am lucky enough to have options. I have a splitboard already but I plan to get a new one and enjoy the back country more than usual, closest route is 10 minutes drive. My son will also be too young to ski/snowboard but will be old enough to enjoy sledging.
After skiing mainly in Italy for the past few years I'm keen to try somewhere new. Driving from Amsterdam at Christmas where would you recommend? Needs to be high enough to be snow sure ish and somewhere pretty with decent bars and restaurants would be good.
What you got?
Zermatt.
Mmmm - do lots of Skiing there already with access from Cervinia.
Certainly a tricky time to decide on a ski trip. I’m not going to commit to anything yet.
Already sorted for going to Åre for xmas if allowed.
a short trip without the boy might happen but honestly I am half expecting to not be able to go at all.
Does anyone have any experience of Family Ski? We’ve been with Esprit for the past 5 years, but their current resort options are limited. 4 families with 10 kids With ages ranging from 4 - 11, so needing a range of ski lessons.
Find a nice independent chalet and take a pair of childminders. Cheaper than both options. Advertise on Snowheads
For those considering using ferry crossings!
P&O are on the Tesco Clubcard Deals list, there are a few T&Cs but it may save you a bit.
Find a nice independent chalet and take a pair of childminders. Cheaper than both options. Advertise on Snowheads
This sounds mad doesn’t it. But between four families and ten kids, it makes sense. Childcare is between £400 and £550 per head - obvs we don’t know the mix of ages, and I guess the older ones may spend the day with the adults? So when you work it out, it starts to mount up.
Having experienced both family ski and ski famille, I’d say there’s not much between them. They have the same offering and prices are similar. Accommodation is basic for what you shell out. Food is...well, often kids cooking from laminated sheets. I mean, it’s ok - you’re tired and hungry so you’ll eat anything but it’s far from the “gourmet” they advertise.
If price not really an issue, then their wraparound childcare is excellent. You just get them up, fed and dressed and then they’re ready for you when you get back for tea and cakes. The day is yours without having to worry. Over the last few years, I’ve just found the prices unpalatable. Price your group up for half-term if you want to have a laugh. 😀