[Other Sport] ski holiday advice for old git with delusions of vigour

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

An appeal to the hive mind of NSC.....

I want a catered chalet (always comedy gold) for an experienced (but aged) skiier, travelling alone, either in the first week of Jan or late March.

I've been to a few places in France (I like), but am tempted by some pals' recommendation for Austria (never been).

I've been trawling the Crystal site but I could be there for weeks...

Budget? Well I have all my own kit so a grand would be nice.

Tips on good resorts appreciated.

 

[Weststander]

Austria is the best, but as we stay in hotels I haven’t any specifics on chalets.

In terms of resorts, in early January everywhere will be fine for snow and you’ll get a bargain. But because most Austrian resorts are at a lower altitude, only a few will guarantee you non-slush at the end of March - being; St Christoph, Obergurgl, Hochgurgl, Lech, Zurs, Obertauern. You might get lucky with St Anton. All pricey,

Also try Inghams and the agency Ski Solutions,

Good luck.

 

[FatSuperman]

If you don't mind where you are going and can leave it late, then you will get a brilliant deal if you just book somewhere a week or two before. Late March would be far cheaper than Jan. I did this with my son this year (late March) and we paid £400 for the catered chalet per person two weeks before the trip (including flights, transfers, ski carriage, etc). That was in Val d'Isere, so it was then another £250 or something for the bloody lift pass.

This season I've booked super early for Austria, St Anton - but only because I got an all-in deal for £700.

Whatever you choose to do, I would recommend looking on the agent sites and then also checking with the chalet operator direct on their site. As recommended above, Ski Solutions are great and so are Ski World. Just put your trip details in and have a look. If you like the look of something in a resort you've never heard of, definitely check some reviews of the resort - just in case it only has three ski runs.


Also, I've sworn off Crystal after two disastrous trips with them. One of which caused everyone in the chalet to get sever food poisoning... except me and my mate Tink, who got pissed on the hill and ended up skipping the meal for Pizza Express instead. My other mates were fuming at me that I didn't get sick. Which is a bit of an odd way to look at things, but there you go.

 

[Mr Bridger]

Chalets Direct and go to the solutions room.
Put in your dates of travel, where you want to go and the chalet owners will contact you with prices etc.
I usually book flights 10 months in advance to Geneva and ask to be within a one hour radius so transfer time isn’t long.

 

[mwrpoole]

I would recommend Solden in Austria. The town is not as picturesque as some of the other Austrian resorts but the skiing is excellent. The town itself is very lively at night so if you’re looking for a quiet resort this is not for you. It’s only a few miles from Obergurgl and there is a bus service between the two if you fancy a change.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

An appeal to the hive mind of NSC.....

I want a catered chalet (always comedy gold) for an experienced (but aged) skiier, travelling alone, either in the first week of Jan or late March.

I've been to a few places in France (I like), but am tempted by some pals' recommendation for Austria (never been).

I've been trawling the Crystal site but I could be there for weeks...

Budget? Well I have all my own kit so a grand would be nice.

Tips on good resorts appreciated.

I'm not a skier in any shape or form, but on a Easyjet exploration mini-break to insanely dull Salzburg last year, took the train to Schladming for the day just to get away from the tedium of Salzburg. Train took about an hour. Schladming seems to be an extremely well laid-out resort frequented mainly by enthusiastic locals of all ages with all the gear, so far as I could tell. Framed photos of Austrian superstars of the snow in all the bar-restaurants on the pistes, think they may have held someof the skiing World Cup there fairly recently. The snug little town seemed to have plenty of accommodation. Anyways, if I were ever to learn to ski, Schladming seems like a good place to learn. They even brew their own beer called - yes! - Schladminger Here's a couple of me holiday snaps to put you in the mood

 

[Yes Chef]

I like your 'delusions of vigour' line.

I went to Andalo in Italy a few years back, but stayed in a hotel, so can't comment on chalets. Skiing was lovely though and the village itself was fairly low key, but there was still a pub or two and an ice rink, to measure your vigour against!

 

[WATFORD zero]

Been to Austria about a dozen times. Mainly hotels (not many chalets) and as has been pointed, often lower altitudes so not so good off peak. All the hotels I have stayed in give HUGE quantities of meat at every mealtime, their wellness centres tend to be full of naked young women, and the resorts are more picturesque, so not all bad.

If you are going on your own and are looking for others to ski with, I would suggest a big (30+) chalet as, in my experience there are likely to be more singles. For the biggest choice of chalets, I would go for France.

One thing about January skiing, it's COLD. In La Plagne a couple of years ago it was hitting -20's including windchill. First morning we had to ski back after an hour to add more layers and no sitting outside at the mountain restaurants, even when it was clear.

If your going late march, Tignes, Paradiski, Three Valleys have plenty of high skiing which should still be good, particularly in the mornings. Have a long ski in the morning, late lunch with a bit of wine and then sunbathe for a bit before toddling off home. Works for me

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Catered chalets are relatively rare in Austria. They are much more of a French or Swiss thing. Plenty of great hotels in Austria though. As others have said, the snow in Austria can be a bit hit and miss in late March unless you go to one of the many higher resorts.

 

[Lethargic]

Zell am See or the smaller neighbouring village of Kaprun which does have more chalets than your average Austrian resort and the big advantage of the snow sure Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

 

[wehatepalace]

If you’re on your own, I’d look at a Mark Warner chalet, they quite often have single rooms and the whole ethos is based on socialising with your fellow guests, have used them many times before and although not massively luxurious I’ve always had a fantastic time.
I think in Austria they still provide a ski guide service for social skiing too.

 

[RandyWanger]

If you're a smoker, Austria, if not, I'd avoid it unless you want to go back to the past where everyone smokes in pubs, restaurants and public toilets. The food is shit too, they take a good piece of meat, smash **** out of it with a hammer, fry it in bread and pretend it's dinner. I worked in the Tyrol for a season, stunningly beautiful place, but could not get over the poor food and stale fag smell.

France is like my 2nd home, I tend to stick around the Haute Savoie region nowadays for easy transfers from Geneva, I'd avoid late March as it can be a bit too slushy with spring.

As above, La Plagne end of Jan is brutal, I did a season up the top in Belle Plagne, so sold at night. But a good resort though, lots of chalets, some challenging terrain up off the Bellecote. Morzine is my current favorite, good varied terrain, some amazing restaurants serving up local food. Huge ski area with the PDS. Easy transfer from GVA and the cheapest ski pass in France, maybe Europe.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

If you're a smoker, Austria, if not, I'd avoid it unless you want to go back to the past where everyone smokes in pubs, restaurants and public toilets. The food is shit too, they take a good piece of meat, smash **** out of it with a hammer, fry it in bread and pretend it's dinner. I worked in the Tyrol for a season, stunningly beautiful place, but could not get over the poor food and stale fag smell.

France is like my 2nd home, I tend to stick around the Haute Savoie region nowadays for easy transfers from Geneva, I'd avoid late March as it can be a bit too slushy with spring.

As above, La Plagne end of Jan is brutal, I did a season up the top in Belle Plagne, so sold at night. But a good resort though, lots of chalets, some challenging terrain up off the Bellecote. Morzine is my current favorite, good varied terrain, some amazing restaurants serving up local food. Huge ski area with the PDS. Easy transfer from GVA and the cheapest ski pass in France, maybe Europe.

Smoking in most Austrian restaurants has been banned for several years. A full smoking ban in all bars and restaurants is coming in from 1 November this year.

 

[swindonseagull]

Bones are very brittle at your age... best stick to Benidorm

 

[RandyWanger]

Smoking in most Austrian restaurants has been banned for several years. A full smoking ban in all bars and restaurants is coming in from 1 November this year.

Progressive. I may head back in a few years then.

 

[Diablo]

An appeal to the hive mind of NSC.....

I want a catered chalet (always comedy gold) for an experienced (but aged) skiier, travelling alone, either in the first week of Jan or late March.

I've been to a few places in France (I like), but am tempted by some pals' recommendation for Austria (never been).

I've been trawling the Crystal site but I could be there for weeks...

Budget? Well I have all my own kit so a grand would be nice.

Tips on good resorts appreciated.

Viewing your profile(first match 1969) you aren`t a youngster. I therefore assume you are not looking for any wild nightlife or tricky black run skiing.
I`d recommend Les Saisses which is a lovely resort coupled with several others if you are and avid skier or if not there are plenty of runs around Les Saisses itself. Another advantage only 1 1/4 hours from Geneva Airport.

 

[Weststander]

I'm not a skier in any shape or form, but on a Easyjet exploration mini-break to insanely dull Salzburg last year, took the train to Schladming for the day just to get away from the tedium of Salzburg. Train took about an hour. Schladming seems to be an extremely well laid-out resort frequented mainly by enthusiastic locals of all ages with all the gear, so far as I could tell. Framed photos of Austrian superstars of the snow in all the bar-restaurants on the pistes, think they may have held someof the skiing World Cup there fairly recently. The snug little town seemed to have plenty of accommodation. Anyways, if I were ever to learn to ski, Schladming seems like a good place to learn. They even brew their own beer called - yes! - Schladminger Here's a couple of me holiday snaps to put you in the mood

View attachment 114721

View attachment 114722

We now go to Schladming ever winter, we're already booked for New Year. A lovely village and fantastic skiing. Can't wait!

 

[Weststander]

Catered chalets are relatively rare in Austria. They are much more of a French or Swiss thing. Plenty of great hotels in Austria though. As others have said, the snow in Austria can be a bit hit and miss in late March unless you go to one of the many higher resorts.

An alternative in Austria is 'club hotels' where the operator e.g. Inghams or Mark Warner lease/own the entire premises, and their management/staff take the place over. We stayed the Inghams owned St Christoph chalethotel last winter.

 

[Simgull]

love Austria - in fact here is the view of St Anton from my hotel room...right now! Imagine that covered in snow!

Soëlden is a good bet - high up two major lifts up to skiing areas - free buses to Hochgurgel/Obergurgel but cheaper and has more restaurants etc

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Thanks for the brilliant replies. Lots of suggestions to explore.

As [MENTION=30176]Diablo[/MENTION] suspects, and [MENTION=750]swindonseagull[/MENTION] knows, I'm no yoof (61 now). My last outing was Courcheval, 3 years ago, before my last knee op. I was able to manage reds, nay bother, but the right knee is arthritic and, now, thanks to a Zlatan Ibrahimovich style episode on Rye Harbour shingle 2 years ago, the ACL is as loose as Joan Collins, and although I can cycle, trot up the escalator al London Bridge two at a time and even still run a bit, I suspect the knee overall is about as stable some of the NSC posters I have on ignore. This may therefore be my last venture up the slopes, and I want it to be memorable for the right reasons, even if I have to retire to the chalet for much of the week.

Cheers,
HWT