Skiing / Snowboarding Suggestions for groups.

[Captain Sensible]

anyone recommending switzerland on this thread has clearly not taken a look at the currency market recently. For one swiss franc you can now buy a three bedroomed house on dyke road

Not True, Its currently 1.40sfr to £1. So thats about £3-3.50 for a beer, £15-£20 for a 2/3 course meal (depending on where you eat of course, excluding wine) Austria is cheaper but France is WAY more expensive. I paid 8Euro for a beer in Chamonix.

 

[PHCgull]

Nonsense, Its currently 1.40sfr to £1. So thats about £3 for a beer, £15 for a 2/3 course meal (depending on where you eat of course) Austria is cheaper but France is WAY more expensive. I paid 8Euro for a beer in Chamonix

possibly... i paid 8e for a plate of chips in argentieres last year ... but CH still pretty expensive uless you go somewhere completely off the beaten track

 

[Captain Sensible]

possibly... i paid 8e for a plate of chips in argentieres last year ... but CH still pretty expensive uless you go somewhere completely off the beaten track

It is of course more expensive than 2 years ago when it was 2.40 to the pound. But...
Switzerland there is hardly any inflation. Things that cost 5 francs 10 years ago, cost about 5.70 now. So over time (even with the poor exchange) Switzerland has actually come down in price. Fuel is cheaper there than here, and many othere things are too. Some things like meat are more expensive. Funny thing is if you order bottled water at dinner, its often more than the Beer! But overall the Prices are ok for ski holidays. It all depends if you hunt around for bargains or not. If not and you stay at 4 star Hilton in Zermatt then, yes you will pay more (thats the same anywhere), but rent a private apartment in a huge but less well known resort like Bettmeralp, and you'll make your money go far.

 

[mccraque]

Ah fair do's. You tempted to do another,it's addictive?! I set off in 2000 to do 1 season in Tignes, Ended up doing 1xTignes 4xVal d'Isere, 1xValloire, 3x Les 2 Alpes, including spending time living in meribel, les menuires, Alpe d'Huez, La Rosiere, Serre Chevalier, Crest Voland, Notre Dame du Bellecombe and Courchevel to name a few

oh yes....would do another one this year if I could get the time off work and had the cash. - i bummed it for a few months...none of that work nonsense while in resort!

 

[sirtonybloomthankyou]

I went to Austria,France, Italy until one year when we gave up and went to Canada, Jasper is in my view stunning however the transfer is five hours, but try two weeks at the Douglas Fir in Banff, you can get 6 people in a two bedroom loft apartment S/C, the town of Banff is brilliant, you have three areas to ski, inc Lake Louise, free transfer with you ski pass.
No people barging in front of you at the ski lifts, much more room than Italy, France etc and still fairly cheap food and drink etc, I will never go back to Europe. Good luck

 

[k2bluesky]

Arapahoe basin, Colorado great setting or Telluride late season (March) slopes almost empty.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I don't want to sound like too much of a pleb, but surely Canada and the United States can't be too cost effective for a cheapish ski break?

 

[Birdie Boy]

Not True, Its currently 1.40sfr to £1. So thats about £3-3.50 for a beer, £15-£20 for a 2/3 course meal (depending on where you eat of course, excluding wine) Austria is cheaper but France is WAY more expensive. I paid 8Euro for a beer in Chamonix.

Well, unless the ski resorts are cheaper than everywhere else in the country (normally it's the other way around), this is not true! I was recently in Zurich on business and a pint of beer was between 8 and 11 sfr.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

oh yes....would do another one this year if I could get the time off work and had the cash. - i bummed it for a few months...none of that work nonsense while in resort!

I have always worked when out there, and interestingly a lot of the folk who were 'bumming' a season would say they got really bored every evening when everyone else is at work. Wouldn't of minded trying it though

 

[mccraque]

I have always worked when out there, and interestingly a lot of the folk who were 'bumming' a season would say they got really bored every evening when everyone else is at work. Wouldn't of minded trying it though

No way was it boring....always something to do in the evening. From live music, tobogganing, drinking with the locals - running into new people and ex seasonairres, ski waxing....

2 nights in through the whole season.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Well, unless the ski resorts are cheaper than everywhere else in the country (normally it's the other way around), this is not true! I was recently in Zurich on business and a pint of beer was between 8 and 11 sfr.

Thats crazy mate. Could be coz it's Zurich, must be some rip off bar. Ok, I'm talking Valais, german speaking part (not rip off resorts like Crans Montana or Verbier). Areas like Bettmeralp, Zinal, Reideralp, Bürchen, Grächen. Prices are generally 3.80 for a Stange (stick) 300ml or about 5sfr for a Humpa 500ml.
Switzerland is like anywhere else, I'm sure I pay more for a pint in central London than down in here.

 

[Pat McCrotch]

Went to Courchevel last year and paid 25 euros for a lasagne and a small beer in the restaurant underneath the Saulire cable car.

.. and a mate paid 50 euros for cheese and tomato pizza in the Cap Horn by the Altiport

 

[Springal]

Any tips on what to buy, what to rent and where to rent from?

I got goggles, gloves, jacket for £75 in a 50% off sale on Asos.com which was good, I have a few compression/base layer bits from football, and can easily get t-shirts/fleeces to wear underneath, so the main thing is salopettes/ski trousers + skis/boots/bindings/poles. There is a place in Crawley, but lugging this kit around on Easyjet etc, seems like hassle, so am I best off renting out there?

 

[Munkfish]

Any tips on what to buy, what to rent and where to rent from?

I got goggles, gloves, jacket for £75 in a 50% off sale on Asos.com which was good, I have a few compression/base layer bits from football, and can easily get t-shirts/fleeces to wear underneath, so the main thing is salopettes/ski trousers + skis/boots/bindings/poles. There is a place in Crawley, but lugging this kit around on Easyjet etc, seems like hassle, so am I best off renting out there?

Rent out there and do it online before, taking your own gear is a right pain.

IMO if your new to skiing/boarding Good gloves are a must as you will be falling over quite often. and when your hands get soaked its a right pain.

i bored, so i brought my own boots as they will fit all bindings, i hate the thought of sharing footwear. if your going to ski im not sure books fit all skis. if they do and your going to go often i would suggest in investing in a pair, comfortable boots are a MUST.

 

[Springal]

What about skipants/saloupettes? All the pairs I have seen are north of £100, which seems a bit much for a week.

 

[Munkfish]

What about skipants/saloupettes? All the pairs I have seen are north of £100, which seems a bit much for a week.

depends how trendy you want to look! i brought some from mountain wharehouse for about £25 the first time i went, take them now with me as a back up pair just incase. they are fine to me. however they do look a bit shit (plain black)

are you skiing or boarding? if your skiing i would worry about it, your look like an idiot anyway

 

[Springal]

I am skiing, as I am clever and can use 2 bits of word, rather than 1 massive bit of wood ;-) Have been before but not for about 6 years. I'll have a nosey around. Don't mind plain so I'll have a look around - thank you kindly!

 

[Captain Sensible]

Check this out
Aletschgebiet

Make sure you tick slopes and lifts top left hand corner. You gotta admit, it's impressive and I bet hardly any of you have heard of it. To be that size, that high and in such s good location yet be unheard of is well, ... Unheard of!

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

My top tip for winter gear is TK Maxx! You can find some top brands such as Westbeach, Nike (ACG), Level (gloves), DC (boots). Being a boarder I like my gear baggy and got myself some sick Scott pants in XXXL.
It's also good for your base layers and thermals.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Agree with TK Maxx DFPerm. Went there today, great jackets but a little short in the trouser department, also goggles and gloves not in yet.

Just thought, as I was talking about Switzerland being reasonable even with the poor exchange rate. I go Here: http://www.eischoll.ch/d/bahnen/pisten-anlagen/Pistenplan-Schattenberge.pdf

Very quiet, no ques at lifts at all!! Some days have the entire mountain to myself. Great links from Geneva airport. Not massive in the aprez ski at night but plenty of bars and restaurants. A fair few t-bars so maybe not ideal all over for boarders, but great for begginer boarders because you have so much space on the piste. For Skiiers it was excellent. Reasonable everywhere, no rip offs, great for families and serious skiiers.