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Original poster

Help, not sure where to start?

64 replies

peaceanddove · 26/12/2021 08:47

Looking to book somewhere for next Christmas, with options for a bit of ski-ing, but with plenty of other activities for older teens too. We would need to hire ski gear too. We'd really prefer Switzerland but are flexible.

We want a chalet that sleeps 8, but we need a chalet maid service too. Ski in/out would be nice but not vital. Walking distance to all local amenities, so want a pretty town with plenty to do & places to eat etc.

Can anyone recommend something suitable? Is it best to book a package holiday, but with who?

OP posts:
Bunce1 · 27/12/2021 20:55

Sorry op don’t meal to piss on your chips!

Caspianberg · 27/12/2021 21:02

Bad kleinkirchheim is low down, I live about an hour away. It often has no snow at the bottom.
It’s a basic local town that happens to have skiing at. The spas are nice, not many restaurants. Not really any other ‘facilities’. I prefer it in summer.

Obertauern in Austria is my recommendation for Christmas. It’s higher up, nice restaurants.

Lech is where I would head to if budget isn’t an issue as much.

Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:16

Honestly, this is all really helpful. There's 8 of us going, so I'm going to do a poll to see how necessary the ski-ing really is? All 4 teens haven't skied before and there's every chance they might not be keen? Though DH reckons they will all love it. DH has just said he's not hugely bothered either way but would 'quite like' to ski. I am not keen. I can ski but I'm all about the apres ski.

So, I'm thinking maybe less emphasis on the ski-ing and more about the whole sorta Winter Wonderland experience? So really nice accommodation with easy access to lots of wintery activities, with plenty of cafes and restaurants etc.

So maybe a town like Courcheval as someone said upthread? And we definitely don't want to have to hire cars.

OP posts:
longcoffeebreak · 27/12/2021 21:18

@Caspianberg

Bad kleinkirchheim is low down, I live about an hour away. It often has no snow at the bottom. It’s a basic local town that happens to have skiing at. The spas are nice, not many restaurants. Not really any other ‘facilities’. I prefer it in summer.

Obertauern in Austria is my recommendation for Christmas. It’s higher up, nice restaurants.

Lech is where I would head to if budget isn’t an issue as much.

Is is very limited higher up says up to 2000m here www.bergfex.com/badkleinkirchheim/
Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:18

@Caspianberg

Bad kleinkirchheim is low down, I live about an hour away. It often has no snow at the bottom. It’s a basic local town that happens to have skiing at. The spas are nice, not many restaurants. Not really any other ‘facilities’. I prefer it in summer.

Obertauern in Austria is my recommendation for Christmas. It’s higher up, nice restaurants.

Lech is where I would head to if budget isn’t an issue as much.

Thanks caspianberg. I messaged the owner earlier and the chalet is a 15 min drive from the local amenities, so that's not an option really.

I've realised that we're really looking for a pretty town with lots of amenities where ski-ing is just one of the options.

OP posts:
Bunce1 · 27/12/2021 21:19

I would still pick a well known ski area as it will have everything in terms of skiing and apres and then other stuff.

If it’s just winter wonderland why not look at places like Finland, Norway or Iceland?

Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:20

@Bunce1

Sorry op don’t meal to piss on your chips!
Honestly you really haven't. It's really helping me get an idea of what we really want.
OP posts:
abricotine · 27/12/2021 21:21

Courchevel is one of the most expensive resorts there is. It has its own row of Chanel,
Prada etc and is very busy with wealthy Russians especially New Year! I really wouldn’t pay Courchevel prices if you aren’t sure about skiing (although with tons of greens and blues it’s actually a pretty good place to learn). Maybe La Tania or one of the lower resorts, but then you are running into the early season/altitude problem mentioned upthread.

Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:22

@Bunce1

I would still pick a well known ski area as it will have everything in terms of skiing and apres and then other stuff.

If it’s just winter wonderland why not look at places like Finland, Norway or Iceland?

The consensus is that some ski-ing is wanted I don't want it.

So a resort that offers plenty of choices for everyone.

OP posts:
MissAmbrosia · 27/12/2021 21:25

Morzine? Has plenty of non-ski activities as I recall?

Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:26

@abricotine

Courchevel is one of the most expensive resorts there is. It has its own row of Chanel, Prada etc and is very busy with wealthy Russians especially New Year! I really wouldn’t pay Courchevel prices if you aren’t sure about skiing (although with tons of greens and blues it’s actually a pretty good place to learn). Maybe La Tania or one of the lower resorts, but then you are running into the early season/altitude problem mentioned upthread.
I'm not bothered about it being glamorous like Courcheval, but would definitely want a resort that's pretty, lots to do, with great scenery and plenty of green/blue runs for the novices.
OP posts:
Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:26

And it must have snow. Otherwise there's no point going.

OP posts:
MissAmbrosia · 27/12/2021 21:28

My friend has arrived in Megeve tonight for NY as her daughter is working the winter season there. It looks gorgeous and lots of snow. We were there in the summer and it's a beautiful little town. Easy to transfer from Geneva I think.

CiderWithLizzie · 27/12/2021 21:29

Verbier in Switzerland?

Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:30

@MissAmbrosia

Morzine? Has plenty of non-ski activities as I recall?
I have a chalet in Morzine on my short list. Is it a pretty town?
OP posts:
Original poster
peaceanddove · 27/12/2021 21:30

@MissAmbrosia

My friend has arrived in Megeve tonight for NY as her daughter is working the winter season there. It looks gorgeous and lots of snow. We were there in the summer and it's a beautiful little town. Easy to transfer from Geneva I think.
Off to check it out. Thank you.
OP posts:
stormsurfer · 27/12/2021 21:38

Verbier in Switzerland or Les Deux Alps in France. Both high resorts and got lots of other activities.

Bunce1 · 27/12/2021 21:41

Morzine is lovely. But it’s low. You’d need to get a bus up to ski school/slopes.

www.igluski.com/ski-resorts/switzerland/arosa

hemhem · 27/12/2021 21:43

Morzine is a very pretty village, but its low, so at Christmas there might not be much snow.

If skiing is a must for some of your group then you need to head high or to somewhere with a skiiable glacier.

For ultimate pretty Swiss resort town with spas, sledging, nice restaurants, shopping, hiking trails, horse rides I'd suggest Zermatt. But you'll pay 1-2k+ per person for the priviledge.

For a fun party vibe town I'd suggest Meribel in France, which has masses of ski terrain and quite a bit for non skiiers.

For lesser known Alpine charm but also good non skiier amenities, thermal spa, historic village, hiking trails, tobogganing, lots of loud apres and great skiing too I'd suggest Soelden in Austria.

LapinR0se · 27/12/2021 21:45

I live in Geneva. Do not ski in Switzerland unless you are absolutely loaded.
Good French resorts with guaranteed snow: morzine, avoriaz, les gets, chamonix, argentiere.
Do not go to megeve. It’s magnificent but very low altitude and you can end up looking at acres of mud.

turtledovelove · 27/12/2021 21:48

I can highly recommend Meribel. I lived there for a few years and did my fair share of winter seasons out there.

It's picturesque and has plenty of amenities to keep non skiers occupied. Ski schools a plenty as well as good slopes to learn on and linked to/part of the 3 valleys so your choices of places to ski are endless!

Shops, bars, restaurants, an ice rink etc. I worked in a 'ski up to' chalet and it was the most fantastic experience.

You can fly to Geneva and get a transfer to the resort.

I cannot tell you how envious I am of you booking a ski trip. The mountains really are the most magical place. Good luck OP with your research.

TheSnowQueen · 27/12/2021 21:58

Morzine is low but the Portes de Soliel ski area is massive and high enough at the top (Avoriaz - don't stay there) no need for buses. Pretty town, fun for apres. Feels like being in snowy Surrey after everyone's had a few happy pills. Recommend despite my reservations about actual Surrey.

artquejtion · 28/12/2021 08:13

If it's the Wham scenery you want, it was filmed in Saas Fee.

It's a stunning resort, car free, snow sure as it is high. Expensive though, but not as expensive as the likes of Zermatt / Verbier / Gstaad etc., lots of great restaurants and lots of non ski stuff to do.

Ski in/ski out properties in Saas Fee are directly on the nursery slopes.

www.saas-fee.ch/en/