Complete beginner help with planning reasonably priced couples holiday at resort good for beginners!

[Bluezoo123]

Hoping someone can help because I really don't know where to start. Wanting to plan a couples ski trip (will be going with another couple so 4 adults in total) for this coming season (going Dec-March sort of time). My friend and I are complete beginners but our partners have both skied a handful of times (as teenagers with school). We are looking to go in term time for a long weekend (maybe 4 days-can't be away from our kids for too long) but needing pointing in right direction of where to begin our search for a reasonably priced resort good for beginners. My friend and I are planning on having a handful of private lessons before we go so we're not completely clueless! Budget I would say is no more than £1K each all in but any less than that would be great.

I like the sound of the extra bits that come to mind when I think of a ski holiday - wooden ski lodge, evening drinks, roaring fire, jacuzzi etc but no idea if it's like that in reality!

So far the only places that have been brought to my attention are the British ski school in Sierra Nevada as have family that have a house 1 1/2hrs away from there and Rila Borovets which I stumbled across online. Any recommendations or advice greatly appreciated! Thanks

[kittykarate]

Have you considered Austria? With your relatively short time away I'd prioritise somewhere easy to get to, and also with a short transfer out of the airport.

Pretty villages, generally lots of flights from the UK, and from regional airports. Maybe not big on the wooden ski lodge front, but generally very nice hotels.

If you wanted to learn to cross country ski I'd send you to Seefeld in Austria. Flights into Innsbruck, really short transfer (30 to 45 minutes) on a coach/on a trainline from the airport. Easy to organize yourself so you can organize a non-strandard duration. Lots of hotels with lovely spa facilities. Cross Country ski school really good, generally with good English speakers. I've never done downhill skiing there though - so cannot say if there is enough of it there to keep you busy for a short break.

[TheBitterBoy]

When I was a complete beginner, we went to Sainte Foy in France. To me it felt like the right size, smallish, a few restaurants and bars, good nursery slopes, easy walk up to the ski lifts from accommodation, ski school was good. I've also skied in the Sierra Nevadas, I'd say it's also good for beginners, but a much bigger resort, and being Spain ski school starts at 10am instead of the typical 9am elsewhere.

[abricotine]

I’d go somewhere like Morzine with a short transfer. For that budget you won’t be in a cosy ski chalet but a hotel of a reasonable standard that should still have pool and hot tub etc. weekends can work out almost as expensive as a week skiing. I do think for a beginner a ski weekend is a lot of hassle as improving takes time and effort - do a week if you possibly can. My advice would be - first commit to a course somewhere like Hemel snowdome so you can at least come down the main slope and use a button lift. A group lesson will work just fine as a private lesson is extremely expensive for what you’ll get as a complete beginner (and they are very hard to get unless you are super flexible when you can go). Some snow centres do a “learn to ski in a day” in a group which would be a really valuable exercise and should enable you to potter about some nursery slopes from the start of your first day.

[Bluezoo123]

Thanks everyone for your advice - lots of food for thought - I shall have a look doing some research around what you have suggested.

[rookiemere]

Have a look at Ski weekenders. Le Grand Bornand is a good resort for relative newbies, with La Clusaz with a bit more for mid range skiing. They organise everything for you.

[turtletum]

Ski resorts generally expect weekly guests, so a long weekend will limit your options considerably. Skiweekends.com would be a good place to start.

If you can stretch to a full week, you'll probably not pay much more but you'd have a much wider choice of resorts that are more beginner and budget friendly.

I'd suggest early March is the best time to go, as more daylight, decent snow depths but not school holidays for various European countries (February is busy, as the French are on holiday, for example).

Some resorts good for beginners might be Val Cenis, Mongenevre, Les Gets, Valmeinier/Valloire, La Thuile/La Rosiere, La Clusaz, Kappl, Steinplatte, St Johann in Tirol, Passo Tonale.

[gardenhelpneeded]

Definitely Les Gets/Morzine. Short transfer ftom Geneva , good English speaking lessons (makes a difference), forgiving slopes.

[LIZS]

The areas you refer to have short seasons and less reliable snow conditions. Learning on thin ice or slush is hard work. If you are on a budget January is probably best (avoid February and early
March) and aim for somewhere with north facing slopes or with a glacier nearby. If you want scenery and traditional alpine resorts try Austria, such as Seefeld or Kaprun where there are good indoor/outdoor pools and non ski activities. .

[massistar]

Lots of places will take you for long weekends when it's not a peak holiday week.

I've done Morzine/Avoriaz a few times for long weekends. Loads of flights to Geneva and then it's a short transfer. Samoens is also a really nice option.

If you're happy to DIY it I'd get cheap EJ flights to Geneva, hire a car or get a shared transfer and then a nice apartment up in Avoriaz. There are lots of nice restaurants up there and the lack of cars makes it really special.

[massistar]

Or if you fancy the wooden chalet option go on to Chalet Solution Forum and put in your dates and you'll get loads of options:

www.chaletsdirect.com/forum/category-view.asp

[Bluezoo123]

Thank you so much everybody - really appreciate your input - lots of suggestions and I will start shopping around!