Have fun Fiona, we have been to Le Grand Bornand in the summer and it is a beautiful area. I have only skied in Austria though, Soll in the Tyrol. I have been to Austria throughout the year quite often twice a year for the last 20 years and just love the mountains.
Quote: Originally posted by johngo on 19/11/2008
We have been really lucky up here in Scotland. Leave the van on a pitch for the winter and head up to Aviemore most weekends - 2 hours up the road. Mate has recently moved to Calgary and am tempted to go and visit this winter - though I only know Scotland to Ski in! Anyone know of the resorts there?
Johngo - we have friends near Edmondton. Been out there a couple of times and loved it. Flew into Calgary and then trvelled on to Lake Louise and Sunshine Valley. Both good. My friends like Whistler and I think Kicking Horse. Its great out there, everyone is so friendly, I love it.
Just spotted this thread. Have been ski -ing in Scotland for about 25 years now but only recently started ski-ing abroad. Have been to Chamonix the past 2 years (only reason I chose there was because OH doesn't ski and we had to choose somewhere with plenty other things for her to do while I'm ski-ing) Booked up for Brides-les-Bains next year and really looking forward to exploring Les Trois Valleees ski area !
Quote: Originally posted by johngo on 25/11/2008
Thanks for the info Breeze - now where is that piggy bank ........ Where do you usually look for flights? Better to hire equipment there?
Thanks muchly, john
Hi John,
We tend to watch teletext, but it's not that cheap anymore!
As we have our own equipment we dont hire, so can't tell you whether it is cheap/expensive. The passes for Lake Lousie etc are quite expensive tho' as its a tri ski area, LL, Sunshine Village and Norquay (not skied Norquay but OH not impressed). The good thing about the passes over there is although they are still for 6 days like Europe, you can use them at any point during your stay, so we tend to miss the first day or so to recover, and the middle weekend as we visit friends, but still get our 6 days in! Ski school is great coz they keep the classes small, 5 or 6 max. Check exchange rate to see if it is better to pay over here or when you get there. We bought the passes over here the first year and it would have been cheaper to wait.
Finland is expensive but we stayed HB in hotels and took wine/beer with us and for sking it is not that bad. I would not go self catering because of the cost of food etc although the restaurants are not too bad. The bottom line for us is that it is cheaper for us as a family to go to Finland than to the Alps if we booked direct.
We have looked into putting together our own package and you can book seats on the charter flights that the tour operators use and arrange the hotels direct. All have websites and speak English. The local airport is only 20 minutes from Levi and less than an hour from Yllas.
If you go with a tour operater then outside of school holidays is not too bad and the resorts are very quiet. Both Yllas and Levi are sold as a beginner resorts so once everyone has had there lessons the slopes are generaly empty. We have been sking for years and found the runs OK although a little short.
One other thing - it is very cold since you are within the Artic Circle but with the right clothing there should be no problem. If you book through a tour operator then you can even hire thermal suits and boots.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Any like to ski?
