Help planning a Skiing trip for March 2008

[Parm]

I've booked flights for my partner and I to fly out to Geneva in March. We depart on March 10th and arrive in Geneva at 13:35. We return on March 18th, leaving Geneva at 14:05.

Now, we've got our flights, but we've got nothing else - yet! We need to get moving sharpish and book something soon.

First on our agenda is to find a resort. From Geneva we could go to a handful of countries by train but we've decided on Switzerland. Just seems most romantic to me - though expensive too.

With Switzerland in mind, I've been recommended the resort of Saas Fee. It's a small-ish resort, no vehicles are allowed in the city and I've been told it is more romantic than most resorts.

Has anybody been to Saas Fee before, and if so, any recommendations on places to stay?

I've been on skiing trips before, but they were all many years ago with school. They'd all been organised for us so I didn't have to worry about booking ski hire etc etc. Though I can ski, my partner can't so I'm going to look into ski school lessons for the mornings.

It's fairly hard work booking your own skiing trip, any advice would be very much appreciated.

[Norky]

Not been myself but Saas Fee is meant to be ace, it has the glacier so guaranteed at least some skiing. The biggest problem with DIY trips is getting from airport to resort, but if you can get a train right up to the resort that will be your best bet.

[Parm]

Getting to the resort should be ok, I've had a look at train timetables on SBB: Home - Online Timetable, Ticket Shop, Online travel shop and it seems straight forward. Get the train from Geneva to Visp, then the bus from Visp to Saas Fee. Takes about 3hrs 30mins but hopefully there'll be some nice views.

The hardest part I always find is accomdation, I always think it's really important to get a nice place to stay. I tend to prefer smaller places with very friendly staff, family run places are often the best bet I think.

[tiggerai]

Parm...

My Uncle has just moved to Grindelwald / Interlaken, so I have been checking out that area...
£130 (117 online somewhere) Lift Pass for 6 days which covers Interlaken, Grindewald, Wengen and Muuren inc the Eiger Glacier.
Shame you're flying into Geneva, Zurich would have been better.

I'm looking at Boarding lessons as my friends all board. Have you thought about a taster lesson for the partner at somewhere like Xscape in MK?

You can also book ski rental / lift passes online these days... check them out, you can get some good deals.

There should be loads of Accommodation in Interlaken (obviously I don't need to find that... family are great sometimes)

one site I've ooked at is Ski and snowboard rental online at snowbrainer and Cheap Ski Extras :: Book your Lift Passes Online and Save £££'s for lift passes

[Guy]

When I went on the school ski trip a few years ago we went to Saas-fee excelent resort/general area, I highly recomend it!

Cant really give any advice on places to stay, we were just outside the resort and got bussed in every day. It is a very nice place, as you've said no vechiles are allowed (well there are alot of wat look like golf buggies going around but I think there the exception!) but be warned it is quite pricey there!

And youve been told right it is quite romantic, im not sure wat it is, but yeah!

and Tiggs wats the indoor place like at MK? cause I never got the hang of the ski-ing malarky, and do wanna try boarding at some point!

[tiggerai]

When I went on the school ski trip a few years ago we went to Saas-fee excelent resort/general area, I highly recomend it!

Cant really give any advice on places to stay, we were just outside the resort and got bussed in every day. It is a very nice place, as you've said no vechiles are allowed (well there are alot of wat look like golf buggies going around but I think there the exception!) but be warned it is quite pricey there!

And youve been told right it is quite romantic, im not sure wat it is, but yeah!

and Tiggs wats the indoor place like at MK? cause I never got the hang of the ski-ing malarky, and do wanna try boarding at some point!

Xscape...

If you do come up, then let me know as I'd like to do a beginners Boarding lesson at some point.

[Guy]

Xscape...

If you do come up, then let me know as I'd like to do a beginners Boarding lesson at some point.

Im actually very tempted, now my backs all better after my little mishap in november! Id be up for it! would have to be a saturday though.

[smelly]

Saas Fee is a nice resort, small, relatively quiet - although no cars they have small milk float electric cars - be aware of these are the sneak up on you then they use their horns. All the equipment is of good quality. Get "superior" boots as they're the current seasons and should be quite new. Skis or board shouldn't make much difference "standard - superior". When you first get your stuff there's a little shop just before the ski lifts that you can store all your skis and boots in, so you don't have to walk from your hotel to the slope (it's really difficult for 1st timers) and i only costs a few Swiss francs.

Lots of beginner/intermediate runs but if you're not a confident skier then i highly recommend Ski school. I have nothing but praise for the Swiss ski schools I started with never having skied in my life to going down blacks in 2 years after 2 1 week trips. I recommend that you do the classes together as she'll feel left out if you go off to a higher level class. Also the instructor will try to cater for everyone in the group and unless you're a really capable skier you can always learn stuff off them.

Although the ski school is for the morning you'll find that the afternoon going very quickly. The ski instructor will also show you place that most tourists don't go to for food on the slopes to routes. There is a snow park in Saas Fee which you may enjoy and a few runs going through the woods just before the town on very narrow tracks - it's very nice going from snow covered mountain slope one minute to wooded track the next. Just be careful of the trees.

Basic things (forgive me if you already know all this): clothing (don't go for all the named quicksilver stuff as she may not like skiing and it costs a fortune. If you do both like it then buy it the next year), sun block, sunglasses, walking boots etc., insurance and a pair of ski socks per day as they do tend to smell.

I booked online and it was through Crystal, there are plenty of operators and they all look after you. Ok they all ahve crap organisation at Gatwick where they get you in at 4am and no-one knows which que you have to be in and everyone is complaining. But just stay cool.

You should have a great holiday!

PS: advoid half term at all costs: too many kids and all the prices go up!

[digit]

I'd strongly advise getting hold of ski clothing from t k maxx. Thats where I have got my jacket and trousers from a few years ago and they have still lasted till now Plus you get it really cheap. Its not worth spending tons I don't think personally on ski clothing for it potentially to be ripped to shreds and then be worth nothing Also polonecks are a must have again very cheap from afformentioned store.

[Parm]

Thanks for all the tips everyone!

Tig, I'm going to take my partner to the Snowdome in Tamworth around late January / early February time so she can have a little practise and get accustomed to getting the boots and skis on. Sure is pricey though!

Rastaman, smelly, I've decided on Saas Fee and have e-mailed a few hotels today enquiring about availability, now awaiting to hear from them. I've heard that quite a few hotels only take bookings from saturday to saturday during peak periods to avoid empty rooms. I'm arriving on a monday and leaving on a tuesday, hoping that won't be a problem.

Smelly, I'll definately be joining my partner at ski school. Though I'm sure my skiing will all come back to me when I hit the slopes, it's fun being taught and I'd rather stick with my partner too. She'll be a little apprehensive to start with but I know she'll enjoy it once she gets into the swing of things. Thanks for all the little tips too, I did know most of them but a reminder never hurts! I think I am avoiding half term, at least, I hope I am!

Digit, thanks for the tip, we'll be heading to TK Maxx next week we think to see what we can pick up.

[tiggerai]

Parm, good plan! You seem to have thought of everything already!

You are missing half term as I was planning on going that week, but a mate of mine is buying a house, so we're postponing it till the end of the year.

Have fun!

[Parm]

I've had a few replies from hotels, here's what I have so far:

Hotel Garni Condor
Available from 10th - 18th March
1 – double room, bath or shower, TV, phone, balcony
240CHF (£105) per night, with breakfast.

Hotel Schweizerhof
Unavailable on my dates, have offered me 9th - 16th March
1 nice double room with balcony
480CHF (£213) per night, half board.

Hotel Romantik Beau-Site
Unavailable on my dates, have offered me 15th - 22nd March
1 romantic suite with bath/WC, separated living room, fireplace and balcony
550CHF (£244) per night, with breakfast.


I'm a little dissapointed the Beau-Site is unavailable, it looks perfect and very romantic. I think they'll only take bookings from Saturday to Saturday. Likewise, I think the Schweizerhof only takes bookings from a Sunday to Sunday.

Is it worth changing my flights to get a better hotel, or should I stick with my flights and go with Hotel Garni Condor? Hmmm.

[Rave]

£244 a night?!!! Dunno, do as your bank account guides you.

I haven't been on a ski holdiay since Feb 1996, when I went in the lower 6th at school. I thought that once I'd got a job and had cash I'd be able to go every year- then I married a woman with a dodgy knee who'll never be able to do it.

But I _love_ skiiing. I hate all the off piste, technical stuff, mind- my idea of heaven is to take a 1500m ski lift to the top of a mountain, and then rip it down the red and black routes never dropping below 30mph. I don't think I've ever felt more alive than when we got up to the top of the mountain at the far eastern side of Les Menuires at 10am one morning, on a glorious sunny day, and then ripped it all the way down in the sun. That is living!

It's so long since I last went that I've never tried a carving ski. I never had a problem carving before mind....

[chicken]

It's worth bearing in mind that you probably won't spend much time in the hotel room. You'll be out all day skiing, then out at night for dinner and drinks usually. You might be better off saving your £139 difference and going out each night to the best restaurants you can find with it than spending it on a room you're barely in.

I know it's been mentioned but I'd just like to point out Insurance. It's easy to forget, but an accident on a skiing trip could end up incredibly costly without it, especially if it involves another skier and turns out to be your fault. For an idea, my first skiing trip (12 years ago) was with school and included these £5,000,000 insurance cards for us to carry that cover helicopters, hospitals and claims from other people should anything happen.

Sounds like you're in for a great holiday though! I'd love to go this year but going to NY before Christmas kind of wiped out the funds!

[MD]

Look for a chalet deal with people who look after you, there is nothing wuite like it for having a good time and getting decent service. The thing about skiing holidays is that you really need to understand its not really about the hotels, as they are really pricey for what you get and can tend to be a bit on the stiff side.

If you want help with the Tamworth skiing stuff gimme a shout, I aint far and have been told I am a pretty decent skiier (we won't start talking about my barmy racing days years ago...)

[Zathras]

we won't start talking about my barmy racing days years ago...

Oh go on, please elaborate

Used to do a bit myself, so am interested...