Hello - am trying to pin down best place to look at next season in Europe…
Going as a group (6-8) - all Intermediate or Better !

Have done most major resorts in Three Valleys +  Porte du Soleil…
Would ideally like to be very close to slopes - and a reasonable hotel this year….

Likes:
plenty of ground to cover + long runs
Reds + blacks if not too scary
Good Bars + mountain eateries

Dislikes
Fragmented resort / terrain requiring lots of buses
Resorts on a thro road with lots of traffic
Extreme OTT apres-ski

Notable examples in past years which ticked all the boxes were:-
Sporthotel Arraba - Italy / Sella Ronda
Les Arolles - Meribel Mottaret / 3V France
Hotel le 3 Vallees / Val Thorens 3V France
Hotel Spinne / Grindewald / Switzerland…. not keen on all the train rides and 3 seperate ski areas (but all ran very efficiently + so on time…so no complaints)

mark

Hi Mark

There are quite a few places that would tick the boxes here for you. For extent of ski area, I liked Tignes/Val d’Isere area. I stayed in the Tignes near the Lac and found that the queues were OK at peak time (unlike Grindelwald) and access to the Glacier meant high altitude if early/late season. Skiing to Val d’Isere for lunch is possible and very pleasant.

I also liked Verbier for its extent and there are some great chalets. It is a bit busier but the extent is so large you can ski for 3 hours to the outer extents! The snag is that it is expensive.

Less extensive areas that may also be a look are Cervina (cheaper base to ski across to Zermatt which is brilliant). Food is excellent in Zermatt and Cervina slopes are confidence building for first day or two.  Also Serre Chevalier is probably underrated and a lovely spot.

In Austria I found St Anton too busy at peak time and some reds more like blacks with moguls everywhere. It is best for strong intermediates (like Verbier). You may want Kitzbuhel which is extensive and popular with Brits. A pretty place and good internediate area. Not very high so might be a problem late season.

Just a few ideas. I am thinking of going back to Tignes again.

Regards

Hi esrio,
thanks for your post on that…..some welcome advice

Someone has already come up with Serre Chevalier in our group so will be looking at that.

Will let you know when I’ve narrowed choices down…

Many Thanks

Well done Richard - keep up the good work.

Have to say I’m with you on Laax / Flims (bit of a Swiss fan myself). What about Klosters? Some good hotels and bypassed by the traffic now (whereas Davos is sprawling and fragmented). Our group liked Zermatt, but didn’t like the trek between lifts (taxis were overcrowded), so choose a hotel near one of the bases and start / finish your day there.

Serre Chevalier is a great resort, the road the only downside in Mark’s list (though we never found traffic too intrusive in Chantemerle). I’d certainly pop it on your shortlist. We also liked the Carlina hotel in Belle Plagne - right beside the piste and just up the hill from busy Bellecote. La Plagne has some great huts too. Depends when you plan to go: it gets busy.

Alpe d’Huez was a favourite of our mixed group - extensive, lots to do, and fairly convenient lodging, better than average huts (including our favourite at Lac Besson). You could always try tranquil Vaujany as a base, out on a limb a bit but pleasantly attractive.

If you enjoyed the Sella Ronda as a group, why not try one of the other resorts and ski more of the area? Or Madonna di Campiglio ( a little less convenient, but with a lovely area and some smart hotels)

Wendy

Wendy

Hello Richard,

have been to Morzine twice with our Group and stayed in a chalet just outside the main resort - Chalet Rosetta - Montriond - which is about 15 -20 mins walk from Morzine but still requiring mini-bus to lifts or Gondola at Ardent.
As a resort Morzine has plenty going on with loads of places to eat & Drink and stay out late if thats your thing…
The area is pretty extensive and if you get up on early lifts you can cover a lot of ground.
Avoriaz accessed from Nyon lift provides the better skiing (Higher up) if snow conditions are not brilliant.
A week in Morzine should give you enough time to ski Morzine + Les gets and Swiss resorts from Avoriaz side.
You will struggle to cover ALL of it in a week- as it is a big area…!
If I went back again it would be to stay right in Morzine centre…....as you are probably in the best position to access all areas during your week.
Snow amazing this Feb which did create a few problems in actually getting a vehicle up to Ardent lift…...

Richard ..
PS to my last post….
If snow conditions are not at their best - then Snow on the ground in Morzine itself might be a bit sparse, but don’t let that put you off.
I suspect the amount of white stuff I saw in resort earlier this year was not the norm…...