Ski / Snowboard holidays

Biscuit

Biscuit

andpotato
I know a few of you guys are skiiers / boarders and was wondering if you had any good experiences of destinations. i spent Christmas a couple of years ago boarding in the Rila Montains, Bulgaria and really enjoyed it and looking to book for New year. there will be about 20 of us going with varying abilities and a couple of young uns so a good all round spot is needed.

any suggestions please?

Steve
 
America always looks a bit pricey, specially the lift passes. Great thing about Bulgaria is its dirt cheap, or at least was, i think they join the EU soon! been looking at Romania or Croatia but dont no anyone whos been.
 
I would research your choice of resert very carefully as I suspect that xmass is early for the Bulgaria season, I have a similar problem as we normally go in April, we always pick a very high resort to get the snow and most of the time we are lucky.

America and canada are not that expensive compared to a good european one, but with the additional travelling I dont feel I have had enough Skiing after a week so the times we have gone such a distance we have always went for at least 10 days which does add to the cost.

Rember nothing in life is free ;) (possibly the subject of a whole new thread) It may be dirt cheap but if there is no snow it will not be much fun!
 
two weeks b4 we flew to Bulgaria theyd had no snow, luckily by the time we went theyd had a good covering on all slopes, my friends went last year in feb and said the snow was excellent. Places like Bulgaria, Romania etc. make a real big event out New Year and would love to see it.
 
The last few years I have gone to Italy with www.interski.co.uk to Courmayeur and I have also been to Pila with them. Pila is good because it offers good learner up to intermediate skiing whilst Courmayeur is more suited to intermediate upwards. They do some great packages where you can fly or coach full board or B&B. Their ski-school is brilliant with mainly english instructors. Interski are the biggest in the Aosta valley and they are a slick well run bunch! They are well known for their school trips. Italy is cheaper than France and the Italians like you as the French hate all the English that go and ski on their slopes and spend money there!
My favorite place is Lake Louise, the place is huge and will take you 10 days to ski it all! www.skilouise.com will tell you more. 10 days is the best option because of the flight. You can buy a pass for any number of days and you can also go to sunshine and mt norquay on the same pass and the cost works out quite reasonable. There is a trip out for the day to another resort. Ski & boot hire is all comparable to Europe. Lake Louise is brilliant because there are no queues! This is because when it is busy they have queue management making sure every seat is taken and when you get off there is nobody around! There are easy and hard runs off most of the lifts so you can split into groups and meet at the bottom. The food portions are huge! So you have to pair up with someone for lunch and share a main course because you will not eat a whole one yourself. The soft drinks are refillable free too. If you try to eat it all you won't want to ski the afternoon! The Lake Louise Inn is the best option to stay in, reasonably priced, and has three places to eat as well as the other restuarants in the local mall (which sounds big but believe me it ain't!) I took a day off mid-week and went on Skimobile/skiddo and that is really good fun but hard work! Flying along at 30-40mph with trees on either side and a race in a big clearing in the middle of the forest! The best is that the Canadians really try to make your stay enjoyable and they have retired people who will show you round the ski runs every morning and every afternoon and there are different grades of groups too. You could go there on your own, ski with different people every day and ski different runs every day too! I also went to Fernie as well and that is better for the more experienced skiers. Canada is excellent value for money and worth the long flight! :thumbs:
 
Steve, one final point, where ever you go take it easy.

I started snowboarding in 1988 (Ex skate-boarder) then three years ago in Les Arc I had a massive accident (14 inch scar down my left arm), sold my gear and packed in, I thought I was a better than I really was.

I do miss it though...
 
Paul748 said:
Steve, one final point, where ever you go take it easy.

I started snowboarding in 1988 (Ex skate-boarder) then three years ago in Les Arc I had a massive accident (14 inch scar down my left arm), sold my gear and packed in, I thought I was a better than I really was.

I do miss it though...
Click to expand...

Nasty, i had a minor accident last time, 3 stitches in my arm and 4 in my back, very minor by comparison.

Cheers
 
Hello mate I have a place in Canada. Can offer it for those dates. It's on the Alberta/BC border 1.5 hrs north of banff 1 hour north of Lake louise. The web site www.kickinghorseresort.com will give you an idea. email me if you need more info info@lagghotel.com. PS Its a Full on resort so you need big Kahoona's!!!! if you know what I mean.

Peter
 
How about having a trip to Kicking Horse next year then? The resort looks excellent......flights from Manchester to Calgary.........10 days over xmas and new year..fab idea!..

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Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is the first four season mountain resort to be built in the Canadian Rockies in the past 25 years.

The resort is ideally situated to produce a sparkling, light and dry snow, aptly named "Champagne Powder". Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has been rated #1 resort for powder in North America by Skiing Magazine.

The varied terrain offers a winter playground for those new to alpine adventure and the perfect opportunity for adrenaline junkies to charge down a 4,000 foot ski out, the second longest in Canada.

You'll get to the top of your run in comfort and style with the Golden Eagle Express walk-in gondola, the first level walk-in gondola to be used in Canada. Other winter activities include heli-skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, dog sledding and snowshoeing. In summer, mountain bikers can experience Canada's longest lift access mountain bike descent!

There’s a great deal of Canadian history behind Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. It is named after the renowned river and the famous high-alpine pass that were instrumental in opening the Canadian West to the rest of the world. The Kicking Horse name reflects a sense of adventure, discovery and exploration.

The Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge operates a wilderness centre for research, education, and conservation at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The 22-acre sanctuary is the largest protected enclosed grizzly bear refuge in the world, providing a home and a second chance at life for two orphaned grizzly bear cubs, Cari and Boo.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (formerly Whitetooth Ski Area) is located 8 miles (13 km) west of Golden in the BC Rockies, 426 miles (682 km) northeast of Vancouver, and 164 miles (262 km) west of Calgary (2-1/2 hour drive).

From Calgary: Take Trans Canada Highway 1 westbound from Calgary. Stay on Trans Canada Highway 1 for approx. 2.5 hours, until you reach the town of Golden. Kicking Horse Resort overlooks the Town of Golden. The resort is located on a benchland, a scenic 14 km (9 miles) drive off The Trans-Canada Highway 1.
From Vancouver: Take Trans Canada Highway East from Vancouver. At Hope, Take the Coquihalla Highway to Kamloops. The Coquihalla Highway becomes the Trans Canada Highway 1. Follow the Trans Canada East until you reach the town of Golden.


Contact: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Phone: (250) 439-5400
Toll Free: 1-866-SKI-KICK (1-866-754-5425)
Fax: (250) 439-5401
Snow Phone: (250) 344-5400
Email:
Website:

Season: Early/Mid December to April 1
Lift Hours: Operating 7 Days a week
Lift hours are dependent upon prevailing conditions
9:00 am – 3:30 pm (17 December to January 24, 2004)
9:00 am – 4:30 pm (January 25 to April 13, 2004)
Annual Snowfall: Location Elevation Snowfall
Lower Mountain 1,300 m (4,263 ft) 254 cm (100")
Mid-Mountain 1,722 m (5,646 ft) 360 cm (142")
Alpine Snowstations 2,150 m (7,049 ft) 650 cm (256”)
Summit Snowstations 2,450 m (8,033 ft) 700 cm (275”)

Vertical Drop: 1,260 m (4,133 ft) - from base to summit
The second highest in Canada.
Base Elevation: 1,190 m (3,900 ft) - at the bottom of the lowest chair
Top Elevation: 2,450 meters (8,033 ft) - top of Kicking Horse
1,722 metres (5,646 ft) - Mid-Mountain
Skiable Acreage: 1,114 hectares (2,750 acres) of terrain
Number of Trails: 97 runs
Difficulty: Novice Intermediate Advanced Expert
20% 20% 45% 15%
Number of Lifts: 5 lifts in winter, with 1 in summer (Golden Eagle):
Golden Eagle Express Gondola: 8-Passenger
Stairway to Heaven: 4-passenger fixed grip quad
Catamount: 4-Passenger fixed grip chairlift
Pioneer: 2-Passenger fixed grip chairlift
Pony Express: Surface lift

The Golden Eagle Express Gondola features the first level walk-in gondola to be used in Canada. Your ticket will take you on a 3,413-metre (11,266-feet) ride to the peak, all in just 12 minutes. The view on the way up is inspiring and the reason they call your admission to the ride a 'lift' ticket.
Lift Capacity: 3,000 skiers per hour
Night Skiing: No
Cross-Country: Yes, 14 kms of cross-country trails. These trails range from gently rolling beginner loops to more challenging routes for the advanced skier. Included in these trails are 1.5 kilometres of skating track.
Snowboarding: Yes
Terrain Park: No
Halfpipe: No
Resort Services: Day lodge, Eagle’s Eye Restaurant (the highest in Canada), retail shop, ski & snowboard rental shop, ski school, kids camp, child activity programs, Heaven's Door Yurt.
Nearest Ski Area: Powder Springs, Panorama Resort
Nearest Towns: Golden, Field, Rogers Pass
Recreation: Skiing & Winter Sports in the BC Rockies
Skiing & Winter Sports in the Kootenays


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Accommodation on or near Kicking Horse Mountain Resort


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Owner Direct Vacation Rentals
Looking for a Vacation Rental? Why spend more and get less with a hotel? We offer privately-owned, condos, apartments, bed and breakfasts, chalets, cottages and cabins for rent nightly, weekly or monthly. Owners set their own competitive rates. Great value and selection.

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Pinewood Motel
Quiet, off-highway, kitchen & sleeping units, air-conditioned, cable TV , barbeques, in-room coffee. Near stores, golf course & restaurants. Pets on approval. Ski packages available - downhill skiing at Panorama Mountain Resort. Hiking trails and the world famous Radium Hot Springs Pools are close by. Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep and Deer frequently wander through our property.

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Ramada Limited - Golden
The Ramada, located in Golden, is the ultimate four season playground for outdoor enthusiasts. We offer 60 well appointed guest rooms for the leisure and business traveller with a wide selection of self contained suites and regular rooms. Only minutes from downtown Golden, the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Golden Golf and Country Club.

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That was quick well let me know if you are up for it I will see if I can organise a bit of a deal on other accomodation. Our condo sleeps 6 and is in Mountaineer lodge.

Regards Peter
 
Personally I'm fed up of Europe for skiing/boarding... well France really, the lift queues the attitudes etc, if you've got your own gear it ends up getting wrecked because the frogs just don't queue.

Personally the US or Canada is the only place I'll go to now... Lake Louise has been mentioned, I did that a few years ago, stayed in Banff but I preferred Sunshine and Goats-Eye to LL, the only problem is that it's a 30 min bus journey to any of the slopes from Banff, then around 20 min life time to get to your first run.

Been to Whistler twice now, and Blackcomb Whistler village is as the base of the runs, and the ski area is larger than all of the resorts in Banff, so you could get lost for weeks there.

If you are wary of the flight time etc well there's no denying it's long, is it worth it? hell yes :D Best snow I've ever seen and it just keeps coming if your a boarder like me it's heaven.

Tahoe is another good option, Heavenly for example shorter runs but again perfect place and right on the California/Nevada boarder so one side is a sleepy typical ski resort and literally 20 yards away are 1/2 dozen Casino's and clubs now that would be a perfect Xmas/NY location I'm sure

HTH
 
P s Me and My Misses can't do new year but will arrive on the 4th Hotel commitments here in Scotland. So let me know. It is realy a great place, put it this was I have been sking/snowboarding for 30 years now we spent one day there and bought a flat!!!! that tells you some thing about the place.

Peter
 
Thanks for this guys, i appreciate it. Think Canada / US maybe out of reach this trip as some of the 20ish in our group will struggle to justify the flight / costs but definately sounds like a plan for another trip. DuN hits the snow? :thumbs:
 
Steve I can asure you it will be cheeper than europe Zoom air lines £259 return for some dates and the $CND is 2.30 to the £1.00
 
SteveK said:
cheers Steve, ill have a look into that and chat with the others, do ever get down to Xscape?
Click to expand...
I have been to the Tamworth and Milton Keynes slopes but not yet to xscape, bit difficult at the moment as I don't have a car and I can't see any point in going without my beloved 10/20s' ! I find they are good to try out a pair of skiis you are thinking of buying or for a few hours before a holiday, I just find my self spending more time going up than coming down!
 
pibbow said:
Steve I can asure you it will be cheeper than europe Zoom air lines £259 return for some dates and the $CND is 2.30 to the £1.00
Click to expand...

OK i'll look into it and chat with the others, one of our lot gets cheap flights thru some club she pays into. Might just mail you for more details in next day or two :thumbs: Cheers
 
Canada is far better than anywhere in europe and better than the USA because the people are so nice, organised, efficient and helpful. Even the yanks go to Canada because they get treated better! The snowfall is always twice that of europe and the cost is comparable because they realise they have to be competitive to steal the skiers from the european resorts. In the mid 90's when I went you could lunch for £5 and evening meal for £10-£15 and the food is quality stuff! the rate then was Cd$2.50 to the £1! I was buying chart Cd's for Cd$19.99 or less! A big beer about Cd$2.50. :beer: When you get a 9 day ski pass the day rate goes down and if you block buy a large number of passes it is less again. The only downside is that skiing around xmas time it gets really cold, well below freezing but that means lots of nice fluffy snow. usually you can ski in new tracks up to mid morning!:thumbs:
 
pibbow said:
Steve I can asure you it will be cheeper than europe Zoom air lines £259 return for some dates and the $CND is 2.30 to the £1.00
Click to expand...

We flew Zoom 2 years ago, even upgraded to business class for an extra £100 well worth it and probably the best long haulish flight I've had. As has been said the exchange rate is so good everything is dirt cheap, plus you can claim the GST back on anything over $50
 
Well....

I have been to a fair few resorts including many over xmas and new year.

If you want to do it cheaper and its a bigger group you need to organise yourself rather than tour operator. Find a decent chalet and book it up then either fly/drive or drive there yourselves. If you were not fussed on staying together you could do last minute option to a resort int he states, but it could be risky getting flights. If you have kids with you then be careful of the high altitude US resorts as not ebveryone can cope with the air and it can make the kids a bit sick if not taking things steady and keeping hydrated.

As has been said Canada is amazing but it will be cold. Other options that are not as far but good family resorts are the east coast of US Sunday River etc and you can get cheap flights to Boston.

If you really dont want to travel that far then go high if you are there for the skiing rather than just the craic. Les Arcs/Tignes/Val Thoren are all good choices with tons of accommodation and nightlife. If you want something more family but fun then look at places like Vallandry which is on the edge of Les Arcs, smaller resort but less impersonal compared to Les Arcs with the great skiing thrown in.

If you are happy driving then consider staying somewhere like Bourg St Maurice as you have easy access to lots of resorts in the area so can pick and choose where you go and accommodation is slightly cheaper.

High Italy or Austria is also a good option but snow can be variable so you are taking your chance more. St Anton is good nightlife resort as is Livigno (long transfer though)

Could consider Andorra, but personally I feel its a bit 'bland' and more a cheap party place than good quality.
 
Thanks all, plenty of food for thought here. Seriously considering Pibbow's offer in Canada, the others seem up for it. Pete, ill try ringing you again tomorrow during the day if thats OK.

thanks again everyone, beers are on me :beer:
 
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