Where to go for beginners and has a good night life?

Hi all,

Basically as the title says.

I have been snowboarding for 5 years now, been to Cham + Val before
with my friends. This time I am looking to try and get my girlfriend
into winter holidays.

She doesn't like the idea of snowboarding as her balance isn't all that
good, so I am considering taking lessons with her skiing (even although
I have tried it and personally I don't think it is anywhere near as
good as snowboarding) to help talk her into going.

I am looking for somewhere that has the nightlife in comparison to
Cham, but in terms of the slopes it doesn't need to be challenging as
we will both be taking lessons. The location will have to be Europe (as
US & Canada out of budget). France would be preferable so I can
practice my french, but not totally essential.

Will hopefully be going in the new year (as I know Snow isn't
guaranteed, but I went to Val one year right after new year and the
snow was immense!).

Any suggestions/comments will be appreciated

Alastair

That sounds great, anything to try and keep the general cost of the
holiday down :-).

I will have a look into it.

Thx

Alastair

"Alastair" wrote in message
oups.com...

I am looking for somewhere that has the nightlife in comparison to
Cham, but in terms of the slopes it doesn't need to be challenging as
we will both be taking lessons. The location will have to be Europe (as
US & Canada out of budget). France would be preferable so I can
practice my french, but not totally essential.

Tignes, maybe? They have free lifts for beginners and night life is great,
especially in Val Claret.

Regards,

Lei
--
Croatian Ski/Board Magazine

www.skijanje.hr

Alastair wrote:

The location will have to be Europe (as
US & Canada out of budget). France would be preferable so I can
practice my french, but not totally essential.

Where are you coming from, UK? I thought that the Canadian holidays
actually worked out cheaper for you guys, judging by the great numbers
of people showing up in Banff on charter tours.

Neil

I am coming from Scotland, with the nearest Airport being Glasgow.

The cheap flights usually come from Manchester or London Heathrow or
Gatwick, which for me will involve spending more money getting a
transfer there.

I am hoping (may not be the case though) to try and plan each of the
stages independently to try and minimise the costing, as the past few
times I have paid and arm and leg through travel agents to go
snowboarding.

I would have went to Chamonix again as I have a friend who has a flat
there which I could rent for "preferential" rates but the lift ticket
can be expensive and the cost of lessons on top of that.

If Canada was cheaper I would be all for it, as I have never been, but
I am thinking Europe will realistically be cheaper.

Alastair wrote:

If Canada was cheaper I would be all for it, as I have never been, but
I am thinking Europe will realistically be cheaper.

Check into the charter excursions, last time I rode a lift with some
English people they were saying how inexpensive it was.

If you come to Canada and night life is one of your main goals, you'll
want to be in Whistler or Banff. I think Whistler is the hotter scene,
but Banff will be easier on the pocketbook.

Neil

Neil Gendzwill wrote:
Alastair wrote:


If Canada was cheaper I would be all for it, as I have never been, but
I am thinking Europe will realistically be cheaper.


Check into the charter excursions, last time I rode a lift with some
English people they were saying how inexpensive it was.

If you come to Canada and night life is one of your main goals, you'll
want to be in Whistler or Banff. I think Whistler is the hotter scene,
but Banff will be easier on the pocketbook.

Neil



Headline prices to Canda may be quoted as inexpensive, but by the time
you have paid for the lift pass etc. it works out at about 50-100% more
than staying in Europe. The comments you heard on the lift were probably
based on people's perception on how much they thought it would cost.

As for getting to Canada; we found that Lufthansa gave the best price 2
years ago - and no messing about going to airports at the back end of
beyond. They have services from almost every city in the UK at no extra
costs. I imagine the other major carriers such as KLM are the same.

Back to where to go. You will not go far wrong with any of the big
Tarrentaise resorts, with the possible exception of Val D'Isere which
IMHO is a bit tough for beginers. Choose the best deal, but check where
in the resort you are staying. After all you don't want a long walk to
the ski school since this will probably do more to discourage your
girlfriend than anything.

John

John Elgy wrote:

Headline prices to Canda may be quoted as inexpensive, but by the time
you have paid for the lift pass etc. it works out at about 50-100% more
than staying in Europe. The comments you heard on the lift were probably
based on people's perception on how much they thought it would cost.

OK, makes sense - I know Ski Canada does a lift price survey every year
and the European lift tickets are usually cheaper. You can book
packages in Banff for about $CDN100/day including double occupancy in a
hotel room and lift ticket, plus you've got the flight to worry about.
Flying Glasgow to Calgary ought to be cheaper than to wherever in France
- but then I can get a cheaper flight to London from here than I can to
Halifax sometimes so weirdness abounds in the airline industry.

On the positive side, much less crowded here and the lift lines aren't
full of assholes shoving and stepping on your board/skis.

Neil

Neil Gendzwill wrote:

Flying Glasgow to Calgary ought to be cheaper than to wherever in France

Sorry, meant to say you'd expect it to be more expensive.

Neil

On 28 Jun 2005 06:43:34 -0700, "Alastair"
squeezed out the following:

Hi all,

Basically as the title says.

I have been snowboarding for 5 years now, been to Cham + Val before
with my friends. This time I am looking to try and get my girlfriend
into winter holidays.

She doesn't like the idea of snowboarding as her balance isn't all that
good, so I am considering taking lessons with her skiing (even although
I have tried it and personally I don't think it is anywhere near as
good as snowboarding) to help talk her into going.

I am looking for somewhere that has the nightlife in comparison to
Cham, but in terms of the slopes it doesn't need to be challenging as
we will both be taking lessons. The location will have to be Europe (as
US & Canada out of budget). France would be preferable so I can
practice my french, but not totally essential.

Will hopefully be going in the new year (as I know Snow isn't
guaranteed, but I went to Val one year right after new year and the
snow was immense!).

Any suggestions/comments will be appreciated

Les Deux Alpes (you'll need to get the gondola back down), Sauze
D'Oulx.

--
Colin Irvine