help, a total non disney trip (update booked)

[paulh]

after may years of asking(nagging from DW),ive relented and have decided to do a ski holiday in February
Any help and advice would be helpful
Paul

 

[ukstitch]

If you can afford it, try and book a trial session at a local dry slope - it's actually a little more difficult on dry so it gets you used to it so it's not totally alien when you go.

I've been going to Kranjska Gora in Slovenia for the past 4 years and I love it there - the slopes are quite nice and shallow and not too long, so it's really good for beginners.

Make sure you pack plenty of layers - thick and thin. We go late february / early march to Slovenia and it's normally rather warm when we go

Make sure you pick a resort with a reasonable snow record - one of the downsides of Slovenia is it's a little sporadic so can be quite thin on the ground at times.

If you can afford your own boots, then these can be a good investment as I'm told owning your own ski boots provides much better comfort than the rentals (I can't say for sure as I snowboard).

If you've got any specific questions then ask away and I'll see if I can answer them

 

[paulh]

thanks stich, As for the dry slope don't want to go there have been to chilfactore and can come down the slope no problem(DW is the problem cant get of ski lift and asked was there a flight of stairs down)
Its the price which is frighting i keep saying we can do florida for that
Paul

 

[Jets fan]

Skiing is very expensive no matter which way you look at it. I believe that some tour companies do 'Learn to Ski' weeks that include passes and ski hire etc, which may save you a considerable bit of money.

We ski every year in Grindlewald, Switzerland as I like to shop rather than ski, they also have the most amazing toboggan run

I love my winter hols, but you're right, it is as expensive as flying to the US!

Tina

 

[ukstitch]

Are you able to go a week that isn't half term? The cost of skiing holidays inflates ridiculously (far far more than any other holiday I've seen) for half term because it combines peak snow with peak demand.

The prices also vary greatly depending on where you go. When we go to Slovenia for our week, we pay around about £1800 for 3 adults and a child.

There are some other "cheap" places as well (most of these are eastern europe countries). The facilities are still generally very good and the holiday is just as enjoyable - it's just cheaper and possibly not as many runs to choose from

 

[paulh]

sadly we have to go peak half tearm
Paul

 

[tinks86]

Hi, if you haven't being skiing before then the learn to ski/board packages are very good value for money in most cases (we found though that the prices did vary between resort - so take this into account when booking) they include your hire, liftpass and tuition.

We did snowboarding last year and it was just the 2 of us in the class so had private tuition but the ski school had about a dozen, boarding can be less popular with beginners so you may get a smaller class if you consider doing that.

You'll enjoy it - I can't wait to go again!

 

[katiec]

Oooohhh skiing, i have a hard time trying to chose between skiing and Floriday for my hols. This year was a Florida trip, so no skiing for us until this coming Jan.

I have never done Europe - have been to Canada for 7 of the last 9 years. The first time we ever went I was just being made redundant and we decided to spend some of the money on a holiday. I was in town and saw the ski deal in the travel agents window and when I got home the now ex-DH had been looking at Vegas

Well I won the booking battle & 3 weeks before we left we booked a week in Lake Louise at £300 each!! I have since done Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Kimberley. Jasper is by far the cheapest overall, but it is quite a long way to travel for a week, although we have done 2 1 week skiing trips, to Lake Louise both times. Now we do an 11 night trip as its more cost effective, but if I could only have a week I would do Jasper for a week.

Our trip to Fernie this year is a 40th birthday trip for DH, but has cost us £2700 for flights, hotel, skis, lift pass and 3 days lessons. It is the most we have ever paid for skiing, but Fernie has always come out more expensive that all the other resorts every time we cost it up. One of the reasons I have not done Europe as I dont know where to start looking! There is such a wide variety of countries, resorts etc that after a couple hours of research I am no further forward!! When we cost it up the European half board hotels dont seem to be any cheaper than Canada, and the facilites unless you go for the best hotels are very limited. We love an outside hot tub in the dark in the snow!

ALthough the basic cost of the holiday might be more expensive than Europe, eating out is VERY cheap, there are no language barriers, virtaully no queues and 100% guaranteed snow. The people are very friendly - we absolutely love it. There are lots of apres-ski stuff to do as well - on an 11 night hol we have 2 non-ski days and try to do something a bit different on one of the days - we have done dogsledding, snowshoeing and ice canyon walking - there is nothing better than being in the middle of nowhere in the snow on the back of a dogsled. The dogs make the worst noise you have ever heard when waiting to go or when stopped for sausages over an open fire, but the minute they get the signal to run they become silent and just run and run and run.

We go the first or second week in Jan - because its the cheapest time - but its usually sooo cold, but end of Feb should be just lovely skiing weather.

DH and I both have our own boots - it does make life much better for your feet!! I got mine for my first trip - we had done some dry slope stuff before hand and i had a real problem with my arches, so have a pair with special supportive insoles. DH got his in the Snow and Rock sale for around £120 - as long as yr not fussy about the make or colour you can always find a bargain in their sale (just dont go for a boot fitting on a saturday as you'll wait for hours!)

You can pick up all your thermals, gloves, socks, coats etc in TK MAXX for a fraction of the Snow and Rock prices - as others have said layers are best.
When I first went we bought everything in C & A's closing down sale, but when the current DH and I decided we wanted to go every year we have added to our kit as we have gone along. (we always hire our skis as the cost of buying them, the bag to carry them in, the carriage charge, the maintenance costs etc are ridiculous if you only go once a year) DH treated me to a lovely jacket for my birthday this year, so i've had to wait nearly a year to use it!! But previous years my £30 TK MAXX jacket has done me proud in -25degrees

If you'd like any specific info on any of the places just let me know, be glad to help.

Happy planning

 

[paulh]

well thanks for the replies,were looking at Bulgaria.For the ski package we will do a package with lessons/ski hire/boot hire/lift passes.As i think DW will need them.
On the lessons if after a few days your up to speed can you just bypass then and just go straight to the slopes?
Paul

 

[ukstitch]

well thanks for the replies,were looking at Bulgaria.For the ski package we will do a package with lessons/ski hire/boot hire/lift passes.As i think DW will need them.
On the lessons if after a few days your up to speed can you just bypass then and just go straight to the slopes?
Paul

yes you can - the learn to ski packages tend to give you a full access lift pass, so you're able to ski on the main slopes right from the first day, regardless of ability.

So - you can practice what you learn in the lessons, or could ignore the lessons if you feel the need, although they usually ut you in groups so that you still learn new things

 

[paulh]

thinking of the Rila hotel and studios in Bulgaria, anyone been?
Paul

 

[CustardTart]

thinking of the Rila hotel and studios in Bulgaria, anyone been?
Paul

Yes. Went there on my first ski hols back in 1998. A long time ago and the value for money was undeniable but, personally and as a complete novice, I didn't like it much. I found it a bit rustic and wasn't overly keen on the food despite not usually being fussy.

Just asked my DH for a more balanced view - he said the skiing was fine plus thinks the resort is bound to be better/more established now and so would probably give it a go if the price was right.

 

[Chilly]

I am hoping to take DF skiing for his 30th birthday as a surprise (so not till 2011) so I've read this thread with interest. We'd only go for a long weekend so it would be Europe for us hopefully right at the start of the season.

 

[paulh]

Yes. Went there on my first ski hols back in 1998. A long time ago and the value for money was undeniable but, personally and as a complete novice, I didn't like it much. I found it a bit rustic and wasn't overly keen on the food despite not usually being fussy.

Just asked my DH for a more balanced view - he said the skiing was fine plus thinks the resort is bound to be better/more established now and so would probably give it a go if the price was right.

States in brochure that its been done up.Been on trip adviserand it has had good reviews.
As for the price anythig more than a £1.00 is too dear for me
Paul

 

[paulh]

Well have gone and booked it but not for Bulgaria but for Andorra.Staying at the hotel Palarine.
After hearing bad reviews about Bulgaria opted for Andorra,the hotel gets a good review
Now were keeping it from the kids as its there Xmas present. ( 20 and 14 )
Paul

 

[CustardTart]

Well have gone and booked it but not for Bulgaria but for Andorra.Staying at the hotel Palarine.
After hearing bad reviews about Bulgaria opted for Andorra,the hotel gets a good review
Now were keeping it from the kids as its there Xmas present. ( 20 and 14 )
Paul

Great news, Paul!!! A friend of mine, who used to be a ski instructor, really rates Andorra as a great resort so I'm sure you'll all have a brilliant time!!! In fact, he got annoyed with me when I told him we'd booked to go to France for a week of skiing after Christmas... Our trip is also for the kids (27, 26, 24 and 16) Christmas presents!!!

 

[Chilly]

Can't wait to hear all about it.