Ski resort suggestions please! (European)

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Advice & suggestions humbly requested.

Now that my kids have left school, we have a bit more flexibility on when we can go skiing. Previously we were basically restricted to Easter (local schools didn't get a whole week for February half-term, and Christmas/New Year were cripplingly expensive), so in order to try and get some half-decent snow we tried to go high (Val Thorens, Arc 2000, La Plagne, even Avoriaz & Flaine etc).

So this year we are planning on heading out the second week in January, before the uni semester has started, but after the schools are back. We have flights to Geneva booked (actually re-booked twice from the original attempt to go in Easter 2020). So, any suggestions of resorts to look at that aren't too far from Geneva? Given it should be colder than Easter, there should be a number of options that we wouldn't have considered before, as they're lower.

Me and the kids are reasonable skiers (dodgy knees notwithstanding), though not fussed about off-piste, and my partner is not very experienced. My daughter gets car-sick, so we'd like to go somewhere that's not a massive distance from the airport. I quite like a biggish ski area too, I like exploring.

Any thoughts? Your suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Uncle fester]

Chamonix is spread out and you'll need a car but it's very close to Geneva.
Huge ski area.
Can pop across to Courmayeur for a day for some variety.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

While it's been a while since I skiied in Europe, Megève was one of the better holidays I had.

[dpedin]

Morize/Les Gets aren't far from Geneva - about an hours drive - and are very nice. Les Gets is quite low, but should be ok in January - the ski area isnt huge but it is a nice village and good for kids/beginners. From there you can ski to Morzine and then up to Avoriaz and get access to the huge Port du Soleil area which includes some nice Swiss villages, alternatively you can bus/drive to Chatel or villages in-between and connect up to Porte du Soleil that way. I've skied it from both Chatel and the Les Gets ends with kids and for me the Les Gets end is nicer.

[Slick]

I liked Morzine, good for all abilities, decent apres ski without being mental

[Niegs]

I hear they have a bobsled run and a great program to help you deal with your phobias as well!

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[assfly]

Thinly-veiled "I'm going skiing" thread

[Grandpa]

I really liked Courchevel but might be a bit far from Geneva?

https://www.courchevel.com/en

Location Map:

https://goo.gl/maps/nMYm3KsUSnPrfxDr5

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Thinly-veiled "I'm going skiing" thread

About time too! I bought a new jacket & salopettes at the end of the 2019 season, they've been gathering dust since then. I imagine there'll be lots of holiday plans that have been 'saved up' for the last 2 years. I appreciate that I'm very lucky living in Scotland and have been able to enjoy breaks up here over the last couple of years (a campervan trip, cycling the Hebridean Way, wild camping up in the Cairngorms, and bought a canoe to explore various lochs) but I have to admit I'm missing a bit of international travel. Still a bit nervous at the prospect of going through the airport mind.

I wonder if any of the staycationing will become a habit, or if there'll be a massive swing back to holidaying abroad next year?

[robmatic]

Thinly-veiled "I'm going skiing" thread

About time too! I bought a new jacket & salopettes at the end of the 2019 season, they've been gathering dust since then. I imagine there'll be lots of holiday plans that have been 'saved up' for the last 2 years. I appreciate that I'm very lucky living in Scotland and have been able to enjoy breaks up here over the last couple of years (a campervan trip, cycling the Hebridean Way, wild camping up in the Cairngorms, and bought a canoe to explore various lochs) but I have to admit I'm missing a bit of international travel. Still a bit nervous at the prospect of going through the airport mind.

I wonder if any of the staycationing will become a habit, or if there'll be a massive swing back to holidaying abroad next year?

There will be a fair few people who are absolutely dying for a beach holiday, and package holidays are a more attractive option than spending £££s in the UK if you don't have that much cash.

I don't like beaches but I've been stuck in Turkey for the whole pandemic. Had to settle for holidays in Bodrum and Fethiye this year.

[Paddington Bear]

Thinly-veiled "I'm going skiing" thread

About time too! I bought a new jacket & salopettes at the end of the 2019 season, they've been gathering dust since then. I imagine there'll be lots of holiday plans that have been 'saved up' for the last 2 years. I appreciate that I'm very lucky living in Scotland and have been able to enjoy breaks up here over the last couple of years (a campervan trip, cycling the Hebridean Way, wild camping up in the Cairngorms, and bought a canoe to explore various lochs) but I have to admit I'm missing a bit of international travel. Still a bit nervous at the prospect of going through the airport mind.

I wonder if any of the staycationing will become a habit, or if there'll be a massive swing back to holidaying abroad next year?

I think we'll see more people take shorter breaks within the UK. People have worked out there's loads of great holidays here but also wouldn't mind something cheaper and hotter for their main break I think.
Always found the way people would turn their nose up at UK holidays very dull so pleased to see it.

[Sandstorm]

Staycations have been a revelation for me. No more arguments about heavy suitcases, the wife can chuck everything she can possibly need in the back of the car!!

[Slick]

Thinly-veiled "I'm going skiing" thread

About time too! I bought a new jacket & salopettes at the end of the 2019 season, they've been gathering dust since then. I imagine there'll be lots of holiday plans that have been 'saved up' for the last 2 years. I appreciate that I'm very lucky living in Scotland and have been able to enjoy breaks up here over the last couple of years (a campervan trip, cycling the Hebridean Way, wild camping up in the Cairngorms, and bought a canoe to explore various lochs) but I have to admit I'm missing a bit of international travel. Still a bit nervous at the prospect of going through the airport mind.

I wonder if any of the staycationing will become a habit, or if there'll be a massive swing back to holidaying abroad next year?

I think we'll see more people take shorter breaks within the UK. People have worked out there's loads of great holidays here but also wouldn't mind something cheaper and hotter for their main break I think.
Always found the way people would turn their nose up at UK holidays very dull so pleased to see it.

We will definitely be having at least one holiday a year in Scotland from now on. I always knew it was beautiful but the trips we have done the last 18 months have nonetheless been a revelation.

I'm not particularly hankering after the sun or a beach but do really miss sitting in cafes/restaurants in Europe and enjoying the local offering.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

About time too! I bought a new jacket & salopettes at the end of the 2019 season, they've been gathering dust since then. I imagine there'll be lots of holiday plans that have been 'saved up' for the last 2 years. I appreciate that I'm very lucky living in Scotland and have been able to enjoy breaks up here over the last couple of years (a campervan trip, cycling the Hebridean Way, wild camping up in the Cairngorms, and bought a canoe to explore various lochs) but I have to admit I'm missing a bit of international travel. Still a bit nervous at the prospect of going through the airport mind.

I wonder if any of the staycationing will become a habit, or if there'll be a massive swing back to holidaying abroad next year?

I think we'll see more people take shorter breaks within the UK. People have worked out there's loads of great holidays here but also wouldn't mind something cheaper and hotter for their main break I think.
Always found the way people would turn their nose up at UK holidays very dull so pleased to see it.

We will definitely be having at least one holiday a year in Scotland from now on. I always knew it was beautiful but the trips we have done the last 18 months have nonetheless been a revelation.

I'm not particularly hankering after the sun or a beach but do really miss sitting in cafes/restaurants in Europe and enjoying the local offering.

This. Plus also the prospect of a cycling holiday without having wet feet for most of it!

[Paddington Bear]

About time too! I bought a new jacket & salopettes at the end of the 2019 season, they've been gathering dust since then. I imagine there'll be lots of holiday plans that have been 'saved up' for the last 2 years. I appreciate that I'm very lucky living in Scotland and have been able to enjoy breaks up here over the last couple of years (a campervan trip, cycling the Hebridean Way, wild camping up in the Cairngorms, and bought a canoe to explore various lochs) but I have to admit I'm missing a bit of international travel. Still a bit nervous at the prospect of going through the airport mind.

I wonder if any of the staycationing will become a habit, or if there'll be a massive swing back to holidaying abroad next year?

I think we'll see more people take shorter breaks within the UK. People have worked out there's loads of great holidays here but also wouldn't mind something cheaper and hotter for their main break I think.
Always found the way people would turn their nose up at UK holidays very dull so pleased to see it.

We will definitely be having at least one holiday a year in Scotland from now on. I always knew it was beautiful but the trips we have done the last 18 months have nonetheless been a revelation.

I'm not particularly hankering after the sun or a beach but do really miss sitting in cafes/restaurants in Europe and enjoying the local offering.

Would say my holiday last year to Lochaber/Skye is the best I've ever had, hadn't ever really come onto my radar before and will definitely go back.

[Slick]

I think we'll see more people take shorter breaks within the UK. People have worked out there's loads of great holidays here but also wouldn't mind something cheaper and hotter for their main break I think.
Always found the way people would turn their nose up at UK holidays very dull so pleased to see it.

We will definitely be having at least one holiday a year in Scotland from now on. I always knew it was beautiful but the trips we have done the last 18 months have nonetheless been a revelation.

I'm not particularly hankering after the sun or a beach but do really miss sitting in cafes/restaurants in Europe and enjoying the local offering.

Would say my holiday last year to Lochaber/Skye is the best I've ever had, hadn't ever really come onto my radar before and will definitely go back.

Same for us, particularly with the kids, our trips to the same area, and Mull before that, I don't think could be topped.

[Calculon]

One of the joys of holidays is trying the local cuisine. Doesn't work so well with staycations

[Openside]

Advice & suggestions humbly requested.

Now that my kids have left school, we have a bit more flexibility on when we can go skiing. Previously we were basically restricted to Easter (local schools didn't get a whole week for February half-term, and Christmas/New Year were cripplingly expensive), so in order to try and get some half-decent snow we tried to go high (Val Thorens, Arc 2000, La Plagne, even Avoriaz & Flaine etc).

So this year we are planning on heading out the second week in January, before the uni semester has started, but after the schools are back. We have flights to Geneva booked (actually re-booked twice from the original attempt to go in Easter 2020). So, any suggestions of resorts to look at that aren't too far from Geneva? Given it should be colder than Easter, there should be a number of options that we wouldn't have considered before, as they're lower.

Me and the kids are reasonable skiers (dodgy knees notwithstanding), though not fussed about off-piste, and my partner is not very experienced. My daughter gets car-sick, so we'd like to go somewhere that's not a massive distance from the airport. I quite like a biggish ski area too, I like exploring.

Any thoughts? Your suggestions would be much appreciated!

Chatel is only 40 mins from Geneva and links to the ESpace Killy

[Openside]

I think we'll see more people take shorter breaks within the UK. People have worked out there's loads of great holidays here but also wouldn't mind something cheaper and hotter for their main break I think.
Always found the way people would turn their nose up at UK holidays very dull so pleased to see it.

We will definitely be having at least one holiday a year in Scotland from now on. I always knew it was beautiful but the trips we have done the last 18 months have nonetheless been a revelation.

I'm not particularly hankering after the sun or a beach but do really miss sitting in cafes/restaurants in Europe and enjoying the local offering.

Would say my holiday last year to Lochaber/Skye is the best I've ever had, hadn't ever really come onto my radar before and will definitely go back.

There is a beautiful bagpipe tune entitled Lochaber no more.

[bok_viking]

Who cares about skiing in Europe, come ski in South Africa, voted no.19 in top 100 ski runs in the world the last time i went there in 2014 and if you do not make it for the short snow season, you can just put your grass skis on instead

However in Norway Trysil and Hafjell is great. Hafjell also has a "movie" slope, where they have cameras, etc installed that can record your run. We went there quite a few times while I was living in Denmark