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Somewhere new (to me), closish to Geneva and "snow sure" for April skiing

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Looking at getting out around the 10th April for 4 nights, I can get to GVA for a decent price.

I'm always keen to try new areas, was wondering about Les Contamines but thought I'd see if the snowheads collective wisdom had any better ideas?

Assuming I've got a hire car, max 90 mins drive from GVA, would like ski in/out half board hotel or chalet, but decent snow record and ability to ski well in typical April temps would be top of the list, ie not have everywhere turn to slush by 11am!

I'm assuming anywhere will be good in the fresh snow that often falls in April Very Happy

Places I've been to include Zermatt, Espace Killy, Trois Vallees, La Plagne, Verbier, Chamonix, Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Carroz, La Clusaz and Les Saises

Cheers,

Greg


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 20-02-18 12:03; edited 2 times in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I'm pretty sure that most of the PdS is closed by 10th April. Verbs would work, but forget the rest for snow sure.

It's a shame you couldn't drive 45 minutes further. Tignes or Val T are by far your best bets.

I'm heading to Val dI that weekend but even here I'm sure of getting a couple of slushy afternoons at the very bottom of the runs. That said, I've always been able to ski down, even at the end of April.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
If I was there for four nights I would personally up the distance I was prepared to travel from 90 min - add another hour and you can be in Tignes (for instance). Lot of the places nearer Geneva I think you're depending on variables - if they have a warm late March you might be in trouble?
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@bar shaker, I'm pretty sure most of the PdS is still (intending to be) open. rolling eyes

I've skied Avoriaz April 28th...per the interpipes, "the full PDS ski area is set to open from 23rd December 2017 to 22nd April 2018" (Morzine closing April 15)

@kitenski, a wee extension to the drive, Courmayeur?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@bar shaker, @northernsoulboy, cheers, I was slowly thinking I should just aim higher that would mean further away but was interested to see what others thought.....

Being realistic and looking at Google maps
Tignes is 3 hours isn't it, 218km away?
Les Arcs 211km away so similiar time
La Tania maybe a good shout, as I can get up into Courchevel which is all North facing and only 180km away
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The top of Les Contamines is as good as anywhere in the vicinity but you'll need to ski above mid-station and ski in/out is very unlikely to happen. It'll be low low season - you could afford to wait to book accommodation and head to Tignes if conditions are warm. Les Saisies might be OK too - but too soon to tell.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
kitenski wrote:
Les Arcs 211km away so similiar time
Not sure that's quite right as I think Les Arcs has a slightly shorter travel time (from Bourg it takes me about 20 minutes to get to Les Arcs 1800, but about 40 minutes to get to Tignes Le Lac), although not much in it.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@kitenski, I have done GVA to Tignes in 2hrs 30min without going mad but you should probably allow 3hrs. Even though though for me - if you're going for a cheeky day then the extra two/three hrs travel time is a big deal, but four days - as a proportion it's not that much when you factor in the likely difference in the skiing?
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@rob@rar, yeh you maybe right, if I look at Google Maps in a bit more detail it says 211km but 2hr 10 mins to Les Arcs 1800
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kitenski wrote:
... 2hr 10 mins to Les Arcs 1800
About 2hr20 seems about right to me, from leaving the car rental place at GVA to driving in to my garage in Arc 1800, assuming normal traffic flow.
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Agree with VT or EK as safe bets you haven’t mentioned with great terrain for April. Alternatively although covering old ground a combo of Verbier, Cham and the Hellbronner at Courmayeur could be an epic 4 dayer and the snow pack this year means there are lines to ski that have not been in condition before. If you’re not fussy about accomodation it’s probably late enough to leave booking until a couple of days before when the forecast is pretty reliable. Given the snowpack we have high hopes of an April to remember!
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@BobinCH, Yeh maybe worth booking the flights now and seeing what forecasts/temps are like nearer the time...

We quite fancy something catered accom wise.....will perhaps email a few places around La Tania/Meribel to see if they'll do something with a transfer....
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
http://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/the-lodge 😉
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Zermatt
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I'd book the flights and see what conditions are like closer to the date to choose the resort. I have been in Les Arcs, Tignes and VT at mid April and there is plenty of good skiing in a normal year as long as you are at 2000+m. The long evenings, and warm conditions ( skiing in a hoodie in the sun) make up for the slush.Pretty much all of these three resorts are fully open at mid April. One caveat is that I would only book Les Arcs if the Vanoise Express is still open to link you to La Plagne.

This year with the exceptional conditions there may be still good snow at lower resorts between Geneva, Courmayeur and Les Contamines, but I would consider booking the week before to get the best conditions.Most of the accommodation should be very cheap at that stage particularly if you are flexible with where you are going.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Flaine might be a possibility. It doesn't have a Glacier, but its micro-climate usually ensures good snow:
https://www.weathertoski.co.uk/european-resorts-a-z/flaine-france/
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:

Zermatt

Not 90 minutes from GVA though, and the OP says he's been there before.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@kitenski, Meribel will be past it by then don't you think? I'd be going VT or Verbier and staying high. South side Verbier will be trashed by sun but Tortin upwards should still be good.

Or if in car why not Argentiere and Verbier for 2 days each, also take in Courmayeur too?
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I'd put money on Les Contamines over Flaine if conditions are iffy. High east facing runs survive better than many though Veleray area likely to be closed.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Markymark29, but the mainly North facing slopes of Courchevel will be fine I reckon...with family so don't reckon a road trip would work especially as eldest has promised to do some revision in the afternoons!!
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pam w wrote:
I'd put money on Les Contamines over Flaine if conditions are iffy. High east facing runs survive better than many though Veleray area likely to be closed.

Weathertoski has them very similar, with Flaine pulling ahead for Snow Quality (upper) and Resort level snow. It also has more tree-lined areas to ski in poor weather....but...I've no personal experience of Les Contamines.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Suddenly thought of La Thuile as an option, not skied there and < 2 hours drive it seems from GVA.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Yes - Les Contamines not good for resort level snow (it's a proper village, quite low down - can't compare with Flaine's concrete at 1600m). And the higher slopes have no trees. But the lower tree-lined skiing isn't likely to be great anywhere by mid April. I have a friend with an apartment in Chamonix who tells me that over a fair number of years Les Contamines was a good destination when quite a lot of the Chamonix skiing was not so good. It's also likely to be very quiet - not that anywhere should be too busy then.
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Glacier 3000, Les Diablerets is open to 6/5, 90 mins from GVA.
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kitenski wrote:
@bar shaker, @northernsoulboy, cheers, I was slowly thinking I should just aim higher that would mean further away but was interested to see what others thought.....

Being realistic and looking at Google maps
Tignes is 3 hours isn't it, 218km away?
Les Arcs 211km away so similiar time
La Tania maybe a good shout, as I can get up into Courchevel which is all North facing and only 180km away


I do GVA to Tignes/Val in 2h15 but I do have a motorway toll fob. It's never taken more than 2h30 and I've never done it in under 2hrs.

9-10 trips each season.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Just come back to Verbier...it would be good to ski with you again...
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
If you're happy to drive for 10-15mins longer and pay the Mont Blanc tunnel toll take a look at La Thuile in Italy, linked to La Rosiere.
Village is at 1450m and it normally holds it's snow down to resort very well. With this years conditions should be very good.
The slopes are generally quiet and Italy is much cheaper for eating out / on the mountain.

I'll be there in 2 weeks time but have been there mid April before and had great conditions.

ATB
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@kitenski, You say around April 10. If considering La Thuile, please note that it closes for the season on April 15.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Hi
If flying to GVA, Mountainsun do a daily transfer to their Chalet Hotel Les Melezes in Tignes.
So you would save on the hire car.
I have been there in October and skied on great conditions up on the glacier, so at should be great in April. Their prices generally include transfer, lift passes and equipment hire too.

http://mountainsunfrance.com/skichalets/chalet-hotel-les-melezes/
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Mountainsun is a good shout - good value especially with the transfers.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Quote:


@kitenski, You say around April 10. If considering La Thuile, please note that it closes for the season on April 15.


And Courmayeur the 8th April

La Thuile is also almost an hour from the French side of the TMB
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Book the flights now and get accommodation last minute.

Les Contamines is a great ski area and April 10th isn't so late. But if book the accommodation late you will have a much better picture.
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