bit of advice needed abart skiing holidays

me and the mrs are thinking abart going skiing in the new year. Neither of us have been before so know diddly squat abart it and I could do with a bit of advice from some of the franz klammers out there.</p>

Would we be better off having a few dry slope lessons before hand or is it better to have lessons when you get there?      (from a fun and cost perspective)</p>

wheres a good place to go for novices and when are the best times of year?     (prefer to keep it low cost if possible)</p>

do you buy the tackle before hand or do you rent it when you get there?</p>

any other tips would be helpful</p>

 

Here goes

Its been said many a time before.</p>

Definately have lessons, Skiing holidays are expensive so theres not point learning abroad what you can learn here..Xscape in Cas Vegas  if possible..much better on snow but failing that sheff dry slope is adequate if somewhat offputting..I hated it but when on snow it was far, far better. So in a nutshell get a long course of lessons before you go as it will make your holiday so much better if you can get competant enough to get around the beginners slopes on your own before you get there.</p>

Good places to go...Livigno in Italy is snow sure and cheap, if somewhat cold at times. Andorra is supposed to be good for begginers and has had some good snow but can be warm and poor snow (but then again so can everywhere else) its a bit of a lottery for snow conditions anywhere these days..January can be cheap anywhere..even to Banff in Canada where the skiing and tuition is 2nd to none but the temperatures can be unbelievable low! (-42C when I went) I reckon the end of Feb, early march is the time to go..european snow is falling later in the season..even easter skiing can be very good at high altitude resorts. Cervinia in Italy is also a good value for money, snow sure option.</p>

Rent gear at first...you may not like it!</p>

Get fit..go to the gym regulary doing leg work for at least 8 weeks  prior to your holiday or even lessons if you want to make the best of it.</p>

PM me if you have any specific questions and I will try to answer.</p>

 

a few dry ski slope  lessons and then a couple on the real thing is probably best, (btw the real thing is ten times better so if you dont get the hang of it on the dry stuff, or you dont think your picking it up well, when you get there it will be a lot more enjoyable). there are alot of places for beginners, you really want the small lesser known resorts for beginners usually well advertised with lots of begginner slopes.</p>

also i would not recommend your own ski boots and skis, especially if its first time. they aren't too expensive, easy to book and also very good. </p>

another thing i would look out for if you are looking for hotels, look for one with a ski bus stop or a free bus near by, there's nothing worse than having to carry skis and boots to a bus stop or to the slopes.</p>

 

Andorra is extremely good value for a Noob Skier

 

Good stuff Farnham..another good independant

I went with this company last year, fully catered chalet, La Tania (3 valleys)</p>

Fantastic chalet, good food, good tuition included, nice spot for a beginner though their chalets in 1650 are probably the better beginner location. </p>

Must say though January snow was crap last year, 600kms of feckin ice &amp; rocks.</p>

http://www.skivolution.co.uk/</p>

http://www.courchevel.com/</p>

 

yeah, La Plagne.........

I stayed in a Club Med there and it was f'kin great. You get a ski-instructor to lead you around the mountain, too. You get put in a group of similar experience and orft you go following an instructor/guide.

The way they do the Club Med thing makes it very easy to meet and interact with everyone. It's like the United Nations.

We were lucky, we were on a freebie 'cos my wife worked for them for decades. I think that the price may be prohibitive.... but check it out... it is an easy 'in' to a new world.

Val D'Isere, that's another nearby.... great stuff... Tigne LaWotsit all of them together... there may be a 'special' on for Pontyenders.

 

thanks for all your advice chaps I can't wait to get started.

the mrs is a bit put off by the idea of doing some fitness training though, she thinks her legs are purely there for her to reach the pedals on the car!!!!