Winter holiday December 2011. Europe or North America?

[smckay]

We (SWMBO & me) are intent on a snow white Christmas, which would include skiing, and things like sled dogging, walks, etc. The hoon in me desires ski-doo antics and perfecting a backflip would be pretty neat :mrgreen: Small amount of local culture is good, but I don't want queues and lots of people shoving each other.

With around 20 big ones to spend, what would the good folks recommend? Thinking Austria/Switzerland or Sweden way to the left, or US/Canada to the right.

Probably like 2 weeks on the ground. Not too interested in big travel once there, so no driving. Trains are cool but and happy to chug along for a few hours or so.

What would be best place to go? Lets work on 3* (Oz equivilent) bedding as a minimum

 

[munitalP]

Hi

Don't overlook China and Scandinavia as ski destinations as well. Yabuli Ski Resort Description is supposed to be quite awesome, but if looking for double black diamonds, you may be out of luck!

 

[smckay]

Scandinavia - certainly in the area we are considering.

China is not for us.

 

[lovestotravel]

This question is a dilemma I have gone through every years for the past 5 or so. :mrgreen:

What type of skier are you ? What type of ski runs do you like ?
Do you want ski in/out accommodation ?
Do you like nice on-mountain restaurants or not fussed?
Do you like a hotel room or a condo/apartment?


Do you want to see any other parts of USA/Europe or just 2 weeks in the ski resorts/town

$20,000 to spend!

Suites class to Europe and that's your budget gone! :shock:

Happy to give you lots of advice as I have spent hundreds of hours researching and planning ski trips for the partner and I over the past 7 years overseas.

 

[lovestotravel]

Of course the other consideration is that being December, it's quite early in the snow season so snow reliability is going to be a factor.

At this stage I am thinking

Lake Tahoe area - California Ski Lake Tahoe | Ski Resorts | Ski Vacations Official Site - Lake Tahoe, Nevada
A few of the big resorts in Colorado, mainly Aspen and Vail
Zermatt - Switzerland! Was there about a month ago and it's simply beautiful.

One other question, are you happy to spend 2 weeks at one ski resort or do you want one week in one, and another week in another?

 

[smckay]

Ski ability:
me = high intermediate and not scared of Big Drops and I like trees and stuff to dodge.
SWMBO = mid intermediate but prefers open, wide runs and no hoons.

20g is our total budget so need to factor in getting there. And we don't have to spend it all, there would then be another trip in the kitty :shock:

Accommodation. Well, we all want to ski in/out so on snow is preferred, but does not have to be on the edge of a run. 100m walk? Hotel is fine, something where we can eat reasonably cheaply; Pizza and pasta? (Do they do that over there?? or is just bogan Aussies at Perisher?)

With the snow, I think its probably more having a white Christmas would take priority over skiing. We'd like to think we left here 20th-ish December and came back 2 weeks later.
So we could do skiing if it was good, otherwise we could just go about doing xmassy things like sleigh rides, markets, scenery. Maybe a tour to somewhere close by? The brochures show a train on the Matterhorn and that does look like fun.

USA does tempt me as I like it there and never been to Europe so not too sure on how to get about and where to go/what to do.

 

[lovestotravel]

This year was the first year I headed to Europe to ski. I had been to the USA 4 years in a row, mainly for skiing, but finally broke away from it and I have just booked Europe again for 2012! :mrgreen:

Yep there is a train that goes up one of the mountains in Zermatt which is the ski mountain next to the Matterhorn!

I'll give a good, but long, post tonight about everything from getting there to food, accommodation and other ramblings!

20k will go a LONG LONG way anywhere you go!

 

[Maca44]

You would no doubt like to do your own travel arrangements etc, but just to compare costs etc have a look at Value Tours. My brother used them for Aspen a couple of years ago and said they were great value. They also have some Europe destinations
http://www.valuetours.com.au/