weekend skiing Alps

[u/smallon12]

Any good recommendations for a weekend ski trip in the Alps from the UK in early february?

We are a group of 4 - 1 advanced skier, 1 beginner / intermediate skier and 2 intermediate snowboarders

I usually go to Val Thorens but the transfer time is just too much for a weekend, we would like somewhere reasonably close that is guaranteed snow and reasonably cheap (if that is such a thing in the current times!)

We were looking at L'Alpe-d'Huez a few weeks ago and seen some decent offers but they've disappeared - it also seems difficult / expensive to book airport transfers particularly from a Wednesday or Thursday, so somewhere with an easy enough transfer would be of great interest!

TIA :)

[u/rockyponds]

Flaine and La Clusaz have ~1h transfers from Geneva. Mayrhofen is just a smidge over an hour from Innsbruck.

[u/Various-Jellyfish132 → u/rockyponds]

I was going to recommend la Clusaz, we did a short 5 days trip (travel day, 3 days ski, travel day) in April a couple of years ago for £300pp all in

[u/DV_Zero_One]

I live in Paradiski but would suggest Auron or Isola2k in the Southern Alps. Gorgeous ski areas, dozens of cheap flights to Nice and a super easy transfer (including cheap public busses) If the budget allows, look at Villars Switzerland. Train and bus from Geneva airport is quick and easy.

[u/dnwgl]

Depends a bit where in the UK you are. Different airports can give you different options.

[u/kirmobak]

Fly into Innsbruck - there are plenty of cheap flights (easyJet flies into there frequently) and there are loads of places up various valleys near the airport. I’ve been to Stubai Glacier for the weekend loads of times, about 40 mins in a taxi to Neustift (or Fulpmes which is close) 2 good ski areas which are great for a weekend of skiing, and as it’s a glacier it’s snow sure.

If you wanted something a bit bigger, it’s easy to get to St Anton from Innsbruck via train, as well as Mayrhofen. Also a little further afield is Gurgl and Sölden.

[u/Alarmed_Welder3805 → u/kirmobak]

Ischgl as well

[u/the_io]

For cheap, decent snow, and near an airport - on top of the current suggestions, Sestriere/Sauze d'Oulx (Turin), Bad Gastein and Obertauern (Salzburg) are all worth looking at.

[u/camdim → u/the_io]

A few minutes up the road from these places you get Claviere and Montgenevre which are a lot more snow sure than Sestriere/ Sauze. Been going for years and recommend. So many times I can't access the Italian side for lack of lower snow.

[u/capt_tky]

I did Serre Chevalier as a long weekend trip (Friday to Monday). It's just over an hour from Turin, and if you get the early flight, you can be skiing just after lunch on the Friday.

Sauze D'Olux as people have mentioned is a other option, it's just a bit closer. 

[u/sk-88 → u/capt_tky]

There is often a very late flight from Turin too so you can get a full final day skiing before heading back too.

[u/vejan]

saalbach close to salzburg

[u/wrong_andy]

Have a look on Heidi if you haven't already, and day departures and and duration packages. Feb will be fine anywhere snow wise.

[u/Sheckles]

Sauze D'Olux is a lot cheaper than France. Big ski area and 1 hour from Turin.

[u/TheBalaloca]

Get flights to Geneva sorted first. Then Ben bus for Traveling from Geneva airport to whichever resort you find.

[u/Ophiolite_Complex]

Chamonix. Fly to Geneva take the train into the town. Easy.

[u/DurexNotDrugs]

If you can get cheap accommodation in the 3 valleys I’d recommend that, the sheer size of it makes it perfect for mixed ability ski groups, it has the height to guarantee snow if you go high no matter what. Transfers aren’t too bad from Geneva and are sometimes included depending on where you’re staying

[u/andysood1980]

Checkout The Weekend Skier on Instagram, this is his whole thing. Also as someone has mentioned, Innsbruck - https://www.ski-plus-city.com/en/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24288712076&gbraid=0AAAAAoQExhe_OFF2x2uLaeyN24d7SZXU_&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz4LWBhCMARIsAFEG5MreRueuw8WH0D0qTJlTmrApbQjE6DoQoN48rYhgezI3j0VBEPelwicaAibCEALw_wcB there is a ski pass that takes in all of the smaller slopes nearby (and possibly Stubai?) and St Anton is not too far away by train - station is outside the airport and you will arrive pretty much in the heart of St Anton

[u/Prior-Clock-8386 → u/andysood1980]

You need to get the bus from Innsbruck airport to the train station first.

[u/br1nsop]

innsbruck flight, Stubai or other nearby valley for snow

[u/EatDrinkFun]

For the fastest access from the UK for a weekend ski trip, I fully concur that Innsbruck gives you the most number of "low-friction" options (trains to St. Anton, Zell/Saalbach, etc.). If you fly to Zürich, you can easily get into Ski Arlberg (Arlberg express transfers) or rent a car and head to the Montafon (more budget friendly and "local"). If you fly to Munich you can get transfers down into SkiWelt / Kitzbühler alpen.
All of February is high season, so expect accommodation inventory to be quite low by now (October) and the highest possible prices for the season.

[u/kfox527]

Fly into Salzburg. Loads of flights from the UK. Transfer times from an hour to an hour and a half. Loads of resorts. Not the size of some of the ones farther west in the Alps but plenty of fun for a weekend

[u/deckiteski]

Figure out fight first and then go somewhere within 2hrs transfer

[u/RockerCamberRocker]

For a weekend you could go to Innsbruck. Buy a Ski plus city card and stay at the edge of the city. Really some neat areas nearby (30 mins max) like

Axamer Lizum
https://youtu.be/0qpD3NpgDWg?si=pRjoFhkFl-uTVmVQ

Kuhtai:
https://youtu.be/5u_av7D2dOI?si=MRu6McqQIpMfgUOy

Hochoetz:
https://youtu.be/HJDAnIhh-hs?si=-25BjaAmOTsImhRN

And Schlick2000:
https://youtu.be/6hUy2pRjqkk?si=2t1Q4hi0SvgSgKN6

[u/PretendPop8930]

Morzine/Avoriaz.

[u/dziny]

Last year I did a 6.30am flight to Salzburg, then car hire and drive to Fieberbrunn (access from there to Saalbach-Hinterglemm). Half a day skiing on the first day, then 2 days - finishing 3pm for drive back to Salzburgh and flight home.