International (Europe/Japan/Southern Hemisphere) Thoughts on destination for quick Late April Europe trip ?

[Kindbuzz]

Hello All

This is kinda of an open ended question so open to any thoughts, opinions or recommendations to start research on a third week of April European trip

Here’s the story . New Yorkers but have never skied in Europe . Have to be inPrague April 19-22. Would Like to try and dove tail a few days skiing just before or after. This late in the season it’s obviously a weather lottery and assuming we will have to target a higher elevation

First thought would be Austria for no reason other than I’ve heard it’s bit more affordable than Switzerland and seems a bit closer to Prauge. However -if it’s so late in the season that there may be some price reduction, switzerland is no issue . Focus being on either relative flight/train access from/to Prauge or back to nyc if after the a prauge visit

Generic web searches on late skiing in Austria comes up with these areas but have no real info

Solden
Ischgl
Obergurgl/Hochgurgl.

if not astronomically priced, obviously heard good things about Zermatt and Sara’s fee.

A wildcard , since I have no beta yet on convenience but would welcome thoughts on higher altitude France…Val d'Isère , Tignes ? But would have to see about cost plane flights …

Wife is an intermediate skier so terrain is not a huge factor but food and town\ village walking pre or post skiing is a plus. At 60 we don’t need night life or crowds if it can be avoided

thanks again as I know this is a wide open post

 

[Cheizz]

I think you have all the options listed for that time of year. From my experience, Ischgl and Val d'Isère/Tignes have the most runs still open around then. Most other areas you list may be a bit more limited in that sense (or are smaller to begin with).

Just check out Google Maps to see for yourself that from Prague, Zermatt is more than double the distance compared to Ischgl. The French resorts are even further away.

 

[Kindbuzz]

Cheizz thank you for the reply…..

 

[slow yeti]

Just for completeness - The glaciers in Austria are also still open at that time: Kaunertal, Hintertux, Kitzsteinhorn, Pitztaler Gletscher, Stubai. All of them much smaller than the ones on your list, though. ("Food and town" not good for any of these apart from Kitzsteinhorn which has Zell am See close by).

Can recommend the "bergfex ski" app for looking into European resorts, they have all the season dates and resort maps.

One word of caution about logistics: Train from Prague to Zermatt or Val d'Isere is not a feasible option, you'll have to change all the time and lose an entire day. Even train from Prague to the Austrian resorts will lose you a day, unless you take a late train to Vienna and then the night/sleeper towards Zurich, which stops in Innsbruck and Zams early morning (still about an hour to the resorts, but should be covered by bus, make sure to check timetables).

There are direct flights to Zurich or Geneva from Prague. You would then probably get a rental car at the airport for the remaining ~3 hours to Tignes or Zermatt (plan plenty of extra time for the return trip to the airport to account for traffic). Or you can get a 1-stop flight to Innsbruck and then again get a rental car (or public bus) to your destination.

 

[Zirbl]

Crowds are a relative thing of course, but even in Austria they generally drop off steeply after Germany's Easter holidays are over. With your dates, you should be able to get a good price on digs and still have plenty of options booking close to arrival, so you could always wait and see where the conditions are best. Of the three resorts you've mentioned, Gurgl is a quieter place but a smaller ski area.

Trains - good shout from @slow yeti re. the night train - if the buses work out, you can be on the snow the same morning, though for Gurgl or Sölden you'd want to get off at Ötztal. Landeck/Zams for Ischgl.

 

[crosscountry]

Better do it pre-Prague than post. Better chance for good condition

 

[fatbob]

Val Thorens is usually pretty reliable then as the highest resort in Europe at 2300m. If you can get yourselves to GVA on the 13th you could even tag in on the Snowheads EOSB ( End of Season Bash).