Europe 26/27

[Galzigbahn]

Planning on travelling to the European Alps from Australia for 20 days skiing beginning 13th of January. I have been trawling ski forums for years on end. I just discovered this gem of a website.
I subscribe to the practice of booking accommodation as per the best and forecast ski conditions.
Just having problems choosing which air port to land.
I’ll be travelling by public transport with my 18 year old daughter. We travel light under 25Kg per person with all of our own equipment.
I enjoy Austria for the snow and ease of transport. I would love to check out the French resorts.
Too tight to cough up the money for Switzerland.
A little put off regarding snow surety in Italy.
Thinking Zurich is great for all of Austria and some of Switzerland. I could be forced to open my wallet for a week if I could score some budget accommodation.
Geneva looks great for France and again some of Switzerland.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Tony Crocker]

There are lots of Euro reports in this forum. In terms of an overall overview, I this thread should get you started.

20 days skiing beginning 13th of January

I’ll be travelling by public transport with my 18 year old daughter.

That's a long enough trip that you can follow the methodology that James, ChrisC and I use. In 20 days you will going to multiple destinations. This calls for renting a car for flexibility as all of us here do. It also means that you should not reserve anything other than the airfare and the car in advance. Arriving Jan. 13 avoids any holidays and you will be able to score lodging at the last minute. The Alps are erratic for both weather and conditions; that's why you want to start thinking about destinations as the season unfolds and also the weather forecasts starting a week or so before you arrive.

Zurich is great for all of Austria and some of Switzerland. I could be forced to open my wallet for a week if I could score some budget accommodation.
Geneva looks great for France and again some of Switzerland.

Yes it's a tossup between Zurich and Geneva, but don't sweat it, as driving distances are compact vs. Australia or North America. You can still drive to the opposite end of the Alps from your gateway airport in less than 2 days if that's where the conditions are better. We flew to Geneva in both 2018 and 2019. Two days later we were in the Dolomites in 2018 and St. Moritz in 2019.

 

[Sbooker]

Planning on travelling to the European Alps from Australia for 20 days skiing beginning 13th of January. I have been trawling ski forums for years on end. I just discovered this gem of a website.
I subscribe to the practice of booking accommodation as per the best and forecast ski conditions.
Just having problems choosing which air port to land.
I’ll be travelling by public transport with my 18 year old daughter. We travel light under 25Kg per person with all of our own equipment.
I enjoy Austria for the snow and ease of transport. I would love to check out the French resorts.
Too tight to cough up the money for Switzerland.
A little put off regarding snow surety in Italy.
Thinking Zurich is great for all of Austria and some of Switzerland. I could be forced to open my wallet for a week if I could score some budget accommodation.
Geneva looks great for France and again some of Switzerland.
Thanks in advance.

Arriving in Milan is a good general compromise but it's a bit harder to get winter tyres which might be worth thinking about at that time of year. For a couple of reasons we gravitate to the French end of the Alps. In my experience there is no need to pre-book accommodation at that time of year.
You'll get winter rubber if you rent a car out of Geneva.