Engadin Accomodation
The house I wanted to book is already taken. Alternatives are few and far between. Here are a couple of options.
Schloss Wartenstein
This is a bit of a trek away. It's 1:45 minute drive to S-Chanf (the end point of the race) so race day would be quite hard work with a very early start.
On the plus side, its big, it can sleep up to 20, and it is close to a ski area that has cross country loops. Also, its quite a cool pad! It is slightly more than the original but not anything like some of the others.
It used to be a hotel but is now let out in its entirety with use of the kitchens etc etc.
12 minutes drive away there is Pizolbahnen. A tiny resort with Alpine and Nordic skiing so we could practice there. The whole resort tops out at 2,227m
Poschiavo
To the south, there is Poschiavo. Its an hour from S-Chanf so quite a bit closer. It sleeps 16 in 6 bedrooms and a dorm. It is miles cheaper than anything else!
Diavolezza/ Lagalb ski area is about 30 minute drive away. It looks higher, bigger and generally more snow sure but I know nothing about it other than what I've just read and that includes the fact that it has cross country routes for training.
https://www.corvatsch-diavolezza.ch/en/experiences-1/winter#filter=.winter
Maloja Palace Residence
Maloja is the start point of the race so Race Day would be dead easy! Race Registration gives you access to the track so we would not only have somewhere to practice but we'd be on the actual course itself which has to be a bonus.
It is a large hotel that has seperate appartments with kitchenettes. Each appartment has a bedroom and a sofa bed or we can upgrade to a series of two bed appartments for not that much more.
Although we couldn't eat together, it looks like there are communal rooms in the main building.
Which Way to Jump... or Slide
It's a tricky choice as none are perfect. The Schloss is cool but a long way out. The one at Poschiavo is more basic and much cheaper. Obviously Maloja is closest but not as sociable and oddly quite isolated looking at Google Maps.
Cost
In terms of cost they are all quite different.
The original was about £5k
The schloss is £6.6k but for more people so cheaper if we fill it.
Poschiavo is only £2.5k but looks pretty basic and a bit like a monastery!
Maloja is £7.8k if we went for the two bed appartments or £6.5 for the one bed appartments. The down side is the lack of communual cooking so everyone would be on self catering. There is a restaurant 500 yards away according to Booking.com
Maloja would provide more flexibility as well. The price I've given is for 16 beds just for comparison. Obvs we don't need to fill it!
For comparisson, most of the other places I have discounted as they are over £10k for the week!
What do you want to do?
I don't think the answer is obvious so I thought I'd ask you all. I'll send out a whatsapp poll and see what the consensus is. Becuase I didn't want to loose another one, I have got an option on the Schloss until tomorrow afternoon but we can let that slide.
Let me know what you think!
