Ski Holidays in Switzerland...

Switzerland is a premier ski holiday destination.  Located in the heart of the Alps, mountains cover more than 60% of the country and there are more than 100 peaks that are at least 4,000 metres high.  A ski holiday in Switzerland will provide some of the most awesome ski runs to be found anywhere in the world as well as trendy ski resorts, classic vistas, and beautiful scenery. 

Although in the past a ski holiday in Switzerland was regarded as one of the more expensive options, the currently favourable exchange rate and a number of excellent deals from some of the major resorts is making Switzerland an affordable and popular ski holiday destination for travellers from the UK.  Most of the Swiss resorts will allow children eight or nine years of age or younger to stay free of charge with their parents; this makes Switzerland ideal for family ski holidays.

There are a number of resorts in the country that offer a wide variety of accommodation options, and runs that will appeal to skiers ranging from the complete beginner to the accomplished expert; St Moritz alone offers more than 350 kilometres of snow covered slopes (or piste) and nearly 230 runs. 

Snowboarding is also very popular in Switzerland, with several of the larger resorts offering downhill runs, board parks, and enormous half-pipes for the enthusiastic snowboarder.
 
Travelling from the United Kingdom to Switzerland is easy.  Visitors can fly to the airports in Sion, Berne, or Zurich – all of which are about a two hour flight from most major city airports in the UK including those in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Manchester.  Once the traveller has landed in Switzerland they will find that there is a good system of taxi, train, and bus transport that will get them to the resorts quickly and efficiently.  Visitors who hire a car will find a good, well marked road network to get them to their ski holiday destination.

Ski Holidays in the Alps...

A skiing holiday in the Alps is a great getaway for families, couples, or groups of friends.  The famous slopes of Austria, France, Switzerland, and Italy are close at hand and provide some of the best skiing in the world.

St. Anton, Austria

Some call this the best spot in the world for skiing.  St. Anton certainly has excellent slopes, perfect powder, and options for both expert and beginning skiers.  A draw for the rich and famous, the nightlife here is quite glamorous, making it a great destination for young people.

Chamonix, France

Situated in the shadow of Mont Blanc, Europe’s loftiest peak, Chamonix is scenic and challenging.  Many of the slopes here are difficult and technically challenging, making this locale a draw for expert skiers.  The après ski facilities are also excellent.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

St. Moritz is the quintessential Alpine resort, and is very popular with celebrities.  There is plenty of history here, and winter sports have been the main business for well over a century.  The ski slopes are ideal for intermediate skiers, and visitors can join in other activities here such as winter polo and ice hockey.

Cortina, Italy

The atmosphere in Cortina is relaxed and casual.  The slopes are excellent and the scenery is stunning.  This former site of the Winter Olympic Games is also a top draw for its fine dining and nightclub scene. 

Kitzbuhel, Austria

This Medieval walled town is a wonderful spot for a skiing holiday.  The World Cup Men’s Downhill is held here each year in January.  Besides the impressive slopes, Kitzbuhel offers world-class spas, shopping, and dining.  There is even a 16th century castle in this lovely town.

The Best Time to Ski...

Determining the best time to take your ski holidays can be quite difficult. There is really only one overriding factor to consider – the location of your destination. This pretty much comes down to which hemisphere the resort is in.

There are some high altitude mountains that receive snowfall all year round but, for the most part, slopes will be closed during summer. Other than that, the only other thing you need to decide is when in the winter you want to take your holiday. 

Hitting the slopes in the early part of winter can be quite risky. Early on in the season, snow is the exception and if you’re really unlucky you may find yourself on a mountain with limited options when it comes to trails.  It may be that only the upper slopes are skiable and this will mean longer journey times to the top.

The middle of winter is peak season and this is when the slopes come alive. Snowfall should not be a problem but it will be as cold as it can possibly get. People traffic will be high and you will have to get out early if you hope to avoid it. Long queues and bustling crowds will be the name of the game but, depending on your resort, there will probably be lots of après ski activities as well.

Towards the end of winter is fast becoming the period of choice for experienced skiers. It really is the best time for people who enjoy having a bit of space on the trails. It will also have had the benefit of a full season of snowfall and warmer weather than the peak season.

Skiing Tips – Skis and Poles...

Taking a skiing trip requires a lot of preparation. Browsing through cheap ski holidays and choosing the right resort is just the first step. One of the most important pieces of preparation is choosing the right skis and poles for your trip.

If this is your first ski trip, your best bet is to rent or go for second-hand pair of carvers or mountain skis.  Once you get to grips with your own skiing style you can upgrade to new skis. Important features of skis include length, stiffness, width, sidecut and radius. Go to a good ski shop and they will be able to help you choose skis that suit both your size and ability. If you already have skis but are having trouble with them, the shop will be able to advise. It could be you just need to adjust your skiing style, or you may need to change your equipment. Either way, the shop will be able to help you.

Next you will need poles. Obviously the most important feature of poles is the length. If you hold the pole by the pointy end just under the ski pole basket while your arms are perpendicular to your body, the grip should just touch the ground. Since your height is a very important factor when it comes to poles it might be more difficult to find the right pair second-hand.

Once you have found some skis and poles you will be one step closer to taking advantage of one the many cheap ski deals that are on offer.

Skiing Destinations – where to choose?...

There are plenty of places in the world that offer excellent cheap ski deals. The usual areas of France and Italy are common, but there are other destinations that people tend to overlook and that could offer some excellent 2011-2012 deals.

There are over 40 countries that have reliable snow, many of which are not commonly considered top skiing destinations, such as Japan, South Korea, Andorra, Cyprus, the UK, Moldova, Greece and Luxembourg. If you’re looking for a more unusual destination for skiing, then have a look at some of these less commonly mentioned areas. However make sure you check for reviews on destinations and resorts so you can make an informed decision on where you wish to go. You might also find the exchange rates in some countries to be too expensive, making one of the more usual destinations more viable.

For the more experienced skiers, opting for a lesser-known destination is often a better option as the likelihood of off-piste skiing increases. The opportunities to enjoy other activities other than skiing also increase. Places like Greece, especially, steeped in ancient history, may offer the opportunity to both ski and enjoy some sightseeing. On the other hand, journey times to some of these destinations will be far longer than the standard destinations of France and Italy, with some of them being located on the other side of the world. Weigh up the pros and cons, and decide whether a far-flung ski destination or one closer to home will suit you.

Family Ski Holidays: Finding the Best Resort...

Ski holidays for the family are a great experience.  There is a wide choice in terms of both destination and accommodation.  However, this can make it harder to decide.  Nevertheless, there are a number of tips you can follow to help you find a resort to fit your family’s needs.

First, it is important to consider the level of skill in skiing your family has.  Some resorts offer more beginner or advanced slopes than others so you should bear this in mind.  Transfer times are also significant.  If you have particularly small children you will want this to be as short as possible.  Try and aim for three hours or less.

Check out how far your accommodation is from the main facilities you will need.  This equates to the slopes, the ski school and village centre.  Occasionally, it can be worth paying a little extra to avoid taking buses or walking long distances in ski boots.

When looking into accommodations for ski deals, make sure that they offer a wide range of child-friendly activities.  It is very doubtful that you will be skiing everyday so it is important to have a variety of ways to keep your children entertained.  Some resorts, for example, offer swimming, ice-skating or bowling. 

Childcare is also offered sometimes by the hotel or ski operators.  If you think you may need this at some point,  make sure the resort you choose can provide you with the proper support.

What to Look For In Your Skiing Holiday...

When booking skiing holidays, it is important to consider what you want to get out of the holiday itself. There are hundreds of different packages to choose from, some offering all-inclusive packages, some with accommodation and others including ski hire. With this in mind, your decision undoubtedly will be influenced by how much of the actual planning you want to do yourself, prior to the holiday. There are plenty of things that you may need to organize for your ski holidays, so make sure you have everything covered.

One major factor that you will want to focus on is the location and the type of resort. Check that the resort or location offers good quality skiing aimed at your skill level. Also check that there are other things for you to do, should you fancy a day off from your skiing. It is always worth looking for deals at certain times during the season, as you will be able to find some amazing deals on skiing holidays, so keep an eye open. In this same respect, check the snow forecast. There are plenty of websites available which will give you a good forecast.

Once you know what to look for, go on the internet, check them against what you want in your holiday, and you will easily be able to find one somewhere that is tailored to your needs.

Luxury Ski Holidays 2011...

Luxury skiing holidays have never gone out of fashion and the popularity of the traditionally luxurious resorts has not waned.  Ski holidays in the top three high end resorts of Zermatt, Chamonix and Verbier have lost none of their cachet despite the credit crunch.

Lying at the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix enjoys an airport transfer time of only one hour from Geneva Airport.  With lively bars and restaurants along the rue du Docteur Paccard, guests staying in luxury accommodation often enjoy the free services of a chauffeur and can easily access the town for the après ski scene.

Often regarded as being in the world’s top five ski resorts, Zermatt is famous for lying in the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn in Switzerland.  A huge investment in the lift system now makes Zermatt a state of the art skiing holiday option, with its new covered chair lift taking you from Switzerland to Italy.  Ski holidays in Zermatt provide a classy après ski vibe consisting of jazz clubs, bars, and international cuisine; Zermatt is a high end Swiss resort, but is generally regarded as worth it.

Nestled in the Alps, Verbier is the largest resort in the “Four Valleys” ski region.  With a diverse combination of glaciers and deep powder bowls, Verbier skiing suits all tastes and abilities.  Cable cars take visitors up to 3,300 metres to Mont Fort with its impressive views, whilst more daring skiers can try the infamous Chassore-Tortin glacier run.  Verbier après ski is as famous as the resort itself with live music venues, highly popular bars, and restaurants serving international cuisine.  Christmas breaks are popular here and early booking is advised.

Best Ski Resorts for Beginners...

Skiing can be both daunting and overwhelming for novices.  From what equipment to buy to where to book and where to stay, it can all be confusing on a first trip to the slopes.

For UK based skiers, the news is good.  Some of the best beginners’ resorts are around an hour’s flight away, being in France and other westerly parts of mainland Europe.

Les Arcs in France can provide nursery slopes above all of the numerous villages in the area.  The ski schools are award winning and beginners have their own free ski lift.

Tignes in France offers a ski school especially catering to females.  It is generally accepted that due to different physiques, women ski differently to men and this fact is recognised at Tignes.  Tignes has a wide selection of nursery slopes as well as intermediate and easy runs for improvers.

Bansko in Bulgaria has received a great deal of investment into its resort and as a result has a fine array of state of the art lifts, accommodation and facilities.  Being a cheaper destination, it is ideal for novices who may wish to try out skiing holiday deals without breaking the bank.

La Plagne in France has an excellent selection of beginner runs and is linked via the lift system to Les Arcs as part of the Paradiski ski region.  Many of the villages in Les Arcs are situated so that skiers can “ski in/ski out”, or ski practically from their accommodation.  This makes it an ideal destination for ski holidays for all the family.

See your travel agent for the best value skiing holiday deals.

Ski Holidays – a popular choice!...

A popular choice for many travellers is a ski holiday.  Whether a beginner or experienced skier, holidaymakers can choose from a variety of resorts offering a complete ski package.

Most package ski holidays will include lessons and the hire of ski equipment, leaving travellers only responsible for furnishing their own ski suit or ski jacket and pants, called salopettes.  Lessons are essential for beginners, and even for those very experienced skiers it is not recommended to stray far from the official ski routes.  These routes, called runs, are colour coded in most popular resorts according to how difficult they are. 

Holidaymakers planning a ski trip should make sure their chosen holiday is geared towards skiing specifically.  Snowboarding is increasingly popular in Europe, and generally holidays will be either geared towards skiing or boarding, rather than both.

Essentials for a ski holiday include a good pair of ski sunglasses or goggles to protect the eyes from the glare caused by the sun reflecting off the snow.  Sun cream is also of the utmost importance, as that same glare and high altitude locations above the clouds can increase the chance of sunburn.  Finally, travellers should bring along a good hat to stay warm.

Most major ski destinations offer a great range of restaurants and bars to enjoy in the evening.  This “après ski” nightlife is popular with single holidaymakers as well as couples.