Europe has some truly amazing ski resorts, guaranteed to give you a fantastic winter sports holiday. With so many options though, it can be hard to make a decision on which resort will suit you best. This is why we compiled a quick overview of the resorts best for families, beginners, parties and experts. Read on below to discover our top tips.
Best for Partying
If you are travelling with friends or your partner and you want to truly experience après ski, consider a visit to Kitzbuhel in Austria. Not only does an inclusive lift-pass give you access to a range of ski areas throughout the day, the après ski scene is phenomenal. You can pick a different bar every night: go to Lichtl for some karaoke, visit Irish bar O’Flannigans, take a gamble at Goldener Greif Hotel or visit nightclub Take Five. If you want to party the night away, visit Highways or Mangoes – these are louder and younger clubs, often open till dawn.
If you time your visit right, you can experience some truly epic après ski after the annual Hahnenkamm downhill race – from 16th to 21st January 2018. In itself a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the after parties are just as big as the event itself.
Best for Experts
If you are an experienced skier or snowboarder, then Tignes comes highly recommended. With some truly amazing descends and freestyle options, you will be able to challenge yourself. The resort also has a terrain park with the largest halfpipe in the French Alps. You can also ski on some outstanding powder terrain – you will find some very steep bits around La Grande Balme for example.
If you want to build up to freestyle and powder skiing, the Tignes resort is actually linked to Val d’Isere, which opens up around 300km of piste. The Tignes area is home to Grande Motte, a glacier that can be reached from Val Claret. Turn your legs to jelly by tackling the 1,350m red piste all the way down to Val Claret. For some amazing winter holiday deals, do your research into chalet hotels and self-catered apartments to ensure you get the ski holiday experience you desire.
Best for Families
If you are in need of a very family-friendly resort, then Overlech in Austria could be the right place for you. Set 250m above Lech, it offers slopes on your doorstep and more importantly Kinderland Oberlech. This club looks after children from age 2 to 5. Your kids will be looked after and introduced to snow and winter sports in a fun setting. They will even have up to two hours of ski instruction per day. You can drop off your children from 9am onwards and they are required to be picked up at 4pm.
This provides parents with the ideal set-up to get a little bit of time for themselves on the slopes. It could also give you some quality ski or snowboard time with your older children as they can enjoy your undivided attention.
Note that Lech is a very popular destination, so make sure you book beforehand. Lech is also one of the only resorts that has a cap on ski passes to avoid overcrowding, so secure yours in time and don’t leave it to the last minute.
Best for Beginners
The Les Deux Alpes Resort is often earmarked as a great area for beginners. There are many blue slopes at the top of the mountain, which guarantees good snow. Until recently there was no easy way to get back to the resort, but this has now been remedied with the creation of a blue descend. It’s an all-round knock-out of a resort really, not just for beginners, but also for intermediates, snowboarders, off-piste skiing and terrain parks. Combined with its snow reliability and village charm, and it is no surprise that so many tourists return each year.
For your accommodation, you have a choice between a range of budget to more luxurious options. You might even be able to scope out a good deal by booking your accommodation, flights, transfers and ski pass in one go. These deals often offer better value for money than when you book it all independently.