How to choose a ski holiday: what matters more than the brochure
Most people choose a ski resort by the photos or by where a friend went last year. That is how you end up with a beginner in a resort full of steep runs, or a keen skier in a village with a handful of easy slopes. A few honest questions at the start save a lot of disappointment.
1. Be honest about your ability, and everyone else’s
The resort has to suit the weakest skier in the group as well as the strongest. Beginners need gentle, well-run nursery slopes close to where they are staying, and easy runs to progress onto. Confident skiers want variety and enough terrain to avoid repeating the same runs by day three.
Some resorts suit mixed groups well, and others favour one end of the range. Tell me who is coming and what they are like on skis, and I will match the resort to that.
2. Check the snow, especially for early and late trips
Altitude matters. Higher resorts tend to hold snow better, which counts most in December, in March and in warm winters. Lower villages can be charming and good value, but they are more exposed if the weather turns mild.
If you are going outside the January to February core, ask about snow reliability before you book, not after.
3. Think about where you stay
How far you are from the lifts affects every day of the holiday.
- Ski-in, ski-out: the most convenient, with no walking in ski boots. It costs more.
- A short walk or a free shuttle: often the best value, as long as the walk is short and the shuttle is reliable.
- Further out: cheaper, but the daily effort adds up, particularly for families and beginners.
Pay for position if you have children or you are not confident, as it makes the holiday easier. If you are all strong skiers and won’t mind a ten-minute walk, you can save money here.
4. Look at the transfer, not just the flight
A cheap flight into the wrong airport can mean a long coach journey at the end of a tiring day. Some resorts are under an hour from the airport, and others take three to four hours. Check the real journey time door to door, including the Saturday traffic that builds up in peak season.
5. Choose the right time of year
- Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the most expensive and the most crowded. They book up first.
- January (after the first week) and March often give better value and quieter slopes. March usually has longer days and warmer weather.
- Early season and late season are cheaper, but the snow is less certain.
If you have flexibility on dates, that is usually the biggest saving available.
6. Know where the money goes
The holiday price is only part of the cost. Budget for these:
- Lift pass: priced per day or per week, and it varies by resort and by area covered.
- Ski hire: cheaper if you book in advance, and worth doing for anything over a few days.
- Ski school: worth paying for beginners and children, as lessons progress much faster than trying to learn from a friend.
- Food and drink on the mountain: this can be a surprise, so check before you go.
- Insurance: see below.
7. Don’t skip proper insurance
Standard travel insurance usually does not cover skiing. You normally need to add winter sports cover, and many policies exclude off-piste skiing or limit the altitude you are covered to. The GHIC does not pay for mountain rescue or for getting you home. A rescue or a medical bill abroad can be very expensive, so read the policy and check that it covers what you will actually do.
8. Choose the right type of holiday
Catered chalet: meals included, a good social atmosphere, and a good choice for groups and families.
Hotel: full service, often with a spa, and well suited to couples and special occasions.
Self-catered apartment: the most flexible and often the cheapest, but you do the shopping and cooking.
Each has a different feel, and the right one depends on who is going and how much effort they want to put in.
A quick checklist before you book
- What is the ability of each person in the group?
- When can you travel, and how flexible are the dates?
- How far is the resort from the airport?
- How far is the accommodation from the lifts?
- Have you included lift passes, hire and lessons in the budget?
- Does your insurance cover skiing, and is anything excluded?
Talk to me before you book
Peak weeks for this winter are filling now, and the better chalets and hotels go first. If you are thinking about a ski trip, whether it is your first or your twentieth, I will help you find the right resort and be honest about what is worth paying for.
