{"id":2598,"date":"2024-12-31T12:25:31","date_gmt":"2024-12-31T12:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.secretescapes.com\/magazine-uk\/?p=2598"},"modified":"2025-01-03T15:26:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T15:26:18","slug":"where-to-ski-pick-the-right-piste-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.secretescapes.com\/escapist\/where-to-ski-pick-the-right-piste-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate guide to picking the right ski holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve searched high and low to bring you the best European ski resorts for your needs. Whether you\u2019re looking for all-out luxury on the slopes, on the hunt for the best resorts for affordable family-friendly skiing, desperate for a last-minute ski holiday, or you\u2019re in search for the perfect apr\u00e8s scene \u2013 our expert snow pros have curated the ultimate guide for the perfect ski trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The best ski resorts for: seasoned skiers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re into skiing or snowboarding, Chamonix<\/strong> is without doubt the extreme skiing capital of the universe. This classic French mountain town attracts hardcore skiers and mountaineers from all over the world wanting to tackle the world-famous off-piste snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also in the running for French ski holidays is the town of La Grave, <\/strong>which is an off-piste skier\u2019s dream. It only has one lift \u2013 but this lift whisks skiers up 2,100 vertical metres of un-pisted, unpatrolled and very extreme terrain. Ski guides are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swiss towns of Andermatt<\/strong> and Engelberg<\/strong> also attract extreme skiers by the bucket-load due to the huge amount of snow they both receive (the Snow Gods were generous when giving them their micro-climates) and long, challenging off-piste descents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re after a ski holiday in Austria, St Anton <\/strong>is Austria\u2019s premier resort for serious skiers, and is rightly near the top of every serious skier\u2019s list. Further east, the small resort of Fieberbrunn<\/strong> is where the locals in the Kitzb\u00fchel<\/strong> valley go on a powder day, and is the only Austrian resort to feature on the Freeride World Tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The best ski resorts for: pure luxury<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Winter Alpine holidays have been popular with British upper classes since the mid-1800s, so there\u2019s no surprise that there are plenty of options available to those looking to splash the cash and indulge. Courchevel 1850 <\/strong>in France has more luxury hotels than you can shake a ski pole at, but if you prefer somewhere a little less showy Meg\u00e8ve<\/strong> ticks all the boxes \u2013 an elegant French mountain town with top quality hotels, spas and restaurants and a Christmas tree decorated by Swarovski\u2026 obviously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no shortage of luxury ski resorts in Switzerland. Our top picks are Klosters<\/strong> (favoured by the Royal Family), or St Moritz<\/strong> (welcoming Europe\u2019s gentry since the 1850s). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austria\u2019s Lech<\/strong> is probably the country\u2019s only real all-out luxurious resort. The stunning town and its five-star hotels have been a favourite with European royals since ski holidays became popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The best ski resorts for: the Apr\u00e8s scene<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There can be no doubt that the Austrians are the masters of apr\u00e8s ski. Only the most po-faced of skier can resist the brash but strangely charming recipe of thumping electro-jodel-pop, beer, J\u00e4germeister and dancing on tables after a day on the slopes. St Anton<\/strong> and Ischgl<\/strong> sit at the top of the pile, but you\u2019ll be hard pressed to find any Austrian resort without a bar filled with happy, drunk people of all ages doing the conga in ski-boots at 7pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For ski holidays in France, apr\u00e8s-ski is a classier affair. Val d\u2019Isere<\/strong> and Val Thorens<\/strong> both have the famous La Folie Douce \u2013 a mountain restaurant that turns into an apr\u00e8s ski bar-cum-Ibizan-terrace-party complete with DJs, dancers and, strangely, drummers on the roof. Les Deux Alpes<\/strong> also has a great nightlife scene, with bars-a-plenty along with a couple of clubs keeping the party going past five in the morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Italy, Sauze d\u2019Oulx<\/strong> is where the party is at \u2013 and it\u2019s cleaned up its act of the last decade so is no longer Benidorm on the snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The best resorts for: beginner skiers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As a beginner the last thing you want is a frighteningly large resort with experts hurtling past you at an off-putting pace. It\u2019s also important to head somewhere with good ski schools, great snow conditions and things to do besides skiing in case you decide it\u2019s not for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idyllic car-free resort of Saas-Fee<\/strong> in Switzerland, has a great beginners area which can be accessed on a reduced-price lift pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Italy, Cervinia<\/strong> is a good option with its beginners area in the village and plenty of gentle runs from the top of the mountain to the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In France, the not-so-well known resort of Les Saisies<\/strong> is a great option \u2013 it has two free chairlifts and plenty of runs for those learning to ski. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellmau <\/strong>in Austria is a pretty Tyrolean village linked by easy runs to the excellent Ski Welt<\/strong> ski area. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldeu<\/strong>\u00a0in Andorra is amongst Europe\u2019s best for a cheap ski holiday\u00a0with lots of beginner-friendly terrain and brilliant ski schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The best resorts for: budget-friendly skiing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can literally throw your hard earned cash at a ski holiday, and it still not be enough to get you on the slopes. But you don\u2019t necessarily have to as there are plenty of options for the budget conscious. Andorra ski holidays at resorts such as Arinsal <\/strong>and Soldeu<\/strong> offer some of the best value in Europe: big ski areas with relatively cheap lift passes, good value hotels, and as Andorra is a tax-free region your apr\u00e9s-ski drinks won\u2019t cost the earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Alps most Italian resorts offer value for money off the mountain, with mountain restaurants serving good food and good prices. Sauze d\u2019Oulx<\/strong> offers some of the best value with affordable places to stay and cheap lift passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Austria, Mayrhofen<\/strong> has an abundance of well-priced hotels, and as it is a real, working valley (unlike the purpose-built resorts of France) the prices for food and drink are very reasonable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you plan on skiing in France and want to keep to a budget, avoid the mega-resorts and head for the lesser known resorts such as La Norma <\/strong>or Chatel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The best ski resorts for: family skiing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re taking young children with you on a ski holiday you need to choose your resort with care \u2013 screaming kids can be less easy to deal with when you\u2019re wearing ski boots and carrying three sets of skis around. Choose a resort that\u2019s built primarily around convenience, and you\u2019ll have the best holiday a family can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoriaz<\/strong> in France is hard to beat \u2013 everything is ski-in, ski-out, and the car-free village means that kids can burn off excess energy sledging until the sun goes down whilst you enjoy a vin chaud. Les Houches<\/strong> in the Chamonix valley<\/strong> has been awarded \u201cfamilie plus\u201d by the French tourist board, part in thanks to the low-key and relaxed village atmosphere, and part thanks to the husky dog park, goat farm, mountain railways and a tree-top adventure playground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pretty Tyrolean village of Alpach<\/strong> has long been a favourite of British families. The nursery slopes are right next to the picturesque village and the ski schools are particularly child-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resorts in Lapland such as Levi<\/strong> and Yllas<\/strong> can also be an ideal spot for a magical family holiday. The ski areas are small and compact, and if the skiing gets too much there are reindeer farms to visit, sleigh rides to be had and Northern Lights to marvel at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Secret Escapes, our experts work hard to negotiate exclusive rates for deals on ski hotels and ski package holidays. From all-inclusive ski holidays and European escapes in the snow, to solo ski discounts and short ski breaks, we have a range of ski deals<\/a> to suit all tastes and budgets.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t