Need a bit of help in deciding which ski resort is best for you? Directski.com has come up with its pick of the Top 10 European ski destinations for all different types of skier and there’s some great deals too.
Best resort for:
Friends – Söll, Austria
Söll (above) is a good choice for a group of mixed ability skiers and non-skiers, as it has lively après, ski, a pretty village atmosphere, access to 250kms of ski runs, good ski school and gentle nursery slopes, and masses to do for non-skiers, such as curling, ice-skating, swimming, paragliding or indoor tennis. When the lifts stop, the entertainment begins with lots of bars, clubs and restaurants.
Deal: Seven nights self-catering at the Schindlhaus Apartments from Gatwick costs £354 per person and £344 from Manchester, based on four sharing.
Family – Mayrhofen, Austria
The traditional Tirolean town of Mayrhofen is a good choice for a family ski holiday, with its friendly family-run hotels, streets lined with brightly lit shops and restaurants, English speaking ski schools and good crèche facilities. The ski schools, crèche and ski lifts are also all close to the centre, simplifying pre-ski drop off and pick up for younger kids.
Deal: Seven nights B&B at the Hotel Alpenschlossl from Gatwick or Manchester costs £445 per person, based on four sharing.
Après ski – Arinsal, Andorra
The prize for best value après ski has to go Andorra for its duty free pricing, inexpensive, great value resorts. The happy hours, discos, lively cafes and restaurants also give the Andorran resort of Arinsal its reputation as one of the liveliest resorts in the mountains. The skiing’s pretty good too!
Deal: Seven nights self-catering at the four-star St. Moritz Apartments in Arinsal, from £296 from Gatwick, £316 from Manchester, based on four sharing.
Ski divas – Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere is one of the world’s top ski resorts and draws skiers from around the world. Home to the men’s downhill in the 1992 Olympics it offers extensive, world-class skiing, amazing powder and great opportunities for off-piste adventures. If you want to be seen in all the right places, it has to be on the piste in Val d’Isere.
Deal: Seven nights self-catering in the Chalet de Solaise from Gatwick from £278 per person and £298 from Manchester, based on four sharing.
Romantic ski chalets – La Tania, France
Cozy up in front of the log burner, snuggle in the sauna, ski together directly in and out of the ski chalets, ideal for romantics and ski-lovers. Couples can enjoy the sociability of chalet life, with the privacy of lovely pine-lined rooms right in the heart of Les Trois Vallees, one of the world’s greatest ski destinations.
Deal: Seven nights at Chalet Beriozka in the French resort of La Tania from £680 per person from Gatwick and £589 from Manchester. Includes breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner with unlimited wine.
Beginners – Pas de la Casa, Andorra
Learn to ski away from the bright lights of a glitzy resort. Pick somewhere fun and lively like Pas de la Casa in Andorra for cheaper equipment, duty free shopping and great value learn to ski packages, with good, English speaking ski schools and great après ski too.
Deal: Seven nights self-catering at the three-star Aparthotel Olimpiades from £323 per person from Gatwick and £343 from Manchester, based on four sharing.
Ski & spa – Bad Gastein, Austria
The Austrian spa town of Bad Gastein is world renowned for the soothing properties and the alleged healing powers of its natural thermal waters. Its snow record is pretty good too, which makes it a perfect ski and spa combination for those looking to relax after pounding the slopes.
Deal: Seven nights half-board at the four-star Sporthotel Alpina from £473 per person from Gatwick, £453 from Manchester.
High altitude skiing – Tignes, France
When the snow’s melting elsewhere Tignes is a cert for the white stuff and is one of Europe’s premier destinations for glacier skiing with the Grand Motte glacier dominating the surrounding area giving it one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. The resort is served by the large well-linked L’Espace Killy ski area and offers access to over 300km (190 miles) of pistes.
Deal: Seven nights at the three-star Le Hameau du Borsat apartments, based on four sharing, costs from £287 per person from Gatwick or £307 from Manchester.
Budget skiing
The best way to trim the cost of a ski holiday is to ski in mid-January when Christmas and New Year are over, but before half-term, take some friends, find a good value apartment in the French Alps and self-cater for a week. France’s La Plagne together with Les Arcs is one of the largest ski areas in the world with extensive access to high altitude skiing on uncrowded pistes.
Deal: Seven nights self-catering at the three-star Belambra Residence Cassiopee apartments from £263 per person from Gatwick , £244 from Manchester, based on four sharing.
Non-ski activities – Zell am See, Austria
For non-skiers and those wanting to take a break from the slopes Zell am See – with its pretty lake – has lots to offer, including tobogganing, bowling, a sports centre with indoor pool, ice-skating, snow shoeing, sleigh rides and cinema. Its good rail links with other resorts and Austria’s cities makes it a pleasant base for touring too.
Deal: Seven nights half-board at the three-star Hotel Seehof, based on four sharing, costs from £499 from Gatwick and £519 from Manchester.
For these and other departures from Belfast, Cork and Dublin, visit www.directski.com
