Where to go skiing this Xmas?
Discussion
For 2 beginners! We’re both 40 so the requirements are for decent tuition and kit, a good variety of learner slopes (would prefer longer runs through trees once out of nursery), epic scenery, plus higher end accommodation and food options.
Is a week enough to learn to a standard you can go out on your own? Are most things priced per week (passes etc) or is 10 days doable?
We’d prefer Italy but open to ideas. My friend lives in Switzerland which is where we’d start driving from, but don’t want to stay in Ch or France as it wouldn’t feel like a break for her.
I’m just getting started with my search so open to suggestions on location, hotels/Airbnb, ski schools etc.
Is a week enough to learn to a standard you can go out on your own? Are most things priced per week (passes etc) or is 10 days doable?
We’d prefer Italy but open to ideas. My friend lives in Switzerland which is where we’d start driving from, but don’t want to stay in Ch or France as it wouldn’t feel like a break for her.
I’m just getting started with my search so open to suggestions on location, hotels/Airbnb, ski schools etc.
I'd also ask this on www.snowheads.co.uk - really helpful folk on there.
Personally I found instruction in France challenging, 1/2 of the instructors don't speak English, so you get very limited help in my personal experience.
The obvious choice is to go the US or Canada for the above, also much quieter by comparison to Europe, but that may be out of your budget.
Maybe get some lessons here in the UK, then you will get the most out of your holiday?
The obvious choice is to go the US or Canada for the above, also much quieter by comparison to Europe, but that may be out of your budget.
Maybe get some lessons here in the UK, then you will get the most out of your holiday?
As for your question on whether a week is enough... it really depends
1. Your age and general fitness are a factor
2. How much instruction you take
3. Whether your 'throw'' yourself into it etc.
Skiing is an odd one, since getting some basic skills is two / three days. But overconfidence can hurt you just as much as being too timid. This is where a good instructor will push you (to make you learn) but not put you in danger.
Most folks at the end of a full week can safely come down blues and easier reds with linked turns. Albeit not with much speed or style.
Bend ze knees!!
1. Your age and general fitness are a factor
2. How much instruction you take
3. Whether your 'throw'' yourself into it etc.
Skiing is an odd one, since getting some basic skills is two / three days. But overconfidence can hurt you just as much as being too timid. This is where a good instructor will push you (to make you learn) but not put you in danger.
Most folks at the end of a full week can safely come down blues and easier reds with linked turns. Albeit not with much speed or style.
Bend ze knees!!
A few thoughts and ideas
My wife and I find Austria a really good all round destination and the ski instruction is really professional
Personal preferences are Ischgl and Saalbach though not sure either will be great snow at Christmas.
The last few years snow has not really been great until Mid jan.
To avoid this you will need to go high. 2000m plus. The problem then are slopes are not great for beginners. Christmas is also very cold and there will be a lot of standing around.
If I were going for my first time I would go last week of feb after school holidays.That way you could go to a lower resort better slopes for beginners and likely to be warmer. Enjoy lunches and apre ski in the sun 🌞
My wife and I find Austria a really good all round destination and the ski instruction is really professional
Personal preferences are Ischgl and Saalbach though not sure either will be great snow at Christmas.
The last few years snow has not really been great until Mid jan.
To avoid this you will need to go high. 2000m plus. The problem then are slopes are not great for beginners. Christmas is also very cold and there will be a lot of standing around.
If I were going for my first time I would go last week of feb after school holidays.That way you could go to a lower resort better slopes for beginners and likely to be warmer. Enjoy lunches and apre ski in the sun 🌞
My advice would be similar to what others have said. First of all, find you local indoor ski slope (Milton Keynes, Tamworth, Hemel Hempstead, Manchester, Castleford, Braehead and soon Swindon if it gets built). All of them will offer beginner lessons and even an intensive course over a couple of days to get you to a safe enough standard to go actual skiing.
I would then book a holiday through an agency like Crystal Ski, they have resort reps who are able to arrange lessons for you, meaning you’ll not have to try to find someone who speaks English yourself.
Finally, go to a big resort, they’re far more likely to have a range of slopes for differing levels of experience and bravery, plus more instructors.
I went snowboarding in La Rosière with no experience at all and wasted half the week learning to stand up. My second trip, I went to Alpe d’Huez, having been to MK indoor slope for some proper lessons and had a considerably better time.
I would then book a holiday through an agency like Crystal Ski, they have resort reps who are able to arrange lessons for you, meaning you’ll not have to try to find someone who speaks English yourself.
Finally, go to a big resort, they’re far more likely to have a range of slopes for differing levels of experience and bravery, plus more instructors.
I went snowboarding in La Rosière with no experience at all and wasted half the week learning to stand up. My second trip, I went to Alpe d’Huez, having been to MK indoor slope for some proper lessons and had a considerably better time.
Robmarriott said:
My advice would be similar to what others have said. First of all, find you local indoor ski slope (Milton Keynes, Tamworth, Hemel Hempstead, Manchester, Castleford, Braehead and soon Swindon if it gets built). All of them will offer beginner lessons and even an intensive course over a couple of days to get you to a safe enough standard to go actual skiing.
I would then book a holiday through an agency like Crystal Ski, they have resort reps who are able to arrange lessons for you, meaning you’ll not have to try to find someone who speaks English yourself.
Finally, go to a big resort, they’re far more likely to have a range of slopes for differing levels of experience and bravery, plus more instructors.
I went snowboarding in La Rosière with no experience at all and wasted half the week learning to stand up. My second trip, I went to Alpe d’Huez, having been to MK indoor slope for some proper lessons and had a considerably better time.
100% this. I would then book a holiday through an agency like Crystal Ski, they have resort reps who are able to arrange lessons for you, meaning you’ll not have to try to find someone who speaks English yourself.
Finally, go to a big resort, they’re far more likely to have a range of slopes for differing levels of experience and bravery, plus more instructors.
I went snowboarding in La Rosière with no experience at all and wasted half the week learning to stand up. My second trip, I went to Alpe d’Huez, having been to MK indoor slope for some proper lessons and had a considerably better time.
You’ll waste half the trip learning basics from how to fix your bindings to standing up and basic turns and stopping. Get all that mastered at an indoor slope in the U.K.
I went to Livigno on my first snowboarding trip. Was a nice blend of slopes and activities.
Cayman DP said:
Personal preferences are Ischgl and Saalbach though not sure either will be great snow at Christmas.
Haven't made it to Saalbach yet but actually learnt to ski in Ischgl and, well 15 years later I usually get 3 or 4 weeks in each season so couldn't have been too bad an experience 
As beginners in Ischgl you'd be fine for snow as everything happens 'up the mountain' and their seasons runs from November to May, so reasonably well into the season by the time Christmas comes around. You're unlikely to be skiing back to town each day though as that's a red, and not the most enjoyable red at the end of the day - but then I remember being shagged by the end of my lesson each day so more than happy to ride the gondola down and have a good soak in the bath.
90% of the Ischgl apres ski is down in the town and the gondola's quicker than skiing down so means you get to thebar quicker too!The down side of Ischgl is that it doesn't tend to be cheap, especially for accomodation IN Ischgl. Staying in one of the other towns in the valley is cheaper - but buses stop c.19:30 so if you're doing apres you're either doing it in full ski gear (very hot and in hire boots generally rather painful) or one of you not drinking each day (which isn't as much fun). That said you can find reasonably priced accomodation and if you're going to ski all day/apres ski all afternoon/go to a restaurant for a meal each evening you're only using it as a bed so don't need it to have 18 stars.
Edited by //j17 on Friday 12th August 14:37
Ischgl is one of my favourite resorts. Others in Austria may be better for a beginner thoigh, like Obergurgl (sp?) etc? As others have suggested, perhaps a package holiday that includes instruction etc? I think tuition is more important than which resort you go to as a beginner later in life?
I hear you on that crowded run back to town though. Drops us at our usual hotel though, so we always take it!
I hear you on that crowded run back to town though. Drops us at our usual hotel though, so we always take it!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Friday 12th August 16:03
Thanks for the replies.
She’s had snowboarding lessons before and I’ve had beginner ski lessons at an artificial slope. she doesn’t know whether she wants to ski or board though. I much prefer skis having tried both, but will do whatever she does so we’re not apart.
I’d say we’re not physically fit enough to be spending all day every day on the slopes, hence wondering whether it’s better to have 10days so we can make progress over a longer period. The other days would be in the spa or doing nothing in particular, so the accom and the food are important to us. More of a proper Xmas hol with some skiing I guess.
I don’t really want to book a package. Looking to book the hotel first then find everything else.
She’s had snowboarding lessons before and I’ve had beginner ski lessons at an artificial slope. she doesn’t know whether she wants to ski or board though. I much prefer skis having tried both, but will do whatever she does so we’re not apart.
I’d say we’re not physically fit enough to be spending all day every day on the slopes, hence wondering whether it’s better to have 10days so we can make progress over a longer period. The other days would be in the spa or doing nothing in particular, so the accom and the food are important to us. More of a proper Xmas hol with some skiing I guess.
I don’t really want to book a package. Looking to book the hotel first then find everything else.
Harry Flashman said:
I'd also ask this on www.snowheads.co.uk - really helpful folk on there.
I’ll take a look, cheers rustyuk said:
If not France or Switzerland then why not Austria.
Little bit cheaper than the other two and the locals are friendlier too.
France still has the best resorts though (all IMHO of course)
What would you say are the best French resorts?Little bit cheaper than the other two and the locals are friendlier too.
France still has the best resorts though (all IMHO of course)
Cayman DP said:
A few thoughts and ideas
My wife and I find Austria a really good all round destination and the ski instruction is really professional
Personal preferences are Ischgl and Saalbach though not sure either will be great snow at Christmas.
The last few years snow has not really been great until Mid jan.
To avoid this you will need to go high. 2000m plus. The problem then are slopes are not great for beginners. Christmas is also very cold and there will be a lot of standing around.
If I were going for my first time I would go last week of feb after school holidays.That way you could go to a lower resort better slopes for beginners and likely to be warmer. Enjoy lunches and apre ski in the sun ??
Austria is a good shout, we we in Salzburg earlier this year. My wife and I find Austria a really good all round destination and the ski instruction is really professional
Personal preferences are Ischgl and Saalbach though not sure either will be great snow at Christmas.
The last few years snow has not really been great until Mid jan.
To avoid this you will need to go high. 2000m plus. The problem then are slopes are not great for beginners. Christmas is also very cold and there will be a lot of standing around.
If I were going for my first time I would go last week of feb after school holidays.That way you could go to a lower resort better slopes for beginners and likely to be warmer. Enjoy lunches and apre ski in the sun ??
Location wise we just want it to feel like a holiday and could use a break from French cuisine. We love Italy and we’re hoping it would be a bit cheaper and have better f&b. Austria deffo worth looking at tho.
I usually plan holidays by where I want to eat so guess I’ll start there hehe
Don't bother with Europe, they don't really do Christmas over there.
Head west and go to The Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada (fly to Calgary). They go full-on with the Dickensian style Christmas in the hotel with carol singers, evening campfires and a fun visit from Santa. Even the most jaded of Ebenezers will believe.
Your skiing/snowboarding lessons will be hosted by English speakers in the Rockies on a different hill each morning and there's the world famous hotel Spa for when you've had enough of falling over.
It goes without saying that your fine dining requirements are well catered for with plenty of restaurants on-site. You can take a stroll into town if you just fancied a burger at a bar.
There will be snow.
You can book direct and independently, or packages available via the usual UK sites and I find Crystal Ski to be competitively priced for Canada.
https://www.christmasatthecastle.ca/events-activit...
https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/
https://www.skibig3.com/snow-school-lessons/
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/
Head west and go to The Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada (fly to Calgary). They go full-on with the Dickensian style Christmas in the hotel with carol singers, evening campfires and a fun visit from Santa. Even the most jaded of Ebenezers will believe.
Your skiing/snowboarding lessons will be hosted by English speakers in the Rockies on a different hill each morning and there's the world famous hotel Spa for when you've had enough of falling over.
It goes without saying that your fine dining requirements are well catered for with plenty of restaurants on-site. You can take a stroll into town if you just fancied a burger at a bar.
There will be snow.
You can book direct and independently, or packages available via the usual UK sites and I find Crystal Ski to be competitively priced for Canada.
https://www.christmasatthecastle.ca/events-activit...
https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/
https://www.skibig3.com/snow-school-lessons/
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/
If you can do 10 days could you do 14? The Christmas/New Years weeks are peak (demand/price) weeks so most accomodation will be trying to fill/bill beds for every night so less inclined to have some empty half the week (or will charge you for all nights anyway). That said Christmas falls on a weekend again this year so you might find people doing Wed-Wed weeks for 21st-28th and 28th-4th - at which point they will be much more open to 10 day bookings that 'arrive early' for Christmas week/'leave late' New Years week.
shirt said:
I don’t really want to book a package. Looking to book the hotel first then find everything else.
I'd challenge this.Package companies have the full range of accommodation options and if you're flying will be way under something you put together yourself.
Plus you get refund if things go pear shaped.
I do some pretty complex guided and self guided trips but for a simple resort week I tend to look at packages first. This January I had an off piste course booked in Chamonix. The Crystal accommodation flights and transfer package was not much more than the price of middling airbnbs I'd priced up. The trip was cancelled due to COVID got a immediate full refund and rebooked to St Anton half board for less than £600 pp. EasyJet etc are no longer the bargain they used to be.
Christmas isn't great for snow in Europe. I've been to Whistler at Christmas and it was open/fun. I'd second going to North America. The instruction is on a completely different level and the resorts, in general, are designed like golf courses for the middling punter as opposed to some of the more challenging high altitude European resorts. Plus drag lifts and T bars are virtually unheard of. Covered/heated express chairs are what the customer demands.
The weather could be pretty wet and miserable wherever you go.
Edited by oddman on Monday 15th August 10:39
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