If you’ve always fancied the idea of hitting the slopes but held back for whatever reason, now might be the perfect time to book your first skiing holiday. As with most kinds of travel these days, the resorts are only getting better, the flights becoming cheaper and once-in-a-lifetime experiences more accessible than ever.
In fact, skiing doesn’t even need to be a one-time experience anymore with the number of dry and real snow slopes now open across the country. It’s worth noting that if you’re going abroad, ski chalet rentals should be booked well in advanced and we recommend The Luxury Chalet Company, an excellent luxury ski vacation company. So here are five reasons to book your first skiing holiday now and discover your next favourite hobby.
#1: Skiing is cheaper than it used to be
While skiing holidays used to be reserved for the rich and famous, these winter getaways are now more affordable than ever. First of all, flights to some of Europe’s best slopes are a fraction of what people were paying 10 years ago and the range of deals on skiing resorts means you can now get more for less.
Whatever your budget may be, there are plenty of resort options and all-inclusive packages that can get you the best possible value. And, of course, you can always pay a little more to add some extra touches of luxury or treat yourself to the high-end experience – whatever your budget allows.
#2: You get the rush of learning something new
Learning something new is always a thrilling experience but there aren’t many things as exhilarating as hurtling it down the white slopes of a mountain. Your instructors will help you learn the basics as soon as possible, get you fitted for the proper gear and skiing safety helmets and then you get to test and develop your own skills work your way up to more challenging slopes.
As this is your first skiing holiday, make sure you book somewhere with good slopes for beginners. However, you also want a good selection of intermediate and possibly advanced slopes if you’re travelling with more experienced skiers. Also keep in mind that your skills might improve significantly while you’re on your first skiing holiday.
“Verbier offers great skiing for everyone, from the intermediate skier who wants to progress onto steeper runs, to expert freeriders” – Ski Armadillo
Europe has an excellent selection of resorts for skiers at every level with Verbier (Switzerland), La Plange (France) and Sölden (Austria) among the highest-rated destinations – all within a relatively short flying distance.
#3: Stunning scenery awaits you
Aside from the highs of adrenalin pumping through your veins, the stunning scenery around the world’s most beautiful ski locations really will take your breath away – whatever’s left of it anyway.
Switzerland’s wonderful collection of ski resorts are particularly famed for their beauty and you’ll certainly want to look at Verbier, St. Moritz and Zermatt if natural landscapes are a big part of your ski holiday dreams.
#4: New experiences, memories and incredible photos
Skiing holidays are all about the experience and creating memories that will last a lifetime. You’ll never fully appreciate the feeling of speeding down a mountain until you’re doing it for yourself and you’ll certainly never forget it afterwards.
It’s not only about the adrenaline factor, either. You’re also overcoming challenges, learning new skills and feeling the sense of achievement as you do things you never knew you could do. For many people, skiing is a life-changing experience because it unlocks hidden capabilities – both mental and physical – that you might never discover otherwise.
And, at the very least, you’ll get some awesome pictures for Instagram.
#5: The off-slope activities are pretty good as well
While skiing is your priority, it’s not the only thing to enjoy on this type of holiday. Resorts put a lot of effort into creating a great atmosphere away from the slopes with a range of non-skiing activities, including restaurants, bars and clubs. The après-ski (after skiing) at European slopes has become legendary over the years and you’ll definitely want to spend at least one night experiencing the party atmosphere in the mountains, surrounding by wonderful scenery.
There are plenty of other snowy activities to try out, as well, like sledging, snow-shoeing and riding snowmobiles. You’ll also find many resorts offer great spa experiences, swimming pools and outdoor hot tubs for some R&R.
Ski holidays are no longer for the elite and high earners; they’re accessible to holiday makers from all around the world and every budget. If budget isn’t a problem, you’ll be glad to know the quality of resorts is only getting better as well with more luxury being added every year. So, if you’ve always dreamt of a holiday on the slopes, now is the time to book.
