The Top Destinations for the Perfect Ski Holiday
No matter what you’re looking for in a ski trip, read on to find the perfect holiday for you…
Pictured: Saas Fee village (c) PRR Saastal Tourismus
Twin Centre Ski
Combine the slopes with a city break – ideal if you’re holidaying with non-skiers or don’t want to spend all week on the piste. Cortina is one of the largest and best known ski resorts in the Dolomites and you can combine it with a cultural break in Venice, a couple of hours away.
Go further afield and combine Vancouver and Whistler. Whistler offers the longest ski runs in North America and it is then just a 1 hr 20-minute drive to Vancouver where you can tag on some sight-seeing such as the artsy Granville Island and wander the cobbled streets of historic Gastown.
Mark Swords, from Swords Travel, adds that Colorado is particularly popular for 2024 with destinations like Beaver Creek, and Vail. “These are such a great option for people looking to combine a ski trip with another destination in the States. A top Easter trip could include skiing at Four Seasons Vail, and then exploring San Diego and Los Angeles. The perfect combination of ski, active and a bit of sun.”
Ski and spa
Whilst some skiers want to make the most of every hour on the slopes and are up the mountain on the first lift, others want some downtime too, spending time in a spa. Head to Le Massif at the foot of Mont Blanc, in Courmayeur, where its luxurious spa has relaxing aromatherapy rituals, holistic massages, a Turkish bath, an outdoor sauna and even treatments for children such as a Fairy Facial.
In the Dolomites, you’ll find Adler Spa Resort Dolomiti, which has Aguana Water World featuring five indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a salt grotto, saunas, Turkish baths, a whirlpool with a crystal pyramid, plus an in-house medicinal herb expert.
Adler Spa resort © AlexFilz
Family fun in the snow
Saas Fee is a hidden gem of the Swiss Alps that is perfect for families, Ski Solutions recommends. There’s a peaceful car-free centre plus a variety of ski runs to suit all abilities. Walliserhof Grand Hotel & Spa is luxurious yet relaxed and has rooms that are perfect for families as well as a range of restaurants from Italian to traditional Swiss.
Sonnwies, in the Dolomites, is aimed at families, and is all about connecting with nature. Rooms are designed with natural materials and many ingredients for the restaurant come from its own farm or from the region. There are several pools, along with an organic children’s sauna, plus it has its own ice rink, ski lift and there’s a ski school.
Sonnwies
Eco-conscious skiing
The number of travellers intending to take the train to their next ski holiday is on the rise at 12% – six times what it was for last season, according a survey by the Ski Club of Great Britain and the Mountain Trade Network. There is a handy map and advice at snowcarbon.co.uk to help you plan a ski holiday to France via rail. There are also packages that put together ski breaks starting from St Pancras. Ski Solutions, for example, has a trip to Austria. Head to St Anton and Hotel Nassereinerhof, which has an indoor pool with panoramic views, a Finnish sauna, and an infrared cabin. Take the train from London to Paris, and on to Zurich and St. Anton.
And go eco for your ski gear. Whoski.com, set up by locals Nicola and Sally, is an online marketplace to buy and sell preloved skiwear. 25% of the commission on every sale goes to teenage mental health
charity stem4.
