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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

First time skiing holiday

19 replies

chopc · 22/10/2023 19:07

I would love to go on a skiing holiday with my 15 year old.

I think 7 nights would be too much so would ideally like a 5 night holiday in an area suitable for beginners, with a short transfer from the hotel and near enough the slopes that we ca get there easily. Ski school is a must

Please could you advise how I go about booking? I am thinking of Bulgaria as I heard it is cheaper than other places ?

OP posts:
LIZS · 22/10/2023 19:14

Most skischools run lessons over 5/6 consecutive days so you need to ensure you coordinate a start date or book private ones. Likewise most package holidays , which take on the logistics like flights, hotel, ski hire, lessons, lift pass, transfers etc for you leave on specific dates. Depending when you go, look as high and snowsure as you can afford. Cheaper locations may not have a good snow record and a short season.

Setyoufree · 22/10/2023 19:16

I'd do a package using someone like crystal or inghams etc. I'd personally go to Austria over Bulgaria. You both need to be in ski school for the week but it'll be great as you're both beginners so will be in together and it'll be a laugh.

Geranium1984 · 22/10/2023 19:31

Austria is great! Agree the package holidays are cheaper. Try and get in a chalet with other people, cake in the afternoon and a meal in the evening.
Often I go skiing for a week and have a day off in the middle to go to the pool or chill out in the town to rest my muscles! You also won't ski on the travel days either so it's not 7 days on the slopes.
You'll have a blast it's such a fun holiday!

crumpet · 22/10/2023 19:35

5 nights won’t really be enough unless you are really restricted to the 5. Book a full week’s package, take time off if you want to (you don’t need to ski all day for example).

as someone has said, book a high resort- last year we skied the week before Christmas and had excellent conditions, but so much of Europe had warm weather and melted snow for the Christmas and New Year weeks

chopc · 22/10/2023 19:53

Thanks all. So even if beginners, book a high slope?

Who offers the best value package holidays? I will check out the two companies mentioned above

OP posts:
chopc · 22/10/2023 20:02

Also is anyone able to advise how much I would be looking at if booking a package ski holiday for the two of us - unfortunately during Feb half term as that is the only skiing time that would work out due to GCSE's

OP posts:
crumpet · 22/10/2023 20:09

Book a high resort, but one which is rated highly for beginners. Crystal and other package operators will all have details

crumpet · 22/10/2023 20:10

I think Crystal might have the edge over inghams price wise

LIZS · 22/10/2023 20:45

Crystal usually do a Learn to Ski package in appropriate resorts . See www.crystalski.co.uk/beginner-ski-holidays/# although focus on France, Italy and Austria suggestions although do also check they are snowsure.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/10/2023 20:45

Go for 7 nights. That is 6 days of skiing. If you do shorter then you leave just as you’re getting the hang of it.

Oriunda · 23/10/2023 04:06

Check holiday dates in Europe. UK half term week next year is the same as France and Italy. We ski in Italy every year and this year was carnival week so the slopes were rammed.

My first ever ski trip was to Romania, and it was grim. Definitely look at Austria or Andorra, but go high. You’ll want a hotel or chalet with a spa, too. I always spend my afternoon in the spa soothing my aching muscles.

Look for ski gear on Facebook or Ebay …. now is a good time to pick stuff up as people look to sell.

Havanananana · 23/10/2023 15:35

For a first ski holiday, unless you are going with someone who knows how things work I would always recommend going with a package company such as Crystal, Inghams or Nielsen.

Everything is taken care of (flights, transfers, hotels, ski hire, ski school etc) and there is someone on hand to make sure that you get to where you need to be on the first couple of days until you get the hang of things.

Half term will always be the most expensive week of the year - which is a bummer if that is the only week you can go. In 2024, half-term in the UK coincides with much of Germany, Scandinavia and France, affecting prices accordingly. Packaged ski holidays are almost always Saturday to Saturday - so seven nights away, with 6 days skiing. Don't worry about resorts being snow-sure - it will not be a problem in mid-February.

Price - I've looked at a few resorts in Austria that I'm familiar with, travelling with Crystal for w/c 10th February and staying half-board (i.e. breakfast and evening meal). Prices range from about £1,500 for good, basic accommodation up to over £2,300 per person for 4/5 star.

In addition, you'll need: Hired skis, boots and a helmet, which will cost about €100 for the week per person. A lift pass is €275-€325 each for the week, depending on the resort. Ski lessons cost about €200 each for group lessons for a week - private lessons can cost as much as €175-€225 for a two-hour lesson, but you can share this between two of you. Lunch on the mountain in Austria is about €25 per person (a bit less in Italy, but much more in France). Drinks are about €6.

Personally I would not choose Bulgaria at half term. It is cheaper than Austria/Italy/France, but for a reason. A better budget option might be Andorra, or possibly Kranjska Gora in Slovenia just over the border from Austria (but not anywhere else in Slovenia), but otherwise stick to those 3 countries.

chopc · 23/10/2023 17:26

Thanks everyone!

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Snowdayplease · 23/10/2023 17:45

Would it be worth (if you live near one) doing some lessons at a dry ski slope first, then you won't be absolute beginners on your holiday

rookiemere · 24/10/2023 08:07

If you don't want a full week this company is great www.skiweekender.com/ and Le Grand Bornand is a very easy resort for beginners.
Unfortunately though it's quite low and snow wasn't great last year, so you might be better in a higher resort, although February half term usually has the best snow ( is why it's so expensive).
My friend and her DD went to Bulgaria last year, she said the hotel was great and had a nice spa. The skiing was limited but as you are beginners that's not really an issue.

chopc · 25/10/2023 12:32

Thanks all. Daughter has been skiing once before and I had an intensive dry ski slope lesson (6 hrs total) already

Will prob go with a company called Heidi as don't really want to go for a full week just the two of us and they offer shorter breaks

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lizkt · 25/10/2023 12:59

Tbh I would go somewhere like Italy or Norway at Feb half term.

France and Austria can be hellish due to their school holidays dates coinciding with ours.

Skistar does good deals in Trysil in Norway in Feb

www.skistar.com

We actually found it cheaper than going to the alps.

Setyoufree · 26/10/2023 19:11

I wouldn't bother too much having lessons here first unless you really want to - you won't be able to ski well enough to ski safely outside of ski school anyway.

Lots of good advice above re. packages and resorts. Depending on where you are in the country, your half term might not coincide with Europe - my bit of Hertfordshire is a week after everyone else which is absolutely brilliant luck this year.

Agree above that Norway is also good. I haven't used their ski school so can't comment on that but would imagine it's good

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