Booking my first ever ski trip- no idea where to start

[piddocktrumperiness]

I'm hoping to book a ski trip next Feb half term and really don't know where to start. Two adults, no kids going- my DP has been skiing before, when he was in school- I am a complete novice.
I'd like some help with the following please:

• Which sites shall I browse?
• How many days is enough?
• What resorts or areas in Europe do you recommend?
• How much do you budget for a trip, all in?

Any other tips, do's and don'ts would be appreciated

It’s definitely cheaper to DIY your trip but as first timers I would take the stress out of it and go with a tour operator who will organise it all for you and provide a rep who can you can ask questions and book anything else you may need in resort.

it’s overwhelming when you’re not familiar with ski trips, a lot of organising and lots of the time you’re not sure what you’re doing. A tour operator should take the stress out of it and use your energy to learn and enjoy!

Have a look at Andorra. Excellent ski schools, lift passes much cheaper than the big French resorts. We went a couple of times when we were fairly new to skiing and enjoyed it. Whatever you decide pick accommodation that is, ideally, ski in ski out, you don’t want to be trudging too far in your boots carrying your skis to the pistes.

Crystal Ski have a half term week in Arinsal Andorra , £1249, half board. Hotel Montané. Next to gondola station. Other hotels too.,

I think we did Christmas week in Courcheval for 5k for 4 of us, in a Chalet Hotel, though its technically snow sure in retrospect I realise we were lucky to have great snow.

That £800 is for return flights for two people.
No that is per person. We have decided to drive it!

So good advice is probably avoid France/Switzerland!!

To a certain extent, when you are learning it doesn't matter where you go as you won't need a large piste area, so you might as well go somewhere cheaper and save the £££s for when you are a better skier.

If you're happy to be a bit more adventurous than western Europe, Crystal Skihave a very nice looking hotel in Bosnia for £1057pp in half term (half board) - https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-holidays/bookaccommodation?productCode=953303&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&duration=7&flexibleDays=1&airports%5B%5D=LGW&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=11-02-2024&pkg=4348222619/3/771/7&tra_o=1317431945/4632624&tra_i=1317432005/4632625&units%5B%5D=&packageId=953303BASJ000417076096000001707609600000TOM57417082144000001708214400000TOM575DD014348222619/3/771/7&index=4&multiSelect=true&brandType=C&bb=HB&room=&isVilla=false&searchType=SKI&durationCode=7115&rmpc=1|2|0|0|0|&rmtp=DD01&rmbb=HB&fc=n&greatDealDiscount=0&bb=HB&price=pp

No its not.

Skyscanner is showing a return from Gatwick to Geneva, Saturday 10th February to Saturday 17th February (half term week) for £367 pp, £734 for two.
Or return to Luton, same dates for £409 pp (£818 for two).
Screenshot attached.

We drive as there's 4 of us, so driving is cheaper. For only two adults, with them splitting the cost, those prices aren't bad for half term week.

Ok you’re right @RhubarbFairy sorry if I’ve been misleading OP, because yes technically can be done for less but those are awful flight times so I had personally discounted them as viable options. I’m not happy to take a 2am transfer bus (do they even exist?) to make a 7am return flight given you want to be there 2 hours before and most resorts are several hours away. Equally not ok with landing at 9/10pm given it usually takes a while to get through Geneva esp if waiting on checked bags then you have to find and wait for a shared transfer, hours on a bus, possibly change buses not at your accommodation until the early hours. I was also looking at Gatwick as it’s the most convenient for us (along with Heathrow but that was even worse) and couldn’t find any half decent flight times for less than £700 pp and that was excluding any luggage or seat selections. Ugh. So driving it is especially as there are 4 of us. Feb HT is crazy!

I'm so grateful as there are things I would not have thought about- I am leaning towards Austria than France as it appears cheaper but will keep looking.

These are all fair points, too. Apologies, I got a bit gung-ho in proving that I was right.

This is where we stayed at Christmas in Rauris.

www.booking.com/Share-nQjGuZ

Ski school/nursery slope/main lift is right outside your door. It's a tiny resort, so it's impossible to get lost as a beginner. We learned to ski there in February 2020, and the conditions were perfect.

You can get direct flights from London to Salzburg for around £500pp rtn (and nice flight times too!), and it's an hour by direct train from Salzburg, plus a 15 minute taxi or bus ride from the train station the other end.

The accommodation is absolutely fantastic, and the spa will be very welcome when you're aching on day 3. Lovely bar onsite, as well as a livelier one that looked like it had a decent après atmosphere whenever I went past in the evening. It's not a huge party resort, but there's a few bars that hold their own within walking distance of the hotel.

@RhubarbFairy thank you! :)

No worries @RhubarbFairy I think I had been presumptuous by assuming that because my straight from the nightclub dance floor to the transfer bus days are long behind me that OP would be the same. She could be total party animal for all we know! So good to have all the options. Also your place in Rauris looks AMAZING and flights at decent times aren’t too expensive either.