First time advice

[Mover2024]

Hi all

DH and I are skiing in Feb in the Italian alps. I've been once before but a long time ago and DH has never been.

We have booked the hotel. They have advised us they do a shuttle to the slopes. What do we need to organise please? We've bought all the gear.

Thanks!

Book lessons and book them early.

When you say you've bought "all the gear" - what exactly do you mean ?

ski suit, socks, thermal layers top and bottom, gloves / mittens, inner gloves, crash helmet / hat ? Don't bother with ski boots and skis - rent these in the resort. If you have never skied before or only once you won't know how boots feel / fit when you're actually skiing so best get them there so you can take them back if they don't feel right

Are you going on a package so that transfers are sorted ? If you're driving yourselves are you familiar with snow chains ?

Booking lessons - ask for recommendations, eg trip adviser / friends / the hotel. Please don't think you'll be able to teach your DH with one week under your belt. be prepared for separate lessons as he's a complete beginner. Get morning lessons, so you can practise in the afternoons. The temptation to go out later in the mornings with afternoon lessons would be too great for me! If you're thinking of a private instructor for the 2 of you - again - it might be best to split the time a bit. I'd be tempted to wait until you are there and take advice from the ski school on which lift pass you will need. Beginners won't necessarily need the full area pass

Before you go - get as fit as you can - it's bloody tiring getting up of the ground all the time. Be prepared for the 2nd and 3rd day stiffness. If your hotel has a spa (and many do in Italy) book a massage and use the jacuzzi for those sore muscles.

Just how far is the hotel from the main resort area ? Does their transport run into the evening so you can go into the village / town of an evening ?

Make sure your holiday insurance covers ski-ing and mountain evacuation - the Ski Club of GB does a good one.

Can't think of anything else just now, but that's plenty to be thinking about.
Have fun!

Walkie talkies in case you get separated and phones don't work, or plan to stay together

There's a whole thread on this on MN - nobody has seen a walkie-talkie on the pistes in a long time. It is just one more thing to faff about with, and since the OP and partner are pretty much beginners, they're going to be in the same areas (and possibly in the same lessons) together.

You'll need lift passes to get up the mountain - most people buy a weekly pass from the lift station ( sometimes available from the hotel or ski school). As ^^ the ski school will tell you which pass to buy.

Ski school for adult beginners (groups are cheapest and can be very social and fun - private lessons cost more but you might progress quicker). As you are going in February you MUST book this in advance as classes fill up quickly. Ask the hotel or Tour Operator for recommendations.

Ski and boot rental - your hotel will have a rental shop that they recommend, or sometimes they offer their own in-house rental.

Remember that you'll need travel insurance that includes winter sports. Your travel insurance might already have this, as might any CC or Bank Acc travel insurance - or it might be available as a cheap add-on.

Ibuprofen - can be very expensive in the Alps, and when you need it (for aching legs or a sore head) you need it 😩 and you don't want to be wandering around the village looking for the Apothek. Take a packet with you.

Some cash - not everywhere on the mountains takes cards or electronic payments, or there is a minimum spend.

Get fit

and

Get fit

and if you get a chance

Get fitter.

It transforms your ski experience

A small light back pack with a camelbak is also useful

Make sure you have comfy shoes for wearing when you are not skiing.

We pack some high energy snacks to have in our pocket on the slopes along with a hip flask with ginger wine in!

Definitely organise lessons in advance. Also worth ordering your skipass online as most places let you pick it up from a box to save you waiting in a massive queue when you get there.

Thanks for all the advice! Noted.

I have emailed the ski school but apparently they don't open until November and you can't book online, so I don't know what to do

Don't worry too much about the ski school just yet - if they are not open until November then nobody else will be booking the times and dates that you want, so just send an email and they'll get back to you once someone is there - but start to chase in November if you haven't heard from them.

These days there is no issue waiting to buy the lift tickets until you've spoken to the ski school. The modern ticketing systems are quick and the old days of queuing for ages to buy the tickets on a Sunday morning have long since passed. Once you've heard from the ski school and asked about the lift tickets you can begin to think about buying online or when you arrive.

I beg to differ @Havanananana .. there were massive queues last year in Val d'Aosta and we smugly sauntered up to the box to print ours off.

You're right though, best to see what the ski school says in terms of what pass to buy and can be done the day before.

Lift passes are all digital these days so nothing to print off.

When you get your lift pass take a photo of it then put in the left arm pocket of your ski jacket and don’t touch it for the remainder of the holiday.

If it’s a shuttle to the slopes you may be able to hire a locker close to the slopes. This allows you to leave your skis and ski boots there and travel in more comfortable boots without having to trek all your gear about. You will be able to sort this when you get there.

Which resort are you going to? People may be able to give more specific advice. The point about hiring a locker is a good one - if you have to shuttle back and forth, then not having to schlep all your kit with you is a godsend.
People may have other nuggets of wisdom specific to the resort you're going to too.

I wouldn't rush to get a camelbak. Most chairlifts have signs on them telling you to take backpacks off before getting on the lift. Very many people don't do this, BUT I watched ski instructors making their pupils do this last year. Trying to wrangle a backpack every time you go on a lift (which may well be often, as you'll likely be using quite short slopes) would be a PITA as a beginner.