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Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

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Original poster

High altitude + short transfer + quiet at Xmas?

27 replies

Decisionsdecisions1 · 14/04/2026 20:51

Any recs for a snow sure resort for Xmas/NY in December with a short transfer (as likely to be for less than a week) and somewhere likely to be quiet?

We’re literally going to ski - not bothered about restaurants/bars/non ski activities and don’t need lessons. So basic, ugly and non trendy would suit us fine!

Am a bit stumped as it’s very different from our usual trips (Easter Tignes or St Anton Feb half term).

OP posts:

HelmholtzWatson · 01/05/2026 03:39

Havanananana · 30/04/2026 15:09

@Decisionsdecisions1

Unless you have a private Learjet and can fly into Courchevel airport, for a short transfer you can't really beat flying to Salzburg and then going to any of the resorts within 60-90 minutes from the airport. Most are snow-sure, either because they get good natural snowfall or because they have invested heavily in snow-making. Altitude is less of an issue in central Austria than it is in France, but if all else fails, there is the option of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun.

You could book flights (Easyjet, BA, Ryanair, Eurowings, Jet2) as soon as you have confirmed your dates, and then keep an eye on the snow during November and December before finally deciding on a resort. Bergfex has webcams and snow forecasts for a multitude of resorts - you could look at Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Leogang, Zell am See, Bad Gastein, Flachau, Wagrain, Maria Alm and the Hochkoenig area or the Steinplatte area. Christmas is always going to be busy, but nowhere near as busy as New Year or half-term.

Another good source of info regarding all things skiing is the Snowheads forum - Ski Club 2.0, real snow reports! :: snowHeads global ski club

The only issue with Kitzsteinhorn is that unless there is good overall coverage then everyone from Zell and Kaprun heads there and it gets very busy. I've skied there over Xmas, and as much as I adore Zell am See, I wouldn't do it again.

I personally wouldn't do the other Austrian resorts either at Xmas unless I got a good deal. They are typically below 1000m at the lowest level, and while runs can be open, they can deteriorate quickly in typical temperatures.

But yes, definitely check out snowheads - they are very polite and well-informed as many posters live in these resorts.

retiredhorse · 01/05/2026 07:03

We went to Flaine over Christmas. Arrived on the 23rd. We had good snow and skiing on Christmas Day was soooo quiet, but from 26th it was insanely busy (worst than any Feb half term I have ever skied) but some of the nearby resorts did not have much snow which made it even busier. Apparently Boxing Day onwards normally gets very busy.

I’ve also liked cervinia but not over Christmas. We were not fans due to the wind, which of course could have been a one off, but even though we are pretty experienced skiers it was vvv challenging (and you could not get across to zermatt the entire week)

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