Top 10 European ski destinations
One of the UK and Ireland’s leading ski holiday experts, Directski.com, has come up with its pick of the top ten European ski destinations, for families, non-skiers, advanced skiers, budget conscious skiers and groups of friends, for après ski and spa, for guaranteed snow and for beginners.
1. Best ski resort for a group of friends – Söll, Austria
The Tyrolean resort of Söll is a great choice for a group of skiers travelling together. There is a good selection of properties that take groups and they vary from half board hotels to self catering apartments. All offer fantastic value for money. As well as this you can enjoy the lively après ski while taking advantage of the short airport transfer to resort and the 250km of marked pistes.
A week’s skiing in the Schindlhaus Apartments in the centre of Soll can be booked from as little as £309 per person, based on 4 sharing on a self-catering basis, with return Gatwick flights (flights from Manchester £329, Belfast £379 and Dublin €489) and transfers, departing on 15th January 2011.
2. Best family ski resort – St. Johann, Austria
Mayrhofen is a great choice for a family with its lively town surrounded by mile upon mile of wide open skiing. This pretty Austrian town has excellent English speaking ski schools and crèche facilities and the ski lifts, ski school and ski crèche are close to the centre, while the family-oriented Austrians welcome children.
A 6 night stay costs from £1756 for a family of four sharing a quad room at the Hotel Garni Postschlossl, a family run traditional hotel in the centre of Mayrhofen, departing from Gatwick or Manchester on 9th Jan 2011 (€2396 from Dublin, £1956 from Belfast).
3. Best après ski – Arinsal, Andorra
The prize for best value après ski has to go Andorra for its duty free pricing, inexpensive, great value resorts. The happy hours, discos, lively cafes and restaurants also give the Andorran resort of Arinsal its reputation as one of the liveliest resorts in the mountains.
A week’s skiing with b&b accommodation at the Hotel Ayma can be booked from just £299 from Gatwick, £319 from Manchester, £369 from Belfast and €419 from Dublin including return flights and transfers, departing on 9th January 2011, based on 2 sharing.
4. Best skiing for ski divas – Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere is a traditional village that is now a world famous draw for skiers from around the world. Home to the men’s downhill in the 1992 Olympics it offers extensive, world-class skiing, amazing powder and great opportunities for off-piste adventures.
A week’s skiing in Val d’Isere costs from £299 per person, based on 4 sharing a self-catering apartment in the Residence Le Villeret from 15th January 2010 with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £289, Belfast £339, Dublin €474) and transfers.
5. Best new kid on the block – Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
For a week’s skiing away from the ski glitterati pick somewhere like Slovenia, where the food and nightlife is rustic, the skiing is close to nature and there’s no need to invest in the latest ski gear when you’re bound to come across some classics from the early 1990’s.
7 nights half board accommodation at the 3* Hotel Alpina in the Sovene resort of Kranjska Gora costs from £449, based on 2 sharing, with return Gatwick flights travelling on 5th March 2011 and transfers, (£439 from Manchester, £469 from Belfast, €539 from Dublin).
6. Best beginners resort – Pas de la Casa, Andorra
Learn to ski away from the bright lights of a glitzy resort. Pick somewhere fun and lively like Pas de la Casa in Andorra for cheaper equipment, duty free shopping and great value learn to ski packages, with good, English speaking ski schools and great après ski too.
A week’s skiing with self-catering accommodation at the Apartments Manzano in Pas de la Casa can be booked with Directski.com from £269, with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £289, Belfast £339, Dublin €369) and transfers, departing on 9th January 2011, based on 4 sharing.
A learn to ski pack costs from £225, including 5 half days tuition, ski and boot hire and lift pass.
7. Best for ski & spa – Bad Gastein, Austria
The Austrian spa town of Bad Gastein is world renowned for the healing powers of its natural thermal waters. Its snow record is pretty good too, which makes it a perfect ski and spa combination for those looking to relax after pounding the slopes.
With its steam bath, outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna and massage facilities Directski.com has a week at the Kur & Sporthotel Alpenblick, arriving on 15th January 2010, for £484 per person from Gatwick flight (Manchester £504, Belfast £554, Dublin €744) including return flights, half board accommodation and transfers.
8. Best high altitude skiing – Tignes, France
When the snow’s melting elsewhere Tignes is a cert for the white stuff as Europe’s premier destinations for glacier skiing with the Grand Motte glacier dominating the surrounding area giving it one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. The resort is served by the large well linked L'Espace Killy ski area and offers access to over 300km (190 miles) of pistes.
A 6 night self catering ski holiday in the 3* Borsat IV apartments, based on 4 sharing, costs from just £279 per person including return Gatwick flights (Manchester £289, Belfast £309, Dublin €758) and transfers, departing on 9th January 2011.
9. Best budget skiing - France
The best way to trim the cost of a ski holiday is to ski in mid-January when Christmas and New Year are over, but before half term, take some friends, find a good value apartment in the French Alps and play at sardines. France’s Brides les Bains is only a gondola ride away from Meribel’s main centre which keeps the prices lower but still offers 600km of piste.
Departing on 9th January 2011 Directski.com has 6 day’s self-catering ski holiday in France's Brides les Bains for £239 per person from Gatwick (£249 from Manchester. £269 from Belfast and €329 from Dublin) including self-catering accommodation at the 3* Le Grand Chalet apartments, return fights and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
10. Best non-ski activities – Zell am See, Austria
For non-skiers and those wanting to take a break from the slopes Zell am See has masses to offer, including tobogganing, bowling, a sports centre with indoor pool, ice-skating, snow shoeing, sleigh rides and cinema. It’s pretty lakeside setting and good rail links with other resorts and cities makes it a pleasant base for touring too.
7 nights half board accommodation at the 3* Hotel Seehof costs from £479, based on 2 sharing, with return Gatwick flights and transfers, (£539 from Manchester, £589 from Belfast, €729 from Dublin), departing on 15th January 2011.
For more information and bookings, visit: Directski.com
