The Brit’s choice - Top ten ski resorts
Over a million British guests are expected to flock to the ski slopes this winter. UK ski tour operator and online ski specialist Directski.com, give their recommendations as to the top ten ski holiday destinations, by category, for everyone from beginners to those looking for the greenest ski holiday this winter.1. Best beginners’ skiing – Arinsal, Andorra
60% of Brits fall into the `beginner’ category so an unpretentious resort like Arinsal, away from the glare of Europe’s superior skiers and prices that are among the best value in western Europe is ideal.
A week’s skiing for 6 sharing an apartment at the Hotel Ayma can be booked for £319 per person, with return Gatwick flights (Manchester from £339) and transfers.
2. Best green skiing – take the train to Les Arcs
Reduce your ski carbon footprint and take the Eurostar ski train direct from St. Pancras to Bourg St. Maurice then a short local transfer to Les Arcs. The ski train travels overnight on a Friday, giving `green’ skiers a bonus day on the slopes, as those who fly arrive later in the day.
A week’s self catering stay for 6 friends costs from £329, including return train travel from St. Pancras and transfers.
3. Best family ski resort - Kaprun, Austria
The Austrian’s are notoriously family minded and with short airport transfers and excellent family facilities, from the sports centre to the kids’ ski school, Kaprun is a popular choice for families. Many hotels have child friendly facilities too, the Gasthof Zur Muhle has quadruple family rooms, an outdoor heated pool, table tennis and table football, a sauna, solarium, steam bath and the ski bus stops right outside.
A week’s stay at the Sporthotel Kaprun costs from £419 per adult, kids under 7 stay free and kids 13 and under pay half price, including return Gatwick and Manchester flights and transfers.
4. Best value skiing – Pas de la Casa, Andorra
The prize for best value ski holidays and 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 Pas de la Casa its reputation as one of the liveliest resorts in the mountains.
A week’s skiing with self-catering accommodation at the Frontera Blanca apartments can be booked for just £249, with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £269) and transfers, based on 6 sharing.
5. Best advanced skiing - St. Anton, Austria
It’s said a blue run is a red, a red is a black in St. Anton, blessed with world-class skiing, amazing powder and opportunities for huge off-piste mileage. A good skier can spend much time off-piste and, with its chic and stylish village centre, a good shopper will be fairly content too.
7 nights b&b at the 3* Hotel Tirolerhof in St. Anton costs from £489 per person, with return Gatwick flights and transfers.
6. Best après ski - Livigno, Italy
Start early and finish late in the tax free Italian resort of Livigno, with its reputation for great skiing, lively après ski and numerous watering holes. The resort has access to over 100kms of pistes and even more bars, clubs and reasonably prices restaurants.
DirectSki.com has a selection of self catering apartments from £319 per person, based on 2 sharing, including return Gatwick flights and transfers.
7. Best ski & spa – Bad Gastein, Austria
The Austrian spa town of Bad Gatsein is world renowned for the healing powers of its natural thermal waters. It’s snow record is pretty good too, which makes it a perfect ski and spa combination for those looking to relax after pounding the slopes.
A week’s half board ski holiday in Bad Gastein can be booked for £349 per person, including return Gatwick flights and transfers. Famed for its wellness facilities is the Hotel Cordial Sanotel, where a week’s half board stay costs from £519, with flights.
8. Best cross country skiing - Oslo
More than 2,600 km (1,600 miles) of prepared cross-country ski trails run deep into the forests around Oslo, of which 90 km are lit for evening tours. The ski resort of Tryvann Vinterpark is just 20 minutes from the city.
A three night b&b stay at the 3* Thon Hotel in Oslo costs from £439, with return flights and transfers.
9. Best ski weekend – Lillehammer, Norway
The former Winter Olympic ski resort of Lillehammer has all the ingredients of a great ski weekend, with guaranteed snow from November through to April, great skiing, lovely hotels and a short airport transfer. Non-skiers can enjoy tobogganing, luge, sleigh rides, ice-skating and snowy walks.
A 3 night half board trip to Lillehammer costs from £339, with b&b accommodation at the Hotel Molla, return flights from Gatwick and transfers.
10. Best non-ski activities
For non-skiers and those wanting to take a break from the slopes the Tirolean resort of Soll has tobogganing, bowling, a leisure centre with indoor sports, squash, tennis, swimming, ice-skating, hang-gliding, sleigh rides, cleared walks, massage and spa facilities.
7 nights half board accommodation at Hotel Teni Garni costs from £419 with return Gatwick flights and transfers, £429 from Manchester.
For more information or to book, visit Directski.com.
