Directski.com's top 10 ski resorts for 2012
Directski.com, has come up with its pick of the top ten European ski destinations for all types of skier.
1. Best ski resort for friends – Söll, Austria
Söll is a good choice for a group of mixed ability skiers and non-skiers, as it has lively après, ski, a pretty village atmosphere, access to 250kms of ski runs, good ski school and gentle nursery slopes, and masses to do for non-skiers, such as curling, ice-skating, swimming, paragliding or indoor tennis. When the lifts stop, the entertainment ranges from authentic Tirolean, to modern and Eurotrash, with masses of bars, clubs and restaurants.
A week’s ski holiday with accommodation at the Schindlhaus Apartments in the centre of Soll can be booked over Christmas 2011 from as little as £335 from Gatwick and £255 from Manchester based on 4 sharing on a self-catering basis, departing on 24th December 2011.
2. Best family ski resort – Mayrhofen, Austria
The traditional Tirolean town of Mayrhofen is a good choice for a family ski holiday, with its friendly family-run hotels, streets lined with brightly lit shops and restaurants, English speaking ski schools and good crèche facilities, while the town is surrounded by mile upon mile of excellent skiing. The ski schools, crèche and the ski lifts, ski school are also all close to the centre, simplifying pre-ski drop off and pick up for younger kids.
A week’s stay costs from £563 for a family of four at the Alpin-Hotel Schrofenblick, a family run traditional hotel in the centre of Mayrhofen, departing from Gatwick or £603 from Manchester, including return flights, accommodation and transfers on 14th Jan 2012 (€788 from Dublin, £623 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. The skiing’s pretty good too!
A week’s skiing with b&b accommodation at the Hotel Ayma can be booked from just £342 from Gatwick, £382 from Manchester and €417 from Dublin including return flights and transfers, departing on 8th January 2012, based on 4 sharing.
4. Best skiing for ski divas – Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere is one of the world’s top ski resorts and draws 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. If you want to be seen in all the right places, it has to be on the piste in Val d’Isere.
A week’s skiing in Val d’Isere over New Years costs from £416 per person, based on 2 sharing a self-catering apartment in the Residence Le Villeret from 31st December 2011 with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £436, Belfast £476, Dublin €605) 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 one piece classics from the early 1990’s.
7 nights half board accommodation at the 4* Hotel Lek in the Slovene resort of Kranjska Gora costs from £283, based on 2 sharing, travelling on 7th January 2012.
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 Aparthotel Olimpiades in Pas de la Casa can be booked with Directski.com from £387 per person with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £427, Dublin €468) and transfers, departing on 8th January 2012, based on 4 sharing.
A learn to ski pack costs from £225 / €260, 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 soothing properties and the alleged 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 4* Sporthotel Alpina, arriving on 14th January 2011, for £412 per person from Gatwick, £452 from Manchester (Belfast £472, Dublin €555) including return flights, half board accommodation and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
8. Best high altitude skiing – Tignes, France
When the snow’s melting elsewhere Tignes is a cert for the white stuff and is one of 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 week’s self catering ski holiday at the 3* Le Hameau du Borsat apartments, based on 4 sharing, costs from £329 per person, departing on 14th January 2012, including return flights from Gatwick or £349 from Manchester and transfers, (Belfast £369, Dublin €430).
9. Best budget skiing
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 self-cater for a week. France’s La Plagne together with Les Arcs is one of the largest ski areas in the world with extensive access to high altitude skiing on uncrowded pistes.
Departing on 17th December 2011 Directski.com has a week’s self-catering ski holiday in France's La Plagne for £259 per person from Gatwick (£239 from Manchester) including self-catering accommodation at the 3* Belambra Residence Cassiopee apartments, return fights and transfers, based on 4 sharing. The prices tumble further for larger group sizes.
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 – with its pretty lake - has masses to offer, including tobogganing, bowling, a sports centre with indoor pool, ice-skating, snow shoeing, sleigh rides and cinema. Its good rail links with other resorts and Austria’s cities makes it a pleasant base for touring too.
7 nights half board accommodation at the 3* Hotel Seehof costs from £496, based on 4 sharing, with return Gatwick flights and transfers, (£506 from Manchester, £566 from Belfast, €643 from Dublin), departing on 7th January 2011. For more information, visit directski.com.