Our members are flocking to the slopes in droves this ski holiday season, with the hope of making up for last year’s snow, ski, and après-piste deprivation. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a guide to our members’ favorite European ski slopes. We’ve covered both the old Alpine favourites and some alternative destinations to seek out exhilarating runs and waist-high powder, including Slovakia and Slovenia. Read on for our tips on where to clip in this ski season.
Switzerland
Dramatic mountain scenery, alluring traffic-free Alpine villages, incredible runs, top mountain restaurants and an endless number of prestigious resorts make Switzerland the ideal spot for a ski holiday. Famous for its unparalleled winter glitz, St Moritz’s 350km of reliably snowy pistes offer world-class skiing, while few can rival Verbier’s challenging high-altitude terrain. Zermatt represents classic Switzerland at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn, Andermatt-Sedrun and Saas Fee’s well-groomed slopes of varying difficulty attract families, and the area of Flims Laax Falera is a hit with snowboarders and freestyles thanks to four terrific terrain parks.
Where to stay while you play: W Verbier, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Carlton Hotel St. Moritz.
France
Soaring mountains, easy access, epic off-piste ski action and resorts suitable for all abilities explain the enduring appeal of the French Alps for a ski holiday. It’s in the northern parts that you’ll find some of France’s most famous ski resorts – Chamonix, Tignes, and Val d’Isère. Then there’s Méribel, Courchevel, and Val Thorens (Europe’s highest ski resort) in the legendary Les Trois Vallèes. With 180 lifts and 600km of skiing on 330 marked pistes, The Three Valleys make up the world’s largest connected ski area – avid skiers flock here for some of the best snow-sure, high-altitude terrain in the Alps.
Where to stay while you play: L’Apogée Courchevel, Airelles Courchevel Les Airelles, Le Refuge Des Aiglons.
Austria
Dotted with chocolate-box villages and surrounded by snowy forests and quaint valleys, Austria’s ski resorts ooze traditional winter wonderland charm. The country is also renowned for having one of the most advanced ski lift systems in the world, as well as sensational snowmaking facilities – and a (usually) epic après-ski scene. Arlberg’s St Anton and Lech Zürs are made for serious skiers and off-piste fans, while Kitzbühel is perfect for intermediates, and Mayrhofen’s phenomenal snow park attracts snowboarders and pro-freestylers. The incredibly well-connected Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn Skicircus offers a wealth of runs, making it a great destination for families enjoying their ski holiday.
Where to stay while you play: Holzhotel Forsthofalm in Leogang, Aqua Dome Tirol Therme, Hotel Bergland.
Italy
Often overlooked in favour of France, Switzerland and Austria, Italy’s three main ski regions – the South Tyrolean Dolomites, Val d’Aosta, and the Savoy Alps west of Turin – impress with their gorgeous scenery, fine ski runs and outstanding mountain food. For glitz and glamour in the Val d’Aosta, look up Courmayeur, for dizzying vertical drops Bormio, and for the most beautiful mountain village Cortina d’Ampezzo. Other well-known resorts include Sestriere, Madonna di Campiglio, and Val Gardena – and for Michelin-starred food, head to Alta Badia in the heart of the Dolomites, which is known as the Alps’ gourmet ski holiday destination.
Where to stay while you play: Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, Faloria Mountain Spa Resort, Cristallo, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Germany
Germany may not be front of mind when planning your ski holiday, but Bavaria’s resorts, while compact, are worth a look. The best known is Garmisch-Partenkirchen near the Austrian border, which forms part of the annual Ski World Cup circuit and is home to Germany’s only glacier ski area, the Zugspitze. Other top resorts include Oberstdorf, Berchtesgaden, Feldberg, and Steinplatte/Winklmoosalm – Waidring/Reit im Winkl, which crosses over into Austria. While these ski regions mainly attract beginners and weekend skiers, more seasoned pros can go in search of thrills and powder along the Zugspitze. You’ll also find excellent cross-country skiing across Bavaria.
Where to stay while you play: Schloss Elmau, Staudacherhof, Reindl’s Partenkirchner Hof.
Slovakia
Slovakia’s ski holiday scene centres on the Tatra Mountains, which is the highest mountain range in Eastern Europe’s Carpathians. What that means for skiers is a well-groomed network of slopes at around 2,000m, with infrastructure from chair lifts to snow parks. While the area remains best known among Russian tourists, the Tatra’s facilities and appeal as a holiday destination have improved immeasurably in recent decades.
From regional capital Poprad, home to an international airport with flights from the UK, the narrow-gauge Tatra Electric Railway climbs to the ski resorts of Starý Smokovec, Štrbské Pleso, and Tatranská Lomnica. The country’s largest resort is Jasná Nízke Tatry, which has around 50km of marked trails and 30 chair lifts. The Tatras, with its rustic restaurants, vestiges of Communism and wolfroamed forests, have a wild, adventurous edge not found in Western European ski destinations.
Where to stay while you play: Borovica Wellness Hotel, Štrbské Pleso, Grandhotel Praha, Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras.
Slovenia
Sharing a border with both Italy and Austria, Slovenia offers a less extravagant alternative to Europe’s big four ski nations. However, with several major resorts within close proximity in the Julian Alps, there’s more to Slovenian skiing than you might expect. The best-known resort is Kranjska Gora, which is an annual World Cup slalom host. Vogel captivates with its unspoilt Triglav National Park setting, while Krvavec in eastern Slovenia is a favourite with locals. All three areas offer a fairly limited terrain and are best suited for beginners and intermediate skiers. Interestingly, the Julian Alps are also gaining a reputation as a burgeoning ski holiday destination.
Where to stay while you play: Hotel Kristal, Hotel Kompas, Hotel Astoria Bled.
Not quite ready for winter and snow? Read our post on the best places to catch the last of the Autumn sun.
