Early Bird Skier: Europe Ski Resort Guide

If you’re looking for a ski holiday, price and location are usually two of the most important essentials to consider.

While first timers and those with young families will want gentle slopes to get their ski legs on, groups might want a lively night scene and others the beautiful scenery. Luckily, the huge number of resorts in Europe cater for all these things and lots more.

So whether you’re an experienced skier, a complete novice or just enjoy a bit of après ski action, here’s our guide to some of the best resorts in the Alps.

Allez! Allez!

(or, “Come on, let’s go!”)

Families: La Plagne

The abundance of nursery slopes and high altitude in La Plagne means snow coverage is more reliable, so younger and less experienced skiers won’t have as much ice to deal with on inevitable tumbles. Plus, if you’re travelling with little ones, there are plenty of baby care facilities available while you hit the slopes. The resort also offers family ski passes for two adults and two children (aged 6 to 17) which will save you precious pennies.

Nightlife: Morzine

After a hard day on the mountains, most skiers like to recharge the batteries with a spot of après ski – and there are few places better than Morzine for this. There are a variety of bars in the resort, many of them located along the aptly named ‘Bar Street’ or the Taille de Mas du Pleney, so you can move from place to place without getting too chilly. Many night spots have live music and international DJs so the dance floors are often jam-packed.

Advanced skiers: La Grave

This small resort in France is definitely not for beginners! La Grave is famously unpisted meaning there are plenty of opportunities for hardcore skiers and boarders to test their skills. The area is popular for off-piste and extreme skiers with two main routes of descent available including some of the world’s most exciting terrain.

Value for Money: La Norma

Nicknamed “La station cosy” (or, the cosy ski resort), La Norma is a small village in the Savoy area of the Alps which is yet to be discovered by the masses. Despite its size, there are still plenty of excellent slopes that are relatively quiet. Better yet, it’s fantastic value for money. Eating out at a mountain restaurant is inexpensive compared to some of the more popular ski resorts, while an adult lift pass is also reasonably priced at €143 for six days of skiing. Shuttle buses and a cable car also give you easy access to nearby Val Thorens if you want more options.

Beginners: Alpe d’Huez

The wide, gentle nursery slopes and green runs in Alpe d’Huez are ideal for beginners, while there are also speed restrictions in place to provide more space on busier slopes. The resort offers four free lifts and a special pass for beginners, which is much cheaper than the full pass, and the ski schools here are also very popular with novices.

Scenery: Chamonix

This beautiful area of France is the oldest ski resort in the country and offers some of the best mountain skiing in Europe. The resort is located next to the peak of Mont Blanc, and offers amazing views of the pretty town, nearby valleys and snow-topped mountains. The slopes are great here, but the scenery is even better.

If this makes you want to hit the slopes, grab an early ski deal on our site and save money on a resort that suits you.