Skiing 101 : Booking A Skiing Vacation

Ski trips are the focus of this installment of our learn to ski guide.

Character and ambiance are just two of the many features of a resort that you will need to think about before selecting the right one for your ski trip; other considerations being budget, location, and what facilities are offered. So, let’s look at each of those important considerations individually

The three most popular skiing locations are Canada, France, and the U.S., however Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, and Switzerland are also well-liked destinations. While prices may vary a great deal during different times of the year, the better-known countries will most likely be more expensive. Going at the start or end of the ski season can result in considerable discounts.

As far as costs go, just some of the outlay for your trip will go towards travel and lodging as well as expenses for food and beverages, but you must also remember that you will be paying for passes, maybe lessons, equipment rental, and a very important, but often over-looked expense, insurance. When searching for affordable air fare and lodging, remember to ask about the costs of these other items. Prices for everything tend to be higher than they would be in your hometown due to the lack of stores (and thus price competitiveness) in the mountains. To minimize costs, plan carefully and take with you those things that could be more expensive in the resort town, and do a bit of advance research to see what discounts you might find on-line for the things you will need.

Every country is different and every resort is different, so after you have decided on a location, make sure that the quality and types of facilities in which you are interested are offered by that country and/or resort. Major considerations will include lodging types (everything from dormitories to hotels to chalets); access to eating establishments and night clubs; and finally what types of activities are available, as perhaps you wish to snowboard, toboggan or ice skate while on your trip. Prices for all of these things can be drastically different from resort to resort, and you cannot rely on the price to give you a clue as to quality. Being cost conscious does not mean that you have to give up amenities and services, however, when you take in to account that countries like Bulgaria and Andorra are home to ski resorts that rival those of the better-known properties in more prominent countries.

While almost an intangible, it is also important to consider the character and ambiance of the ski resort you choose. Your personal vision of what a ski vacation means to you should drive your choice as to resort selection – you may wish to have a more cutting-edge resort with all the modern conveniences, or you may wish to forego high-speed internet in lieu of a small village where you can taste and feel the local culture. Are you looking for quiet, relaxing nights or late-night partying? Each resort has a little something different to offer, and it will make your stay more enjoyable if you do a little research on the front end to see what matches your tastes and expectations.

No need to worry about international toll calls when the internet is available to assist you with your research – to find the prices, services, and amenities of a resort, visit each one’s official website, and don’t just take it from them, type the resort name and ‘+ review’ into a search engine to see what other visitors have said about it.

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