Some people want sun, sea, and sand when they go away on holiday, especially if they live in the UK. You spend all year complaining about the cold weather so travel is the perfect opportunity to soak up some of that sun that you’ve been missing at home.
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There’s no way that you’d ever want to go somewhere that’s even colder than it is at home, surely? That’s not true for everybody and a skiing holiday is one of the best alternative ways to spend a relaxing week away, even if it is freezing cold.
There are plenty of great ski destinations around the globe and as a first timer, it’s difficult to work out which are the best ones and where you should go.
There are a couple of things you should look for when choosing a ski resort to visit. The first is the slopes themselves, of course; if you’re a beginner, you need to find somewhere that has some easy slopes that you can learn on, as well as good lessons.
Most places will have that so it’s not too much of a problem. The second thing to consider is the rest of the resort and what it has to offer.
This depends on what kind of holiday you’re after. Ski resorts are fast taking over hotter countries as party destinations so you can easily find some that have great nightlife to enjoy after a day on the slopes.
But if you want something a little more relaxing, you should look for some of the more traditional resorts with nice log cabins and hot tubs in place of nightclubs and bars. With all that in mind, these are some of the best ski locations around the world.
Zinal And Grimentz, Switzerland
If you’re looking to spend a week skiing, relaxing and enjoying the rustic charm of a traditional mountain town, Zinal and Grimentz in Switzerland are the perfect resorts for you.
They’re not that well known so you won’t be inundated with thousands of tourists, making for a peaceful skiing experience.
This is also a bonus if you’re learning because it can be a bit daunting if there are loads of people whizzing down the mountain around you.
The village of Grimentz itself is a tiny, traditional village filled with loads of quaint little restaurants and traditional wooden chalets you can stay in while you’re there. It’s ideal for anybody that wants the quintessential ski experience.
Meribel, France
The French Alps are, of course, one of the best places in the world to go skiing. A lot of the resorts are quite busy but the ones around Meribel aren’t too bad, particularly Chalet Les Bartavelles.
You’ll get a lot of the same charm you’d find in Zinal and Grimentz, but the accommodation isn’t quite so basic. The luxury ski chalet Les Bartavelles has to offer come equipped with hot tubs, pool tables and entertainment systems so you’ve got plenty to do after a hard day of skiing.
It’s not that far to get down to Meribel where there are plenty of great places to eat and drink as well.
St Anton, Austria
If a relaxing stay in one of those resorts sounds a bit dull and you want something a bit more lively, you’ll want to visit one of the many apres ski resorts around the world.
Apres ski translates as ‘after ski’ and these are the resorts that are famed for the parties they host in the evening after a day on the slopes. St Anton in Austria is often credited with creating the apres ski resort culture and the famous hotspots are still there.
The Mooserwirt’s bar claims to sell more beer than anywhere else in the country, whether that’s true or not, you can be sure that you’ll find plenty of partygoers there any time of year.
There are also a lot of good beginner slopes there where you can learn to ski and hone your skills before heading out on some of the more advanced runs.
There are loads of great bars all over the place and most of them stay open until the early hours of the morning so if you’re looking for somewhere to party, there’s nowhere better than St Anton.
Tremblant, Canada
St Anton isn’t exactly ideal if you’re taking a family trip so you’ll want to go somewhere like Tremblant in Canada instead.
This great ski resort in Quebec, in the French-speaking area of Canada, is perfect for families. The entire village is traffic free so you don’t need to worry about the kids running into the road.
The ski school there also offers a great course of lessons for kids and adults alike so the whole family can learn to ski.
These are some of the best ski resorts around the world to suit all tastes.
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Happy Travels
