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10 of the best ski resorts

 

Take your pick from the bustle and charm of European skiing to the famous slopes in the States.

 

1. FAMILY FRIENDLY

Andorra

The sun shines a lot in Andorra: some 300 days a year. That’s a record worthy of note, particularly if you have small children in tow. In fact, Andorra boasts five resorts that are perfect for kids. The whole feel is somewhat amatuer by comparison with France or Switzerland, and the slopes would not challenge the good intermediate skier. But it’s a great choice for first-timers and families. All the resorts offer day nurseries for the very small, and there are ski kindergartens for five to 12-year-olds.

 

2. SCENIC SKIING

Zermatt, Switzerland

No other European resort can match the charm of the world’s most famous year-round skiing and climbing resort. Dominated by the angular eminence of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a remarkably peaceful getaway, and the village is tranquil thanks to its car-free environment. Amazingly picturesque, Zermatt holds the world’s second biggest lift-served vertical drop and receives huge snowfalls thanks to its altitude (and some help from snowmakers on the lower slopes). The resort has an unbeatable combination of extensive and high snowsure slopes, spectacular high-mountain scenery, the world’s best mountain restaurants and a charming, old village that you reach by train.

 

3. CELEBRITY SPOTTING

Aspen, Colorado

Want to ski with the rich and famous? Then Aspen is the place to be. Filled with steeps and bumps, this resort has some of the most varied slopes on four separate mountains linked by efficient free shuttle-buses. As the resort-of-choice for the ‘better off’, Aspen has a tendency to get slightly expensive. The town is a beautifully restored former Wild West 19th century silver-mining town with great bars, restaurants and hotels ­ and although it is popular with the jet-set they are keen not to be recognised. High-profile couples who revel in Aspen’s contagious atmosphere include Melanie Griffiths and Antonio Banderas, and Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

 

4. GROUP SKI

Chamonix, France

One look at the awesome glacial mountains that tower above the Chamonix Valley and you will understand why this place is the undisputed mecca for winter sports. Host of the world’s first Winter Olympic Games in 1924, Chamonix ranks among the elite of ski resorts. Located at the foot of Mont-Blanc, it’s the highest peak in the Alps and the second highest in Europe. The mountain town bustles with activity, improving year on year with its colourful array of shops, bars and restaurants. The evening starts early with aprés ski and finishes early. In the small hours that is.

 

5. SKI AND SPA TREAT

Bad Gastein, Austria

Basking in fresh mountain air and a fog-free setting at 1,000 metres above sea level, Bad Gastein first gained fame as a thermal spa. It is still Austria’s top spa and one of the best-known in Europe. Always-reliable snow conditions, attractive ski runs and cross-country trails featuring all levels of difficulty, are what make Gastein’s winter paradise so exceptional. Bad Gastein also houses a casino and a collection of once-grand hotels. Because of the spas, the resort once attracted the upper crust of society and a rather etiquette-conscious clientele. The modern ski tourist, however, has softened the stiff rules so you can holiday elegantly, complete with black tie, or stay casual in your ski jacket.

 

6. ACTIVE APRÉS SKI

Lillehammer, Norway  

Host to the 1994 Winter Olympics, Lillehammer is considered Norway’s oldest winter sports resort. It has an enticing combination of Norwegian tradition and exciting winter activities with restaurants, bars, shops and museums in the centre and ski slopes and ski schools just 20 minutes tram ride away. There is a lot to do in Lillehammer after the sun goes down with traditional lively pubs to international discotheques. There are too many to list but don’t miss the superb rooftop bar at the Mølla with amazing panoramic views of Lillehammer and the Brenneriet, one of Norway’s largest nightclubs.

 

7. CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

Bansko, Bulgaria

Bansko is a quaint town dating back to medieval times, which over the past two years has been transformed into a winter destination that can truly compete with the Alps - at a fraction of the cost. The skiing is surprisingly good, with the lower runs through the trees and open bowl skiing at the top of the area, offering fresh tracks in deep powder. The ski resorts in Bulgaria sell mainly on price and their services don’t quite match up to their European counterparts, but they are improving.

 

8. SNOWBOARDERS WELCOME

Tignes, France

Tignes is one of the largest and most popular snowboarding resorts in France. At an altitude of 2,100ft the resort is a part of the L’Espace Killy area which covers over 300km of piste. Tignes also offers a great variety of off-piste and its close links with the party action of Val d’Isere only adds to its attraction. If you are a snowboarding beginner, Tignes has a good variety of novice slopes and high levels of tuition in both freestyle and free riding. There are also plenty of beginner’s courses on offer.

 

9. ROMANTIC SLOPES 

Gstaad, Switzerland

Gstaad is a fairytale resort. Surrounded by Alps, the town’s most prominent feature is a picturesque castle that sits on a hill overlooking the village. At night, the Palace Hotel is lit by spotlights and the eves of every chalet in the village are illuminated by small white lights. Gstaad is known for its luxury hotels and shopping, excellent service, and international stars, as well as being one of the largest ski areas in Europe. Visitors can ski the entire Gstaad ‘Super Ski Region’, which is comprised of some six sectors, over 70 lifts, and 250 kilometers of trails.

 

10. WEEKEND SKI BREAK

Pragelato Resort, Italy

Pragelato is a new ski and spa resort in the Chison Valley, located in the beautiful Piedmont region. On the doorstep of the Milky Way, it stretches over an area of seven hectares. A keen slope basher can enjoy covering the 440km of terrain under one ski pass. The hotel consists of one and two bedroom executive suites within individual chalets, furnished in an elegant mountain style. The resort is also very attractive in terms of accessibility with flights from Dublin to Milan Malpensa. And if Mother Nature doesn’t work her magic, the resort can produce its own snow.  

 

Any comments or queries are welcome and will be responded to accordingly 

So you think you can ski

Having mastered the basics, Karen Creed falls head over heels for skiing on the Austrian slopes.

 

Accident prone people are generally a danger on the slopes. That doesn’t stop me from taking ski holidays. My motto is if there are mountains and snow, I will put my ski gear to good use. Having tumbled my way down the slopes of Vermont, grasped the basics in Tignes and perfected them in Lillehammer, by the time my fourth ski holiday came around I was feeling rather confident.

 

Austria came highly recommended from other passionate skiers. Given its landscape and climate it’s no surprise that skiing is one of the country’s most popular outdoor activities. Most of the Austrian Alpine resorts were villages before they were ski bases, and so retain a certain rustic charm. As I was soon to find out this is no pile-em-high, ski-em-cheap experience. The country's natural reserve means mountain tourism has stayed on the right side of rampant, while still offering a range of accommodation, high-tech lifts, and well-organised, connected ski areas. The ski zones offers spectacular scenery, much of it dotted with ski villages. It is also a great place for snowboarders, who can use all the tracks and lifts. Innsbruck in particular is considered Europe's snowboarding capital while the popular ski resorts include St Anton, Bad Gastein and Kitzbühel.

Of all of the resorts gathered under the umbrella of the Kitzbüheler Alps, the one bearing the name is by far the best known on the international scene. Kitzbühel hosts The Hahnenkahm, one of the most treacherous and most famous of all of the downhill races on the world cup circuit. As a result it has earned much publicity in the global village. The resort, combined with a host of satellite resorts, boast as formidable a selection of ski terrain and diversity as you are as likely to find anywhere in the alps. Kitzbühel is not a new resort either – but rather one that is steeped in history and glory. It is a multifaceted destination that attracts a large number of sophisticates as well as throngs of eager holiday skiers from all over the globe. Renowned as much for its après ski scene as its daytime activities, I knew I was going to like this place.

Waking up to blue skies, bright sun and perfectly powdered slopes, my ski holiday could not have started on a better note. My only concern was what ski group I should join – go back to my reliable beginners or else chance the advanced group. Regardless of how good a skier I may become, I will always do ski school. Apart from the skills and confidence it gives you to tackle tougher slopes, it’s the element of fun that lures me to it most. My sides ached more from laughing than the hardcore skiing after a week – all thanks to a great ski group. They were all average skiers who had accomplished the red slopes still rather apprehensive of the death-defying black. I was the most clumsy of the group, tackling every slope at a crazy speed. By day two I had earned the name Cannonball Karen.

Aching, tired and bruised, my hotel was my little haven every evening where I could indulge in all its comforts. In the middle of Kitzbühel lies the beautiful Hotel Kitzhof, embedded in magnificent nature and still only five minutes on foot from the picturesque city centre. Some evenings I would sit with a drink in the Kitz Lounge, and have a dreamy view over the towers of the city to the Kitzbühel Horn. Upon the other side, the Hahnenkamm looms from its best side – with the "Streif". The bedrooms and suites are designed like modern wood lodges, an innovative design with much old wood, glass, loden and modern furniture. In summer there is also the terrace, which has a waterfall, pool and a modern interpretation of a cottage garden. Like other premier ski areas, this hotel has wised up to the fact that skiers love to relax in style after a hard day on the slopes. Every evening I could enjoy the spa area with swimming pool, sauna, fitness equipment and even a massage.

 

Since we were on a half board basis we enjoyed a buffet style dinner every evening in the wood cabin style restaurant in the hotel. The food lived up to the gourmet standards that Austria prides itself on with plenty of tender meat and creamy cheeses in the local dishes. Outside the hotel there were numerous other diverse restaurants not to mention cafes serving hot chocolate and bars serving stronger tipples.