Winter is fast approaching, bringing with it a mixture of blustery winds and cold, wet weather. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to think about escaping the UK and embarking on a snowy adventure filled with picture-postcard scenery, adrenaline-raising winter sports and warm mugs of coca.
Indeed, with a wealth of tempting skiing destinations located just a few hours away, it’s easy to take a refreshing break before the festive season gets into swing. Not only that, but because Europe’s home to a great selection of mountain ranges, including the Alps, Pyrenees and Carpathians, there’s a huge choice of destinations to explore.
Renowned for its comprehensive range of winter sports facilities and excellent skiing and snowboarding opportunities, France is one of the most popular European countries to head to in the colder seasons. In fact, according to the Association of Independent Tour Operators, the Val d’Isère resort ranks second in the list of the top ten best skiing destinations in the world, behind Canada’s Whistler.
Lying just five minutes from the Italian border, Val d’Isère is cited as having some of the greatest lift-served off-piste runs on the planet. Characterised by its chalet architecture, it’s often considered to be one of the most stunning ski resorts, offering up a number of tempting ski runs and beautiful powdery snow.
Tignes, located near to Val d’Isère is also considered to be a top winter sports destination. Boasting a funicular train which carries skiers through the mountain, its immense terrain receives a large amount of snow. There’s also a selection of vibrant après-ski activities to indulge in, including some very lively bars.
Equally enticing is the Courchevel resort in the Savoie region of the Alps. The largest linked skiing area globally, it’s a hot favourite with the Parisian jet-set. There are four villages to choose from when you get there; consequently there’s a wide range of activities to discover besides the winter sports.
When thinking about how to reach your resort, there are a number of options, including flying and driving. However, due to its simplicity, many people recommend getting the train, since it offers a hassle-free alternative to dealing with airports and fussy travel arrangements. There are also are a number of trains which travel directly between the UK and Europe’s top skiing destinations.
In addition to providing an easy way to access such places as France, Germany and Italy, the train can also save a lot of time having to check in at the airport, for example, or waiting for your baggage to arrive. Moreover, because many of them are carbon neutral, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
So, with winter just around the corner, it’s the ideal time to escape to the mountains. Due to the vast collection of enticing ski resorts and different ways to travel to Europe, like taking the train, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to making your mind up about what to do.
Posts Tagged ‘Skiing’
Trains are a Great Way to Discover Europe?s Top Skiing Destinations
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Top 10 Best Places in Europe to Learn Skiing?
Learning to ski is a great way to spend a winter holiday in Europe. With the right resort and good instruction you’ll be flying down the slopes within days of arrival –and best of all you’ll take home a skill that will last a lifetime. (It’s a bit like learning to ride a bike, except the falls are a lot softer.) Children make great pupils too, and will have great fun learning the ropes – giving parents a solid morning or afternoon time out from the little ones!
Make the right choice of destination for your first ski trip and it could be the start of a lifetime’s addiction to this healthy and exhilarating sport! So if you’ve got the winter gear and are ready to roll, here are 10 ideal resorts that Word Travels have researched in which to learn how to ski while still having a great holiday.
Cortina, Italy
Just because you’re learning to ski doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Europ e’s very best slopes. Case in point is Cortina, pride of Italy’s resort offerings. It offers astounding scenery and majestic views over the Dolomites. There are very good beginner slopes and plenty of long, gentle gradient cruise runs, just what recent ski school graduates need. Another plus in Cortina’s favour is that the instructors are skilled with kids and jittery adults.
Wengen, Switzerland Wengen takes pride in having one of Europe’s best known and most highly regarded ski schools. That means you learn faster, have more fun in the process, and pick up the right technique from the start. Wenger is positioned under the awesome north face of the Eiger, which has long held magnetic fascination for Alpinists. The learner slopes are right in the heart of the village and there are lots of long, gentle runs to move onto when one’s confidence allows. The only negatives are that with a relatively low altitude snowfall can be unreliable, and the après ski scene is a little subdued, so youngsters in a group will need to make their own party.
Kranjska, Slovenia
For those wanting something a little different from their ski learning experience the pretty town of Kranjska Gora might be the answer. Slovenia’s top resort is close to the both the Italy and Austrian border, at the foot of the Julien Alps. The resort is small and unpretentious, and the runs long and undemanding making Kranjska an ideal destination for beginners and those wanting to get off the beaten track. Slovenia is also more affordable than its more affluent neighbours so ski costs are markedly cheaper.
Lech, Austria
Lech is for those that want to learn in style, at one of Europe’s most chic and expensive resorts. The price barrier has preserved Lech as a classic alpine resort with a small village atmosphere despite plenty of lively nightlife. The ski schools are excellent with experienced, English-speaking instructors and plenty of suitable runs for the learner skier. The position of the slopes also maximizes chances of snow cover and sunshine [...]
How To Choose Holiday Apartments For A Skiing Holiday
The growth of skiing holidays has led to a rise in the number of holiday apartments that can be selected on the internet. There are some great holiday apartments in most of the ski resorts around the world.
Many families now stay in holiday apartments when going on skiing holidays. In the past accommodation was very expensive on skiing holidays and many people were not able to afford it. In recent years there has been a tremendous growth in the number of holiday apartments in skiing resorts. They have now opened up skiing holidays to a whole new market place that could not afford skiing before.
Staying in an apartment on a skiing holiday can be great fun. You can ski during the day and at night sample the local night life. The apartment can act as a base to explore the local area and you can choose to eat what you like when you like. Most ski resorts now open up during the summer months and the holiday apartments can make for a very cheap holiday. There is still plenty to do with stunning scenery, long mountain walks and breathtaking views.
By using the internet you are able to find some great holiday apartments around the world. It possible to find apartments with direct holiday bookings. By selecting your holiday apartment on line, you are able to compare it with the other holiday apartments available to stay in. This will enable you to get the best possible value holiday apartment to stay in during your holidays.
By looking for a holiday apartment on line will also allow you to see exactly what you are going to be staying in. You will be able to view pictures of your holiday apartment and also see what facilities you will be provided with during your stay in the apartment during your holiday. It is also a convenient way of checking out the area that you will be staying in and you will have some idea about what shops and restaurants are near to your holiday apartment.
Holiday apartments are a great form of accommodation during your vacations. There is a tremendous choice of apartments to choose from to stay in during your holidays. It does not matter if you want a cheap holiday or are prepared to stretch your budget as there are holiday apartments to suite all needs and price ranges.
When staying in a holiday apartment on a skiing holiday you can choose to eat out at the local restaurants or cook back in your holiday apartment. The good thing about a holiday apartment is that it gives you the freedom to do what you want, when you want on a holiday.
Staying in a holiday apartment is a great way to spend your vacations. There are holiday apartments by the sea, in the city centres and even by the ski slopes. There are one bedroom holiday apartments with sofa beds all the way through to large luxurious penthouse holiday apartments. People of all ages with different [...]