It’s hard to think about powdery white snow while the temperatures in Malta are still reaching the 30s, but you need to act fast if you want to snap up bargains for the coming ski season... or you can hit the resorts in the southern hemisphere before spring starts to blossom there.
Too much snow, especially when combined with bad weather, can be as bad as not enough- Helen Raine
A bargain price might have some hidden catches though, so to get the best out of your holiday, you need to pick your resort carefully; just a few basic rules could make the difference between a perfect piste or a wipe-out.
Ideally, accommodation will be at the bottom of the slopes (a ‘ski-in, ski-out resort’), just a short walk from the ski lifts; this avoids the hassle of a bus ride or lift to the piste.
While this might not sound like a big deal, when you are kitted up in your snowsuit, wearing extremely clumpy ski boots and carrying two skis and two poles, queuing with a crowd before squeezing onto a bus is the fastest way to lose your cool.
It also means that it’s hard to just nip back to the hotel if you forgot something or just need a little rest.
If you have kids, make sure that that the ski schools have good reviews from parents. There is nothing more annoying than shelling out a fortune for their classes and your own ski lift pass only to spend a frustrating week with a six-year-old on the bunny slope because their teacher made them cry on day one and they won’t go back.
It’s worth thinking about resorts in countries which have a favourable exchange rate for the euro. Your après ski money will go further and you will also be able to afford private lessons for the price of a ski school in some of the European resorts – this can make a huge difference to your progress, especially if you are feeling nervous.
Go mid-week and out of peak season to get the best deals if your budget is tight.
Snow, of course, is a fairly essential ingredient for skiing. Some tour companies will give you a snow guarantee and bus you to the white stuff if it’s in short supply and some ski lifts will refund your pass money if you can’t ski. Check a resort’s recent snow records before you book and remember that too much snow, especially when combined with bad weather, can be as bad as not enough. Skiing can rapidly lose its charm if it’s cold enough to freeze your extremities off.
Choose your ski resort according to your ability. If you are a beginner, then check the reviews of a destination at this level, as some will have extensive nursery slopes, while others cater more for black run skiers. Beginners should ensure that their resort will coordinate everything from ski hire to pass purchases – it’s hard work to do it all yourself the first time and hiring ski clothing will save you money if you decide it’s not for you.
These ski resorts are the pick of the bunch for the upcoming season.
Still on the nursery slopes?
Resort: Soldeu, Andorra
It’s the Grandvalira Ski and Snowboard School that makes Soldeu a hit for novices, with great reports from parents and kids alike at the teachers’ ability to turn out-of-control beginners into reasonable skiers, avoiding any gigantic crashes of skis, poles and limbs along the way.
The hotels and restaurants are decent and the ski area has lots of gentle slopes, which helps. The nightlife is perhaps a bit quieter than elsewhere, but skiing with a roaring hangover isn’t all it’s cracked up to be anyway.
Got past the snowplough?
Resort: Pila, Italy
Pila is described as the “best kept secret in the Alps”, but there’s a reason for that; it’s an ugly, concrete resort rightly regarded as a bit of an eyesore. The upside is that because of its dire appearance, it’s cheap and the fabulous mountain backdrop more than makes up for the monstrous buildings.
There are plenty of good quality intermediate runs that will help you gain experience. The ski schools work a lot with school kids and so are expert in helping your children move to the next level and there are also one-hour ‘clinics’ at a great price if you just need a few pointers.
If you want to be burning the candle at both ends in the cocktail bars, however, this is not the place for you and the snow falls can be unpredictable.
Black run ninjas
Resort: Chamonix, France
Chamonix is a traditional ski town with the obligatory stunning views of the mountains, particularly the Mont Blanc massif. It’s an expert skiers dream and to get the most of it, you should hire an experienced mountain guide.
Strap on your skis, get on the lifts and surrender to the enormous adrenalin rush of exploring numerous off-piste slopes. The spirit of adventure lives on once the skiing is over for the day because Chamonix is a major party town. Beginners and family groups should probably give it a very wide berth.
Keep the kids happy
Resort: Geilo, Norway
Just in case your beloved offspring don’t fall in love with skiing quite as much as you’d hoped, it’s a wise idea to ensure that not only are the bunny slopes and ski school up to scratch, but that there are lots of other things to do too.
At Geilo, when they’ve had enough of hurtling themselves downhill, they can opt for a magical sleigh ride, go dog-sledding, strap on some snowshoes or even try ice-climbing. There is also some lovely, relaxed cross country skiing available in fabulously remote surroundings.
Nightlife is somewhat curtailed by the astronomical cost of alcohol in Norway.
Weekend break
Resort: Monterosa, Italy
Monterosa Ski is a large ski area connected across three valleys and the original mountain villages of Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna. Few people have heard of it beyond Italy so its pistes are rarely crowded and you don’t have to queue much for lifts.
You can fly into Turin or Milan, so it’s just a short hop from Malta and would do for a long weekend ski break. There are 200km of slopes which are particularly good for intermediate skiers, but Monterosa also boasts phenomenal off-piste opportunities with affordable heli-skiing for the really adventurous.
The bars and restaurants are friendly and authentic. The only downside is that the snow can be a bit hit and miss.
As part of a longer holiday
Resort: Bariloche, Argentina
It might seem a long way to go just to zip down some pretty spectacular slopes, but if you’ve always wanted to go to Argentina, then throwing in a bit of bargain basement skiing is a good plan in the winter.
The town of Bariloche has an Alpine feel, a great choice of accommodation, some lovely handicrafts markets and a great snow-themed adventure play area to amuse the kids (and the adults too – the luge is particularly entertaining).
You do need to take a bus to the slopes if you stay in town, but they are frequent and the queues are short. Prices are reasonable for passes and ski hire, as well as for private lesson.
Best value for money
Resort: Bansko, Bulgaria.
Bansko might not be particularly glamorous and if you like champagne and canapés with your après ski, this might not be the place for you. However, for beginners and intermediates, it has got some great skiing .
Best for boarders
Resort: Mayrhofen, Austria.
Mayrhofen has a party reputation, particularly during the Snowbombing music festival in April, and this, combined with really great slopes and off-piste skiing attracts snowboarders to this Austrian ski centre.
The town has a picture postcard Alpine look with a centre of quaint buildings and restaurants serving plenty of steaming mugs of hot chocolate with marshmallows and Danish pastries. The bars are also thumping with some great promotional prices on beers.
The downside is that you can’t ski in and out of the resort itself, hence there are long queues for the gondola in the morning and the evening.