Sitemap

Weekend Skiing

Keen on skiing, but running out of time? Need a quick-trip powder fix? Ski weekends, with two to four days of skiing, are the ideal compromise. SkiWeekends.com are the experts for 3 Valleys, Chamonix, Courmayeur and Zermatt and there are many other ski resorts within easy reach.  We pick a mix of some classics and some more unusual options.

 
Les Gets, France
Perfect for beginners on a budget

 How long: One hour transfer from Geneva airport. KLM (klm.com), Swiss (swiss.com) and other fly to Geneva from the UK if you're organising your trip independently. Expect to pay about £150 return.
The skiing: Ease yourself into skiing at the pretty and friendly ski resort of Les Gets , which has an abundance of green and blue runs – ideal for practicing your turns on. Les Gets links into the massive (650km) Portes du Soleil ski area.
The nitty-gritty: Book through independent tour operator Alpine Elements (alpineelements.co.uk; 08700 111 360) and you can get flights, transfers, half-board accommodation at the clean, basic chalethotel Chamois from only £399 Thursday to Sunday. This gives you three day's skiing if you fly out on the thursday night and back on the Sunday night.
Additional costs: Three-day liftpass £55 (local), £80 (full). Ski and boot hire : from £41 for three days from Ski Set. Half-day group ski lesson: from £25 with ESF.

Chamonix, France
Perfect for classic ski weekend

 How long: One hour 15 mins from Geneva
The skiing: The off-piste capital of Europe, the ski resort of Chamonix is one for the experts. The Valle Blanche is one famous 'itineraire' – an un-groomed but charted run. Solid intermediates up for a challenge will also enjoy Chamonix, most enjoying the Balme area and Brevent-Flegere.
The nitty-gritty: Ski Weekends ( skiweekends.com ; 0870 4423 400) From £318 thurs to sun night or thurs to monday night, a free day's skiing! The prices include flights, transfers (either taxis or private coach - one per flight), accommodation with Bed & Breakfast and in-resort management.
Additional costs: Three-day liftpass £122. Ski and boot hire: from £40 for three days from Ski Set.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Perfect for a thigh-slapping time

How long: One hour from Innsbruck, easyJet from Gatwick (easyjet.com) to Innsbruck from £28.99 one-way including taxes, taking 1hrs 45mins.
The skiing: The best resort in Germany, with the only glacier skiing in the country on the Zugspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen has wooded trails in the Hansberg area. The ski area covered by the ski card includes skiing on the Austrian side: Seefeld, Mittenwald and the region 'Tiroler Zugspitz Arena'. Area are linked by an efficient bus service.
The nitty-gritty: Momentum Ski (momentumski.uk.com; 0207 371 9111) will tailor-make your trips. Stay at the four-star Hotel Zugspitze, half-board for three nights, flights and car hire is £428 per person.
Additional costs: Three-day liftpass £80. Ski and boot hire: from £40 for three days from Ski Set.

Are, Sweden
Perfect for Ski Train

How long: It's a long but magical journey by night train (sj.se; +46 771 75 75 75). Flights to Stockholm are with SAS (sas.se) and cost about £120 return.
The skiing: There are a couple of areas, with good intermediate skiing. It can be a bit blowy at the top. There are four terrain parks from green to black. There is some off-piste, which can be accessed with the help of a guide.
The nitty-gritty: A special offer from the tourist board on a mid-week short break from Sunday 10 March to Thursday 14 March is £145 for four nights pot-luck accommodation and four days' ski pass, for a minimum of a group of four. Book with Ski Star (skistar.com; +46 (0) 771-84 00 00)
Additional costs: Ski and boot hire: from £60 for four days from Ski Set. £280 for a full day's off-piste guiding in groups of up to eight.

Brides les Bains, France
Perfect for Eco Warriors

 How long: 15 hours by coach from London. Coach travel has 10 per cent of the carbon emissions of flying, and the company used is carbon neutral.
The skiing: Access the largest ski area in the world, the Three Valleys, from low-lying Brides Les Bains. Brides has a large natural thermal spa. Brides les Bains uses renewable energy sources for snowmaking, grooming pistes, and its lift system. However, beware the long bubble ride linking Brides to Meribel.
The nitty-gritty: Coach ski weekends are organised by Ski Weekends ( skiweekends.com ; 0870 4423 400), leaving on thursday nights from London Victoria (plus three other options en-route) and arrive in resort on Friday morning, arriving back to London on Monday morning. Two nights half-board at the three-star Clubhotel Verseau included. Prices start from £199.
Additional costs: Three-day liftpass £91(local), £110 (full). Ski and boot hire: from £58 for three days from Ski Set. Private lessons (1hr) from the ESF cost £65.

Pradollano, Spain
Perfect for Culture

 How long: 30 mins drive from Grenada. You can fly fri night and sun night with Ryanair (ryanair.com) from £56.84 including taxes one-way, for two full days' skiing.
The skiing: It's a fairly small area with 84km of with cruisy runs for intermediates and a good beginner area at Borreguiles. Views on a clear day are over the sea, and even of Morrocco Keep an eye on the snow report, as the conditions here can be variable. The bars at the bottom are sun-traps.
The nitty-gritty: Stay in Grenada, which is full amazing Moorish architecture, including the Alhambra palace, wonderful tapas bars and the hotels are cheaper than in summer, which is their peak season. See www.andalucia.com/cities/granada for a choice of accommodation.
Additional costs: Two day liftpass from £52. Ski and boot hire: from £45 for two days from Ski Set.

Stubai Valley, Austria
Perfect for Tyrolean Charm

 How long: One hour from Innsbruck. Fy to Innsbruck with easyJet from Gatwick (easyjet.com) to Innsbruck from £28.99 one-way including taxes, taking 1hrs 45mins.
The skiing: There's 147km of pistes in Stubai and it's snow-sure as there's the Stubai Glacier to ski on, the largest in Austria. Advanced skiers and intermediates will appreciate the long reds and blacks on the glacier. Wilde Grub'n is a great ungroomed ski trail from the glacier 10km down to the valley.
The nitty-gritty: You can book a 'Glacier weekend' through Tiscover (tiscover.at; +43 512 5351 555), staying at the Best Western Oberhofer gourmet half-board (one night there's an eight-course dinner with champagne), two days' ski pass for the Stubai glacier, transfers from the hotel to the ski lifts, costing £194 until the 22 December.
Additional costs: Ski and boot hire: from £46 for two days from from Ski Set.

Engelberg, Switzerland
Perfect for Hardcore Off Piste

 How long: One and a half hours from Zurich. If you're organising the trip yourself fly to Zurich with British Airways (ba.com) from £42, or easyJet, from £28.99 one way, including taxes.
The skiing: There's high-altitude skiing for all levels including skiing on the Titlis glacier. But the ski resort of Engelberg is best known as the Chamonix of Switzerland - the place to go for off-piste. Don't forget to plan a guide!
The nitty-gritty:You can stay at the three-star Hotel Europe for four nights B&B from £449 (based on two sharing), including filights and car hire transfers with Made to Measure Ski (mtmhols.co.uk; 01243 533 333). You'll have three days of skiing.
Additional costs: Three-day liftpass £85. Ski and boot hire: from £63 for three days from Ski Set. Guide: £76 for a day's guiding in groups of four.

Perfect for Patriotism
Aviemore, Scotland

 How long: Drive, fly with easyJet (easyjet.com) from £18.99 return or get the train to Inverness and then it's a 40 minute drive to Aviemore.
The skiing: With a reputation for howling winds, icy runs and damp weather, it's not for the faint-hearted but if is dumps down with snow in the Cairngorms it could be worth a trip up. Aviemore is the largest ski centre with several runs from green to challenging red.
The nitty-gritty: You can get self-drive weekend packages from Ski Norwest (skinorwest.com; 01204 66 84 68) that include two nights' B&B accommodation, two days' equipment hire and two days' lift passes for £158 in January and £168 in February.
Additional costs: Just buy your lunch, dinner and transportation.


Courmayeur, Italy
Perfect for Foodie Fun

 How long: One and a half hours transfer from Geneva (Through the Mont Blanc tunnel)
The skiing: Best for intermediates, the ski resort of Courmayeur has a steep racy red to tackle at the first stop of two-stage Cresta d'Arp cable car, as well as some off-piste stuff from the top for the more daring. Gorgeous views of the sunny side of Mont Blanc. Some lovely mountain restaurants.
The nitty-gritty: Four night packages are available through Ski Weekends (skiweekends.com; 0870 4423 400), which run thursday night to monday night, allowing for four day's skiing. With flights, transfers and half-board accommodation, prices start from £399.
Additional costs: Three-day liftpass £86.Ski and boot hire: from £49 for four days from Ski Set.

See out Courmayeur resort review for more detail.

• Getting there
• Where to stay
• Top tips

Search Site

Custom Search