Features

Ultimate-Ski.com features bring you insights into many aspects of the wonderful world of skiing.

Visit Park City

How can it be that I hadn’t been to Park City in so long? There’s no more convenient destination in North America and yet it had been since the late ’00s that my skis had slid on the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” With so many new, direct ski flights popping up out of the NYC metro area, I had satisfied my wanderlust over the past decade or so – with mixed results. In my quest for the new, I had forsaken the obvious.

First ski trip from USA to the French Alps

Which ski destinations in France offer the best skiing and the most fun early season over Christmas and New Year: the Espace Killy, the Three Valleys or Chamonix Mont-Blanc? Will it be truly memorable and how does skiing in France compare to skiing in the USA? Jules Gansl was determined to find out for herself…

Carinthia’s Hohe Tauern National Park

AT Kitzbuhel 3s Gondola Ski Lift © Kitzbuhel Tourismus 170x96 Carinthia’s Hohe Tauern National Park offers great skiing on uncrowded slopes, more than 30 peaks above 3,000m and spectacular panoramic views including Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner at 3,798m. You can ski here in summer too: the Molltaler Glacier is open for skiing 330 days each year.

Family Ski Resorts in Europe

A key factor in making a family skiing holiday effortless is the choice of resort; pick wisely and everything will fall into place. Here are 10 great ski resorts in Europe for you to consider when planning a family skiing holiday.

Best Off-Piste Skiing in the Alps

Off-Piste in Val d'Isere 170x96 Whether you call it “off-piste”, “freeriding”, “piste hors”, or “backcountry skiing”, more and more skiers and snowboarders are venturing onto the ungroomed slopes beyond the safety of a ski resort’s piste markers. Here’s our pick of 12 of the best ski areas in the Alps.

Best French, Swiss and Italian ski resorts near Geneva Airport

If the roads are good you can be on your skis within an hour of leaving Geneva airport. But which resorts have the shortest transfers? And which are the best for families, for high snowsure runs, for beginners, for off-piste or for a romantic weekend?

Ski Juwel, Austria

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschonau 170x96 Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau – Austria’s premier ski resort is gearing up for an exciting season ahead with a large number of new attractions for families, skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Family Ski Resort

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis 170X96 Families love the award-winning Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis! Among the best ski resorts in Tyrol, these three historic mountain villages are also a popular destination for freeriders, freestylers and après ski fans.

Budget Ski Resorts

Budget Taking a skiing or snowboarding holiday needn’t cost the earth. We’ve chosen ten ski resorts for their high proportion of self-catering apartments or good value hotels, and also for their reasonably priced lift passes.

Val D’Anniviers – Switzerland’s hidden jewel resorts

Vercorin3 170x96 Due to its proximity to some of Switzerland’s most illustrious ski resorts, Val d’Anniviers has managed to stay under the radar, but with five traditional Swiss resorts – St Luc, Chandolin, Vercorin, Zinal and Grimentz – and a total of 220km of marked pistes, this hidden jewel is well worth visiting.

Luxury Ski & Spa Hotels

Luxury Nothing beats skiing hard all day then treating your aching muscles to all the massage and hydrotherapy they can take. Here is a selection of some of the most stylish and luxurious spas the mountains have to offer.

Self-drive ski resorts in the Alps

Self Drive Driving to the Alps can be cost effective and gives you freedom once you’re in resort. Many resorts are less than 1,000km from Calais – under 10 hours on the road. We’ve chosen 10 great ski resorts in Europe easily reached by car.

Ski Resorts for Weekends & Short Breaks

When planning a weekend ski break key factors include convenient flight times, short transfers and the availability of accommodation for 3 nights. Rebecca Miles selects ten ski resorts in Europe for weekend ski holidays.

Where to ski in January in the Alps

AT Kitzbuhel 3s Gondola Ski Lift © Kitzbuhel Tourismus 170x96 Ski holidays are cheaper in January because there are plenty of January deals and special offers; the snow is crispier and the slopes are less crowded. But some ski resorts only get into their stride later in the season, so choose your destination carefully.