Zermatt and the Matterhorn at dawn, Switzerland
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Is this the year you’ll finally head to Europe to ski? A dedicated ski or snowboard trip to Zermatt, St. Anton, or Cortina d’Ampezzo can elevate a ski vacation to another level. A journey to a European ski resort can also be a rite of passage for serious skiers and snowboarders, a chance to enjoy legendary resorts in the cradle of skiing. But it’s about more than history and enjoying the slopes. It’s about long mountainside lunches, basking in Alpine sunshine, and enjoying an après ski life that blows away anything on this side of the pond.
A European ski trip allows you to indulge in regional cuisine and local wine, stroll through classic Alpine villages, and enjoy a level of hospitality that, in some cases, has been refined for over a century. From a cost standpoint, airfares to Europe from the US in winter are traditionally at their lowest price point of the year. Then factor in your gateway airport – Zurich, Geneva, Milan, or Venice. A few days in one of these cities can add a fresh dimension to your trip.
Alpine skier on the slopes in the Dolomites, Italy in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
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“A lot of our customers have discovered that a ski trip to Europe is a lot easier and less expensive than they once thought,” said Dan Sherman, CMO of Ski.com, the largest provider of ski vacation packages in North America. “Flight access is very good from numerous American cities, and fares are reasonable. In some cases, it’s actually easier to get to Europe to ski than it is to get to the Rockies.”
That’s especially true from East Coast gateways, especially those that require connecting flights out west. Another price differential is the cost of lift tickets. While many skiers purchase their international trips based on the season pass they already have, such as an Epic Pass or an Ikon Pass, Sherman says that “others are noticing that the daily lift ticket in Europe is significantly less than $100 while the window rate for lift tickets in North America can be close to $300.”
You don’t need a ski tour operator to plan a European ski vacation. But the idea of one-stop shopping is a massive driver in deciding to use one, rather than spending hours piecing it together yourself and sifting through airfares, transfers, hotels, and ski rentals.
“For the past several years, we’ve seen a significant increase in requests for all-inclusive ski vacations,” Sherman says. “And while we work closely with Club Med, which has a large selection of properties in fantastic ski destinations, our Mountain Travel Experts are also well versed at matching travelers with great hotels with half-board dining options.”
Hotels that provide half board (breakfast and dinner) offer a traditional European way to experience a classic Alpine ski vacation. They can provide exceptional value, though Sherman notes that “many of our travelers will purchase that meal plan in Europe even if they have plans to venture out on their own for some of the meals during their stay. That, combined with flights, ground transportation, which could be rail or shared or private transfers, equipment rental, guides, and activities, nets out to be as close as possible to all-inclusive.”
Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie, Frankreich
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Where are Americans skiing in Europe?
“Zermatt is a perennial favorite and represents the most annual bookings for Ski.com in Europe,” Sherman says. “It can sometimes represent up to 40% of our total European bookings. I think people love going there for several reasons, including the classic, car-less village, the views of the Matterhorn, and the ability to ski into Italy for lunch and then back to Switzerland. Zermatt has always been a popular option, and having it available on the Ikon Pass has only made it more popular.”
Sherman says that the French resort of Chamonix is another favorite because “people enjoy the wide variety of lodging options, the views of Mont Blanc, and the ability to easily ski three countries—France, Italy, and Switzerland—while staying in one hotel. I’m a big fan of using a guide service there to get around the local resorts, including skiing the famous Vallee Blanche, and benefiting from the guides’ vans to easily take the tunnel over to Courmayeur, Italy, for the day, for example.”
At La Folie Douce in Meribel, France.
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Les 3 Vallees in France is also a popular destination, especially Courchevel. Sherman notes that “people are drawn to this region because of the ability to ski such a massive interconnected resort. Vail, for example has 31 chairlifts compared to Les 3 Vallees’ 183. The scale in Europe absolutely blows my mind. I also think people are interested in seeing Courchevel and experiencing their famous luxury accommodations. Lastly, visiting La Folie Douce, probably the biggest on-mountain party in the world, is a life experience. There are multiple mountain-top locations of this famous bar, but nothing beats dancing on a table in Meribel and then skiing back for a soak at your hotel in Courchevel. “
Go to Ski.com for more details.
Source link : https://www.forbes.com/sites/everettpotter/2024/10/17/why-you-should-ski-in-europe-this-year/
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Publish date : 2024-10-17 17:14:00
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