Guide to Skiing - Skiing Trips

In this installment of our guide to skiing we look at skiing trips...

While budget may be your first consideration, there are other factors that you will need to consider when you begin to plan your skiing trip and need to select a resort; these should include the quality of the resort and where it is, as well as its character and overall ambiance. So, let's look at each of those important considerations individually...

When it comes to location, Canada, France, and the United States are the most popular destinations, but also attracting a good number of skiers are Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy and, of course, Switzerland. The time of the year will dictate pricing, but keep in mind that the more established countries will probably have higher prices. Planning your trip to coincide with the beginning or end of the ski season can net you significant discounts.

As far as costs go, just some of the outlay for your trip will go towards travel and lodging as well as expenses for food and beverages, but you must also remember that you will be paying for passes, maybe lessons, equipment rental, and a very important, but often over-looked expense, insurance. Research the cost of things at resorts as well as the costs of getting to and staying there. Keep in mind that the laws of supply and demand have a tendency to drive up prices in these out-of-the-way places in the mountains. Doing a little research on-line in advance can save you some money on things you will need, as will taking items with you, such as sunscreen, that are sure to have a higher price tag once you get there.

Once you have selected where you want to go, take a look at what that location offers in the way of facility types and quality. Major considerations will include lodging types (everything from dormitories to hotels to chalets); access to eating establishments and night clubs; and finally what types of activities are available, as perhaps you wish to snowboard, toboggan or ice skate while on your trip. Prices for all of these things can be drastically different from resort to resort, and you cannot rely on the price to give you a clue as to quality. Lesser known resorts in emerging countries (for example Andorra and Bulgaria) may well have facilities that are equal to or better more famous resorts, and at a lower cost.

Then you'll want to look into the character and ambiance of potential resorts. Your personal vision of what a ski vacation means to you should drive your choice as to resort selection - you may wish to have a more cutting-edge resort with all the modern conveniences, or you may wish to forego high-speed internet in lieu of a small village where you can taste and feel the local culture. If you see yourself sitting by a relaxing fire and turning in early, you will want to find a quiet resort that does not encourage a lot of partying; but if you want to party on your vacation, that will affect your choice, as well. You can find a resort that caters to your taste with a quiet, homey atmosphere, a well-defined party vibe, or a little of both and researching on the front end is the best way to determine what will make your stay a good one.

The internet can be your source for finding out all of this information; view a resort's official website and also find reviews of them by entering 'resort name + review' into an internet search engine.

Guide to Skiing - Skiing Trips

Vacation Resorts Guide