Skiing in French Alps, Austria, Switzerland with Holiday Rental Homes

We all know skiing is a wildly popular winter holiday activity, but why? Why do people flock to the ski slopes of the Alps, Canada, the United States and other snowy locations year after year? What keeps them coming back despite the challenges of skiing – such as lots of falls for beginners ?

Of course, one reason is the fantastic mountain views on offer at most ski resorts, particularly those in the heart of the Alps.  Fun is another factor: skiing can be done with family and friends as a social activity, and in no way do you have to be an expert to enjoy the experience. Many people enjoy the physical exertion involved in skiing, which is good cardio-vascular exercise; it provides a refreshing alternative to more sedate beach holidays or scenic tours. If you do not want a holiday spent lounging on a beach, and are looking for a change of scene, a ski holiday could be just the thing.

Skiing also offers peace and quiet, a change from the hustle and bustle of some summer holiday resorts (eg: in Spain). In the French Alps for example, there are lots of charming little villages, offering a taste of authentic French life, culture and food (such as cheese dairy tours). Furthermore, skiing is a good choice in terms of travel options. The Alps occupy a position in Europe which is easy to access from France, the UK, Italy, Germany and Greece and Turkey. If you want to ski outside mainland Europe, Canada is a must; or if you want to ski on genuine snow and mountains within the UK, head to the Scottish Highlands. There are also skiing opportunities in Morocco (Algiers) and Spain (Sierra Nevada), if you are holidaying in those countries.

What can you expect from a skiing holiday? We have compiled a list of a few things for you to be aware of before you travel. Firstly, costs for equipment hire. Unless you are a dedicated skier and have your own equipment, you will need to factor the cost of skis and suitable clothing into your holiday budget. Secondly, be aware that not all ski resorts offer the same kind of experience. The most popular ski resorts have nightlife and lots of restaurants, while smaller, less well-known ones (such as Les Sybelles in the French Alps) may have less on offer in the way of dining and nightlife, and there may be fewer English speakers about. So if you want to get to use some French while on a ski holiday in the French Alps, it could be a good idea to go to a smaller ski resort where you may order meals in French, and even go on tours of local cheese dairies etc.

Then you should also consider your fitness levels. Depending on which resort you go to, you will encounter slopes of varying difficulty level, and carrying ski equipment up steep slopes is something that you may not want to attempt if you are not particularly fit. Remember too that there is tuition available at the best ski resorts, so do not worry if you have never been skiing before. And if skiing does not suit you, there are plenty of other mountain sports to enjoy, including snowboarding, paragliding and hiking.

Finally, ski slope difficulty levels: be aware that there are variations in how ski runs are rated at different resorts. Typically, though, a green run is a beginner slope; a blue run is also easy; red is intermediate (with a gradient not exceeding 40% typically); and black signifies an expert slope. Black is a broad classification, including slopes which are only slightly more difficult than intermediate ones, as well as the avalanche slopes such as those at Courchevel in the French Alps.

Holiday Rental Homes.com promotes a wide range of properties in several fantastic European ski resorts. By booking a self-catering property, you can have a cheap ski holiday that still offers a fantastic experience. You can make the most of lower prices, skipping the pricy accommodation and food on offer at busy hotels. You can also benefit from such features as extra storage space, heated rooms, indoor swimming pools (available at some Swiss chalets on the site) and broadband Internet access.

We recommend checking out our property listings for Austria, the French Alps and Switzerland in particular, for affordable prices and unbeatable quality. There are some superb ski holiday deals available, and many of them can be found on our site – just contact property owners to check about last-minute price reductions or special offers. The best way to search for skiing properties on Holiday Rental Homes.com is to click on ‘Explore Activity Holidays’ and then click ‘skiing’ on the following page. You can then use the skiing landing page to explore countries and properties on the site which could suit your skiing holiday needs. Whatever it is that you are looking for, whether it’s a family ski holiday or a more competitive adventure with friends, we are confident you will find something on Holiday Rental Homes.com to suit you.

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