If you’re not a seasoned skier, you might feel a bit daunted by the idea of going on a holiday dedicated to the sport. After all, you need to know your way around a set of skis to enjoy it, right? Wrong.
Skiing holidays are a great way to get into the sport as a beginner, with trained instructors there to help you improve your skills and technique along the way. And don’t worry about making mistakes – it’s all part of the learning process and most skiers have their fair share of embarrassing stories to tell in the après ski bar.
Want to give it a go? Keep reading to learn more about the best European ski resorts for beginners.
Not all ski resorts are made equally, so it’s important to choose one that fits your skill level so that you can make the most of your time on the piste. One good indicator of whether or not a resort is a good fit for beginners is the difficulty of its slopes. Helpfully, ski slopes are colour-coded based on steepness and general skill requirements to make it easier for those who aren’t familiar with the resort to know if the slope is appropriate for them.
Fortunately, the colour codes are fairly easy to remember:
– Green is for beginners
– Blue is for intermediate skiers
– Red is for confident skiers who are up for a challenge
– Black is for experts
There are some variations depending on where you are in the world, but this is a good summary to get you started. Remember, if you’re at all unsure about what the signs mean next to a ski slope, always ask someone for help.
Many ski resorts will also have ski schools and nursery slopes to help you gain confidence on your skis, so it’s a good idea to check whether your resort of choice features these offerings.
Want to find some good beginners’ resorts, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry. With beginners’ ski resorts in Italy, France, Switzerland and more across Europe and the rest of the world, you’re sure to find the right one for you. Below, we’ve listed our top five best ski resorts for beginners to give you a head start on your search for the perfect skiing holiday.
The first of multiple French ski resorts on our list, Méribel is located within the Three Valleys area of the Savoie department. It boasts gorgeous alpine views and a wide range of après ski activities for all the family. Its facilities for beginners are impressive, with as many as 10 green slopes and many excellent ski schools – and you could even book lessons for other winter sports as well.
With so much skiing on offer, there is an abundance of options at all levels. The gentle and easy-going green runs around the Altiport make a perfect location to make your first ski tracks.
Courchevel is another popular skiing destination in the Three Valleys region, with a range of ski slopes for all skill levels. In particular, Courchevel Moriond, also known as Courchevel 1650, works really well for beginner skiers.
There is a gentle beginner slope directly in front of the main lift area, with its own easy ski lift, making it simple and convenient for novice skiers to take their first steps in the sport with confidence.
Located in the south west of Switzerland, with Italy to the south and France to the west, Verbier is a popular Swiss skiing destination. It’s great for beginners, with the large Les Esserts area for novice skiers. Located down in the resort, rather than high up on the mountain, Les Essert’s beginner slope offers novices a user-friendly and non-daunting piste to build confidence before venturing further up the mountain. Pair this with the wide-ranging après ski opportunities on offer, and it’s hard to see why you’d go anywhere else.
If Austrian ski resorts are more your style, then why not book a holiday in Lech? With a number of ski schools available and stunning views along the way, Lech is a great place for all the family to learn to ski. There are several beginner-friendly areas in Lech, including close to the town centre, up in Oberlech and also in Zurs. Then once you progress to blue runs, there is a huge selection of lovely gentle slopes to choose from throughout the ski area.
Located in the Portes-du-Soleil area of France, Les Gets is known as one of the most family-friendly resorts and is very well-suited to beginners. With a great selection of gentle slopes to enjoy close to the resort and a wealth of other activities to take part in, where better to begin your skiing journey than Les Gets?
Choosing where to ski can be a daunting experience, especially if you are a beginner and not familiar with how it all works. Our team are all experienced skiers and we are here to help you all the way through the process.
We can advise you which ski resorts would suit your particular group, and which properties would work best and then once booked, we can help you with all the other little details that make the experience as easy and smooth as possible. Organising things like airport transfers, ski equipment rental, lift passes, ski lessons, childcare and even advising on what you need to pack – we are here to help.
Let us take the stress out of booking a ski holiday, so give us a call and start your skiing adventure.
Written by
Tim has been immersed in the travel industry for over 20 years. Tim is the owner and founder of Firefly Collection, a luxury holiday accommodation booking agent.
19 January 2023
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