Weekend ski breaks
Article updated every 6 months. Last update: 14th December 2007
Author: Sean Newsom (Travel Expert) Ask me a question.
More about Sean Newsom
Sean Newsom loves skiing so much that he has made it his job, writing for The Sunday Times as their ski editor. He is also founder of welove2ski.com, the UK's leading specialist ski website.
"Skiing fast in the sunshine with your friends is one of the purest and brightest pleasures I know," he says. "Absolutely everyone should give it a go. If it were up to me they'd be giving ski and snowboard holidays away on the National Health. It would improve Britain's winter well-being in an instant!"
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A short ski break or a skiing weekend may be just the thing for you if you don't have time for a week long holiday in the mountains or if you just need an extra dose of skiing or snowboarding pleasure before the season ends. Admittedly, it's a lot of hassle and expense for the sake of two or three days skiing. But think of what you might be doing with a winter weekend in the UK instead. Shopping? Fixing shelves? The more you think about it, the easier the decision gets. Here are a few pointers to get you started.
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Kayte Williams
(Holidays Expert)
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Crystal Ski - Crystal offer breaks of up to 6 days to allow you to use the weekend as well as days either side for your ski break. Travel options are timed to maximise your times on the slopes.
Iglu Ski - Iglu Ski are able to tailor make a weekend break at many ski resorts using, their knowledge of available flights accommodation to suit your travel dates. This gives you the option to have several short holidays within the ski season.
Thomson Ski - Thomson can offer a range of ski and snow boarding breaks for weekend trips. These range up to 6 nights in duration and travel arangements are offered to maximise the time spent in resort.
See more of our recommended companies
Nearest ski resorts
There are too many these days to list in detail, but here's a taster of what's out there.
Geneva: a great option because of the choice of flights from the UK, and the number of resorts which are nearby. These include Chamonix, Courmayeur, Flaine, Morzine, Samoens, Morillon, Avoriaz, and Megève (all of which are less than 90 minutes' drive). Swiss resorts such as Verbier can be reached from here too, although the commute is slightly longer.
Grenoble: good for Alpe d'Huez, Les Deux Alpes and Serre Chevalier. At a pinch, you can also use it to get over to the resorts of the Tarentaise in France (for example, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens), although the transfer times are longer.
Chambery: provides the best access for the famous resorts of the Tarentaise in France, for example Les Arcs, La Plagne, Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens (although it's more susceptible to fog). You might struggle to find accommodation for just a weekend in these perennially popular destinations.
Turin: good for Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Pila, Cervinia, La Thuile, and Monterosa.
Milan airports: not bad for Pila, Cervinia, La Thuile, and Monterosa.
Innsbruck: no airport is better placed. In 20 minutes, you can be in the village of Igls, where the men's downhill of the 1976 Winter Olympics was held. There are huge number of other resorts to look at, including Mayrhofen, Solden, Obergurgl, St Anton, Ischgl, Kitzbühel and Alpbach.
Salzburg: again, handy for a huge range of resorts, including Schladming, Obertauern, Saalbach, St Johann in Tirol and Kitzbühel.
Zurich: handy for Laax, Klosters and Arosa.
Verona: provides best access for the resorts of the Italian Dolomites, such as Selva/Val Gardena.
Transfer to your ski resort
A lot of weekenders book hire cars, and for more than two people it usually works out cheaper than a transfer bus. Don't get the smallest car, because you'll struggle to fit in your luggage, and might have difficulties on steep mountain roads too.
One final thing - if you're booking a hire car in Geneva, never rent it from the French side of the airport, always the Swiss side. Access is much easier, snow tyres come as standard and your Swiss motorway tax will be paid.
Ski or snowboarding equipment
Travelling light on a weekend ski break is all very well - if you only have hand luggage, you won't be held up at the carousel in baggage reclaim. But weigh against that the time you'll spend in the resort kitting yourselves out. If you have your own skis and boots you're better off taking them with you and spending an extra half an hour in the airport.
Ski and winter sports insurance
If you are planning more than one ski or snowboarding weekend, it makes sense to take out an annual travel insurance policy. Don't forget: in some countries, it will cost you a small fortune to be rescued from the mountain if you don't have it.
Who do we recommend?
With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist. Browse our list below to find the right company for you then click through to their web site for more information and how to book. It couldn't be easier!
Further guides on ski holidays
