5 Places for Ski Holidays

For first timers or seasoned ski holiday shoppers, planning a ski holiday can be daunting. You have to take into considerations the snowfall records, accommodation, facilities, types of slopes, budget, other activities and locations.

The world of ski holidays is different from other types of holidays especially if you are traveling with family members with different skiing skills and tastes. Ski holidays are not limited to winter in the northern hemisphere. You can find excellent ski slopes and destinations in the southern hemisphere when it is hot and humid in the northern hemisphere.

For this article we will focus on 5 places for ski holidays in the northern hemisphere. From bunny slopes to cross-country tracks there are so many choices for beginners and skilled skiers. Where would you go?

One: Whistler Blackcomb Canada
Whistler is located 79 miles from Vancouver and takes about one hour 58 minutes drive. Visitors can fly into Vancouver International Airport with over 30 different airlines.

Whistler Blackcomb is suitable for beginners and expert skiers. It holds three world records in engineering. Whistler Blackcomb has the longest unsupported span of 3.024 km, highest lift of its kind at 436 meters above the valley floor and completes the longest continuous lift system in the world.

Its snow school caters to kids and adults with lessons from professional skiers. For those who want to achieve the next level Whistler Blackcomb offers backcountry ski, instructor ski programs and certification courses.

Other activities to try are the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Sightseeing tour, dog sledding tour and Scandinavian Bath Experience.

Information:
Whistler Blackcomb

Two: Hakuba Valley Japan
Hakuba Valley is located in the Japanese Alps and a five-hour bus ride from Tokyo. The valley has 11 ski resorts and is Japan’s largest alpine resort. It is a suitable destination for beginners and advanced skiers. Hakuba Valley is equipped with a ski school and instructors that speak many languages.

Travelers can fly into Tokyo Narita International Airport, hire private transportation or the Narita Express from the airport to Tokyo, transfer to Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano and connect to a limited bus service from Nagano to Hakuba.

Hakuba has three types of accommodation – the pensions, resort hotels and ryokans. To enjoy Japanese culture, we recommend trying the ryokans. Ryokans are traditional inns usually equipped with hot springs and includes breakfast and dinner.

Information:
How to get to Hakuba Valley
Hakuba Accommodation

Three: Lake Tahoe
According to Ski Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe has mountains with jaw-dropping cliffs, serene glades and spectacular views of the lake. Lake Tahoe is 59 miles from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It takes about one hour 23 minutes to drive from Reno to Lake Tahoe.

It’s hard to believe Lake Tahoe has 400 inches of snow a year, 300 days of sunshine and over 500 unparalleled runs when you realize it is only a three hour 34 minute drive from San Francisco.

Lake Tahoe has more than just skiing. The area offers sledding, tubing, sleigh rides, dog sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and ice skating.

Information: Ski Lake Tahoe

Four: Kitzbuehel Austria
Kitzbuehel is located 46 miles from Salzburg Airport and a four hour 18 minute drive from Vienna. Driving to Kitzbuehel is an adventure as you drive through narrow and winding roads.

Kitzbuehel was awarded Austria best ski resort in 2013. It has 32 romantic ski huts and lodges, 53 cable cars and ski lifts and 170 km of ski slopes with different degrees of difficulty.

Information:
Kitzbuehel

Five: Norefjell Norway
Unlike the United States or Canada, the Norwegian ski season lasts for six months. VisitNorway.com has a list of top 10 places for skiing in Norway. We chose Norefjell because it is only an hour and a half hour drive from Oslo and it offers a wide variety of accommodation.

Oslo Airport Gardermoen is served by over 35 airlines including budget airlines like Norwegian Air Shuttle and Ryanair. Norefjell has three areas suitable for family with children and for beginners.

Information:
Norefjell

Tips for having a great ski holiday:
1. Purchase your travel insurance.
2. Valid passports required for international travels.
3. Pack wisely – clothes that keep you warm, thermals, sunglasses, ski socks, goggles, hat, gloves and scarves.
4. Find out about renting equipment and gear if you don’t have them.
5. Know your limits and obey all ski resort rules.