Thinking of planning your next ski holiday, but unsure where to start? We’ve got you covered! Planning a winter retreat to the mountains can be equally overwhelming but fun. We got our team’s top tips in order to help you piece together the preparation process... Read on to find out the best way to plan the perfect ski holiday for your next trip to the mountains!
How to Plan a Ski Holiday
1. Choose your destination
The best way to start planning your ski holiday is to first decide on where you’d like to go! This will give you a clear idea of the costs, accommodation, and activities available depending on the season you want to travel in.
The French Alps are a gold mine when it comes to ski resorts, so if you need inspiration or don’t know where to start, have a look at our list of destinations. This will give you an idea about the different areas around the Alps and their various resorts!
Some questions to consider when choosing your destination…
- What time of year do you want to travel? While February is peak season, the prices tend to shoot up as the pistes get crowded. Consider heading for the mountains early December or mid-January for cheaper deals and reduced-price lift passes.
- What is your budget? While different seasons can affect the prices for your holidays, the cost of each resort tends to differ depending on its popularity. A great indicator for in-resort prices are lift pass prices, so be sure you research these before packing your bags!
- Are you travelling with kids? It doesn’t matter how old your children are, keeping them entertained is a key part of a happy family holiday! Have a look at our Cool For Kids selection of chalets to help you narrow down your choices.
- What is the ski level of your group? If you’re travelling with a group, it’s best to take into account everyone’s ski level to find the perfect slopes and keep everyone happy. Different resorts have different slope difficulties, so be sure to find out what kind of pistes you’ll be heading towards!
- What do you want to do after the lifts close? Having a good variety of activities to do outside of the slopes is always a good idea. From paragliding to helicopter rides, most resorts keep their summer activities available all year-round. Check out our destination blogs to see what activities are available in your shortlist, and start planning your ski holiday!
Each destination will have different facilities adapted to your holiday criteria – there’s something for everyone! For more information about each resort, head over to our Area Guide at the top of our individual destination pages. You will find everything you need to know from piste maps, webcams, how to get there, and more!
2. Update your travel documents
This is definitely worth mentioning if you’re coming from abroad! Gather all of your travel documents – including passport and travel insurance – and make sure they are up to date. Also, be sure to check out the general requirements for entering France as well as the latest COVID policies. The conditions for entering France will depend on your country of departure and your vaccination status – find out more information here.
If you’re travelling with pets, be sure to check out our 5 great tips to get your dog holiday ready to plan a ski holiday with your four-legged friend!
3. Book your perfect chalet
So you’ve researched the area and know that this is definitely the place and time you want to go – maybe you’ve even found some activities you want to try out right away! Have a look at the different accommodation options around the area to suit your needs. From traditional ski in/ski out chalets to luxury apartments in the centre of town, our website presents a wide selection of properties for everyone including:
- Family-friendly chalets (Cool For Kids)
- Pet-friendly chalet rentals
- Chalets for large groups
- Luxury properties
- Ski in / ski out chalets
Discover our offers by applying filters to find your perfect ski chalet!
Browse our properties in the French Alps
4. Book your travel
Plane, train or car? Once you’ve found your chalet, find out how you can travel to it! Our website offers detailed information about the location and surroundings of the chalets. From there, you can have a look at the tourism websites for each destination. The latter should give you recommendations for travel options by public transportation; alternatively, you can rent a car through Europcar or Sixt to make any journey easier.
Geneva airport is a great option for areas such as the Aravis, Portes du Soleil and Chamonix / Evasion Mont Blanc. If you are staying in the Tarentaise valley, you can also consider Chambery airport. The Eurostar also travels from London to Bourg St Maurice, so this is another fantastic option if you are staying in the Tarentaise valley – you can even choose an overnight option if preferred!
5. Plan the itinerary for your ski holiday
When you’re travelling to an amazing location, it’s best to plan a flexible itinerary for your ski holiday – particularly when travelling with children, spending every day on the slopes might get tiring after a while. So why not make the most of everything the resorts have to offer?
Preparing a list of activities to do during your ski holiday can be great if you want to make sure that you don’t miss out on anything. Try to balance your week out with ski days, family-friendly afternoons, and wellness activities. There is so much to choose from, and so many sights to see beyond the pistes – which is why we recommend you plan your holiday ahead of time to ensure you make the most of your perfect ski holiday!
You can use the research you’ve done when choosing your destination to get an idea of where to start – just be sure to book any activities or courses you want to do to avoid any disappointments! Check out the destinations tab on our blog to help you plan your itinerary before your trip; we provide links to the company websites and tourism offices, so your booking is just one click away.
Also, if this is your first time skiing, or you feel that you need more lessons to help you gain confidence on the slopes, you can have a look at some ski schools in the French Alps to complete your winter holiday.
6. Pack your bags!
Now that everything is booked, your holidays are planned, and your documents are in order… time to pack your bags! This step can seem overwhelming if you’re a beginner or travelling with kids, but don’t worry – have a look at our suggested packing list to help keep you organised before the big trip.
Planning your ski trip can be one of the most exciting parts of your holiday. From conducting research to looking at the different chalet options available to you, you’ll soon be completely dedicated to making your dream mountain holiday into a reality!
Let us know if this guide was helpful on social media @ovonetwork, and be sure to use the hashtag #ovonetwork to share your ski holidays!
