A Snowsport holiday is fantastic; great food, great views, and great fun. It’s something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. However, there are a lot of myths and half-truths surrounding what a winter holiday is, and we’re here to get those Ski Holiday Myths Busted!
Myth: I’m too old/unfit/un-sporty.
Reality:
Snowsports have something for everyone; you get out of them what you want. Just because there are steep, challenging black runs doesn’t mean you have to go down them, regardless of your ability. You can happily spend your time on easy greens just enjoying the feeling of sliding on the snow at a speed you’re comfortable with. Equally, your holiday should be exactly that; a holiday! It’s not a boot camp so if you want to only spend half a day on the slopes and then enjoy a long lunch, take a day off snow and go browsing the shops or people watching you can. If you are unsure, it’s worth getting lessons so you can have an instructor to help you out, even if it’s just with the simple things like carrying your skis for you
Result: Ski Holiday Myth BUSTED
Myth: You need to have all the fancy gear.
Reality:
Ever heard the phrase “all the gear and no idea”? Our blog “Top Ten Tips for your first ski holiday” goes into more detail as to what you need, and how to get it, but in short; “no” you don’t need all the gear. For the ski equipment, you are best off to rent in resort. For the clothes, you can borrow if you have friends who ski or buy them cheaply. The only thing you really need is good socks.
Result: Ski Holiday Myth BUSTED
Myth: It’s expensive.
Reality:
It can be, but it doesn’t have to be! Skiing can be done on a budget even somewhere as fabulous as the 3 Valleys with these insider tips. While the 3 Valleys are often thought of as expensive and glamorous, there are hidden gems that are cheaper to stay in. La Tania, for instance, is two ski lifts from the pistes of both Courchevel and Meribel, or Brides Les Bains which is one ski lift ride away from the centre of Meribel town. Both are fabulous places in their own right and give you the same access to the biggest ski area in the world at a fraction of the cost of some other villages.
Look at your travel options; you don’t have to fly! If there’s a few of you, why not make it a road trip? By driving to resort in a group you can share the driving and split the cost, plus if you book early, your channel crossing can be less than the price of a round of drinks in a mountain restaurant. You could also think about the train which can take you from London to Moûtiers, which is 20 mins from the lifts.
Think about taking a holiday outside of peak season like mid-January. When most people are back at work with the New Year blues, you could pick up a real bargain in a fully catered chalet! Alternatively, you could enjoy some winter sun and go towards the end of the season in April, avoiding the Easter holidays, another bonus is you’ll avoid the crowds. Or perhaps just go for a long weekend!?
Try things like self-catering accommodation to help keep costs down, it would also allow you to make your own pack lunch so that you can save more. If you’re on a budget, try and book ski lessons in the afternoon, often people request them in the morning, therefore ski schools are quieter after lunch.
Result: Ski Holiday Myth BUSTED
Myth: If you don’t ski or snowboard, you’ll have nothing to do.
Reality:
Most of the lifts close around 4 or 5 pm depending on which month in the season, when it’s time to hit a cosy bar and sip a warming vin chaud (mulled wine) by the fire, or try out the local cuisine, eating fondue is a mountain must have! Or if you’re feeling more outgoing, every night can be a big night out; there are always live bands, night clubs and even comedy nights for you to enjoy.
There’s also the option of being pampered in the many spas and wellness centres such as the fabulous Aquamotion in Courchevel. Aquamotion is not just a spa though, it’s fun for the whole family with slides, diving boards, an indoor surf wave, a climbing wall and more. Being active doesn’t have to stop there either, you can ice skate, climb, snowshoe, tobogan, husky sledge, skidoo and more! Or check out the spectacles that are put on regularly across the 3 Valleys from World Cup skiing events to aerobatic displays, to fireworks shows.
Result: Ski Holiday Myth BUSTED
Myth: Ski instructors just say, “bend ze knees.”
Reality:
While some stereotypes are true, such as instructors are all ridiculously good looking! The old trope of ski instructors simply offering “bend ze knees” or “follow me” as advice while you watch them show off, may have rung true in the 70s and 80s, but not anymore. Today it takes years of effort and dedication to pass all the training and examination to become a fully qualified instructor. Instructors are some of the most experienced people on the slopes and are expert in delivering high-quality instruction and keeping you safe in an ever-changing mountain environment. The best way to learn to ski or snowboard is to book yourself lessons with a reputable ski school with fully qualified instructors who rank highly with reviews. An experienced, patient, and fun instructor can help you enjoy your first snowsport holiday, whether you are skiing or snowboarding.
The ideal option is to have private lessons. Booking a private lesson guarantees the focus is on you, the learner. With 100% attention from your instructor, you gain 100% of learning time, which will speed up the learning process and allow you to get the most out of your first time. Group lessons offer incredible value for money. However, do check on the numbers that will be in the group. A reputable ski school will keep group sizes to a minimum to guarantee that you get the maximum. With small groups, the instructors can focus on each and every person throughout the week, improve confidence, and meet individual needs, while still ensuring that everyone gets the most from their lessons.
Result: Ski Holiday Myth BUSTED
Every expert was once a beginner!
