The World Ski Resort Guide

The Czech resorts have missed out on the package tour scene, which is slightly surprising as the better resorts are a match for some of the Romanian and Bulgarian resorts included in many mainstream tour operator brochures. You’re unlikely to want to organise an independent trip to any of the resorts, unless you’re thinking of visiting the country for another reason. A holiday in Prague combined with a few days skiing or boarding in one of the nearer resorts would make a novel holiday experience take in the sights and then head for the slopes for a couple of days’ change of scene. More experienced skiers will enjoy comparing and contrasting with better-known international destinations, while novices will get a chance to try something new at bargain rates. Read the rest of this entry »

The Spanish Pyrenees were a popular British budget destination a decade ago, but then Andorra and eastern Europe succeeded in capturing much of the Spanish trade. It’s easy to see why. The mass-market resorts often struggled for snow and, even when conditions were good, there was a tendency for high winds to close the lifts. Although prices were low, they were lower elsewhere, and Spain also gained a reputation for poor hotels, ancient equipment and so on. Read the rest of this entry »

Sweden Snowsure from December to May

Unspoilt, beautiful landscape
Uncrowded pistes and lifts
Vibrant après-ski and nightlife scene
Good range of non-skiing activities
Limited challenging downhill terrain
Small areas by Alpine standards
Lacks the dramatic peaks and vista of the Alps
Short days during the early season

Sweden’s landscape of forests and lakes and miles of unspoiled wilderness is entirely different from the Alps’ grandeur and traffic-choked roads. Standards of accommodation, food and service are good and the people welcoming, lively and friendly. There are plenty of off-slope activities but most of its downhill areas are limited in size and challenge. Sweden is likely to appeal most to those who want an all-round winter holiday in a different environment and culture from a normal Alpine resort. Don’t be put off by the myths that Sweden is expensive, dark and cold see below. Read the rest of this entry »

Slovenia Good value for money

Beautiful scenery
Good beginners’ slopes and tuition
Good off-slope diversions and excursions
Limited, easy slopes on the whole
Antiquated lifts
Boring food

Slovenia offers good value for money ‘on the sunny side of the Alps’. A handful of UK tour operators run packages to some of the better-known resorts. An alternative would be to arrange an independent trip to the mountains combined with a break in the vibrant city of Ljubljana.

Kranjska Gora and Bohinj are the best-known resorts, popular with the economy-minded British and Dutch, and with visitors from neighbouring Italy and Austria, giving a cosmopolitan feel to the resorts.

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