Could I start by making a suggestion to check out the deals for learn to ski weeks available in most brochures.

The advantage of this is that all your equipment (Boots/skis/lift pass/shi school) is included in the price. Some companies also will offer a refund if you find skiing is not for you.

Airlines will charge you £15-£20 each way for transporting your own skis. The hire equipment is normally of a good standard, but go for an upgrade of boots as they are normally more confortable.

For the lift pass I am unsure what the various options are: Normally prices are set according to age and piste area. For a 7 day holiday the norm is to get a 6 day pass.

I am reluctant to suggest a skiing resort as each is what you make of it. After a days skiing, a shower and a meal I find the day is exhausting enough.

I am keen on Andorra and last year went to Austria.

Hope this answers your questions, if not keep posting.

HI

We've just come back from a fabulous week in St Wolfgang in Austria --- fair enough, they had had a 5 day snow blizzard when we arrived and LOTS of snow, and we had a magical holiday!

It was our first winter holiday and we were worried! We booked a Winter Wonderland holiday with Thomsons for £35 each and got 2 days cross country skiing, a day snow show walking and a day nordic walking and curling. We also took ousleves up to St Gilgen on the cable car --------- magic! This was excellent value for money.

We stayed at the Cortisen Hotel ------- superb value ------- we are struggling to find anything better for next year ------------- EVERYONE we met had had a super holiday.

St Wolfgang is VERY quiet ------------- a beautiful location and some shops to have a look round ----- and some supermarkets etc etc.

To be honest we were so knackered after a day of activities and our superb 4 / 5 course meal that we fell into bed and slept like logs! The fresh mountain air knocked us out.

It really is a beautiful location, lovely people, The Cortisen is faultless, and we had the most perfect holiday ever -------------- the ski slopes are a bus journey away but most folks there are learning so it feels 'ok' if you aren't too confident. The Pro Travel Agent that organises the trips / gear / rental etc etc etc was next to the hotel ------------ they are excellent.

Any questions please ask

thanks both for the replies, I am still struggling to find anything that seems "A Good Deal".
Is there any way of geting to Austria/Italy/ France via Bus or train for a skiing holiday to maybe cut down the costs.

I am yet to find a tour operator that offers coach skiing holidays.
If anyone knows of one, please let me know.

Hi,

I think the problem is that skiing and winter sports aren't cheap - full stop. That said there are cheaper options but these tend to include the resorts which are aimed at the beginner. Anywhere in the Alps with plenty of facilities and especially a good range of lifts and gondolas is going to be one of the more expensive options so if you're looking for a budget holiday - and it would help if you could give us an idea of what your budget is - then I suggest you try somewhere like Slovenia. The scenery and architecture is very reminiscent of Austria but generally the sking itself isn't as good as in most of the Austrian resorts but will be more than enough to keep novices happy. There won't be a riotous apres-ski scene either but enough restaurants and bars to keep most people happy.

Another good budget option to look at would be Bulgaria and other eastern European resorts - the same caveats apply re the range of skiing on offer and there won't necessarily be much to appeal to the expert skier looking for a good no of black runs but good value for the novice. Generally you'll find that the best value packages are offered at the smaller, less popular, less fashionable, less testing resorts.

It will be worth having a look at the Ski Club of Great Britain website which has an excellent searchable database of resort information and feedback from members about the different resorts. You'll find a wealth of information there might help you locate the ideal resort for you - it even lists which TOs offer packages to any given resort.

As for buying your own equipment I'd say don't bother if you're all first timers - find out if you actually like it or not first. Also, gear isn't cheap either and if you're working to a budget you could easily find that the cost of buying equipment works out as much per head as the holiday cost.

SM

hi.....me and my husband in january of this year went to soll.....we are both beginners.....so we booked 5 days of ski school...boots skis and passes are all included in the price......were we stayed was your very basic accommadation.....we were advised by a few friends that we made out there that the tyroll is all inclusive and is a beautiful place to stay.... we stayed at the maximillian....i wouldnt rate it much..the ppl were lovely who ran it....if you want a cheap but basic holiday maximillian is the place to stay.......my holiday to soll was great didnt quite master the skiing as much as i had liked.......my husband picked it up so quick he was goin down the red runs by tuesday,,,,had only been in ski school 4 2 days....and he was off....and me i was fallin over right left and center...i think my ski instructor was fed up of helping me up all the time....bless him.....put it this way....a simple blue run took my husband 10 mins...took me 1hr and half but i loved it going bk again nxt yr

Blackvelvet ,
Can you tell me who you booked your holiday with or did you make the arrangements yourself?

Where would you be flying from? I got some good flight deals for Austria this year and last, so I mght be able to offer some advice if I knew your local airport

Jade,
My local airport is Cardiff, but I know the resort choice and tour operator service from there is very limited, again Bristol is still very close to me.
failing all that, I can get a ride to any airport from Birmingham down to Gatwick.
thanks for any help you can offer.
Rich

BMIbaby.com fly from cardiff to Geneva although their prices are not out for next year.
Morzine is a good resort and only just over 1 hour from airport.Check out link below.

http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Airports/Geneva.html

FlyBE fly from Birmingham to Salzburg quite cheaply and you might like to consider Soll, Ellmau, Sheffau, or Hopfgarten as a ski resort.

http://www.skiwelt.at/winter/start/start_wi_en.asp

When I get there, I ask any of the tour reps for vacant seats on their buses and pay accordingly to transfer to resort.
I have booked independantly for the last 3 years now and always found it cheaper.
I have to say though that a ski holiday will cost you far more than a week's summer break will, by the time you account for ski/boot hire, lessons (if req) and lift passes for everyone. A local lift pass will only cover you for skiing in the immediate vicinity and will be slightly cheaper. A full area pass covers a much bigger ski are, usually taking in several villages in the mountain range.

sorry for late reply yes i booked my hoiday with thompson soll is fantastic for beginners and the ski intructors are brilliant to.........give em a call and see wot ya get

Hi everyone!!

I got back this weekend from my first ever ski holiday!

We went with Inghams to Pamparovo in Bulgaria. It cost less than £1000 for the two of us, half board and thats with lift passes, ski and boot hire and 6 x 4 hour lessons.

Would highly recommend it!!

We had a whale of a time, the bars are great for Apres Ski!

Also I got a lot of my clothing of ebay at dirt cheap prices (no ski clothes shops where I live!!)

Dawnie,
thanks for the reply, what was the name of the hotel you stayed in?
also, we will not all be skiing, 2 of us snowboarding, were there many snowboarding there, or was it limited.
thanks Rich

Hi

we stayed at the Pamparovo but I would recomend the Mugarvets (not sure of spelling) or the other one near, sorry the name escapes me!! Very central and right next to the important pubs!

Plenty of boarders there, they used to put the fear of God into me as they sped past!! LOL

Dawnie,
thanks again, much appreciated, will definately look into Bulgaria for a first time away in the snow.

One more thing, I am looking as we speak at the brochure, and was hoping you could tell me how far away from the action the Pamporovo hotel was in comparrison to the Murgavets, and was the other hotel you mentioned called either, Perelik or Orlovetz. were these better located just for Pubs etc or for any other reason, we are not drinkers, being with our daughters 19 and 15, they probably drink more than us. But would like to actually get some sleep at night too.

Hi its only a little area, and only a 4-5 minute walk to the other pubs & hotels, but we usually got a taxi for a couple of pounds (6-8 Lev). Agree the price before you get in. Its no fun walking in the snow in the dark, and the roads are not the best in the world!

Pamps is a small place, you will be suprised (if you go) at how small it is. I would stay at either of those hotels if I go again, and they are ap connected by an undergraound walkway too with shops.

Anything else, just ask!!

Domobianca for skiing is a great place to start. Its in North Italy, and suits all levels and ages. It is not yet an overpopulated resort, and has no on site hotels, but hotels are around within 15-20 mins, and most cater for them with a shuttle or transfer service anyway in the morning and afternoon.

ski instructors excellent, snow fabulous and guaranteed, and lovely setting.