The Ski season is back! If you’re looking for a ski holiday this year, here we have 5 locations with flight times all under 4 hours, perfect for a family trip over Christmas or a short break with friends. Either way, the AA has got you covered!
Ski Holiday in France
There are plenty of ski resorts to keep you entertained in France, home to some of the world’s most famous ski resorts, such as Val d’lsere and Chamonix.
If you want to jet off on a ski holiday soon, then Chamonix is the place for you as it is the first out of the French resorts to open on November 19th and only a 2h 15mins flight from Dublin. At the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is one of the oldest resorts in France and hosted the first-ever Winter Olympics in 1924.
Are you looking for a ski holiday with your friends? Val d’Isère is home to some of the best après ski in France! With over 100 runs, there is something for everyone. 2h 20mins flight time from Dublin makes this a no-brainer. Val d’Isère has a vast range of slopes with 61 green slopes, 156 blue, 209 red and 66 black!
These are just two of France’s outstanding ski resorts, but there are plenty more to choose from, such as Les Deux Alpes, Val Thorens and Courchevel.
Ski Holiday in Italy
Italy has two main skiing areas – the Aosta Valley and the Dolomites. You can expect beautiful scenery in both locations – stunning views of alpine peaks and ancient towns. Not to mention the delicious gourmet Italian food and friendly locals, Italy has it all!
Aosta Valley has exceptional resorts such as Zermatt/Breuil-Cervinia/Valtournenche – Matterhorn coming in on top with 4.5 out of 5 stars. The best value for money is the ski resort Espace San Bernardo.
The most popular resorts in the Dolomites are, Canazei, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio. If Dolomites is the place for you, flying into Venice or Milan will be your best option, with a flight time of around 3 hours.
Prices here are generally lower than in France, Austria, and Switzerland, allowing your money to go further on the slopes and for apres-ski!
Ski Holiday in Andorra
A tiny location between France and Spain, Andorra’s ski resorts are rated some of the best in Europe for learning to ski, with wide open pistes that aren’t overly long in favour of beginners.
Andorra’s resort offers excellent accommodation and value, making it perfect for a family holiday! A similar flight time of around 2h 30mins flying into Barcelona, followed by a bus to get you to Andorra. Across the two resorts in Andorra, there are 200+ tracks to keep you busy!
Ski Holiday in Bulgaria – Bansko
Bulgaria is known for its good value ski resorts, particularly for beginners and intermediates. Bansko comes in on top with 4.2 out of 5 stars with 75km of slopes. The most popular weeks are Christmas and New Year, with a festive atmosphere perfect for families and friends.
Another popular resort in Bulgaria is Borovets, the largest and oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria. If you’re fond of spa treatments, this is the place for you, thanks to its numerous mineral springs, most hotels offer spa services so you can relax after long days on the slopes.
Ski Holiday in Austria
Home to over 400 ski resorts and the famous Hintertux Glacier, where you can ski all year round, Austria is perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers.
Austria’s ski resorts have the best infrastructure found anywhere in Europe, with many ski regions seamlessly connecting, giving you a wide range of choices in terms of slopes, cable cars, lifts and lots more. Choosing a smaller ski resort and family hotels is surprisingly good value for money.
The top three ski resorts in Austria are Hintertux, closely followed by Sölden and Serfaus. Flights are around 3 hours, with travel between resorts being very easy too, with many linked by trains or just a short drive from each other.
Peace of mind
If you’re planning a winter getaway, you will need travel insurance. Here at AA, we can help you, contact us today!
