As options for the traditional chalet ski break have dwindled and prices risen, venturing to Europe’s far corners and beyond for a ski break can reap rewards. Costs are often lower, while luxury accommodation can be similarly priced to budget options in mainstream European ski resorts. As well as being potentially cheaper, skiing in territory off the beaten track can offer a rich cultural experience, plus better flight routes, less crowded slopes, sunnier days and a friendlier welcome.
Short-haul ski destinations instantly bring to mind France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, with budget options in Andorra and Bulgaria. But you’ll find decent-sized resorts in perhaps unexpected European corners. Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany’s Bavarian Alps is home to the country’s tallest mountain, Zugspitzplatt, at 2,720 metres, offering 40 miles of runs, while in the Allgäu region there are 186 miles of downhill, with the little town of Oberstdorf a great base. In Spain, along with the Sierra Nevada, other stellar ski spots include Baqueira-Beret (now offered by Crystal Ski), Formigal and La Molina/Masella, which last March hosted the FIS Para Snowboard World Championships. Elsewhere, on the northern edges of Europe, you can enjoy fabulous sea views while ski touring in places as diverse as Iceland’s Troll Peninsula and the fjords of Greenland.
(You can ski down a dormant volcano in this Turkish town.)
Beginners and families seeking a small, friendly ski area could save hundreds of pounds by choosing any one of a multitude of small ski resorts in countries such as Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Or how about Greece? It might come as a surprise to know that the biggest resort here, Parnassos, has a respectable 21 miles of pistes.
Unless you’re well-versed in travelling independently and comfortable with the prospect of dealing with flight cancellations, missed transfers and no-show shuttles, consider booking a package ski trip. These are easier than ever to find to the less-conventional destinations. As well as Slovenia and Spain, Crystal Ski also introduced Bosnia and Herzigovina in 2022, or for the more adventurous, Mountain Tracks (part of the Ski Club of Great Britain) offers ski touring in easy-to-reach but alternative locations, from Mount Etna to the Black Sea.
Many of these places are also benefitting from new infrastructure. Spain is upgrading several areas: Sierra Nevada has been the subject of heavy investment in recent years, while La Molina is installing a six-person chairlift and Cerler plans to install a gondola from base to summit that carries 15 skiers in each cabin.
Over in eastern Europe, in Slovakia, a new 15-man gondola opened in the World and European Cup host resort of Jasná in
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It’s believed that the Norwegians invented modern skiing as we know it, and the first destination ski resort was Switzerland’s St. Moritz around 1864—more than half a century before the oldest operating mountain in the U.S. opened. It was the ski loving but mountain-challenged British that popularized the very notion of the ski vacation, traveling to the Alps for food, fun and skiing.
Working at a travel publication can be dizzying—in a year, we go so many places, write so many stories, and publish a lot of content. At times, it can feel like we've run out of world to cover: If you've been there, we've probably done that. But that's of course not the case, and certain stories are an especially powerful reminder of the many stones that remain unturned; that there are many ways to take a trip, either to a familiar place or somewhere markedly overlooked, and tell a completely new story about it.
The ski resorts of Bulgaria have long been seen as the best option for British skiers hoping to hit the slopes on a budget. Borovets and Bansko might not have the glitz of Verbier, the after-ski buzz of St Anton, or the picturesque villages of the Trois Vallées, but as the solid, wallet-friendly option, Bulgaria has been unbeatable for more than a decade.
Often seen merely as a stepping stone to the stunning Italian islands accessible via its bustling port, Naples is seldom considered a destination in itself. Contrary to this negative portrayal, Naples is a lively, culture-rich city that deserves more recognition. As the birthplace of pizza, it commands respect on culinary grounds alone. Moreover, it’s home to a wealth of significant archaeological treasures, and its unpolished streets have a beauty and authenticity that’s been washed away in other large European cities. It’s also home to a handful of excellent luxury boutique hotels offering outstanding Italian hospitality and beautiful accommodations. Here are the top hotels in Naples, Italy for a weekend getaway or extended vacation in city and around the city.
Many experiences in Chiang Mai are ideal for the budget traveler – grazing on street food, enjoying relaxing traditional Thai massages, sipping red iced tea, renting a scooter to buzz out to waterfalls and hot springs – but everyone knows that the best things in life are free. And Chiang Mai has experiences by the bucketload that cost absolutely nothing at all.
In the historic streets of Trieste, an often overlooked town on Italy’s Istria peninsula, there is an aroma of coffee in the air. Dating back to the early 18th century, when the tax on coffee beans arriving at its port was waived, the city has had a deep association with coffee and was the main entry point for coffee beans into Europe. In the historic centre, visitors can still find some of the original coffee houses, modelled on those found in Vienna at the time and, each year, the city hosts the Trieste Coffee Festival.
Perched majestically above the picturesque village of Zermatt, Switzerland, Chalet Zermatt Peak is an opulent mountain ski chalet which boasts breathtaking vistas of the iconic Matterhorn, a skier’s paradise. The chalet has recently been named the “World's Best Ski Chalet 2023” for the fourth year running by the World’s Ski Awards 2023.