Ski Europe
The European ski season kicks off in November, and there are few regions that can boast such a spectacular range of skiing options. From the mighty Alps of France and Switzerland to the Dolomites of Italy and the craggy mounts of Norway, Europe has plenty to offer all types of snow worshippers.
There are dozens of major resorts in Europe, with Chamonix in France (in the shadow of the mighty Mont Blanc and famous for its Sea of Ice), and the 'party resort' of Val D'Isere being two of the most popular. The budget fields of Andorra and the mighty ski-fields of Austria (the birthplace of downhill skiing) are also key destinations.
Before you plan any ski trip to Europe, checking out a decent on-line ski resort index is a must. The choice is mind-boggling, and the resort indexes will give you a feel for cost, travel requirements, type of slopes, and the nightlife of the various options.
For those wanting to avoid the rush to Europe's most fancied slopes, there are plenty of quality resorts further afield. The Dolomite Superski region in Italy boasts 1,220km of slopes and has more reliable weather than many Alpine destinations. In northern Europe, the Finns and Norwegians know a thing or two about snow, and any journey can include unique extras such as reindeer safaris and a genuine white Christmas.
Remember too that there are ski options right here in the UK. The Scottish Ben Nevis range is a popular and accessible option for those that can't afford a European location.
More Information
There are plenty of great ski websites out there, and we have gathered together some of these to give you a starting point for planning your next ski holiday:
skiaustria.com for all that is happening in the beautiful Alpine region of Austria.
thealps.com is one of the most comprehensive European ski guides.
goski.com/finland is an option for those that want to go off the beaten track and get up close and personal with some reindeer.
dolomitisuperski.com is a guide to Italy's northern resorts.
skiinfo.no introduces you to Norway's slopes.
skifrance.fr is a great site with webcams, resort indexes, and plenty of other useful info for some of Europe's best slopes.
ski.scotland.net has all the information on skiing closer to home.
If going on an organised tour is your thing, Contiki offer a 7 day Ski Austria - Hopfgarten trip. For details, check out Contiki.
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