How to choose a ski resort: beginners guide
Tips / / December 19, 2019
Ski season in most of the ski resorts in the world opens in November - if you are a connoisseur of such vacation or just want to get up on skis or a snowboard, now is the time to decide exactly where you do You do. We tell that you need to consider when choosing.
How much are you willing to spend?
We ski tourism reputation expensive. Your budget for the trip will consist of the cost of the flight, accommodation, transfers, meals, ski pass and equipment. What is more important - affordable prices and high level of service? The good news: you can find places that meet both requirements.
Alpine region and North America
Resorts in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and the United States and Canada have traditionally characterized by high price tags. In the past year, According TrivagoThe most expensive ski resorts in Europe in terms of prices for accommodation turned out to be an Italian Madonna di Campiglio. The average room is worth 677 euros per night. Of course, not all the hotels in the region such prices, but quality holiday in the Alps is unlikely to be the budget. After all, you have to spend more on ski pass: it is worth from 200 euros per week per person.
Northern Europe
If you are not willing to pay more for brand and prestige, take a look at ski resorts in Norway, Sweden or Finland. Excellent trails, lots of fun and relatively short flight. This is not the most affordable for budget travel the country, but skiing here can cost less than the hyped Alps and even more so in the United States and Canada.
Eastern Europe
Less popular, but still more affordable ski resorts can be found in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Poland. By the way, Bulgaria last season led the ranking most cost countries in Europe for the winter holidays.
CIS
This is a democratic option, and in addition it eliminates the need for spending on the visa. A worthy competitor to the listed European slopes can become Azerbaijani first resort "Shahdag", Located in the eponymous national park near the border with Russia. The level of service, infrastructure and technical equipment here meet the criteria of Western European ski resorts. But the prices are more affordable. For example, the daily ski pass for the "Shahdag" in this season will cost a little less than 20 euros - compared to 50 euros in Italian Livigno. A hotel accommodation "Shahdag" in the beginning of winter - less than 100 euros for a double room.
Developed ski resorts also have in Georgia - Gudauri, Kazakhstan - Chimbulak, Uzbekistan - Chimgan, Kyrgyzstan - Karakol, Belarus - Logoisk.
You can not leave the borders of Russia. In the ski areas of Krasnaya Polyana domestic large length of highways - about 70 kilometers. There's good quality slopes and infrastructure remaining after the 2014 Olympics. In particular, there are hotels in different price categories.
When you ride?
The shortest season in the southern European countries - Spain, Slovenia, Montenegro: it begins in December and lasts only 2.5-3 months. In Norway, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Croatia, Azerbaijan, skate long as possible: in March and sometimes in April, there is still snow. In France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany, skiers and snowboarders are waiting for the end of November and almost until April.
At the start of the season in the winter resorts by 20-50% lower price level than during the Christmas holidays. But snow can not be. For example, in the Alps during the last 120 years, average temperatures have increased by 2 degrees, which means that the snow is unstable.
Christmas and New Year - the peak ski season. Prices at this time higher, and availability in the hotels are fewer, but the snow just will. Keep in mind that at the major resorts of lifts capable of passing up to 2 000 people per hour. Just imagine how there can be crowded.
March and April for visits family chosen by tourists. By this time, the high season is over, which means that at the resorts are not so many people and very different prices. At the same time the snow on the slopes is usually more. By the way, during this period you can also find free accommodation for children, as well as discounts on training for young skiers.
Board-to-date for any riding time: if you only master the skis and do not want to dodge slope from the fast and experienced athletes pay attention to a new and not yet flooded by tourists place. For example, Azerbaijani "Tufandag"He was discovered less than 10 years ago, is designed for the simultaneous reception of up to 3 000 people and is just starting to gain popularity.
Buy a tour or to book everything yourself?
Tourists, who are engaged in booking yourself becoming more and more. But many of them are willing to return to the agency, realizing that their own - this is not a synonym for the word "cheaper", "profitable" and "comfortable."
Due to tour operator fares airline ticket prices, inherent in package tours are much lower than those that can be found in the free market. A package tour with the included transfer helps to save time and keep the nerves.
But independent trip gives you more options to choose from the schedule and travel itinerary. This is especially true for Europe and domestic resorts that do not have problems with transport accessibility.
Where would you like to live?
Various types of housing at ski resorts and available at independent reservations, and in packet rounds. When choosing guided not only by personal preferences and travel budgets, but also the composition of the company with which you are traveling. There are options and in addition to traditional hotels.
Chalet - these are separate houses, which can accommodate from 4 to 20 people. Is it an expensive option to stay, depends on the internal decoration, the view from the windows and even the location at a certain height - all this affects the price. By the way, a chalet category can be attributed to the private sector in the health resorts of Russia and the CIS, that is, it's not the most expensive accommodation option.
Apartments - this is, in fact, suitable for the whole family residence or a large company flat. They differ in the number of rooms, layout, area, furnishing, household equipment staffing, including the kitchen. Often, they are removed from the ski slopes, and it means that on the way to the slopes every day have to spend time and money.
When choosing a shelter, we must first find out how far it is from the entire ski infrastructure, how long it is built. a placement savings is questionable, if I have a long time to get to the nearest slopes. Not ready for it - give preference to the little town close to the lifts, so as not to waste precious time on travel in space shuttles. For example, in Azerbaijani "Tufandag" best hotel situated right at the lower stations of the ski lifts.
If you fundamentally important to have their own swimming pools and spas, you look them up in hotels not lower than four stars. Accommodation there may be more expensive than apartments and chalets, because food and other hotel services. There is also a hotel-residence: they offer a choice of rooms and apartments.
What is your level of training?
By European standards, there are five kinds of slopes.
- Green. The gentle slopes, designed for beginners and children. A small angle of inclination, small elevation changes and well maintained, groomed trails, which provide safe holiday and a great start. On the way with areas for shutdown, and a gentle slope so himself, it sometimes takes a good push to move forward.
- Blue. Option for skiers with little riding experience.
- Red. The angle of inclination is not greater than 40 degrees. On such routes can occur not long steep hills and places, so it is necessary to drain the ability to overcome obstacles and to reduce the speed as required. Suitable for confident skiers.
- Black. Level - the expert. Steep slopes and dangerous for the extreme, is not always groomed retractors.
- The yellow dotted line. This slope areas designed for freeriding. They are not prepared for recreational skating, which increases the level of difficulty, but are controlled by the local staff.
For beginners, the first time go to a ski resort, is to choose a place with green and blue runs. It is also important that there was a rental of equipment and the ability to take at least a few lessons from the instructor. Accident insurance should be available to all participants of the trip, but for beginners it is especially important.
A suitable place for beginners - Finland, for example resorts "Hand", "Pyhä." The local mountains - it is rather the hills. But the road here much longer than in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Austrian "Stubai" - a glacier, but simple enough for beginners. The resort is famous for its wide slopes. There will be no narrow isthmus that frighten those who have recently embarked on skis. And it is very difficult to bump into someone on the side. Comfortable closed booth for lifting and a lot of Russian-speaking instructors from Russia and the Baltic states.
Fans of extreme advise one of my favorite places - "Alpe d'Huez." It is almost unknown in Russia. This French resort with a variety of routes, each of which is different from one another - from the lifts, ending with steep slopes and surrounding landscapes. When you move from one zone to another, it seemed to me strangely. And still on the "Alpe d'Huez" 320 sunny days per year and one foothill tunnel, which starred James Bond episode.
Elizabeth Mankova, trainer of international category in alpine skiing
For example, in Azerbaijan "Shahdag" there 14 runs of all difficulty levels and ski school, where you can take both individual and group lessons for different levels of training. If you are traveling with your child, do not expect that will educate its own: it is not safe, it is better to trust the professionals. Incidentally, the "Shahdag" put on skis children from three years.
On "Tufandag" you will find a whole Two ski schools: For beginners and more experienced hikers.
What is important to you on holiday?
When traveling you are only interested in skiing, choose resorts focusing on the quality of the slope, length of trails, there are good instructors.
For example, the longest and one of the most challenging tracks in the world, "Lauberhorn", located in Switzerland. When this does not go the World Cup or the European Cup, the area open to amateurs.
Tourists often visit the ski resorts of whole families. Therefore, the hotel has a mini club, animators, evening babysitting, workshops and, of course, children's instructors. A lot of where to put the child on skis since three years, and on a snowboard - eight. So that parents can safely ride at least all day, children will be looked after.
If in addition to the ski slopes you have planned even some fun, look for resorts with places for shopping or sightseeing. For tourists snowmobiles, para-skiing (skating with a parachute), horseback riding, shopping, sightseeing, restaurants, discos, and of course the spa. The resort of Pas de la Casa in Andorra is even called "snow Ibiza" - so there is a lot of entertainment for young people.
Not have to go to Europe just to have fun. The resort "Tufandag", in addition to downhill slopes with skiing and snowboarding, plenty of opportunities for leisure activities. You can go hiking, ice fishing and hunting (they arrange local sightseeing and tourist service), visit architectural monuments - a defensive tower, the mausoleum, mosque. And yet - and amusement park Gabaland Savalan wines plant 30 kilometers from the resort.
«Shahdag"- a good option for party-goers and spa loversAs well as winter activities lovers: if you want - ride on ziplayne, want to - ATV or even a Segway.
Open ski season in Azerbaijan