A Winter Holiday

This page features an article by a guest author about skiing in the French Alps. For holidays in the Pyrenees (between Carcassonne and Perpignan), please click any link above.

A Winter Holiday

When the summer comes, most of us want to leave the drab office behind and head to a beach for some fun swimming and relaxing sun tanning. But in the winter, many of our usual activities are cut short by bad weather and cold. Unless, that is, you are one of the lucky members of the ski club!

If you ski, then winter is something you look forward to because that is when snow conditions are at their best, as snowfalls tends to be heaviest during these months. If you have never skied before but have always wanted to, this article is for you.

Unless you are a serious skier, you do not have to buy your equipment at first. Most ski resorts have shops where rentals are available. You will need: skies, bindings, goggles and clothing. Once you are comfortable skiing and you know that you are going to continue, and then you can shop for your own equipment. Skiing gear can be expensive but buying used equipment can be a great bargain and is very common.

For the first timer, the French Alps are probably the best place to start, as they have consistently offered the widest variety of skiing choices available. Sure, champions have been made in those slopes, but the French Alps also offer the possibility of simply going down hill or even cross-country. More importantly, the largest quantities of skiing schools and skiing instructors are present in these mountains.

One of the best resorts to start is probably Alpe d’Huez, a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, known as one of the best skiing resorts in the world. Many spots here cater to beginners. If you happen to get very good at it right away, the free riding is phenomenal and is downhill. You can actually go for 5 kilometers uninterrupted!

There is a wide range of places to stay here, from budget hotels to luxury accommodations. You may rent one of the beautiful traditional chalets and accommodate your whole family, or stay at one of the large resorts that offer all the modern and convenient commodities. It is important to book in advance, as this is a popular destination that gets filled very quickly.  

Another convenience of this area catering specifically to skiers is that most hotels will pick you up at the airport with a bus or shuttle and drop you off on your doorstep, so to speak. This is particularly comfortable if you are traveling with your own equipment.

The top station at Alpe d’Huez is called Pic Blanc and offers some of the most breathtaking views of Mont Blanc in all of the Alps. It is said that on a clear day, a fifth of all of France can be seen from here. And don’t think getting a clear day is difficult here, because the area’s slogan is the “island of the sun”. The average number of days of sunshine in Alpe is 300 a year!

You can book holiday packages to Alpe d’Huez with Alpine Elements. Visit their website for their full range of ski holidays.