The advantages of booking an Easter ski holiday
Ski News brought to you by SkiWeekends, specialists in Ski Holiday Deals and Cheap Ski Breaks.
Stuck for things to do over this year's Easter break? Book a cheap skiing holiday for you and your family and take advantage of the late deals this season.
With Easter Sunday falling early this year, on 31st March, there will still be plenty of powder to be found among the Alpine resorts of France, Austria,Italy and Switzerland. One of the benefits of going later in the season is that the weather is warmer and you will most likely experience some spring sunshine and plenty of blue skies - plus, there's less chance of you getting caught in a blizzard.
Another good thing about hitting the slopes over Easter is that they will be much quieter than at any other point in the winter season, as February is traditionally the time when families take advantage of the half-term week and quickly book up ski resort accommodation. Going later in the year means shorter queues for the lifts, better availability for refresher or beginner lessons and, of course, a better opportunity for you to practise your snowplough technique without being bombarded with slope traffic speeding past.
Not only that but indulging your love of winter sports during the Easter break could well work out cheaper than going in peak season. SkiWeekends has a number of all-inclusive long weekend getaway options starting on Thursday, April 4th, including four nights in a hotel in Meribel, flights and three to four days of skiing from £482 per person, or four nights in Morzine with flights and skiing from £494 per person. Going as a family over Easter could be several hundred pounds less expensive than booking for the February half term or over New Year. Discounts can also be found on lift passes and ski equipment deals.
In addition, you can book your Easter ski weekend in the knowledge that you are guaranteed to have snow. Sometimes the slopes can be a little patchy at the start of the season, but by the time Easter rolls around the runs will have had at least four months' worth of snowfall, leaving it soft on top and perfectly firm underneath. There are many more off-piste routes to take because of this extra snow, so you can really challenge yourself and work on your skills.
Chris Gill, co-editor of Where To Ski And Snowboard, reckons the French resort of Chamonix is perfect for Easter skiing, with an average snow depth of 190cm. "In spring, attention tends to focus on two aspects of Chamonix's skiing: the high, shady Grands Montets, and the famous Vallee Blanche glacier run, reached via the Aiguille du Midi cable car," he wrote in the Telegraph. "You don't need to be an expert, but you do need to be a strong skier."
There's also Saas-Fee in Switzerland, which is the ultimate in high-altitude skiing - virtually guaranteeing you'll get a dose of spring sunshine while pelting down glacial runs that are between 2,500m and 3,500m above sea level. The slopes themselves are fairly easy to master, so the resort is best for a long weekend break.
To find out more about skiing at Easter, give one of our Ski Experts a call on 023 8020 6971 or email sales@skiweekends.com
Posted by Marianne Pang