new to ski?

beginners guide to a great ski holiday 

If you have never been skiing before or you are a beginner you may not know where to start when it comes to booking your ski holiday.

It can be a daunting task deciding where to go and there are other considerations to take into account like clothing, ski and boot hire and lessons.

The Co-operative Travel are here to take away that stress and help you book your perfect ski holiday.

The ski season typically starts the middle of December and finishes early April. There are several countries within Europe where you can take a ski holiday including Andorra, France, Austria, Italy and Bulgaria. Canada and the USA are also very popular.

Ski resorts vary in ability and price depending on the level of skier, they also vary in height. Generally the higher the resort the more snow it will get and for experienced skiers this is a big factor.

Most resorts will cater for all type of skiers and snowboarders however the list below will give you a few ideas.

Equipment

All equipment can be pre-booked before you travel. Most ski operators offer a learn to ski pack in the majority of resorts which provides you with your lift pass, ski/board and boot hire and tuition which is usually for a few hours a day. This is ideal when budgeting to try and get a cheap ski holiday.

Clothing

You will need to either buy or hire your clothing before you travel. It is essential that you have waterproof ski-pants and a jacket, thick ski socks, hat, scarf and gloves. Depending on what time of the year you travel you may need thermals underneath although when skiing in March in some resorts you can actually ski in your t-shirt and get a tan so don't forget your sunglasses and sun cream for protection!

Beginners Tips

Take a further look at our Beginners Tips page to give you more of an insight into skiing for beginners...