I would like to share with you a great travel idea that can be fun for both you and your family. The French Alps have a special magic that draws everyone’s attention, but more importantly, the entire country is filled with some of the world’s best ski resorts. You can explore the largest cities, such as Geneva and Montreux, and still be surrounded by snow. Pretty cool, huh?
One of the best places to start is St Anton. It’s close to both Italy and Austria and has a fabulous atmosphere. One of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Europe, St Anton features the longest ski run in the world, the Anton Hofer Supertrail. It also has the Europe’s largest ice-skating rink, the Wintergarten, as well as the Gaisberg World Heritage Site, which features a 17th century hunting lodge and the largest collection of Baroque villas in the Alps. If you liked this article, be sure to check out our guide to the best nightclubs in St Anton. Believe it or not, the most amazing thing about this resort is that it never closes. Once the last run has been packed, the café owners close up their terraces and head for their apres-ski bar, while the hotel staff turn off the lights and lock the doors. It’s almost like everyone is vacationing during the non-holiday season, which for Europeans, usually means skiing and ice-skating. The locals obviously know how to enjoy themselves, and it’s all because of the gorgeous white snow that covers the resorts year-round.
Next, let’s talk about Lech. One of the newest and most exciting ski resorts to be built in the last few years, Lech is situated on the Austrian-Italian border. This year, it will be hosting the Winter Universiade, a large-scale sporting event that will bring together student athletes from around the world. Every winter weekend, you can find students from Lech, as well as other nearby Austrian ski resorts, partying and socializing at one of the many bars or clubs that line the street outside the resort. There’s also a village life in the Italian part of the town, with restaurants, shops, and galleries opening as the day turns into night, attracting visitors from both sides of the border. There are also plenty of hiking trails surrounding the town, leading to nowhere in particular, perfect for exploring nature, catching some sun, and forgetting about the hustle and bustle of daily life. During the summer, the entire area becomes a paradise for hikers, bikers, and road-trippers, with lush green forests, stone villages, and glittering lakes providing the perfect scenery. If you want to add some luxury to your trip, you could rent a luxury villa with pool in Lech. It would be the perfect place for relaxing holidays with your loved one. Or if you’re just a family of four, you could stay in one of the luxurious hotels and rent a smaller one, with a pool and a sauna, next to the bar that serves Austrian and Italian wines as well as freshly made lemonade.
Now that you’re well-versed in the locations, let’s talk prices. The French Alps have some of the most expensive ski passes in the world, and you’ll need a good travel credit card, with some bonus miles, to be able to purchase them. For example, the 48-hour pass at St Anton, which gives you access to the largest and most popular ski resort in the area, will set you back €244. It’s also likely that you’ll pay more at the top resorts, as the season ticket at Zermatt, for instance, costs €489. It’s a similar story at the other end of the spectrum, as the 42-day pass at Val d’Isere is only €100, which gives you access to the whole mountain. For that price, you can buy a whole season’s worth of lift passes at the smaller French and Swiss resorts, which usually means you won’t have to wait in line all day to hit the slopes.
As for the gear, you’ll need a decent pair of skiing boots, which are comfortable and have the right support, as well as a ski jacket and a ski hat. The rest is up to you. You can buy most of what you need at a local ski shop in St Anton or other main Swiss and French ski resorts.
As for the gear, you’ll need a decent pair of skiing boots, which are comfortable and have the right support, as well as a ski jacket and a ski hat. The rest is up to you. You can buy most of what you need at a local ski shop in St Anton or other main Swiss and French ski resorts.
One of the most important things to keep in mind is that skiing is a challenging sport and can be dangerous, especially if you aren’t used to it. Make sure your family is physically prepared for skiing and that they understand the basics of skiing safety. Take a look at the snow safety tips for beginners that we’ve put together, which will help get you started on the right foot. If you want an easy guide to prepare yourself for your first skiing holiday, simply follow our step-by-step guide and you’ll be able to hit the slopes as soon as possible.