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By Ryan Hughes
It’s fair to say that (at least for those of us who live in colder countries) our ideal holiday will usually include some combination of sun, sea, and sand.
That’s completely natural ̶ when you spend a year beavering away at work saving your cash while often looking at rain through your window, who wouldn’t want their annual break to be the exact opposite?
But if you’ve never tried snowsports holidays, perhaps now is the right time to take a closer look ̶ the blend of healthy, family-friendly activities on and of the pistes, tasty cuisine, eclectic après-ski entertainment and sublime scenery offers a cathartic experience for many holidaymakers.
With that in mind, here are five reasons skiing holidays are superb.
1. Scenery
The natural scenery around most ski resorts is ravishing. Just take the French Alps resorts as a prime example ̶ set at the foot of the 4807m Mont Blanc, Chamonix Combines charming traditional architecture with scenic streams, lush meadows and verdant forests, while high-altitude Val d’Isère is nestled in the breath-taking Tarentaise Mountains and as well as skiing and snowboarding, it’s a beautiful spot for hiking amidst wildflowers and native birds.
2. Exercise
First and foremost, skiing and snowboarding are fantastic fun, but it transpires that they’re also great exercise. These activities are a great cardio workout and will really strengthen your thigh muscles, plus they’re a great way to burn calories too ̶ according to Harvard Medical School, a 185lb individual can burn 532 calories per hour downhill skiing and a 155lb person can burn 446 calories per hour.
3. Family-friendly
A ski break is also family-friendly and if you choose carefully, you’ll find one with a mix of good nursery and green slopes for novices, blues and reds for intermediates and black runs for experts. Avoriaz is an excellent example ̶ it’s a car-free resort offering comfortable accommodation with doorstep skiing and its own children’s village where kids learn skiing techniques through play. An expert ski holiday provider like Erna Low can advise on the best resorts for children and arrange package deals.
4. Food
Ski holidays are also fab for foodies. If you’re partial to haute cuisine, Courchevel has no less than seven Michelin-starred restaurants and you’ll also find fine dining in Chamonix, Val Thorens and elsewhere. However, there are also plenty of mid-range cafes serving tasty treats like crepes, paninis and hot chocolate, while if you choose a self-catering break you can whip up a storm in the kitchen with fresh produce from local stores.
5. Après-ski
In terms of socialising, evenings are when most ski resorts really come alive, with bustling bars and clubs providing respite and revitalisation after the day’s adrenaline-fuelled activities. For some adult ski holidaymakers, amazing après-ski is just as important as well-groomed pistes, and at famous venues like La Folie Douce in Val Thorens you can enjoy live music, cabaret, tabletop dancing and toffee vodka (albeit perhaps not in that order!).
So ends our list, but please share your favourite things about a ski holiday in the comments section.
