Once considered to be an exclusive type of holiday that was rather inaccessible to most people, cheap flights and an ever-increasing range of European resorts have made skiing much less expensive and much more popular amongst students and families. Skiing is a great way to spend a holiday.
It's fun for all ages, it gets you exercising out in the fresh air, and vibrant 'apres-ski' night life is emblematic of the highly sociable skiing community.
Although resorts in North America have become increasingly popular in recent years, purists will tell you that Europe is still the best place in the world to go skiing - and it's hard to argue with them based on the sheer number of different places you can visit. From classic destinations like Morzine and Chamonix in France or Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo and Cervinia to less well known but equally good skiing at resorts like Bansko in Bulgaria and Kongsberg in Norway, there is certainly no shortage of skiing locations in Europe. It's perhaps worth thinking about which European countries you might want to visit first, then look for a nearby resort and plan your trip around that.
It is very important to consider the skill level of your group when you start looking at resorts. If you have never been skiing before, it is vital that you have some instruction before you go out on the slopes by yourself.
Most resorts will offer beginners courses for a small fee, but it is perhaps best to visit a dry slope one or two times before you go to try and get a feel for skiing. Once you are out there, trails will typically be divided into different difficulty levels; a green circle denotes the easiest type of trail, a blue square trail is of intermediate difficulty and trails marked with a black diamond or a double black diamond are for experts only.
Even if you only feel comfortable attempting green circle trails, most resorts will have several different routes for you to ski on, but it's best to check that what sort of skill level your chosen resort mostly caters to.
Whatever your party's age or ability level, you can tailor your skiing holiday to suit you by choosing a suitable resort and selecting day-to-day activities that correspond to your interests. So why not try skiing? People who do rarely ski just once - once you have the bug you're sure to be heading back to the slopes for more.
