4 Great Resorts For Short Ski Breaks
We’ve narrowed down our top 4 resorts for a short ski break and apart from the fact they are all within 90 minutes of their local airport and provide a quick transfer time, they all have individual characteristics that make them fantastic for a ski weekend or mid-week break.
So, if you’re looking to satisfy that winter wanderlust for the fluffy white nectar from the skies but can’t escape for a full week, read on...
CHAMONIX, FRANCE
Why Chamonix?
- Great advanced and off-piste skiing
- Traditional French town
- 1 hour from Geneva
Attracting skiers, snowboarders and mountaineers alike, Chamonix has that secret ingredient for any thrill seeker with some seriously challenging off piste (including the famous Vallee Blanche which covers a thigh burning distance of 20km...!). The resort itself sprawls the valley basin with the main skiing divided up into 4 areas, which are generally all accessed by the local bus, depending on where you stay.
The town centre is positively bustling maintaining its French roots with a truly authentic atmosphere, where you can enjoy a Gènèpi with the locals after a day on the slopes.
ENGELBERG, SWITZERLAND
Why Engelberg?
- Good for all levels of skier
- Good après and lots of activities for non-skiers
- 90 minutes from Zurich
This charming Swiss resort is something of an undiscovered gem and perfect for a ski weekend. The skiing is covered over two mountains with the Titlis area offering runs and off-piste itineraries for intermediate and advanced skiers, whilst the Brunni side at the other end of town is great for beginners.
The resort centre feels quaint as it has retained much of its Swiss identity and you can walk from one end to the other in just over 10 minutes. But don’t be fooled by its size, it has lots to do. Apart from skiing, it’s renowned for good après and has a variety of non-skiing activities, including a cliff-top suspension bridge, cheese factory, igloo building and a huge 12th century Benedictine monastery.
MEGEVE, FRANCE
Why Megeve?
- Beautiful picturesque village
- Wide variety of cruisey runs
- 75 minutes from Geneva
Nestled in the heart of the Mont Blanc region, the attractive French village of Megeve is a wonderful example of what you expect a ski resort to be. It has a ‘chocolate box’ feel with picturesque buildings and you can have a truly memorable experience riding horse drawn carriages through the town or taking time to admire the beautiful Swarovski Christmas tree located in the village square.
The skiing is mainly gentle and relaxing with cruisey blues but for those who wish to push a little harder, it also features some wonderful off-piste routes that are synonymous with the Mont Blanc Mountain.
ST ANTON, AUSTRIA
Why St Anton?
- Brilliant après scene
- Great terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers
- 1 hour from Innsbruck
Considered to be the home of après, St Anton is a firm favourite with skiers from all over the world and has a fantastic atmosphere which brings people back year after year. You can party hard on the piste in bars like the Krazy Kanguruh or Das Mooserwirt or venture back into town to one of the local venues.
Located in the Arlberg region, it’s great for the more intermediate and advanced skier with plenty of reds and blacks as well as some off-piste itineraries. If you’re in a group with beginner skiers, they can stay local and find their feet on the slopes around resort. St Anton also has access to both St Christoph and Lech, so there is a wide choice of runs, impossible to cover in a ski weekend.
There you have it, four wonderful ski resorts, perfect for a short break. These are the ones we think every skier should tick off their list of places to visit. You never know, you may just end up going back again and again.
