Ski Resorts for Beginners

Set in a long, forested valley called the Glemmtal, Saalbach (and neighbouring Hinterglemm) offers a vast circuit of steepish, intermediate-friendly pistes, which are also linked to the Tirolean resort of Fieberbrunn, creating a total 270km of piste. Fieberbrunn is more of a family resort in comp...

We think Schladming is a hidden gem of a resort. With four linked mountains providing skiing for all levels and an impressive 167km of piste. A bus ride away opens up the wider Schladming Dachstein region which also encompasses a number of smaller areas, including the Dachstein Glacier. In 201...

The combined ski area of Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis (which is at the lowest and most easterly end of the ski system) makes for a sizable ski area with well over 200kms of pisted slopes and vast areas of largely untracked off piste. Yet these resorts which are hugely popular with German, Dutch and lo...

The interlinked Austrian resorts of Flachau, Wagrain and Alpendorf belong to the wider Salzburger Sportwelt area and together form the largest of the five ski regions making up the total Ski Amadé (with a total of 760km of slopes). In 2013 the G Link modern gondola opened dramatically increas...

Westendorf is a small, traditional village with many older buildings and excellent nursery slopes. This small but lively village has a lot of Austrian charm and character. Westendorf is separated slightly from the main ski area but frequent buses to the lifts and to neighbouring resorts mean that...

Zurs is a popular ski resort with the international glitterati and generally caters for a well-heeled crowd. There are very few 3-star hotels but a large collection of excellent 4 and 5 star properties. Zurs is linked with the resort of Lech and both resorts form part of the massive Arlberg ski r...

Drive two hours north of Vancouver, alongside the breathtakingly scenic Coast Mountains and you'll find the charming village of Whistler. Whistler has been regarded as the number one ski resort in North America for several consecutive years and it's easy to see why. Whistler is a modern 'pedestri...

Alpe d'Huez is known for its extensive ski area, catering to all skill levels, and boasts the longest black run in the Alps, the Sarenne, which is 16 kilometres in length. However, what really marks Alpe d'Huez out is its amazing learning area immediately above the village. Gentle greens, served ...

Vaujany is an attractive, relaxing alternative to the modern ski resort. There is a good choice of chalet, hotel and apartment accommodation and you can access Vaujany within 90 minutes by road from either Chambery or Grenoble airport. Vaujany is connected to the Alpe d'Huez ski area by a gond...

Located at 1800m, Avoriaz is by far the most snow sure of the ski areas within the Portes du Soleil. The local slopes are varied and although some pistes can get crowded at times, the lift system has been significantly improved in recent years, reducing your time spent in queues. Keen skiers shou...