The Best Ski Resort for Beginners in Colorado

When you think of Colorado, you probably think of skiing. Home to the likes of Aspen and Vail, Colorado is known worldwide as one of the best ski holiday destinations. With over 30 ski areas currently in operation, it can be easy for beginners to feel intimidated. To help you make the most of this fantastic destination, we’ve shared the best ski areas for beginners in Colorado, all easily accessible by transfer from Eagle County Regional Airport and Denver International Airport.

Beaver Creek

The Resort

Owned by Vail Resorts, transfers from Denver Airport to Beaver Creek take just over 2 hours. The area has 1800 skiable areas, accessed by 25 lifts and sits at just over 8,000 feet above sea level. Although the resort hosts World Cup ski events, there are plenty of skiing opportunities for beginners. Beaver Creek also famous for handing out free, fresh cookies every day and is perfect for families.

Beginner Runs

Head to Bachelor Gulch and try runs such as Cabin Fever, Dally, Strawberry Pak and Intertwine. We also recommend trying Red Buffalo which sits at nearly 11,500 feet. Offering spectacular views of the surrounding peaks, the run is a wide, gentle slope, passing by a handful of glades such as Jack Rabbit Alley.

Après Ski

Beaver Creek offers world-class fine dining, with numerous dining experiences available. Many of the resort’s venues are smart lounge bars, but we recommend Coyote Café and the Mountainside Bar and Grill if you’re looking for something a bit livelier.

Breckenridge

The Resort

A high-altitude ski town, Breckenridge boasts a long season spanning from November to April. Around two hours away from Denver Airport, Breckenridge offers 2,908 acres on five different peaks. An old gold mining town, the ski town is one of the most visited in the western hemisphere.

Runs

Breckenridge boasts some of the best trails to learn on in western USA thanks to its wide-open spaces. We recommend trying Silverthorne, Red Rover and Twister. Frontier is also a great option and includes ski-through tepees and mines. Additionally, Springmeier is often marked as slow and family-friendly.

Après Ski

Breckenridge offers fantastic apres ski, with over 50 restaurants and bars located in the town centre. It has a permanent festive atmosphere thanks to Christmas lights and decorations remaining throughout the season. In addition, to the nightlife, Breckenridge has a reputation for its breweries and distilleries.

Keystone

The Resort

Just under 2 hours away from Denver Airport, Keystone Resort is made up of 3 connected mountains, complete with tree-runs. Spanning across 3,087 acres, Keystone offers 120 runs and more lighted trails than any other resort in Colorado. Known for being one of the most family-friendly resorts, there are lots of activities for both kids and adults.

Runs

With green runs conveniently located at the resort base and at the top of Dercum Mountain, Keystone is a great option for beginners. Lessons often take place on the Discover slope, with 50 easy runs to progress on to. We recommend trying Endeavor which begins just below the Summit House and Schoolmarm, which is a designated family ski zone.

Après Ski

Although night-life in Keystone is mainly family orientated, there is still plenty to keep everyone entertained. Activities such as sleigh rides, night skiing, tubing and ice skating are available for those looking for more adventure. River Run Village contains the majority of après ski bars, with Kickapoo Tavern and Northern Tavern offering a selection of locally micro-brewed beers.

Loveland

The Resort

Loveland Ski Area is a ski and snowboard paradise around 1 hour 30 minutes from Denver Airport. Receiving an average of 422 inches of snow annually, Loveland consists of 1570 acres with a base elevation of 10,800 feet. The area is home to the Loveland Derby, the largest and oldest ski race in North America. Featuring a season that runs from October to May, Loveland’s 93 trials offer something for people of all abilities.

Runs

There are plenty of facilities for beginners at Loveland, including a Magic Carpet. Lifts 1 -7 (including the Ptarmigan Lift) all lead to beginner runs, but we recommend trying Lift 3 and 7 first. Whilst Lift 7 only serves gentle green runs, Lift 3 offers progression to blue runs within a safe, contained area. It’s also worth noting that there are no free skiers crossing paths with lesson groups in Loveland basin.

Après Ski

Nightlife at Loveland is mute, but there are still options for those looking for entertainment after hitting the slope. The Loveland Basin offers Wedge bar or The Rathskeller, whilst the Loveland Valley boasts the Fireside Room.

Snowmass

The Resort

9 miles from downtown Aspen, Snowmass is one of the best ski resorts for beginners in Colorado. Located in the White River National Forest, Snowmass is part of the Aspen/ Snowmass complex, but offers a completely different personality. The biggest of the four Aspen/Snowmass mountains, the village was inspired by the French Alps and offers lots of ski-in/ski-out accommodation.

Runs

Beginners should head to Lowdown Park where there is a small halfpipe to experiment on. There are also multiple Fun Zones scattered across the mountain, and the Boot Camp Park on Fanny Hill is also recommended.

Après Ski

There’s so many apres ski options in Snowmass that it’s hard to narrow down our favourites. As a starting point, we recommend the new Belgium Ranger Station at the Westin Snowmass or Venga Venga on the Snowmass Mall. If you’re looking for a patio to relax on Sneaky’s and Base Camp are great options whilst the Bar at Wildwood is the perfect nightlife spot.

We hope you’ve found inspiration for your next ski holiday to Colorado. Don’t forget you can get an instant quote from Ski-Lifts for your transfer from Denver Airport to all the main Colorado ski resorts. Don’t forget we cover plenty of other resorts in Colorado, including; Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Vail.

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Top Late-Season Ski Resorts in the Alps

With Easter weekend just around the corner, the ski season is sadly entering its final weeks. Don’t worry though, whether you’re looking for your first ski trip of the year or want to hit the slopes one last time before the season’s out, there are plenty of late-season ski resorts in the Alps. To help you choose which one to head to, here are a few of our favourites:

5 – Zermatt

If you want a spring skiing destination that is certain to have snow for your late-season ski trip, Zermatt could be for you. One of Switerzland‘s most famous resorts, Zermatt offers up to 360 kilometres of prepared pistes giving you plenty of space to ride. Easily accessed via Geneva Airport, Zurich Airport or Milan Airport, it’s a great choice for families, intermediates and experts and features extensive off-piste, incredible mountain restaurants and a vibrant car-free town. Home to the highest cable car station in Europe, the resort has snowsure slopes on Gornergrat and Rothorn until mid-April, but the area on the Theodul Glacier is open all year round.

4 – Les Arcs

With 70% of the ski resort located above 2000m, Les Arcs, France is perfect for a late-season ski trip. Offering varied slopes both on and off-piste and some incredible woodland runs, its great for ending the winter season on a high. Thanks to its altitude, natural snow coverage is guaranteed until the end of the season with the Paradiski skiing area and Les Arcs/ Peisey-Vallandry ski area closing on 25th April. Paradiski is also fitted with the latest in high-performance artificial snow systems enabling links to be maintained right until closing.

© Photo by James Preston (www.flickr.com/photos/jamespreston/3522012550/)

3 – Val d’Isere

One of the most popular resorts in the Alps, Val d’Isere offers high-quality snowsure slopes until 3rd May. Ideal for families and experts alike, the town is as good as the terrain. With the pistes of Val and Tignes naturally linked, you can spend more time on the slopes than on the lifts. Although snow in Val D’Isere is extremely reliable, snow cover is guaranteed thanks to La Snow Factory, the largest artificial snowmaking facility in Europe. If you find you need even more time, you can even usually ski during June and July on the Pissaillas glacier.

2 – Ischgl

Despite not having a glacier, Ischgl, Austria has one of the longest winter seasons in the Alps. Close to both Innsbruck Airport and Zurich Airport, the resort is known for its amazing snow quality and bold apres-ski. Offering 238km of pistes served by 45 lifts, the slopes are best suited to intermediates that enjoy covering a lot of ground. Closing on 3rd May, the resort’s famous closing party, Top of the Mountain concerts are not to be missed and have even attracted the likes of Elton John, Bon Jovi and Mariah Carey.

© Photo by Johannes Gruber (www.flickr.com/photos/hotel-eggerbraeu-imst/6169128642/)

1 – Val Thorens

The highest resort in Europe, Val Thorens, France is one of the best Alpine ski resorts for skiing in Spring. The highest resort in the sprawling 600-kilometre Three Valleys ski area, 99% of Val Thorens is situated above 2,000m guaranteeing snow until the end of the winter season on 3rd May. Featuring over 600km of runs, it’s the largest ski area in the world and benefits from the fastest lift systems in France. Suiting everyone from beginners to experts, Val Thorens remains the best place for one last run down the slopes.

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We hope these suggestions have given you some inspiration for your late-season ski trip.

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We caught up with Peter, the Winner of a Holiday to Morzine

After winning the World’s Best Transfer Operator at the World Ski Awards 2017 for the third year in a row, we decided to celebrate in style. To thank all our loyal customers, we decided to host our biggest giveaway yet; a holiday for 2 in Morzine, France. This incredible prize included:

• Return flights from any UK airport to Geneva Airport
• Return Airport Transfers from Geneva Airport to Chalet Zephyr courtesy of Ski-Lifts. Door-to-door transfer from the winner’s home to the airport was also offered if they lived in the London area.
• 7 nights catered accommodation at Chalet Zephyr, just outside Morzine, provided by Ski Cosy. This included a hearty breakfast with hot options, afternoon tea with delicious home-made cakes, canapes, and a 3-course meal with wine. In addition, there was a private shuttle service to and from the ski lifts, plus maid service.
• Two 7-day Portes Du Soleil Lifts passes proved by the Mozine lift pass office.
• Ski or Snowboard hire for the entire 7 days courtesy of Snowell
• A pair of Panda Optic Funnel Black Ski Goggles provided of Panda Optics
• Ski-lessons or guiding provided by Ski Podium so the winner could make the most of their trip.

With such an amazing prize, the giveaway generated a huge amount of interest. Although there could only be one winner of the free holiday for 2 to Morzine…

So who won the ski trip to Morzine? The lucky entrant was Peter Davis…

The holiday took place from 20^th January 2018 to 27^th January 2018 so, whilst he was recovering from his holiday, we caught up with Peter to find out how it went.

The Flights & Transfers

Peter and his lucky travel partner Jon flew directly from Manchester to Geneva Airport. The flights and transfers were provided by ourselves. The transfer from Geneva Airport to Morzine went smoothly, and Peter said that “the driver handled the dicey conditions without any fuss”.

The Chalet

Provided by Ski Cosy Chalets, Peter and Jon stayed at Chalet Zephyr for the entire 7 nights on a catered basis. When we talked about the Chalet, Peter said that he has “never experienced such great service” with the hosts providing “fantastic food”, advice and transport to the slopes. The pair made full use of the facilities, especially the pool table and hot tub, and were even treated to a log fire every night!

The Skis

Courtesy of Snowell, Peter and Jon had ski-hire arranged for their entire stay in Morzine. Describing his Rossignol skis as “diamond standard”, Peter said that the shop was conveniently located just 100m from the Pleney gondola and they were able to store their skis overnight for no extra cost.

The Goggles

Panda Optics kindly proved a pair of Panda Optics Funnel Goggles that proved to be perfect for Peter’s trip. The conditions in Morzine on the first day of the holiday were great, and Peter said, “the low light lenses on the Panda Optics Funnel Goggles were definitely needed”.

The Skiing

Courtesy of Ski Podium, Peter and Jon were booked in for a 3-hour lesson. Despite some wet conditions, Peter said that their instructor helped “make the whole skiing process seem simple”, and enjoyable because of “the great service” they received.

Luckily, Morzine experienced beautiful blue skies for the rest of the trip, letting Peter and Jon make the most of their 7-day Portes Du Soleil Lift passes, provided by the Morzine Lift Pass Office. Describing Avoriaz as “spectacular”, the pair tried to visit all the ski areas but “enjoyed some runs so much [they] just had to keep doing them!”. We don’t blame them!

It sounds like Peter and Jon had an amazing time in Morzine!

Once again, we’d like to thank everyone who entered our giveaway! Make sure you follow Ski-Lifts on Facebook & Twitter to hear about our next giveaway![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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A Short Guide to Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018

2500 athletes, 15 winter sports disciplines, 13 venues and just over 2 weeks, the winter Olympics 2018 will provide all the inspiration you need to hit the slopes yourself.

The 2018 winter Olympics is scheduled to take place between 9th-25th February 2018 and is being held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. During the winter games, 90 nations will compete in 7 Olympic sports which have been organised in 15 winter sports disciplines. Following the success achieved in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Team GB are aiming to make the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018 their most successful games ever!

With around 60 Team GB athletes targeting 5 medals, there’s plenty of action going on. If you’re keen to watch Team GB in their best winter Olympics yet, have some of the key dates in the winter Olympics 2018 schedule.

The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018 will be shown live on BBC TV, Red Button, Connected TVs, BBC Sport website and mobile app.

If the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018 motivates you to have a go at a winter sport, then why not try your hand in some of these top ex Winter Olympic and top ski resorts across Europe and North America.

 

The host of both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, Innsbruck, Austria offers access to over 500km of trails for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. You also have the chance to experience a 115kmph decent descent on the Olympic bobsleigh run and relive Franz Klammer’s down Patscherkofl in the 1976 Winter Olympics.

 

Great for Intermediates and Experts, St. Moritz, Switzerland was the host city for the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics. Known for its incredible aprés-ski activities and nightlife, making it one of the best ski resorts in the world.

 

The Winter Olympics in 1936 were in Garmisch, Germany, and the resort is still widely known for its annual ski jumping event and World Cup races. Garmisch is Germany’s most popular ski resort, it’s spread across a couple of different areas, with some crossing the border into neighbouring Austria.

 

The host of the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina, Italy offers a spectacular backdrop for both beginners and intermediate skiers. Boasting a high peak of 2962m and snow-making facilities, it’s perfect for adrenaline junkies and families alike. Test the most vertical black track throughout Dolomiti Superski or head to one of the many restaurants and bars for après-ski pleasures.

 

It might not have hosted the Winter Olympics, but Aspen, USA is known worldwide as one of the top resorts in the world. Giving access to 337 individual pistes, 43 ski lifts and 4 mountains, there is a great level of skiing for all abilities. This resort has a glamorous atmosphere and is a firm favourite with celebrities.[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”If the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018 have inspired you to visit a top winter resort, let Ski-lifts take you from the airport to the slopes. Simply use the quote generator to book your transfer online.” style=”flat” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Click here to get an instant quote” btn_style=”flat” btn_color=”juicy-pink” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ski-lifts.com|||”][/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The Best Ski Resorts in North America

Skiing in Canada

Whistler

This Canadian ski resort gives you access to over 200 individual pistes and 37 ski lifts. Whistler firmly places its hat in the debate of the which resort is the ‘World’s Greatest Ski Resorts‘, competing with many of its neighbours in the US and of course, Europe’s elite.

Whistler can keep you on your toes whatever your level of skier you are, there are plenty of runs here for everyone.

Beginners have access to easy runs and learning areas which sit above the village.

Over half of the terrain is at intermediate-level. If you’re an intermediate skier, you have the most choice out of the bunch. If it is your cup of tea, you can go on amazing heli-skiing excursions, where you’ll be rising up to the 2500-3000m high slopes where you are able to enjoy the most breathtaking views in the whole area.

Whistler is a fantastic resort. You have a huge variety of challenges and stunning views.

Ski-Lifts offer shuttles from Vancouver Airport to Whistler.

© Photo by Kris Arnold (www.flickr.com/photos/wka/3346018264/) 

Skiing in the USA

Aspen

With access to 337 individual pistes and 43 ski lifts, Aspen should not be overlooked when you decide to go skiing in the USA. It is extremely hard to pinpoint just one ski resort as being the best in the world and I’m sure everyone would have their own opinion on which is the best. However, one thing that is undisputed is that Aspen is certainly amongst those top ski resorts across the world, maybe even within the top 5.

Altogether, Aspen has four mountains. These four mountains combined give you an offering of very diverse skiing which is suitable for all levels of skier/snowboarder. One downside of Aspen is that the mountains are not linked by ski lifts. That being said, there is a shuttle service between these mountains, which is available from 8am-5pm.

If you’re a beginner, your best bet is to start your day on Buttermilk, which is an area with wide, quiet and gentle slopes… Perfect! Buttermilk stretches for a few kilometres, heading away from the town. For the intermediate and expert skiers, get yourself over to Aspen Mountain, which stands 5km away from the town. Aspen has something for everyone, from beginner runs, all the way to the demanding and exciting black runs and off-piste runs which are a challenge for any level of skier.

Ski-Lifts offer shuttles from Denver Airport and Eagle County Airport to Aspen.

Beaver Creek

This family-focused resort is definitely one which you should look to tick off your ski bucket list! Whatever level of skier you are, you will find something to suit your ability here at Beaver Creek. It is also one of the highest ski areas around, so natural snow is almost guaranteed throughout the season. This top-of-the-range resort also invests in cloud-seeding technology. Cloud-seeding is designed to make it snow more than it would naturally.

Strawberry Park, with its own gondola lift, is the perfect place for beginners to start their journey into skiing. Further up the mountain, you will also find a number of gentle beginner slopes. Intermediate skiers have plenty to occupy themselves with at Beaver Creek. There are over 100 intermediate runs for you to fill your boots with, some are up to 4.5km long. Not forgetting all you expert skiers, for a real challenge, head to the black diamond and double-black diamond runs, including the famous World Cup Birds of Prey downhill course. You may, or may not be happy to know that some of the runs here in Beaver Creek are so extreme, they have their own special rating – ‘EX’. If you’re looking for these runs, get yourself over to Stone Creek Chutes, Royal Elk Grade and Talon’s Challenge.

Ski-Lifts offer shuttles from Denver Airport and Eagle County Airport to Beaver Creek.

© Photo by Jeff Gunn (www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgunn/6576477881/) 

Copper Mountain

Staying with the theme of all the best ski resorts in North America, Copper Mountain provides runs for all levels of ability. The 142 runs are neatly-divided over 1800 ha. Runs which are located in the west, start out easy, however, once you head further east, you will notice they gradually become steeper and much more challenging. If you’re looking for some wide-open green runs, then head over to Union Creek chair in West Village. In Central Village, you will find a number of green and blue runs. While East Village is set up for more experienced skiers, with challenging 600+ metre runs, including; blue runs, a black diamond and a double diamond, which are all situated below the mountains 3600m peak. Here’s a good fact for you, the US ski team trains for its speed events on the runs near East Village.

Other than skiing, Copper Mountain offers snowboarding, zip-lining, tubing, show-shoeing, ice-skating, and much more.

Ski-Lifts offer shuttles from Denver Airport to Copper Moutain.

Vail

Vail is the self-proclaimed favourite ski resort in North America and you know what, we somewhat agree! One thing that we can definitely confirm, is that Vail is the USA’s biggest ski resort. With over 5,289 of ski-able acres and 7 infamous back bowls which span over 7 miles, you certainly won’t find yourself skiing the same run twice during your time in Vail. Free buses and heated walkways connect all the four base areas in Vail.

Vail is huge!! You won’t find skiing on a scale like this anywhere else.

There’s no doubt that experts will gravitate toward the legendary Back Bowls – which feature plenty of black runs and off-piste routes. It’s worth noting that intermediates can safely handle some runs in the Back Bowls.

Ski-Lifts offer shuttles from Denver Airport and Eagle County Airport to Vail.

© Photo by Rudi Riet (www.flickr.com/photos/rudiriet/2419178572/) [/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Heading to any of these resorts this winter? Don’t forget to book your hassle-free transfer!” style=”flat” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Click here to get an instant quote” btn_style=”flat” btn_color=”juicy-pink” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ski-lifts.com|||”][/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]