2022/2023 European Ski Season opening dates

After the success of the 2021/2022 season, we are all very excited to return to our favourite European ski resorts! Our aim at Ski-Lifts is to make your ski experience as seamless as possible, so we have compiled a list of opening dates for European resorts that are open for Ski, Snowboard (and Transfer!) bookings.

Austria ski resort opening dates

Bad Kleinkirchheim	08/12/22 – 02/04/23	Bad Kleinkirchheim ski transfers
Hintertux	Open all year round	Hintertux ski transfers
Ischgl	24/11/22 – 05/01/23	Ischgl ski transfers
Kitzbühel	Estimated 29/10/22 – 16/04/23	Kitzbühel ski transfers
Mayrhofen	Estimated 03/12/22 – 15/04/23	Mayrhofen ski transfers
Solden	19/11/22 – 28/04/23	Solden ski transfers
St Anton	02/12/22 – 23/04/23	St Anton ski transfers
Innsbruck	25/10/22 – 28/04/23	Innsbruck ski transfers

Bulgaria ski resort opening dates

Bankso	Estimated 12/12/22 – 13/04/23	Bankso ski transfers
Borovets	Estimated 18/12/22 – 15/04/23	Borovets ski transfers

France ski resort opening dates

Alpe D’Huez	Estimated 03/12/22 – 23/04/23	Alpe D’Huez ski transfers
Avoriaz	Estimated 10/12/22 – 23/04/23	Avoriaz ski transfers
Chamonix	Estimated 17/12/22 – 16/04/23	Chamonix ski transfers
Courchevel	Estimated 03/12/22 – 23/04/23	Courchevel ski transfers
Flaine	03/12/22 – 16/04/23	Flaine ski transfers
La Tania	19/11/22 – 08/05/23	La Tania ski transfers
Les Gets	17/12/22 – 10/04/23	Les Gets ski transfers
Les Menuires	09/12/22 – 23/04/23	Les Menuires ski transfers
Méribel	03/12/22 – 23/04/23	Meribel ski transfers
Val Thorens	19/11/22 – 07/05/23	Val Thorens ski transfers
Tignes	26/11/22 – 07/05/23	Tignes ski transfers
Morzine	17/12/22 – 10/04/23	Morzine ski transfers

Germany ski resort opening dates

Garmisch

16/12/22 – 02/04/23

Gamisch ski transfers

 

 

Italy ski resort opening dates

Arabba	08/12/22 – 16/04/23	Arabba ski transfers
Cervinia	01/10/22 – 07/05/23	Cervinia ski transfers
Cortina	26/11/22 – 01/05/23	Cortina ski transfers
Sauze d’oulx	Estimated 08/12/22 – 13/04/23	Sauze d’oulx ski transfers
Livigno	26/11/22 – 29/04/23	Livigno ski transfers
Madonna Di Campiglio	03/12/22 – 02/04/23	Madonna Di Campiglio ski transfers
Val Gardena	03/12/22 – 11/04/23	Val Gardena ski transfers

Slovenia ski resort opening dates

Kranjska Gora

02/12/22 – 16/04/23

Kranjska Gora ski transfers

Switzerland ski resort opening dates

Davos & Klosters	Various dates	Davos & Klosters ski transfers
Gstaad	10/12/22 – 10/04/23	Gstaad ski transfers
Saas Fee	Estimated 29/10/22 – 23/04/23	Saas Fee ski transfers
Verbier	Estimated 03/12/22 – 23/04/23	Verbier ski transfers

 

We cover over 200+ ski resort destinations! Book your transfers today to secure the best rates and availability!

 

CHRISTMAS SKI TRANSFERS AVAILABLE TO BOOK NOW

 

Are you dreaming of heading to snowier climates this festive season? It’s time to turn those dreams into reality. Christmas Ski transfers to popular resorts during the busy season are already getting booked up, so, to make the decision easier, we’ve put together a list of our favourite resorts to spend this Christmas.

Courchevel, France

Just a 2 hour, 30-minute transfer from Geneva Airport, Courchevel is located at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski area, the Three Valleys. You’ll have access to 600km of pistes and over 70 lifts! The snow in Courchevel is usually some of the best in the whole of the Three Valleys, thanks to the local slopes facing north. There’s terrain to suit everyone from beginner to expert, making Courchevel a perfect family getaway for Christmas.

Wengen, Switzerland

If you’re looking for a truly festive Swiss break, then Wengen will delight you.  The streets are decorated for Christmas and Christmas Eve. If you want to take in some local culture, join the local Swiss families and attend Midnight Mass, then get together afterwards to share homemade doughnuts and hot chocolate. Sharing a ski area with Grindelwald, Wengen sits on a sunny shelf and most of its slopes sit above its neighbour, under the north face of the Eiger.  If you purchase a Jungfrau lift pass then you can ski in both resorts, as well as next-door Mürren.  

Wengen is perfect for families, just a 2 hour, 30-minute transfer from Geneva Airport. The resort is virtually car-free and in the centre, there’s a snow-covered field that serves brilliantly as a nursery slope and a playground.  The main way up the mountain is the cog railway, which gives any progressing children the chance to access the village from Lauterbrunnen down in the valley.

Megeve, France

Megève was originally created to give France its very own St Moritz. As the story goes, in 1914 the French set about transforming the original farming village into what it is today, a resort with expensive boutiques, fancy restaurants and hotels all lining the town square and the cobbled streets. The Swarovski Christmas tree in Megève is a must see!

If you’re looking for a lavish Christmas break, just an hour and twenty-minute transfer from Geneva, then Megève is the place for you. Altogether there are seven 5-star hotels, one 3-Michelin-star restaurant and four that have 1-Michelin-star. Megeve has its brilliant share of accommodation, including hotels, private rentals, residences, chalets, and guestrooms. 

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt is Switzerland’s most famous resort. Approximately a 2hrs, 30 minute transfer from Geneva Airport – Think horse-drawn sleighs, glowing shop windows and chestnut and glühwein stalls, that’s exactly how Zermatt is at Christmas. The world’s most photogenic mountain, the Matterhorn ensures that Zermatt is loved by many and known all around the world, so it’s time to book your Christmas ski transfers ASAP!

If you’re worried about early-season snow at Christmas, well, you needn’t worry about Zermatt’s snow-sure slopes from late November. Its high-altitude top stations (all the way up to 3,820m), a modern and slick lift system and the fantastic mountain restaurants, ensure Zermatt is a cut above the rest. There are links to Cervinia over the Italian border from here, so you can even pop over for a pizza.

Val Thorens, France

Val Thorens is the highest resort in the huge Three Valleys ski area, Val Thorens is actually the highest resort in Europe. The high-altitude of Val Thorens slopes means that this resort is snow-sure from November onwards, so there’s no need to worry about snow cover over the Christmas period. 

The terrain around Val Thorens suits everyone from beginner to expert, however, intermediates are those who Val Thorens suits the most.  If you’re up for some long, cruising runs over the Christmas period, then head over to Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville.

he closest airport to Val Thorens is Chambery, but there are plenty of other nearby airports that the big airlines fly into. The journey from Geneva may take longer at 3hrs (than Chambery at 90 mins), but Geneva airport is preferred by some skiers for its relatively faster luggage processing and other facilities.

Kitzbuhel, Austria

This amazing alpine village is nestled in Tyrol, it’s a beautiful picture-perfect Austrian resort. From the 26th November, you’ll find a festive filled Christmas market with local handicraft stores, fir trees and plenty of konditorei (a cafe selling pastries). Spend your days skiing and enjoying pony rides and a petting zoo. Each evening from 6 pm, the central square is filled with singing from the local choirs. Transfers from Innsbuck to Kitzbuhel take around 1 hour and 30 minutes, you can also fly to Salzburg and Munich, which takes about 2 hours to Kitzbuhel.

 

 

 

As the nights draw in, thoughts are turning to fresh snow and blue bird days on the mountains…

I’m sure you are already thinking about where your next ski trip will be, but in which ski resorts is the snow forecast? We’ve put together a list of ski resorts across the world that are open or are opening very soon…

AUSTRIA – SNOW FORECAST
Austria is one of the most famous and most popular skiing destinations in the world. The amount of ski resorts is vast and because of this, there is something to suit everyone. 
Obergurgl is due to open this weekend and Kitzbuhel has already opened some of its high altitude runs, with snow forecast looking positive. Consider recommending Glacier ski areas, both Hintertux and Solden ski resorts now have more than 30km of runs open, the most in Europe!

Transfers from Innsbruck Airport to Austrian resorts all take less than 2 hours!

SWITZERLAND – SNOW FORECAST
Switzerland has an extensive history in Alpine sports, being one of the pioneer countries in the sport of skiing.
Verbier announced it is opening its Lac Des Vaux slope and will continue to open more as due to good snow forecast, until the main season starts on December 3rd. Sass Fee, which has reported the best snow depth in the world and Zermatt, has over 15 miles of runs available.

Transfers from Geneva Airport to these Switzerland Resorts take between 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.

FRANCE – SNOW FORECAST
France is one of the most popular destinations for a skiing holiday in the world, and rightly so. The range of destinations on offer caters for every standard, every type of skier there could possibly be, and every winter budget. Val Thorens delayed its opening date but with good snow cover on the tops, they have a revised opening date of November 26th which is the same as Tignes. Val d’Isere have announced its season start will be December 3rd with snowfall down to about 1500 metres.

Transfers from Geneva Airport to these French Resorts take between 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours.

ITALY – SNOW FORECAST
There are three large, linked ski areas in Italy, so it is easy to get some serious amounts of skiing packed into your ski holiday. First of those ski areas is the Dolomiti Superski, which covers 1200km of pistes. Next up is the Milky Way ski area, the 400km of pistes connect multiple resorts. Finally, the Monta Rosa ski area. This ski area is often touted as one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. There are extensive off-piste runs to explore, as well as 180km of pistes. A few resorts have opened, Cervinia has had fresh snowfall and Val Senales is open with 4 miles of high-altitude terrain available.

Turin Airport to Cervinia transfer time is approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
Geneva Airport to Cervinia transfer time is approx. 3 hours

USA/CANADA – SNOW FORECAST
It’s great news for the North American ski slopes with a number of ski areas announcing early open dates due to good snowfall.

Vail calls itself ‘North America’s favourite ski resort’. That’s a grand, subjective statement we can’t confirm, but there is one thing we do know for sure: it’s America’s biggest ski resort. Vail’s got over 5,289 ski-able acres and 7 legendary back bowls spanning 7 miles. Free buses and heated walkways connect its four distinct base areas. Breckenridge is an American ski resort giving you access to 155 individual pistes and 32 ski lifts. Although the proportion of black runs available vs blue & green runs might appear intimidating to less experienced skiers, Breckenridge is actually an excellent resort for all levels of ability.

Denver Airport to Vail transfer time is approx. 2 hours 15 minutes
Eagle Airport to Vail transfer time is approx. 1 hour

Denver Airport to Breckenridge transfer time is approx. 2 hours
Eagle Airport to Breckenridge transfer time is approx. 1 hour 30 minutes

Ready to book?

Secure the best rates and availability and book your transfers now.

The Best French Après Ski Resorts

A day on the mountain is hard to beat, but what do you do after a day of skiing or snowboarding can make your trip one of the best!

We have asked our team here in Morzine and have decided on our favourite top 5 French resorts for Après Ski!

Val d’Isere

The Val d’Isere’s après ski scene has something for everyone and is known for its Après Ski scene worldwide. We are sure you’ve heard of the Folie Douce, this bar has performers who dance, play instruments, perform circus tricks and generally form a massive mountainside party every afternoon. Top DJs play at Dick’s Tea Bar in the town centre where you are able to dance until 5am! Cocorico is also a must visit if you like live music on the piste-side. So, whether you are young or old, you are sure to enjoy the Après Ski in Val d’Isere.

Transfers from Geneva Airport to Val d’Isere take approx. 3hrs.

Meribel

Meribel’s Rond Point – also known as the Ronnie – is a world-class après ski institution and has been drawing in crowds for decades with its live bands and loud DJ sets. Its sister venue is the O’Sullivans Club, where you’ll find drinks deals and themed funk, soul and disco nights. This Three Valleys resort is huge with British skiers and snowboarders, so if you want a home-from-home party atmosphere with the bonus of mountains on your doorstep, this is the après ski destination for you!

Transfers from Chambery Airport to Meribel take approx. 1hr 30 mins. 

Transfers from Geneva Airport to Meribel take approx. 2hrs 15 mins.

Alpe d’Huez

Alpe d’Huez is no sleepy ski resort. It has its own branch of Folie Douce, the Freeride Café with its pool tables (and a slide to the toilet!) and Smithy’s Tavern with its Tex Mex menu, beer jugs and band nights. When everywhere else has shut up shop for the night, there’s a nightclub called L’Igloo which stays open until the early hours. Drinks and dancing aren’t the only après ski activities, there’s also a big outdoor ice rink, where you can sometimes watch ice hockey games and the Sports and Convention Centre offering swimming, squash, climbing and bouldering.

Transfers from Grenoble Airport to Alpe d’Huez take approx. 1hr 40 mins.

Val Thorens

Val Thorens is the highest resort in the Alps, and many people say it’s also the liveliest. The resort usually puts on a big event each month, like the JBL Snow Party (with performers including Tinie Tempah) and Festi Val Tho (an electro event), making it very popular for student ski trips. All season long, bars like 360 and Folie Douce mark the end of the skiing day with loud music and dancing, while Le Malaysia (the biggest nightclub in the Alps) is the place to end your night. 

Transfers from Geneva Airport to Val Thorens take approx. 2hrs 30 mins.

Transfers from Chambery Airport to Val Thorens take approx. 1hr 30 mins.

Courchevel

Posh, but never too posh to party, Courchevel is world-renowned for its expensive and exclusive après ski scene. Follow the routine of the rich and famous and slip from the slopes (or the shops) into a chic bar like Le 8611 for an aperitif, move on for a Michelin starred meal in one of the celebrated eateries, then head to Les Caves nightclub to spend a small fortune on a jeroboam or two of champagne. While Courchevel 1850 is the place to see and be seen, the other villages also have some great bars, for example, Fire and Ice and Bubble Bar in 1650.

Transfers from Geneva Airport to Courchevel take approx. 2hrs 30 mins.

Transfers from Chambery Airport to Courchevel take approx. 1hr 30 mins.

So, now you’ve chosen your next Ski Trip, it’s time to book your transfers!

Travel to and from Switzerland is relatively easy this year, with eased restrictions from December 20th, and the payoff is brilliant. Great snow conditions have been reported across resorts, and bars as well as restuarants are open with seating and well as mask requirements in place.

Transfers to any of these resorts is simple from Geneva Airport, transfer time to Zermatt is approximately 2hrs30mins, to Saas Fee transfer time is roughly 2hrs30mins and Verbier is under two hours.

Here’s a selection of our favourite resorts across Switzerland.

Swiss Entry Requirements – 20^th Dec 2021

As of December 20th Switzerland have eased restrictions for entry to the country. You now need a pre-departure negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) or a lateral flow test (not older than 24 hours) to enter the country.  The lateral flow option was added last week, giving skiers the opportunity to reduce their test costs. Children can accompany their vaccinated parents, and requirements to isolate in the resort or take Day 4 or Day 7 tests were removed for fully vaccinated adults. All travellers must complete passenger locator forms. 

Of course our top tips for Skiiing confidently this winter continue to apply:

1. Always book your transfers with Ski-Lifts – our flexible cancellation terms and Covid guarantees are there should your plans change
2. Always review Foreign Office travel advice before you book and again before travelling
3. Check your travel insurance that it comprehensively covers you should your travel plans need to change.