Best early skiing in Europe

If you want to beat the crowds and get in a ski trip before the end of year, then you do not have to wait till January or February for good snow and skiing. High resort altitudes and glacier skiing offer opportunities to ski early on in the season, so you can beat the crowds and holiday sooner.

Best resort to ski in October

Cervinia

Ideally situated at a resort altitude of 2050m, Cervinia is known for its long season running between October and May and consistently good snow. Skiers in Cervinia can enjoy a wide range of piste’s as Zermatte and Valtournenche are both reachable and covered by the Cervinia ski pass, totalling 350km of piste. There are slopes ideal for beginner and intermediate skiiiers; slopes in the Klein Matterhorn glacier area better suited to beginner skiiers, and more challenging slopes are generally found in Zermatt. Cervinia itself is known for wide, long and spacious trails that offer the opportunity for those new to skiing to snowplough around and those more adventurous to race down.

Cervinia is geared towards families, with a plethora of ski schools and after ski family activities such as a cinema, bowling and amusement arcade. There are accommodation options to suit all budgets and over 50 cafe’s and restaurants at various price points.

Find out more about what Cervinia has to offer here.

Best resort to ski in November

Les Deux Alpes

Due to being a glacier resort, Les Deux Alpes has a long ski season from late November to April. Despite its altitude and proximity to Mont-de-Lans glacier, there is plenty of sun with many south facing slopes and a mostly tree-less terrain.

Les Deux Alpes is ideal for skiers and snowboarders with its modern lift system and wide range of slopes amounting to 220km of pistes. Skiers can access slopes at their highest point of 3600m, with 2300 metres of slopes downwards from its peak.

Known particularly for its suitability for snowboarders, Les Deux Alpes has a border cross and half pike as well as snowparks for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.

There are runs suitable for skiers at all levels, with easier slopes found at the top of the summit and more challenging slopes lower down the slope. For those looking for a budget destination, Les Deux Alpes is ideal with a wide range of accommodation at affordable prices, as well as places to eat and drink.

Book your Les Deux Alpes transfers, or find out more about the resort here.

Best resort to ski in December

Tignes

Sitting at a resort altitude of 2100m, Tignes has a long snow sure season between early December and May.

Tignes is a go to destination for intermediate and experienced skiers, with a wide range of steep, challenging slopes. There are over 100 blue and red runs between Tignes and Val D’Isere and infamous slopes such as “The Wall” which attract thousands of ambitious skiers each year.

Outside of skiing Tignes is known for its apres ski scene, with some of the best bars in the Alpes as well as popular nightclubs that stay open late.

Summer Skiing in Les Deux Alpes – A Glacier Getaway

•  Les Deux Alpes is ski-ready in the summer as well as during high season – thanks to its well-known, popular glacier skiing area.
• The Glacier season takes place in Les Deux Alpes from June to September.

The glacier skiing here is quite sizeable – in fact, it’s technically the biggest glacier skiing area in Europe! It’s a fantastic area for beginner and improver skiers who want to try things out during the summer, with blue, green and red runs up at the top all accessible by the chairlifts and draglifts that remain in operation for the glacier season. From there, you have access to the longest, full on-piste vertical in the world – lots of room for some serious practice in France’s second oldest ski resort (the first being Chamonix).

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The fun of glacier skiing in Les Deux Alpes

If you are a beginner – don’t let the altitude put you off. Les 2 Alpes is also known for being ‘topsy turvy’, where the easier, wider runs are actually at the top, while the steeper runs are a little further down from the glacier runs. As you’re venturing higher up that normal to get to the snow, the lower oxygen levels means you’ll need the time to acclimatise, so it’s estimated that your body has to work even harder in the altitude to keep you going, which could make for really effective training if you’re an experienced beginner or improving. Just make sure you know you’re medically OK going higher up and give yourself enough time to do so. You’ll find everything in the lower and steeper parts of the mountains are taken over by mountain bikers in the summer who flock here to make the most of the jumps!

Your summer ski day passes (if you’re around for more than one day on the slopes) to the peaks in Les Deux Alpes will also unlock access to the facilities at lower altitude, including the pool and tennis courts – which makes for a seriously active holiday if you want one, particularly if you’re keeping up with your fitness as well as your snow skills. It’s also worth seeing if there are any local hikes or treks that you can go on while you’re in the area. Summer hikes in the Alps are also great muscle boosters after a few days hitting the skis.

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Les Deux Alpes in the summer

The town is in the heart of the French Alps, so there’s a great selection of shopping and restaurants along the main streets, as well as plenty of bars and cafes dotted around the area. While summer is probably more of a social affair than a hardcore sports holiday, you’ll probably appreciate the balance between the more relaxed summer après vibe and making the most of the sunshine. The village is pretty large with a good selection of hotels for all budgets, or you can opt for a chalet in the summer which has a really different feel to it than usual. The town is incredibly convenient for the ski runs – the funicular links the town to the main peaks, up to 3,450m high. At the top, you’ll obviously be able to take in 360° views of the Alps and beyond, including Mont Blanc which is practically in front of you – showing itself off with a grassy vista to enjoy for a change of pace!

A family-friendly summer ski option

Les Deux Alpes is a great summer ski option, thanks to having eight summer-ready runs between June and September, half pipes and a snowboard area, and some surprisingly cost effective pass prices in August. That’s handy if those flight tickets to North America or New Zealand are a little bit out there; if you want to experience a totally different ski vibe that you can mix up with a hiking holiday, or, if you simply want to keep the holiday stash stocked for your winter ski season or another trip.

The summer ski *perfect* holiday for active people

If you’re over in the south of France, then you’ll know that it is hotter than the rest of France, with temperatures often over 30°C – even the nearby Val d’Isère in the south east can get a bit warm! That’s why Les Deux Alpes is a good choice if you don’t want to be ‘extreme’ climate switching between very hot sea level air and the cooler mountain air like you might elsewhere. March – April and June are hot for sure in Les Deux Alpes, but both these months do see a good mix of rain and sun – which makes anywhere you’re staying a little cheaper too as much of the accommodation will priced on the weather during these months, prior to charging full for the main summer season from the end of June through to August.

Les Deux Alpes is popular with families, especially those with young children with high energy levels. With so much on offer, it’s also great for active families looking for some free time, and so families can divide themselves between the mountain, tennis, hiking, biking, the spa and the pool. Les Deux Alpes offers plentiful accommodation choices too: everything from traditional chalets, to hotels and apartments to, increasingly, campsites and pitch space a little further out. All apartment will have twin or large double rooms, or a few of both, as the chalets and hotels. All the summer campsites near Les Deux Alpes have WCs, maintained showers and full laundry facilities. Everything in once place for an active summer holiday. Summer skiing in Les Deux Alpes – really, what more could you ask for?

Book your Les Deux Alpes transfers >>

4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Book Ski Transfers Ahead Of Time

1. Ski season is short
2. You could book ahead for a big group and get a coach
3. You can book your transfer days in advance
4. It saves you time and stress

The ski season is your annual time to take in the slopes, enjoy the snow and then get down to some serious après. Before getting to that point though, there’s a little bit of holiday admin to do – namely, booking your holiday, and booking your ski transfers. There’s nothing worse than worrying about how you’re going to get from your chosen airport to your little hideaway in the Alps, or lugging equipment off trains and up hills and trying to catch a taxi.

>> Get the best deals, book your ski transfers today – get a free quote.

Ski season is short

While the entire ski season runs between early December and the end of March each year, the snow still falls relatively slowly and in fact we often get snow showers for only the first few weeks of the season. This means that skiers can get in their Christmas skiing without risking their season being ruined by a lack of snow, and it also means that if you have the luxury of booking your transfers early, you can relax knowing that you don’t need to worry about times, dates and timetables and the sheer stress that comes with using public transport. There’s also the advantage of not having to lug your gear in between stations and stops, so you can still be sure of being on the slopes come December.

If you’re going off-piste, you can’t really control your snow conditions, so booking miles ahead could be pointless – you might be quite certain that the snow will be fairly untouched and ready for your arrival. If you’re a backcountry skier, you’ll want to book your transfers also a few weeks in advance so you have as little to worry about as possible, and be confident that you can bring your tent or chosen wild camping gear with you.

Transport to and from the resort is also vital. Travelling between resorts can be tiring and difficult – and if you’re not used to the areas you’re going to, it can be easy to get lost. Lots of skiers prefer to travel from the middle of January to the end of March to catch both the atmosphere they desire and the best snow. Although, saying that, there are a few skiers who like to sneak out at the end of November before it gets really busy. Plus, if you’re heading to a snowsure resort, or you chase the snow and head over for glacier skiing in the summer – well, you pretty much have nothing to worry about.

Book ahead and get a coach – and when to book ski transfers generally

If you’re booking a very large group together for your ski trip, a coach transfer might actually be the best value idea. Coach transfers from Geneva Airport tend to be popular for both their premium experience and their value in what is essentially a bulk travel/transfer order. With a few big families clubbing together, you might find the per-person price is cheaper – that’s why it’s always sensible to get a few ski resort airport transfer quotes before you confirm your booking, so you can work out the best price for your skiing holiday.

Think of organising your skiing trip as a half-marathon, not a sprint at the last gate! Although it’s great to get out and explore and enjoy the mountain culture, it’s more practical to book everything in advance, try and get a few extra days either side of your planned season and arrive at your lodge to unpack, so you can relax and enjoy the scenery for the next few days. (Although, we get it – for some skiers, it really is about hitting the peaks as soon as physically possible!) For holidays with lift passes, it’s good to book your transfers a few weeks in advance at least to ensure you’re getting the best possible availability. Most people prefer to book things over a few days close together in creating their ‘DIY’ ski trip or their own package put together from lots of different places –  that way, you can take advantage of the best deal you can while doing your own research.

>> Get the best deals, book your ski transfers today – get a free quote.

You can book your transfers days in advance to save time

For all resorts in Europe, the USA and Canada –  you can book them online with us. There are different options: shared, shared plus (less waiting for other folks), private, coach and executive. And you can even book them in a few days in advance. Ski-Lifts has year-round coverage any availability for transfers across all of your favourite resorts, so even if you’re booking transfers at the very last minute, our team have the best and most experienced driver networks to tap into, to get your Ski-Lifts ski transfers.

It saves you time and stress

There are a few instances in which your ski transfers could be arranged by your accommodation or hotel, but it will usually on the their terms and conditions rather than your own when it comes to timing and picking the right car. While resort-to-airport transfers might be down to the individual resort, they might not be able to give you a specialised, experienced service like Ski-Lifts (and our partner accommodation) who know the roads best – and it’s best not to just leave it to a random taxi. Another issue at leaving it to your accommodation to arrange, is availability – you don’t want to be waiting hours for the next available transport, you need to get your airport or train station in plenty of time.

Speaking of reducing stress, transporting ski gear can get very stressful. It can feel heavy over time, it’s awkward to carry, and the last thing you want is to be fetching your luggage by yourself with a map on your phone in one hand, and everything else in the other!  So a smooth, stress-free friendly airport transfer – whether that’s over an hour or for an epic four-hour ski transfer to your chalet, having the last leg of your journey covered really does have its wellbeing benefits. Better yet, it allows you to focus on the après which the season demands that we do, rather than stress-skiing for that first morning after your arrival day!

>> Get the best deals, book your ski transfers today – get a free quote.

5 Best Ways To Prevent Travel Sickness During Your Transfer

1. Stay hydrated
2. Take ginger supplements
3. Try Dramamine or similar medication
4. Eat something before you go
5. Change your diet

Travel sickness can really get the better of us if we’re prone to it. For some folks, the mode of transport doesn’t matter, it’s nausea-town. For others, it genuinely only happens when we’re not in the driving seat. And lo and behold, although rare, it can even happen to drivers. So to help with what might be your 3 hours of hell to 13 days of heaven in the snow, we’ve spoken to seasoned skiers and drivers about their advice. We would recommend that you always seek proper medical advice that isn’t from a blog, of course, and this content is presented only as information for your own further research.

Travel sickness sorted, and ready to ski?

Book your airport transfers now.

Staying hydrated

Dehydration is a very real cause of travel sickness, so be sure to make sure you’re getting plenty of water before you get on the plane. Having a water bottle with you will make sure you don’t miss a beat. Drink as much as you can, starting as soon as you feel unwell. Staying hydrated in small and frequent bursts is important, as some folks may find that they also have stomach problems from travel-based anxiety or even undiagnosed claustrophobia, so it can be difficult to get fluids back up into your system quickly if you’re feeling this way. And instead of swigging fizzy drinks, try water or even fruit tea.

Taking ginger

This is something you might know about if you suffer from travel sickness. Ginger is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle for many of us – so naturally it’s an ingredient we should be packing in to our rucksacks. Ginger, in moderation, is known to aid digestion, so those who are prone to getting gassy should take care to take some time to cut out the offending foods before a trip. One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking digestive enzymes with you on your travels. We hear from unconfirmed rumours that the Ironman team keeps ginger in their first aid kit to aid nausea in the most natural way which doesn’t get in the way or alter performance. Another excellent way to treat the nauseous feeling is by taking ginger supplements. They’re supposed to be packed with anti-spasmodic properties and could help ease the pain and nausea. These won’t cure it entirely, but they’ll certainly help and boost your immune system to prevent any sickness or vomiting after a long transfer on the way to the slopes.

Travel sickness sorted, and ready to ski?

Book your airport transfers now.

Taking Dramamine

It is a travel sickness pill recommended by lots of travel sick travellers and tourists – although, please always get medical advice! Some people believe that Dramamine is a “miracle” for those unfortunate enough to suffer from motion sickness, and prevent travel sickness with it. So no more queasy day trips or flights, or 4 hour long road trips punctuated by nausea – if you’re affected by it, then you’ll know all too well what a game-changer it is. If you are the type to choose to take this stuff, you don’t have to take it every time you travel – try to space it out so it works for you! If you take it every time, it can actually make the sickness worse, so be careful. This is why most will opt for taking a ginger supplement or sweets (or both!) to help with travel sickness during their flights, their transfers or even both.

Eating something before you start travelling on any transport

A little bit of food can ease your nausea – prevent travel sickness by eating 2 hours before travelling- try not to eat anything directly before you head out into transportation, be it a car or a plane. This could also help you relax later down the line when it’s time to hit the slopes and prevent any sickness from a late breakfast! A little energy boost is always appreciated. Also, a protein rich smoothie before you travel could help to settle your stomach and reduce your chances of getting a nausea-filled stomach at the ski resort. Most people with travel sickness will eat before and then try to make sure they don’t eat during the time they’re actually taking transport – which is why staying hydrated is even more important.

Changing your diet before you travel

If you’re prone to travel sickness, one of the best things you can do is change your diet. Becoming sick after you’ve eaten is often the result of food sensitivities or imbalances, so if you think that certain foods are making you sick, then switching up what you’re eating may make a difference.  If you suspect you have an intolerance to a food, simply cut it out of your diet for a few days and see if it makes a difference.  Food can affect whether you feel sick or not, so try to avoid the very foods which can commonly cause nausea during your travel (sometimes without you knowing at first) – like nuts, caffeine, red wine and dairy products. Of course, as soon as you arrive at your resort, all those ingredients are 100% a la table! It’s worth it 😉

Travel sickness sorted, and ready to ski?

Book your airport transfers now.