Heidi Blog
What makes a great resort for beginners?
Here at Heidi, we understand that when picking that perfect resort and planning your first ski trip, there are many things you want to make sure of. You want gentle and crowd-free slopes, and you also want to be able to access the mountain to meet friends and enjoy the views (and not be confined to ‘beginner only areas’). That means choosing a resort where the main network of runs is rated green or blue, especially the pistes back to the resort.
Often this means quieter resorts away from action, but as you’ll see from some of our top beginner ski resort suggestions below – not always! While the big mega-resorts can be intimidating for anyone setting out on their first ski trip, some are great for beginners. Also important, look for resorts with a wide selection of other things to do, whether that’s good shopping, hiking trails or spas, just in case you don’t find your ski legs. Here are our selection of the best beginner ski holidays for those just getting started:
Avoriaz, France
The exception to the ‘go small’ rule. Avoriaz may be a mega resort – where multiple resorts and ski villages are linked together by lift systems – but it’s also a great option for beginner ski holidays in France. There are excellent slopes right next to the resort, and since it’s purpose-built, most of the accommodation is super practical ski-in/ski-out, so you don’t have to worry about the pain of carrying your skis far. With 600km of pistes and 30 snowparks, all on one pass, there’s no shortage of options on a beginners’ ski holiday to Avoriaz. Head up the mountain when the weather’s great or stay below the tree line for better visibility when it’s snowy. There’s also no shortage of alternate activities either, from e-bikes to hiking to shopping and spas.
Arinsal, Andorra
Arinsal is an idyllic village in the heart of the Pyrenees, offering cheap beginner ski holidays and lots of fantastic, wide, gentle tree-lined runs. It’s home to a small, family-friendly ski area. The resort also has a nice relaxed pace, so it’s not as intimidating as some of the bigger resorts in the Alps. Beginner ski holidays in Andorra are also kinder on the wallet – which is important to consider if you’re not sure if you’ll like skiing. From Arinsal, it’s also easy to get down to the town of Andorra La Vella for some shopping or the Caldea Spa for some spa time to get away from the slopes or just enjoy some me-time.
Trysil, Norway
Beginner ski holidays in Norway have a very different vibe to the Alps. The mountains here are not as high or steep as their alpine counterparts and, as a result, are not as scary for your first runs. The resorts are also smaller and quieter, which all adds to a welcoming and positive experience. A beginner’s ski holiday to Trysil offers a great place to learn the basics, with two-thirds of its pistes rated either green or blue. There are some great beginner zones on the mountain and wide open slopes above the treeline. It’s also home to a good ski school with instructors who speak perfect English. Norway ski holidays also offer a good snow record, so you’re much less likely to find yourself in challenging icy conditions.
Wengen, Switzerland
Although beginner ski holidays to Wengen don’t tick the “convenient” box, there’s no doubt it’s a magical place for a first winter ski holiday. One of the biggest highlights is its mountain railway, which climbs to a lofty 3,454 metres, the highest train station in Europe! With stunning alpine panoramas, you get the romance of arriving by train to the beautiful traffic-free chocolate-box village while looking out over breathtaking views of Switzerland’s mighty snowy peaks. Enjoy the convenience of Wengen’s fantastic beginner slopes right next to town. When you feel you've learned the basics, you can then take the traditional mountain railway to the top of the mountain for some more easy skiing options to descend your way back to the hotel bar.
Flaine, France
With free lifts on its beginner slopes, an excellent ski school and childcare facilities, beginner ski holidays to Flaine are naturally popular with first-timers and families. Flaine is a super convenient resort, easy to get around with plenty of accommodation options where you can put on your skis just outside your hotel or apartment. It’s also situated close to Geneva airport, so it makes for an ideal beginners' weekend ski break if you only wanted to go away for a few days to give the sport a go without committing to a full week. On the slopes, there’s a good selection of easy runs, while off the slopes, you can also try ice driving and dog sledding – or spend the day in a spa.
Ellmau, Austria
The charming Austrian resort of Ellmau has it all – good beginner slopes, lots of easy blue runs and a lack of crowds. But it also benefits from being linked to the Ski Welt network, one of the world’s largest ski areas. Much of the terrain across these Austrian hills is similarly benign and suitable for beginners and intermediates looking to explore the mountain. Add ski-in, ski-out accommodation, epic views across to the Wilder Kaiser mountains and all the Austrian traditions from glühwein to horse-drawn carriage rides, and a beginner’s ski holiday to Ellmau has the makings of a great first time on the slopes.
Seefeld, Austria
Just 30 minutes from Innsbruck airport, Seefeld is one of the best beginner's ski holidays in Austria for those who may only want to go skiing as part of a wider winter experience. It does have some great beginner slopes, but it’s the variety of everything else you can do on a beginner’s Seefeld ski trip that makes it special. Here they love their cross-country skiing – there are more cross-country runs than there are regular pistes. There’s also ice skating, lots of spas, swimming, shopping and good restaurants. And if you fancy the bright lights, Innsbruck is a beautiful and historically fascinating city just down the road.
New to Heidi? If you're frustrated with typical package holiday restrictions, then we might just be what you're looking for.
You’ll find our ski holidays more customisable than your typical ski package provider, but a lot easier to put together than doing it all yourself. Choose where you want to go from 300+ ski resorts, travel the day you want, stay as long as you like.
For help finding a ski holiday, WhatsApp us, call us on 0117 457 6000, or simply start a search.
Find your freedom with Heidi.
More Like This
Why book a skiing holiday with us?
See our ski holiday reviews
