Heidi Blog
What makes a great resort for beginners?
Here at Heidi we understand that when picking that perfect resort for your first ski trip you want gentle and crowd free slopes. 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 are 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 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 where there’s 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.
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 beginners. 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, which means 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. 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 great value for money and lots of wide, gentle tree-lined runs. It’s home to a small, family-friendly ski area. The resort also has a nice relaxed pace to it, so it’s not as intimidating as some of the bigger resorts in the Alps. Being Andorra, it’s kinder on the wallet – which is important to think about 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
Norway is a very different vibe to the Alps. Their mountains are not as high or steep as their alpine counterparts and as result, they’re not as scary either for your first runs. The resorts are also smaller and quieter, which all adds to a welcoming and positive experience. Trysil is 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 also enjoys a good snow record so you’re much less likely to find yourself on challenging icy conditions.
Wengen, Switzerland
Although Wengen doesn’t tick the “convenient” box, 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 mighty snowy peaks. Enjoy the convenience of 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, Flaine is naturally popular with beginners and families. It’s 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 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
This charming Austrian resort 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 you have the makings of a great first time on the slopes.
Seefeld, Austria
Just 30 minutes from Innsbruck airport, Seefeld is the perfect resort for those who may only want to give skiing a go 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 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.
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