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What Should I Consider When Choosing a Ski Resort?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

Vacations at ski resorts are popular worldwide. Whether you want to fly to another part of the world to stay at a foreign ski resort, or spend your vacation at a ski resort in your own country, there are many important details to consider. Budget, snow conditions, types of slopes available for your skiing level, and the availability of ski lessons are all things you should consider when planning to visit a ski resort.

It is important to plan ahead in order to find a ski resort that has the kinds of ski lessons for you and your party. A ski resort is the perfect place to take ski lessons, as qualified ski instructors emphasize safety. Also, consider whether you will need to rent equipment. If just learning to ski, renting equipment is a good idea until you know what kind of skiing you will be doing and what kind of equipment will best suit you.

Ski reports indicate what the conditions will be like at any given resort.
Ski reports indicate what the conditions will be like at any given resort.

Disabled skiers should check ahead to find a ski resort with adaptive skiing. Adaptive skiing allows persons with disabilities to use special equipment to participate in downhill skiing. Many ski resorts have adaptive skiing lessons for groups and individuals.

Be sure the resort you choose has slopes available for skiing level. You should find out ahead of time how many trails there are for each skill level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Beginners should find a ski resort with a good ski school. Be sure the ski resort you choose has enough beginner slopes or you will be wasting your budget.

Decide what type of skiing you'd rather do: cross-country or downhill skiing.
Decide what type of skiing you'd rather do: cross-country or downhill skiing.

Intermediate skiers should think about the connection of ski lifts to other valleys and how large the ski areas are. Advanced skiers should consider if the ski resort will have enough advanced skiing to last the entire vacation as well. Advanced skiers may want to find out if other resorts in the area will honor the same ski pass.

You can check the past snow records of a ski resort to give you an idea of what snow conditions to expect. The altitude of the ski resort is an important consideration as it relates to snow conditions.

Choosing a resort with slopes that fit your skill level is important.
Choosing a resort with slopes that fit your skill level is important.

Sometimes, a smaller ski resort may be less expensive than larger ones. Bigger resorts are often more crowded. Vacation rentals in apartments are often budget-friendly. Make sure you check ski resorts in your budget range before making a decision. Think about the features you want most in your ski resort experience and try to choose a resort that has at least most of these. Think about the distance of the ski resort to the ski lift, village center, and other locations.

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    • Ski reports indicate what the conditions will be like at any given resort.
      By: Silvano Rebai
      Ski reports indicate what the conditions will be like at any given resort.
    • Decide what type of skiing you'd rather do: cross-country or downhill skiing.
      By: Dmitry Vereshchagin
      Decide what type of skiing you'd rather do: cross-country or downhill skiing.
    • Choosing a resort with slopes that fit your skill level is important.
      By: Andrey Bandurenko
      Choosing a resort with slopes that fit your skill level is important.
    • Some ski resorts offer group discounts.
      By: laszlolorik
      Some ski resorts offer group discounts.