We love our skiing and would go any day at any time of the year so it’s a tricky question. However, we do appreciate there is a more suitable time for everyone…so to help you, we have tried to break down holiday trends from our guests over the years and hopefully the information that follows will help. Remember if you do Sunday flights, Saturdays are often the quietest day for lift queues and cheaper flights without resort transfer traffic.
Early season is a great time for a ski if you are able to get time off just before the Christmas festivities. You’ll need to watch the snow forecasts and aim to go high. Expect any villages below 1800 to have not much more than a dusting of snow but once you are on the lifts and getting higher up, you’re on your skis. Very few skiers around, uncrowded pistes, no lift queues and it can often feel like you have the whole mountain to yourself. Great time for early powder hounds and often children free. Often great deals to be had for a ski holiday. The chalets in our resorts in the Three Valleys and La Rosiere, offer a great chance to get in some early season skiing.
We love Christmas in the Alps, absolutely unbeatable for a ski holiday! Guaranteed a white Christmas, no washing up, no cooking, and skiing on Christmas Day, there is honestly nothing like it, beat that!...The ski resorts are in full swing, the après is rocking, snow is falling and winter is upon us. Nothing like walking down the high street in a ski resort with snow falling, festive lights everywhere, the scent of Vin Chaud in the air and skiers dressed as Santa whizzing past you on the piste. We just love it. Good snow conditions are abundant, often interspersed with blue sky and crispy white fresh blue sky mornings. A Christmas ski holiday is so much fun. Our chalets in Montchavin La Plagne have a real village feel with Santa visiting the cobbled streets to delight families of all ages check out La Plagne ski resort.
New Year is party time, what a great time to see the New Year in. Winter is truly upon us and it’s a roulette, big blue sky days or heavy snow storms. Either way, fabulous skiing for all and a great time to spend a week in the Alps. Expect lift queues, particularly at ski school start times, lots of people having fun and the pistes being busy with fellow skiers having great fun. Morzine hosts one of the biggest of firework displays above the Pleney piste that can be seen from all around but perfectly when enjoying a glass of bubbly in the hot tub on the terrace of Chalet Chelmer.
As we get into January skiing, expect heavy snowfalls, fabulous deep powder, empty pistes, winter, often very cold and sometimes gusty winds, particularly higher up. Expect a few days here and there to be pretty challenging, this is the middle of winter. Heavy snowfalls can only mean one thing…”powder” and once pisted and the storm subsides, fresh cold and crispy bluebird days, the cold snow crunching underneath your skis, icicles in the air and cloudless skies as far as you can see. You will feel on top of the world in every sense. The weather can sometimes be pretty severe and up here we say “We don’t have bad weather, only bad clothing”. Get advice from your chalet hosts what to wear. You can take it or leave it? Our chalet Eagles Nest is tip top for a January ski trip, large enough for all your family to friends to enjoy, bang slap in the middle of one of the largest ski terrains in the world; The Paradiski, and with lovely wide treelined slopes in Vallandry to offer some shelter on even the coldest of days Chalet Eagle's Nest.
January can be cold and if you feel the cold, our top tips as learned from the Arctic, wear mitts so your fingers can naturally rub together creating warm friction whilst skiing. A breathable set of ski socks are a must!
Did you know?...We can lose up to 70% of our body heat through our head if exposed. An even better reason to wear a helmet!
Expect the best conditions to be had in February. The base under your skis is now well and truly established. February is more blue sky days than snowfall and for these reasons, it’s the most popular time to come skiing for most Europeans. Temperatures are not as cold as January, snow conditions are great and the ski resort is full and in full swing. The family will love it. Expect bigger lift queues mid-February when Paris and the UK both have school half term holidays. Flights and accommodation are high season prices so not really suitable for the bargain hunters.
Once school holidays have ended and we move into mid-March, it’s a favourite time. Big blue skies, infrequent but sometimes substantial snowfall and warmer temperatures make for the best skiing of the season. Mid-March is a great time for a great value ski holiday with often the best conditions, rare lift queues and the chance to get a sun tan. Great time to get off-piste with a solid base underfoot and some overnight fresh snow.
For the best skiing in April, get up early and hit the lifts as they open. As we move through April, the temperatures can often feel like you’re in the Med on a summers day. Our chalets in La Rosiere lie within a south facing resort, coupled up with the ability to ski right down into Italy to enjoy a fabulous Gelato with your friends and family, La Rosiere is a high resort that is a firm favourite for Easter skiing, please enquire early as these chocolate box chalets sell out early for April skiing Chalet Caspar or Chalet Chocard. Bikini clad ladies adorn the sun terraces, the sun is burning under beautiful big blue skies and the resorts are moderately busy. Watch out in the afternoon, spring snow conditions are great in late morning but by mid-afternoon, those slushy slopes can feel like sugar and a bit heavy on the legs. Time to head for a long lazy lunch outside on the terrace and some alfresco après ski, dancing on the table in your ski boots!
Did you know?....The power of UV rays from the sun increase by 25% for every 1500 mts you go up in altitude. That can cause your skin some damage. Don’t forget your sun cream, lip-salve for your kissing tackle and your coolest shades!
Yep, up high you can grab end of season skiing, early morning skiing can be as good as at any time of the year but expect the snow to be melting by lunchtime. Head high in resorts above 2000 mts like Tignes, Reberty and Val Thoren.
There’s a month to suit everyone, choose carefully. Look out for our blogs on clothing tips and looking after the younger generation of skiers whilst on your ski holiday.
We look forward to seeing you on our slopes. …Bon ski
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