The Ultimate Plan For A Ski Vacation
If you’re planning to go for a ski vacation soon, you want to make sure everything is in place to make the trip unforgettable and avoid potential problems that could arise. From creating a budget to choosing a ski school, there are several important things you need to do before you head to the slopes. You also need to take into account the costs of the vacation and the skill levels and terrain preference of everyone in the group.
How to PlanA Ski Vacation
1. Create a Budget
A ski holiday is just like any other holiday so you need to have a budget for the whole trip in place. When creating the budget, include all the costs you will incur when heading to and while at the destination. These may include transportation, lodging, meals, ski school, lift tickets, and rental for equipment, if necessary. The good thing is that most of these costs can be found on travel websites or the tourist bureau’s website of the destination.
You should also come up with a food budget. Check out the chamber of commerce of the ski town to find out if there are supermarkets nearby. If the lodging you’ll be staying in has refrigerators, plan to make your breakfast instead of eating out. Some ski resorts even offer discounts for eating lunch early and the cafeterias in the remote area of the resort may be a bit cheaper than those near the base area.
Remember to call the airline or bus company to find out the transportation costs over the period you’ll be going. Generally, midweek travel is cheaper compared to weekend travel and can help cut down the costs.
2. Choose a Ski Resort
When choosing a resort, you need to consider the skill level of your group. Visit several resorts’ websites to find out whether or not they offer an ideal mix of different skill levels. Call everyone in the group and have them share about their terrain preferences and agree on the best for all. Most resort websites have trail maps with unique icons that indicate things like off-piste areas, cat tracks and mogul runs.
Be sure to read reviews of off-slope activities available at several resorts. Some ski towns may have shopping outlets, spas, theaters and even an arts community. This way you’ll be able to choose a ski resort that suits the unique needs of everyone in your group.
3. Pick a Ski School
If this is your first ski vacation, chances are that you don’t know so much about the sport. You’ll therefore need to choose a ski school. Look for a few ski schools in your destination and find out how many certified instructors they have on staff. Ski instructors usually have 3 certification levels: level 1, level 2 and level 3 (this is the most advanced of the levels). A professional ski school will have a higher number of level 2 and level 3 instructors.
Be sure to ask if they offer special beginner packages such as lift and equipment rentals. Also ask about other special programs like women’s ski clinics, kids programs and mogul clinics.
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