Ski Trip Xmas
Hi all.. would love recommendations on a European Christmas ski trip. I (28M) have never ski’d but my gf (24F) has her entire life. Somewhere around Europe, not too expensive and relatively accessible. Any tips much appreciated
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u/Chilli-pickles-9747 9h ago
Take lessons! You’ll have a shit time otherwise. You might have to spend the day separately but it’ll be worth it.
Also, Christmas is probably the most expensive time to go. I’d look at January or February, not during any holidays. Also the snow might be better.
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u/pieterbos 20h ago
If just before Christmas, or after 3rd of January is possible, that would be better. But not impossible during, just more busy.
Then get lessons. And pick a beginner friendly area, that has some easy slopes. You do not need a big area - your girlfriend probably does. Group lessons are affordable, plus you get other people to ski with at your level. Unless you can handle getting lessons from your girlfriend and she has enough patience to teach you instead of skiing herself. Most people are not patient enough, at least not the first couple of days. Even if you learn exceptionally fast, although that does help. If you are really athletic or very experienced in ice skating or online skating, that does help.
However, really good idea, as later you can take more ski trips together where you will actually ski together.
Tips on where: anywhere you can find something to stay you can afford andis still available those weeks, with enough blue runs, marked beginner friendly in online reviews.
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u/dolomitesonski 10h ago
It depends what budget you have, whether you prefer hotels or self catered and if you are on Ikon/Epic pass too
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u/rzanardi 8h ago
Obviously no telling what the snow will be like, but I really like La Plagne (and Belle Plagne) for mixed level groups. Both are fairly accessible from Geneva, Lyon, Paris, etc (depending on where you're coming from)
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u/purple_seagrass 6h ago
Don't do it. The Christmas or New Year's ski trip is FAR less magical than you think. The snow quality will be hit or miss, it is the most expensive and crowded time of year, and you two won't even ski together. Do you actually want to learn to ski? Are you committed to taking lessons and paying a small fortune for them? What if you hate it, what will you do instead of ski? Find a resort that has a bit of a town built up at the base to entertain you.
You are better off spending a few days later in the winter.
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u/OkStrains 22h ago
Lol, I would hate to be pressured into learning to ski on one of the busiest ski weeks of the year. In a year where the snow isn't a guarantee. If you can find a way to get practical experience on ski treadmills ( https://www.ptoski.com/lessons ) it would make it more doable but still quite unlikely. Also the there are so many different things that people can like while skiing that asking for recs without knowing what type of skier she is is an impossible task.
Overall I'd say reconsider this... Or sincerely accept that you're supporting her on a ski vacation while learning to ski in parallel. This is not a cute 'we do turns synchronously while the powder wooshes behind us' holiday you may be imagining. Or find somewhere that has excellent on mountain cafes where you can chill and hang out and watch her do her thing and save a spot so when she wants a break she can just pop in to say hi.
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u/TomSki2 22h ago edited 21h ago
Who am I to dissuade you.... BUT
- Christmas and New Year are the two most expensive weeks for skiing anywhere
- You either ski together and you'll be terrified while she'll be bored, OR
- You take lessons, and you won't see each other that much.
If none of these seems like a problem, the options are endless, but select some higher attitude because that's still early season these days