A Look At Europe’s Top Ski Destinations

Today’s guest post comes from the team at Travel Supermarket

In recent years the popularity of ski holidays has boomed and these days more and more people are choosing to spend their holidays on the slopes.

With this trend expected to continue in 2012, it’s worth considering where are the best ski destinations to visit in Europe for a skiing holiday.

Below are some of TravelSupermarket.com’s top picks for both beginners and experts, as well as destinations that are family friendly:

Chamonix, France

Chamonix or Chamonix Mont Blanc, in the south east of France, contains amongst other magnificent mountains, the alluring Mont Blanc. Chamonix held the first winter Olympics back in 1924 and the quality of skiing and snow sports in Chamonix means that it continues to host international sporting events during winter.

The region offers twelve ski areas that can accommodate all levels of skiers, including beginners and young skiers. Les Planards and La Vormaine are just two of the many areas that are family friendly and most of the areas in the region are available for boards.

The Vallee Blanche is perhaps the most famous off-piste run in the world and as well as offering plenty of long runs, Chamonix also has something available for adventure skiers and those looking for challenges. For those who want to try something a little different, speed-riding is available, offering the opportunity to combine freeriding and paragliding.

The valley is accessible from a number of airports, including Geneva and Lyon. The town itself is bustling rather than quaint, with a range of hotel accommodation options available and plenty of places to eat and drink. There are also plenty of shops and other leisure facilities including a cinema and a bowling alley.

Igls, Austria

Igls in Austria is located in the heart of the Alps. Igls itself only offers around 12 km of runs, but is very family and beginner friendly. The area itself has many attractions for couples too, with not only its alpine charm, but also the traditional sports and events that are available during winter, such as ice skating and curling.

As you move further out of Igls, there are more resorts to choose from, offering skiing for all levels. Igls Patscherkofel offers the Olympic run, as well as a wide family run. There is also the chance to try the Olympic bobsled run here and there is plenty of off-piste terrain available.

Neustift, Austria

Neustift in Austria is a popular choice for all-year round skiing and boarding. Located around forty-five minutes from Innsbruck, the Stubai glacier is easily accessible from Neustift. The area is family friendly, offering activities for the whole family.

Neustift is probably more suited to beginners and intermediates, although there are some decent cross-country runs. There are also long runs, moguls and off-piste available further up the glacier for those who are looking for more of a challenge.

Verbier, Switzerland

Verbier is the home of extreme skiing and it hosts a variety of international competitions every year. Les 4 Vallees is a paradise for freeriders and there are a number of long runs available for ski and board. There are a number of cross-country routes, as well as powder fields and the opportunity for some high speed tobogganing.

There are also ski-tours available, which offer you the chance to ski with a guide and experience fresh skiing. If you are looking to improve your skills, then Verbier also offers some of the best coaching in the world for expert skiing.

Val D’Isere, France

Val D’Isere, located near the Italian border, remains one of the most popular French resorts. It is accessible from both Geneva and Lyon airports. Again, it offers a variety of areas for skiers and boarders of all abilities.

The steep slopes around the valley attract advanced skiers while Le Solaise is ideal for beginners and intermediates. Espace Killy offers 25 black runs for advanced skiers, some of which are Olympic standard. There are also many other advanced runs around the area offering moguls, deep and steep runs.

The resort is very family friendly and for those who are looking for things to do in the evening, Val D’Isere offers a vibrant nightlife. There are a variety of other activities on offer in the area, including ice diving, dog sleds and quad biking.

The Tignes Snowpark in Val D’Isere is the largest in the world and is attractive for skiers and boarders. The area itself is very attractive for snowboarders as all pistes are open to boarders and there is plenty of off-piste available.

Whether your next skiing trip is for you and your partner, or the family and whatever your skiing abilities are, you can be certain that one of these destinations will be able to offer everything that you want from your trip abroad in 2012.

Will you be skiing in 2012?

Photos by Fotopedia,