Booking your first ski holiday as a beginner can be daunting - there seems to be so much to think about, from what to wear, how to book lessons to which is the best ski resort for beginners.
It’s our job at Mark Warner to ensure you have the ski holiday of a lifetime, whatever your level, so we’ve put our heads together to share our wisdom on how to have a brilliant ski holiday as a beginner – one that will get you hooked for life!
First Ski Holiday Tips
Read our ten beginner ski holiday tips below:
1. Learn the ski terms with our ski essentials section
Learn the ski terms with the aid of our ski essentials. You’ll feel much more confident when you know what everyone’s talking about!
2. Get in shape before your ski holiday
Get in shape. While you learn to ski, your body is going to have to cope with unusual movements and postures as well as operating at an altitude it is unaccustomed to, so unless you’re fit enough, you are going to get tired very easily. There’s no need for intensive gym sessions, but do take some form of exercise that gets your heart rate up, and do work on your leg muscles by cycling and/or walking more than you normally do. Reckon on starting this regime about three months prior to your holiday. When you’re in resort, use your hotel’s or the resort’s pool and sauna facilities to ease aching muscles between sessions on the slopes.
2. Stay at a chalet hotel
Opt for a package holiday at a chalet hotel. You may be tempted to save money by self-catering, but you’ll probably be too tired to cook, shop and clean, and you’ll end up spending more money eating out than you anticipate. Similarly, an organised holiday will take care of things that can be hard to fathom as a beginner, such as airport transfers and ski hire.
3. Book a ski resort which is suitable for beginners
Allow yourself to be tempted by early- or late-booking deals, but think foremost about your ski resort’s suitability for beginners – our Chalet Hotel L'Ecrin resort in Tignes is ideal for ski holidays for beginners or family ski holidays. Located in the Espace Killy area, Tignes has two kindergarten ski areas, four nursery ski areas, gentle chair lifts and a good range of wide beginner slopes (green and blue runs) to practice your skiing,
4. Book ski and snowboard lessons at an indoor ski centre
Book ski and snowboard lessons at an indoor ski centre. If you have the basics – being accustomed to the feel of skis and ski boots, and having the hang of the snowplough, being able to control your speed and stop – you’ll make faster progress on holiday.
5. Budget for ski and snowboard lessons
Budget for ski and snowboard lessons – learning with friends or relatives is a false saving as they’ll probably inadvertently take you at a faster level than you’re ready for and perhaps even put you off skiing altogether. Take group classes in the morning then use the afternoons to practise what you’ve learnt. And if possible, choose accommodation close to the ski school meeting point.
At Mark Warner, when booking your ski holiday, you can pre-book ski lessons for children and adults at our resort in France before you arrive. We work with a highly experienced ski school ‘Evolution 2’, which has English speaking instructors.
6. Borrow, don’t buy, your ski kit
Borrow, don’t buy, your ski kit – or at least as much as you can. Once you’ve been on your first ski holiday, you’ll have more of an idea of the kind of gear you’d like to invest in. With kids, borrow as much as possible anyway – they grow out of it very quickly.
7. Be prepared and pack for all weathers
Be prepared – dress in layers and keep an eye on the weather and prepare for snow, wind and sunshine in your ski resort. Take a rucksack out with you so that if it turns out you’re overdressed or underdressed, you can remove or add clothing. Skiing uses a lot of energy and can also be dehydrating, so make sure that you have plenty of snacks, a water bottle and sunscreen.
8. Skiing with children
If you’re planning a first ski trip with children, read our feature on Skiing with children
9. Ski and snowboard at your own pace
Most importantly, perhaps, know your own limits and don't push yourself too hard. Ski and snowboard at your own pace and don’t compare yourself with others – it’s all about having fun and doing your own thing, not impressing people. If you want nothing more to poodle around on gentle pistes, go with it!
10. Rent ski or snowboard equipment
When planning a ski holiday, you'll need to organise skis or a snowboard, boots, poles, and a helmet. If you are booking a beginner ski holiday, it's advisable to rent rather than buy so you can test different ski or snowboard equipment. At Mark Warner, you can pre-book high quality ski and snowboard equipment with our carefully hand-picked supplier, ready to collect upon arrival at the resort.
