Maybe you’re going on your first ski holiday, or maybe you’re thinking about booking your first ski holiday but you’re not sure where to start. Skiing can be a daunting thing if you’ve never done it before, but once you’re on the slopes you’ll forget all your troubles. We’re here to take you through some of the particulars of a ski trip!

Bansko, Bulgaria

First and foremost, you want to go to the right resort for you. If you’re a beginner, it’s good to go to resorts with lots of blue and green slopes, and ski schools. This will help you find your feet, and get used to the way ski resorts work. Great resorts for beginners include St. Anton Am Arlberg, Bansko, Courchevel, and Les Collons. These are just a handful, so we’d recommend checking out all our ChaletFinder destinations here. You may also want to consider restaurants, bars, and apres-ski! Check out our other blog for some more tips How to prepare for your next ski season: Steps 1 and 2!.

Ski lessons aren’t just for kids. There are adult ski lessons and groups too, which are a great way to learn how to ski, and what to do on the slopes. It also means you’ll be with an experienced skier, who can help you learn to ski, answer any questions you may have, show you how to use lifts, and learn the rules of the slopes. Ski schools and lessons help you build confidence, and meet some new people. You can find great ski schools in many areas, however some include those in Les Arcs, Tignes, and Saas-Fee.

Next you might want to consider whether you want a catered, or self-catered chalet for your first ski holiday. Catered chalets can be a little more expensive, but it means you don’t have to think about what you’re going to eat for your meals, as someone does it for you! Self-catered chalets mean you get to decide when you eat. There are other chalet amenities to consider, such as saunas, hot-tubs, log fires and ski-in/ski-out. We have a range of accommodation on ChaletFinder which you can check out now.

Chalet Loup Blanc

Next, it’s all about the gear. You need quite a bit of ski gear on a ski holiday, and you want layers! So zoom to your nearest ski or sports shop, and find yourself some underclothes, socks, salopettes, coat, gloves, hat, ski buff, and goggles. You might also want to consider a swimming costume or trunks for the hot-tub! Other equipment you will need are a helmet (safety first!), skis, poles, and ski boots, however you can hire these from businesses in the ski resort you’re going to, which is perfect for beginners who are unsure what they need. Always ask the experts! Here is one of our blogs to help you even more with this.

We hope we’ve helped a little with your first ski holiday preparations. The main thing to remember is to have fun!