Skiing Articles

Whether you’ve hit the slopes before or you’ve never put ona pair of skis or a snowboard in your life, summer can be a great time to learn to ski or snowboard.

Yes, we didjust say 'in summer'.While you might consider it the season for beach getaways and BBQs, it’s actually a prime time to pop your skiing or snowboardingcherry, or even just brush up on your snow skills in preparation for a big winter skiing holiday.

From quieter pistes to perfecting your skills at your own pace, here are four reasons to hit the slopesduring the summer months.

You might be wondering when the best age for kids to start skiing is? As with many sporting talents, starting early is often better.

That said, the right time for your child will depend on a number of things, from their physical ability to their willingness to learn. Here’s our take on the big question.

The ski season in Europe mainly runs from December until mid-April, and during that timewe seeprices, snow conditions and busyness onthe slopesfluctuate wildly.

Of course, we can never accurately predict conditions for the coming year (even with the most energetic of team snow dances) but as a general rule,each month of the season has its own advantages.

So, when is the best time to book a skiing or snowboarding holiday? The answer really depends on what you’re looking for. Perfect powder? Uncrowded pistes? Après-ski buzz? Check out our month-by-month ski season rundown:

When arranging a ski holiday, the last thing you want is to be spending time, money and effort finding a hotel that can accommodate each member of your group – chances are someone won’t be happy!

The dream scenario? A place all to yourselveswhere you can eat and drink together, ski all day long and most importantly, keep costs down.

This is why ski chalets are perfect for large groups andhere’s why your group should book a ski chalet:

The title says it all really. We think the ski resort of Les Menuiresin France is one of the best ski resorts around, and with very good reason. With a huge variety of pistes, reliable snow conditions and a brilliant lift system, it’s no shock that people from around the globe flock here.

And when we say there are a huge variety of pistes, there really is something for everyone. You'll have 600km of pistes at your tips as Les Menuires is part of the world's largest linked ski area; The Three Valleys. What you won't get though is the crazy high prices some Les Menuires' neighbours have!

We love it so much that we chose it for our gorgeousNeilsonHotel Le Menuire & Spa, part ofour Neilson Mountain Collection range. So here’s our lowdown on Les Menuires…

There's a long history of healthy rivalry between skiers and snowboarders. Sure, everyone’s good friends, but each camp secretly – and sometimes not-so-secretly – believes their favourite winter sport to be more skilful, cooler and just downright better than the other.

There’s a mix of skiers and boarders on the Neilson team, with a few of us even having a foot in both camps. So we thought we’d settle the issue once and for all by taking a look at the pros and cons of both sports.

Although the slopes are where a lot of the action is on a ski holiday, it’s not always where everyone wants to be. Maybe you fancy a rest day or perhaps you just love spending time in the mountains, there’s no need to twiddle your thumbs in the chalet all day.

Whether it’s adventure or relaxation, food or shopping, a non-ski ski holiday can be just as fun, and without a clunky boot in sight! We’ve put together a handy list of some of the best ski resorts for non-skiers.

January. The festive season is done, the days are drearyand spring feels like a long way off;the start of a newyear doesn’t usually hold much excitement.

That’s until you remember you booked a group ski holiday with your friends and family months ago and suddenly your loveof January returns!

From amazing powder to crowd-free pistes, there’s lots to love about a snowy alpine adventure early on in the ski season. Here's just a few reasons to grab some mates and beat the blues with a January ski trip.

Heading out on a family ski holiday this winter? Want to spend as much time as possible with your little ones? Our research found that 48% of children are taught to ski by their parents.

It can be a real joy to share your love of winter sports and spend time in the mountains with your kids. So here are our top tips for passing on your skiing wisdom and how you canteachyour children to ski.

To many skiers and boarders, powder snow is the holy grail. Granted, it’s one of the most frustrating surfaces to move around on, but if you get it right, it’s unbelievably satisfying – like you're floating on air.

So, here are 12 top tips and tricks to help you master the art of skiing in powder.

We used to be pretty limited when it came to skiing during the off-season. It was a case of finding a resort where it isn’t off-season (the snow’s always falling somewhere, right?) or simply staying at home – but our good friends, the dry ski slopes and indoor snow centres of the UK, put an end to all of that.

Now, regardless of weather or time of year, we’re always able to put in a few hours on the slopes to hone our skills or introduce a friend or family member to the addictive world of skiing and snowboarding.

So if you’re ready to get carving, here’s some of our favourite dry ski slopes and indoor ski centres in the UK.

Dreaming of a white Christmas this year? Tried asking Santa for a ski holiday to one of Europe’s most magical festive resorts?

Stroll through twinkling alpine streets as snowflakes gently fall, cosy up to sip vin chaud in front of a roaring log fire, and work up an appetite for all that delicious Christmas food with plenty of fun on the slopes. What could be more special?

Here’s seven of our favourite places in Europe to spend the most wonderful time of the year. We’re feeling all festive just thinking about it!