Skiing Articles

One of the only ski holiday downsides we can think of is the packing. It’s almost impossible to pack light. And that means beating the 20kg baggage allowance can be a challenge.

Let’s face it, this isn’t your standard beach holiday where a toothbrush, flimsy clothes and swimming costume will see you through. You’re heading into the mountains, where conditions are famously unpredictable. So it’s vital you keep yourself safe with the proper clothing and equipment.

Unsure what to pack? From helmets to hip flasks, we’ve rounded up everything you need to hit the slopes in one (quite long) helpful list.

In short, the Neilson Mountain Collection is alpine hospitality at its finest. We combine the essential ingredients which make up a great winter holiday into a collection of hotels and chalet hotels throughout Andorra, France and Italy.

Each is run by our crew of mountain lovers who want nothing more than to make sure you’re having the best time both on and off the mountain. Combine this with free ski guiding and coaching from fully qualified ski and snowboard instructors and the Neilson Mountain Collection recipe is looking pretty good…

Being a holiday company, we love recommendingthebest resorts for families,but we decided to see what Google thought the best ones were.

We analysedonline searches of over 2,200 different ski resorts by comparing how many times people Googledeach resort.

We then took a deeper look behind the data to seehow many of those people were parents with young children. This then gave us a (very long) list and below is thetop ten most popular ski resorts for a family holiday, according to Google.

When heading off piste, fail to prepare and you prepare to fail! With this mantra in mind, ski instructor and one of our Mountain Experts, Simon Cook has the backpack essentials to make sure you have all the right gear for an off piste adventure.

So, the quickestand easiest way to become a better skier or boarderis simple. You just needto drink well. We know, it's one of thosetips that is so obvious, you don't quite believe it to start with.

We caught up with Clif Bar's Nutritional Ambassador, Joel Enoch about how paying attention to what you drink on the slopes can actually help you get the most from your time on the piste and become a better skier or boarder.

We all know the big ski resorts in France stay open until late in the season thanks to their altitude, but Italy also has some great alternatives which shouldn’t be overlooked.

There are some fantastic high-altitude resorts, snow sure glaciers and arguably some of the best snow making in the Europe to be found in Italy. Here’s the four that we think you should try for some late season snow…

Once known as Espace Killy, the Tignes and Val d’Isère ski area isnow called…Tignes - Val d’Isère! These legendary high-altitude resorts offer some of the finest, snowsure skiing in the Alps, but the fun doesn’t stop when the last lift does, quite the opposite in fact.

Whether you prefer the upmarket vibe of Val d’Isère or the youthful, fun ambiance of Tignes, you’re guaranteed a memorable night. We'll tell you where to find the amazing après and night life in Tignes and Val d’Isère.

The 210km of pistes in the hugely impressive Grandvalira really are suitable for everyone and every type of snow-based activity. Throughout the season, the variety of slopes not only hosts thousands of happy holiday makers, it also sees Alpine Skiing European Cup Finals, Snow bike races, freestyle competitions and speed skiing events.

So, with 128 runs to choose from, dedicated areas for families, kids, freestylers and adventurists, which ones should you absolutely not miss?

Family is such a huge part of Italian culture that wherever you go, children are welcomed with open arms and made a real fuss of. Family also goes beyond blood with the focus being on extended family and frequent gatherings with friends rather than just mum, dad and the kids.

All of this makes for a very welcoming environment to take your family skiing or snowboarding. In fact, you should takeyour close friends along too. As the saying goes ‘When in Rome…’

So, you’re thinking about a winter holiday to the French Alps but you haven't spoken the language since school. Even though you’re likely to be able to make yourself understood in English, locals always appreciate it if you try a few words of French.

It's also quite fun to learn a bit of the language, just don’t be too disappointed if they reply to you in English!Try some of our handy French words and phrases when you’re out and about in town and on the slopes, the locals will thank you for it.

The ski chalet is one of the most iconic images of a snowy mountain scene. It’s been featured on postcards, paintings, mugs and cuckoo clocks and is pretty much the first thing you think of when you say ’the Alps’.

Those who have been, know what a great experience it can be, particularly when shared with friends and family. For uninitiated chalet first timers though, what is it that makes them so special?

It’s the same every year – you book your ski or board holiday in the summer (or earlier for the super-organised) and make a mental to note to get fit for the ski season before you go.

It’s now the month before your holiday and you’ve done no exercise. You’ve also forgotten about how you walked like John Wayne after your first day on the slopes the previous time you went.

Don’t panic, you don’t need a personal trainer or dedicate 60 hours a week to exercise before you go. Just follow these three simple sets of exercises and you’ll be bounding out of bed on day two of your ski holiday!