A Beginner or ‘Improving’ Skier is generally regarded as a skier or boarder who has spent up to 4 weeks on the ski slopes. Hopefully, the tips here will help you find the perfect holiday and ensure that you make great progress in the early years on the slopes.
The first time a complete beginner skis or boards, the result is usually a feeling of complete exhilaration and then you’re hooked. You will never forgot your first few times skiing. Our specialist team can recommend a resort and accommodation to suit your needs and give you complete support throughout your booking.
We work closely with all the major and specialist Ski Operators alike and always have deals available to reduce the cost of your ski holiday. The best savings are usually available to early bookers who commit to their ski holiday between January and June for the following winter season. However, if you are flexible or have to book late, you can often pick up a discounted deal.
Low season Holiday prices in January and March are cheaper than in high season, plus the learn to ski packages are also generally cheaper at this time too, making the whole holiday more affordable. The slopes will also be less crowded in the low season so you have more space and time to work on improving your technique!
The Adamello hotel is recognised for high quality food and accommodation and provides an excellent holiday experience.
This great value for money club-style hotel offers ski-in, ski-out convenience in the centre of Arc 2000, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc.
Completely refurbished in 2009, the Olympiades is in an enviable position, centrally located on the slopes; 250m from the nearest lift and 200m from the centre of Pas.
Experience a true taste of Norway when you stay in these traditional log cabins, which are in a quiet location amongst the trees, but a short walk to the main village.
Les Cimes is a comfortable hotel and all bedrooms have been recently refurbished. It has a sunny, south-facing position, close to the ski lifts and...
The chalet Tirol enjoys a prime location just a short 200m walk to the newly upgraded Penken cable-car in the very heart of vibrant Mayrhofen.
Hotel Le Flaine has a central location just 200m to the pistes, with a modern spa area with sauna and steam room plus an excellent kids club.
The hotel offers great views of the Matterhorn and is just a short walk to thebars, shops and cafes in Cervinias lively resort centre.
This family hotel combines comfort, great facilities and a friendly atmosphere, rooms are well-equipped and all offer great views. Excellent entertainment programme.
The comfortable and traditionally styled Hotel Tyrol is run by the welcoming Schernthanner family.
The Hotel Rila & Studios really are at the heart of Borovets occupying a fabulous location right at the foot of the slopes. Combining a wealth of...
First time skiers and boarders should be looking at resorts with a good ski school and an inexpensive local beginner lift pass. The resort should have good nursery slopes and easy longer runs to progress to. A high proportion of Blue runs on the piste maps indicates a resort that is particularly well suited to inexperienced and first time skiers. If you are a snowboarder, you may want a resort that has a Snowboard park & half-pipes.
Each of our ski resort pages have star ratings for each skill level. Look under the Beginners section to see how each resort matches up with your ski experience.
Many ski beginners and improvers head for the friendly (and cheaper) slopes of Andorra, Austria and Bulgaria. Some examples of the best beginners resorts are shown below:
Choosing the right resort is crucial to the overall success and enjoyment of you skiing holiday – let our expert Ski consultants help you by recommending ski resorts that suit both your beginner ski experience and your preference for après ski activity.
Many tour operators offer 'Learn to ski or snowboard' packages. These deals are ideal for first timers and improvers as they usually include all the extras that you need on a ski holiday - Ski/Board and Boot Hire, Ski instruction and a lift pass sufficient for your needs. They generally offer a significant saving on the cost of purchasing these items in resort and must be pre-booked - our expert team can take care of all of this for you, just give us a call.
The First time Ski or Board packages are just that and can only be booked the first time you go skiing. You will spend some days on the Nursery slopes so you will not require the expense of a full lift pass.
The Improver Ski or Board packs are generally a little more expensive than the First time packs as you will be using many more lifts during the holiday.
You are more likely to be able to pre-book these packages in resorts that are ideal for beginners skiing i.e. resorts with excellent nursery slopes and gentler pistes for you to progress to e.g. Andorra Ski resorts, Bulgaria Ski resorts as well as selected Ski Resorts in France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
Rest assured that you’ll be in good company on a learn to ski package, spending some time falling over with your fellow beginners. Once off the slopes you will be able to recall your spectacular falls with your new found friends in the bar. Beginners often enjoy the après ski atmosphere as much as the skiing itself.
Ski Holiday brochures are packed with jargon. Here are just a few of the most common ski terms:
Setting yourself up with all the necessary ski clothing and equipment can be an expensive exercise especially if you are a first time skier and not sure how much use you will get of the gear. Therefore it may be a wise idea to hire essential items like Jackets, Salopettes and Helmets for the first time or two. Also, hiring ski clothing is a particularly good idea., if you have children that are quickly growing up. There may be a local sports/ski shop near you or there is always TK Maxx that often has great bargains on ski clothing from October time onwards.