The ski season is upon us, and with airlines providing more and more routes around the globe at affordable prices, there has never been a better time to carve up some powder.
British Airways offers frequent flights to destinations such as Lyon, Basel, Grenoble, Milan, Turin, Verona, Venice, Sofia, Munich, Geneva, Zurich, Innsbruck and Salzburg, all of which are close to accessible skiing locations.
The growth of cheap airline flights in Europe has in turn seen a rise in the number of passengers flying, so it couldn't be easier to hop on a plane and use the weekend for a mini ski break.
Despite recently banning carrying surfboards on its' flights, British Airways is one of the few airlines to provide free ski carriage in Europe and North America. They allow skis and poles or snowboards, plus boots and bindings to be taken in addition to normal checked baggage allowance.
Europe has the best snow making facilities in the world so whether the skier is just a beginner or a deep powder, off-piste specialist there are plenty of resorts to suit all requirements.
With 35 resorts available in Europe, travellers have more choice to tailor-make their individual requirements. 10 new resorts have cropped up this season, including:
- Bad Aussee, Hochgurgl, Nassfeld, Solden, and St Johann in Austria
- Evian/Thollon in France
- Champoluc, Val di Fassa, and Val Gardena in Italy
- Engelberg in Switzerland
Some would argue that France is the best place to hit the slopes – not just in the Alps, but in the world. High altitude means unparalleled snow reliability and spectacular views make the ski resorts near Grenoble ideal. Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc is the number one ski resort with several glaciers, gastronomic delights and lively aprés ski.
The rest of the Alps also have some great skiing terrain. Austria certainly lives up to its reputation – a ski holiday top spot with stunning Alpine villages where visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome.
In neighbouring Switzerland world renowned skiing and awe inspiring scenery come together perfectly. The most famous is St. Moritz, the host of two Winter Olympics and an FIS World Ski Championship.
Italy is fast emerging as an exciting and fashionable European ski destination, with several ski resorts near Turin presenting a modern and fashionable image and some of the best ski slopes in the northwest.
Although the pistes of Europe are undoubtedly first class, ski holidays in North America cannot be ignored either. From the jaw–dropping scenery of the Rockies to the European style of Quebec, Canada and the US offer some of the best winter ski resorts in the world, such as Killington, Aspen, Colorado and other fantastic ski resorts in New Hampshire.
Travellers can now book British Airways flights as well as car hire, accommodation, ski and board hire along with lift passes all at the same time on the new dedicated British Airways ski holidays information and booking pages.
The latest additions to the ski holidays section of the British Airways site are intended to provide visitors with the information they need to make a properly informed decision on where to stay. Ski resorts can now be easily organised by geographic location, by the skier's skill level, or by how suitable they are for families.
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