Ski Weekend Deals

What Defines the Weekend Break?

In essence all ski resorts that lie within an hour to 90 minutes of Geneva, Zurich, Chambery or Innsbruck (there are some others like Sion) are perfect to get you there on Thursday and provide you with slopes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday skiing/boarding.

Ski weekends start from just £169 so if you have all your ski equipment - its great option to top you up with the white stuff.

Why Choose Weekends?

In reality, ski weekends and short ski breaks really need to be close to airports as that way you spend more time on the slopes than on the ground/transferring.

Geneva is a popular destination for many British with ski resorts like Chamonix and Morzine within an hour if you know the roads. Here we suggest some less obvious ski resorts perfect for weekend breaks.

Austrian Weekend Breaks

Let’s start with Austria and those who love their snowboard parks and of course partying.

Mayrhofen is only 70km from Innsbruck airport with the drive only taking 1 hour. Here you will find the Vans Penken Park one of the best terrain parks in the Alps. Overall it’s a good resort for intermediate skiers and boarders. The après scene here is also very lively, usually kicking off after lunch in huts up the mountain, so if you also want a good social scene this could be the resort for you.

On the subject of Austria you may also want to look at Solden which got more press recently when it was used as the backdrop to the Bond film Spectre! But again it’s only an hour’s drive from Innsbruck and has the added advantage of being very snowsure. That’s because it has two glaciers and it very good for intermediates. The downside is that it is not as pretty as other Austrian resorts but the snow is very reliable and there is also good off piste.

Sticking with Austria, there is also Kitzbuhel, only an hour’s drive from both Salzburg and Innsbruck airports. The low altitude makes snow a little thin on the ground some years but if you have any non-skiers with you this could be a good choice. That’s based on the fact that Kitzbuhel is probably the most beautiful ski town in Europe with lots for the non-skier to do.

What About Italian Resorts?

If the idea of Italy floats your boat then look at Courmayer. The transfer will be nearer two hours but you do get the choice of either Geneva or Turin with lots of budget airlines to choose from.

Courmayer is great for intermediates and also for those wanting great food. There is also great off piste and great shopping if that’s your bag!

French Classics

No article on weekend breaks would be complete without mentioning Morzine in France! Only an hour from Geneva this is  a great report for weekends particular if you are travelling with a family. As part of the Portes du Soleil you will find slopes to suit all from absolute beginners to experts. The only disadvantage of Morzine is the low altitude which means you are not guaranteed snow. The après scene is also good here so great for groups, just keep an eye on the snow!

For expert skiers check out Chamonix again like Morzine only an hour from Geneva airport. Sitting below Mont Blanc the backdrop is stunning. Great also for non-skiers as the town is big and bustling with lots of things to do. The slopes are really best for experts boasting as it does renowned black runs including the Couloir du dru and Pas du Chevre.

In Summary

This is just a snapshot of a number of resorts close to airports for weekend breaks. One thing to bear in mind is that with the growing popularity of weekend breaks the roads to some of these resorts can get busy during the peak season so do bear this in mind.

By Will Smith