Our guide to...

The best ski resorts for short ski breaks

If you can’t get away on holiday for a full week, or if you just want to squeeze in some extra skiing on top of your main holiday, a short ski break is the perfect solution.

 

All of our packages are completely flexible and we can arrange ski weekends or mid-week breaks to any of the hotels on our programme, with any departure day and any duration. However, some resorts are better suited to a short break than others and offer the perfect opportunity for a quick ski fix.

 

Here are our top 5 recommended destinations for a short ski break...

1. Courmayeur, Italy

For the perfect combination of convenience, value for money and great skiing, Courmayeur is the ideal choice for a short ski break.

 

Less than 90 minutes from Geneva airport and nestled in the Aosta valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur is one of Italy’s most charming resorts. The ski area is fairly compact but provides plenty of varied terrain to keep intermediate skiers happy for 3 or 4 days, and there is a vast choice of off-piste for those after something more challenging.

 

Courmayeur also boasts some of the best mountain restaurants in the Alps - so if a hard ski in the morning followed by a long lunch is your thing, you will be spoilt for choice here.

Our recommended hotels for a short ski break in Courmayeur:

 

The Hotel Berthod is a charming B&B in an ideal location close to the main cable-car and in the heart of the village, just off the ‘Via Roma’, Courmayeur’s bustling, pedestrian main street, which is lined with bars and restaurants, and comes alive in the evenings and at weekends. A 3 night break here starts from £545pp (incl. flights, private transfers and B&B). 


The comfortable Hotel Pilier d’Angle is in a more tranquil setting in the small hamlet of Entrèves. With a friendly and informal atmosphere, a cosy bar and a lovely spa, it is the perfect base for a relaxed short ski break. A 3 night break here starts from £665pp (inc. flights, private transfers and half board).

2. Chamonix, France

Chamonix is a busy mountain town with spectacular scenery and a huge choice of activities both on and off the slopes.

 

Just an hour’s drive from Geneva airport, Chamonix is ideal if you want to cut down on travelling time and maximise your skiing time. Even if you can only get away for 3 nights you will still be able to enjoy 3.5 days skiing here.

Our recommended hotels for a short ski break in Chamonix:

 

The luxurious Grand Hotel des Alpes sits in the historic pedestrian centre and is ideal for those who want to be in the heart of the action. A 3 night break here starts from £595pp (incl. flights, transfers and B&B).

 

Alternatively, the wonderful Hotel Les Grands Montets in the village of Argentière, a short drive up the road, is the perfect choice for anyone looking for direct access to the best skiing in the whole Chamonix valley. A 3 night break here starts from £495pp (incl. flights, transfers and B&B).

3. La Thuile, Italy

Twenty minutes down the Aosta valley from Courmayeur, La Thuile is a charming, rustic Italian village with a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.

 

That’s not to say it lacks interest for skiers though. With 150km of pistes shared with La Rosière in France, the ski area provides plenty of challenges for skiers of all abilities. There is also a complete lack of crowds, and lift queues are almost unheard of.

 

For those interested in a luxury short ski break, La Thuile is definitely worth a look. The resort offers remarkably good value for money and is fast establishing itself as one of our favourite destinations for ski weekends and short breaks.

Our recommended hotel for a short ski break in La Thuile:

 

The 5-star Nira Montana opened its doors in 2014 and very quickly established an excellent reputation for combining affordable luxury accommodation with relaxed and friendly service, fantastic facilities and excellent food. A 3 night break here starts from £995pp (incl. flights, transfers and B&B).

If you want to spend your precious 3 or 4 days on the slopes covering as much ground as possible, you should head to Morzine

 

The largest resort of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine gives access to an enormous 650km of pistes. You could ski from morning to night every day of your short break and still only scratch the surface of this impressive ski area.

 

Morzine has a transfer time of little more than an hour from Geneva, and is also an attractive, lively town with plenty of après-ski options.

4. Morzine, France

If you want to spend your precious 3 or 4 days on the slopes covering as much ground as possible, you should head to Morzine

 

The largest resort of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine gives access to an enormous 650km of pistes. You could ski from morning to night every day of your short break and still only scratch the surface of this impressive ski area.

 

Morzine has a transfer time of little more than an hour from Geneva, and is also an attractive, lively town with plenty of après-ski options.

Our recommended hotels for a short ski break in Morzine:

 

The quirky and charming 4-star Hotel Le Samoyède sits on Morzine’s main central square and is particularly renowned for its exquisite gourmet cuisine. A 3 night break here starts from £895pp (incl. flights, transfers and half board).

 

While the 4-star Hotel La Bergerie offers an equally friendly but more rustic chic atmosphere, a stone's throw from the lifts. A 3 night break here starts from £745pp (incl. flights, transfers, B&B).

5. Engelberg, Switzerland

Engelberg is one of Switzerland’s most convenient resorts for a short ski break, being just 75 minutes drive from Zurich airport.

 

Although its slopes have something for all standards of skier, it is the most experienced who will appreciate Engelberg best.

 

With skiing up to 3000m on the Titlis glacier, an excellent snow record with plenty of powder days, a good selection of challenging black runs and a vast array of off-piste possibilities, this is the perfect destination for a high octane short ski break. Engelberg also has a decent après-ski scene.

Our recommended hotels for a short ski break in Engelberg:

 

We offer a choice of three hotels in Engelberg, with something to suit all budgets and tastes. 

 

The 4-star Hotel Waldegg is Engelberg’s leading luxury hotel. A 3 night break here starts from £745pp (incl. flights, transfers and B&B).

 

While the Hotel Bellevue Terminus has an interesting mix of traditional and contemporary styles and is in the best location to enjoy the resort’s nightlife. A 3 night break here starts from £575pp (incl. flights, transfers and B&B).

 

For really serious skiers the Trübsee Alpine Lodge is the one to choose. Its isolated and peaceful location halfway up the mountain allows its guests to be the first and last skiers on the slopes. A 3 night break here starts from £745pp (incl. flights, transfers, half board and skipass).

Looking for a ski weekend or a short ski break?

 

Call us on: +44 (0)20 3397 8450

Email us at: info@snow-wise.com

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