It's not too late for winter sports enthusiasts to hit the slopes for one more ski trip before the season ends. Conditions for late season skiing are perfect from mid-March through April and holidaymakers can expect blue skies, lifts staying open later, warmer temperatures and softer snow.
Many tour operators are still offering winter sports breaks. TUI-owned Crystal Ski Holidays has rounded up some of its top deals with some fantastic options still available.
There are also bargains to be had with Ski Solutions, which is operating winter sports trips to resorts worldwide. Craig Burton, managing director, said: "After a season of stop-start travel, we’re delighted that so many countries with ski resorts have relaxed their entry requirements and Covid restrictions, making it much easier to travel to ski destinations.
"Now is the perfect time for clients to book that ski holiday they’ve been planning, and spring is a fantastic time to travel with warmer temperatures and sunny weather."
Here are some of the great deals on offer:
Cervinia, Italy/Zermatt, Switzerland
Cervinia’s lifts top out at 3,883m and it has heaps of high-altitude slopes. Beginners can enjoy excellent conditions in the mountain-top nursery area, before tackling the nearby slopes. As for the rest of the 150km ski area, it’s tailor-made for intermediates, with long runs like the 11km Ventina red from the Plateau Rosa back down to the village.
And the area lift pass also covers neighbouring Zermatt, so skiers and boarders alike can explore snowsure slopes above one of Switzerland’s top resorts too. The town itself is in a south-facing valley, which means it gets lots of evening sunshine, with small hotel bars ideal for sitting back on a terrace.
Crystal Ski Holidays ( www.crystalski.co.uk) offers a week's bed and breakfast holiday at the three-star Hotel Furggen from £621 per person when booked online (based on two sharing), flights from Manchester to Turin and transfers (price given is for departure on March 27). Direct flights available from all major UK airports.
Anyone choosing to stay in Zermatt, can try the Hotel Alex. The key focus of this hotel is relaxation and revitalisation, with the spa facilities boasting three massage rooms, sauna facilities, a tepidarium and a pool. After working up an appetite following a day on the slopes, guests will also be able to enjoy one of the hotel's three restaurants or bars.
Ski Solutions offers a seven-night stay room-only at Hotel Alex in Zermatt priced from £1,970pp, departing on April 9. This price includes accommodation, flights and transfers.
Ischgl, Austria
It’s easy to see why Ischgl is one of the top Austrian ski resorts. Most of the terrain’s above 2,000m, so there’s room to ski well into spring. It’s excellent for intermediates, with 238km of long, wide-open runs to explore – a favourite is the Duty Free Run, a 12km blast on linked reds from the Palinkopf peak down to Samnaun in Switzerland. For experts, there are tricky blacks and heaps of off-piste to tempt too.
The resort’s famous for its buzzing atmosphere, with plenty of slopeside bars like the Paznauner Taja, where apres-ski can be enjoyed on the huge outdoor terrace. For evening fun, check out the square by the Silvrettabahn gondola, which is lined with nightclubs that stay lively till late.
Crystal Ski Holidays offers a week's half-board holiday at the four-star Hotel Seiblishof from £1,126 per person when booked online (based on two sharing), flights from Birmingham to Innsbruck and transfers (price given is for departure on April 2). Direct flights available from all major UK airports.
Tignes, France
With its high altitude, reputation for spring snowfall and links to two glaciers, Tignes ticks all the boxes for a late-season getaway. The 300km ski area is shared with nearby Val d’Isère, and packs in everything from gentle greens to steep off-piste, so it’s a solid pick for mixed-ability groups. Beginners can learn the basics in the nursery slopes near Val Claret and Le Lac, while more experienced skiers can tackle descents of over 1,000m from the top of the Grande Motte glacier back to the resort centre.
When it comes to picking a place to stay, there are five purpose-built villages to choose from. To be in the heart of the action, there’s a vibrant après scene in Le Lac and Val Claret. Or for something more laid-back, check out the quieter Tignes 1800 and Les Brévières areas.
Crystal Ski Holidays offers a week's half-board holiday at the three-star Hotel Les Brevieres, Tignes Les Brevieres from £1,288 per person when booked online (based on two sharing), flights from London Gatwick to Chambery and transfers (price given is for departure on April 2). Direct flights available from all major UK airports.
Obergurgl, Austria
Up at 1,930m, Obergurgl’s one of the highest villages in the Alps and has one of the longest ski seasons anywhere in Austria. This centuries-old village was around long before the lifts arrived, so it’s got a really authentic alpine feel – picture wooden chalets clustered around an 18th-century church.
The 122km ski area packs in lots of variety, from beginner areas to tree-lined trails and wide-open pistes that intermediates will love. It’s also known for having quiet slopes and an excellent ski school, so it’s also one of the best resorts for families.
Crystal Ski Holidays offers a week's half-board holiday at the four-star Hotel Alpenaussicht from £1,652 per person when booked online (based on two sharing), flights from Edinburgh to Innsbruck and transfers (price given is for departure on April 2). Direct flights available from all major UK airports.
Val Thorens, France
For great spring snow, try Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens with its village situated at 2,300m, and lifts above 3,000m. It’s part of the huge Three Valleys ski area, which has 600km of pistes and four glaciers to explore. And with everything from the gentle greens next to the village centre to the steep moguls on the Cîme de Caron black run, it’s a perfect pick whatever the ability.
Try out one of the best après bars in the Alps, La Folie Douce, for a carnival-themed party on the panoramic terrace. Or enjoy events like Jazz à Val Thorens and Festival’Tho, where the resort hosts international musicians and DJs to close out the season in style.
Crystal Ski Holidays offers a week's self-catering holiday at the three-star Le Chamois D'Or Apartments, Val Thorens from £894 per person when booked online (based on two sharing), flights from Manchester to Geneva and transfers (price given is for departure on April 2). Direct flights available from all major UK airports.
Meanwhile, Ski Solutions is offering Fahrenheit Seven - a modern ski-in ski-out hotel is situated in a convenient on-piste location, so guests can get up and out onto the slopes first thing each day. The rooms benefit from stunning mountain views and are decorated in a retro style. The hotel also has a fun après ski scene which includes live music and quirky cocktails, the ideal place to end the day in the sunshine.
A seven-night stay at Fahrenheit Seven in Val Thorens priced from £1,645pp, departing on April 9. This price includes accommodation, flights and transfers. www.skisolutions.com
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