Skiing in Europe should be on every skier's list. The Alps of Austria,
Switzerland, France and Germany are massive, with dramatic jagged peaks like
the
Matterhorn in Zermatt and Mont Blanc at Chamonix. The European Alps are like the
mountains of New
England skiing with the Rocky Mountains on top - form high elvation above tree
line skiing all teh way to ski villages miles below. The scenery is extraordinary,
and the après ski is legendary - after all - the Europeans invited it! Many European ski resorts are
interconnected by modern lifts and offer a regional ski pass, like in the US at Big Sky and
Moonlight Basin or Snowbird and
Alta in Utah, but on a much grander scale. If you are considering, or better yet
- planning, a ski trip to the Alps, see our
travel tips for skiing in Europe
and our Tips for packing and
skiing in the Alps.
Switzerland's Zermatt,
Verbier
and Les 4 Vallees, Saas Fee, St Moritz,
Aletsch Arena,
Adelboden and Grindelwald all offer immense ski
terrain with lively ski villages at the base and four to five star Swiss hotels.
Austria, skiing the
Arlberg, Vorarlberg and Otztal resorts of St Anton,
Soelden,
Lech Zurs, and
Obergurgl
Hochgurgl provides you unbelievable scenery, great snow for a long
season, traditional on mountain dining in centuries old chalets, but modern
Doppelmayr ski lifts and posh lodging for a luxury ski vacation in the Alps.
France's Val D’Isère Tignes and Les Trois
Vallées are huge, more skiing than you can do in a week. Austria's Arlberg
region offers 84 lifts and 300 miles of skiing on groomed trails and
plus thousands of acres of open bowl off-piste skiing from
St Anton to Stuben,
St Chrisoph, to Lech and Zurs.
Solden and
Obergurgl
offer high alpine skiing, this is where the US Ski Team trains.
Despite the huge mountains and tons of terrain, skiing in Europe is as much
about the lifestyle of skiing as it is the actual sport of sliding
downhill. Mountaintop lunches serving gourmet cuisine and Gluhwein or Grappa
are as important as the fresh snow and first tracks.
Après ski in Europe includes dancing,
live music, drinks with a view of the slopes, followed by relaxing spa and sauna
treatments, then elegant dining often with a view of the slopes.
European ski resorts have lodging that ranges from quaint chalets to
condominiums, four star ski hotels to small inns and bed and breakfasts. Our
editors will be travelling to Europe to review some of the best ski resorts in
Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany to help you plan your luxury ski trip to the Alps.
