Après – France
Après-ski in France is loud and proud. In Val Thorens you can wrap up each day with live music and dancing in slopeside hotspots – from Europe’s highest pub, the Frog and Roast Beef to the biggest dancefloor in the Alps at Club Malaysia. There’s lots of choice if you’re all about activities too – from flying high on Europe’s highest zipline to donning a dry suit and floating on the surface of an icy lake. Fancy some family-friendly fun? Try tackling France’s longest toboggan run, the Cosmojet. It starts way up at 3,000m, and with 6km of twists and turns from top to bottom, you’re bound to want an encore. The Hotel Tango is a fun place to stay right in the centre of the resort, with its popular bar and indulgent spa. Best of all, you’ll have ski-in, ski-out access to the highest resort in Europe. In the afternoons, the bar and terrace is your spot for a bit of al fresco après.
Dublin – France: Depart 30th March 2024. Staying at 3* Hotel Tango, Val Thorens for 7 nights on a half-board basis from €1,649pp
Families – Italy – Hotel Grand Paradiso
The laid-back atmosphere, quiet slopes and quality mountain restaurants are what make skiing in Italy so great and perfect for families looking to make core memories. Families will love Passo Tonale, which has a relaxed atmosphere. This is also one of the best places for children to learn to ski in Italy. As well as having a great ski school, the 100km area has quiet slopes with plenty of space to practise. Little ones will especially love the gentle runs, inflatable slide and tubing in the Leolandia Fantaski zone. Stay at the Grand Paradiso, where you can hit the slopes by simply climbing the steps behind the hotel. If you are still learning, it’s an easy 10-minute walk to the ski school. Families can make the most of the Crystal Childcare clubs, where kids can have fun with games in the snow, crafts and soft play.
Dublin – Italy: Depart 16th March 2024. Staying at 4* Hotel Grand Paradiso, Passo Tonale for 7 nights on a half-board basis from €769pps, €2,219 (2 adults + 1 child), or €3,299 (2 adults + 2 children)
Beginners – Andorra
Andorra’s ski resorts are rated some of the best in Europe for learning to ski. With lots of gentle greens and blues in Arinsal, as well as one of the best English-speaking ski schools in Europe, you’ll be confidently cruising in no time. Hotel Montané is our top pick in Arinsal. It’s opposite the main gondola so just grab your gear from the boot room each morning and you’ll be swooshing down the slopes in a matter of minutes.
Dublin – Andorra: Depart 17th March 2024. Staying at 3* Hotel Montané, Arinsal for 7 nights on a half-board basis from €629pps, €1,829 (2 adults + 1 child), or €2,409 (2 adults + 2 children)
Advanced – Austria
Austria’s ski resorts are full of charm. It’s got the best lift systems in the world, giving speedy and seamless access to linked ski areas with tree-lined slopes. From tricky gullies to snow-filled bowls, St Anton’s a top pick for expert skiers. One of the best ways to take in the area is to tackle the Run of Fame – a 65km route that starts in St Anton and ends in the resort of Warth-Schröcken, on the far side of the Arlberg. Stay at Hotel Arlberg and you’ll be a few minutes’ walk from the Nasserein gondola and the action in the town centre, but far enough away to be quiet in the evenings. After a hard day of skiing, visit the spa to recharge in the sauna and steam room.
Dublin – Austria: Depart 16th March 2024. Staying at 4* Hotel Arlberg, St Anton for 7 nights on a half-board basis from €1,609pps, €4,399 (2 adults + 1 child), or €5,439 (2 adults + 2 children)
Budget-Friendly – Bulgaria
Bulgaria is brilliant value so your spending money will go a lot further here. With cheap drinks and buzzing bars, the entertaining après scene is another draw, making skiing in Bulgaria a popular choice for younger groups. In Borovets, ski lessons and lift passes cost less than elsewhere in Europe, so you can rack up the ski time without straining the bank balance. If you are after a great-value ski stay with a laid-back atmosphere, take a look at Hotel Lion Borovets. The free shuttle bus will whisk you to the lifts in around 5-minutes each morning. After your day on the slopes you can relax in the indoor pool, spa & wellness facilities, fitness centre or the games room.
Dublin – Bulgaria: Depart 9th March 2024. Staying at 4* Hotel Lion Borovets, Borovets for 7 nights on a half-board basis from €609pps, €1,849 (2 adults + 1 child), or €2,589 (2 adults + 2 children)
Luxury – Austria
Austria’s ski resorts are full of charm, mostly pretty villages with onion-domed churches and a long tradition of hospitality. Most accommodation in Austria is good quality, family-run hotels. Hotel Alpina is part of our ‘Summit Collection’, a curated selection of premium ski accommodation. Here you can expect fresh, modern décor, fantastic facilities and friendly, local staff. It’s set right on the slopes overlooking the village, so you can ski to and from the hotel each day. When it’s après o’clock, swing by the lounge to sip a cocktail. If you fancy spa time, grab your swim things and head to the luxurious wellness area. Enjoy some leisurely lengths in the pool, drift between the different saunas or treat your ski legs to a professional massage.
Dublin – Austria: Depart 9th March 2024. Staying at 4* Hotel Alpina, Obergurgl for 7 nights on a half-board basis from €2,049pps, €5,369 (2 adults + 1 children), or €6,649 (2 adults + 2 children)
All-Inclusive – Austria
Want to ski down those picturesque, wooded slopes on the Austrian mountains? Having your lift pass and ski gear is essential. But what is also essential is being well fed so you have energy on the slopes. At the Alpin Resort Sport & Spa you can make sure to take full advantage of the all-inclusive basis on offer. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are catered for here. The evening meals are a gourmet affair, with five courses of fine dining and a tempting dessert buffet to finish. And all your drinks are included too – cheers.
Dublin – Austria: Depart 16th March 2024. Staying at 4* Alpin Resort Sport & Spa, Saalbach for 7 nights on an all-inclusive basis from €2,009pps, €5,369 (2 adults + 1 children)
Convenience (ski-in, ski-out) – France
France is a firm favourite for ski holidays, loved for its diverse, easy-to-reach resorts. It was the first country to link its resorts with lifts and is still home to most of the best-known ski areas, many of them at high altitude. A convenient ski holiday to us means a ski-in, ski-out accommodation, an all-inclusive basis and plenty of hotel facilities including childcare. Les Cimes du Soleil offers all of these. Here you can ski to and from the boot room door, dig into a buffet spread and have a drink out onto the panoramic sun terrace to soak up the snowy scenery. Parents can make the most of the hotel-run childcare and enjoy a relaxing session in the sauna.
Dublin – France: Depart 25th February 2024. Staying at 3* Les Cimes du Soleil, Avoriaz for 7 nights on an all-inclusive basis from €1,829pps, €5,319 (2 adults + 1 child), or €7,329 (2 adults + 2 children)
More details: Crystal Ski Holidays | Get More Winter
