Ski Holiday for a beginner, worth it or not?

[gman88667733]

A couple of months ago my partner and I agreed to go skiing in the Alps with some relatives. Now we are actually booking the flights and bits it has ended up about £400 more expensive then we expected. Works out at about £1k each for a week skiing. I have never been skiing before, and am unsure if it is worth it for me to spend £1k on it... My partner is very keen as she loves skiing, so I don't want to let her down by now saying I don't think it's worth going. I can comfortably afford it, but it is a lot of money for her, but she is happy to pay it (I am more bothered about how much I have in my bank account than she is). Do I just suck it up and go? It would be over new year's.

I was reasonably keen when we thought the price would be about £500 + food, but now it just seems a little bit excessive...

For context, we are both 21, living alone on a reasonably low income as she is a part time student.

Just want to see if anyone else has a difference perspective of this

[KAgantua]

Ive never been skiing but understand its one of the pricier types of hoidays.

[designforlife]

I've been snowboarding 15 odd years now.

A cheap DIY trip can be done for £500-700 ex food and spending money if you go with a group and know how to book to get the best deals and toward the end of the season or early season.

Average punter price for a ski holiday in one of the bigger resorts can easily be £1000-1500 for a week in peak season ex food and spending.

As to whether it's worth it? only you can answer that.... i used to spend £4k a year on snowboard trips, usually 4 or 5 a season. If you do go with it, get some lessons on indoor snow before you go so that you are at basic rec level before you go, you'll get much more enjoyment from the trip.

[Richard-390a0]

£1k for a week sounds about right to me. Whenever I've had a weeks holiday for less by the time you add in all the other bits & pieces it always comes back to being around a grand again.

[designforlife]

For some context on prices, I'm going to Park City, Utah for 2 weeks next march.

8 of us are going and it's costing around £1700 each all-in for flights, accomodation, lift pass, airport transfers and a sizeable rental van to tool about in.

That's damn cheap for 2 weeks riding in the US...could easily spend that on a week in Switzerland if you like ritzy ditzy accomodation.

[ElectricSoup]

Do it. Keep the lady happy, and when she moans about you spending money on cars later in life...well, give and take.

Also, it's great fun.

[Bobajobbob]

Skiing is expensive. Don’t forget to factor in the ski lift pass, lessons and ski hire costs. Having said that there is a massive spread between sharing a chalet/apartment with a load of others self catering and/or staying in a hotel or private chalet.

You will either love it, or not. If you do love it you will spend the rest of your life beg, borrowing and stealing for just another week in the mountains.

The sooner you find out the better so I’d recommend you spend the money and go this time.

[Mothersruin]

It's the best thing ever, so do it. Also, you've chosen one of the most expensive times too. A few weeks later when all the kids are back, and before the French start having holidays again is the cheapest.

Also, please make sure you have lessons. Please.

[banjowilly]

ElectricSoup said:

Also, it's great fun.

Can't overstate this enough. It really is.


Obviously it's not for everyone but if you go with an open mind, take the lessons to heart if you're a beginner, then it's truly a great way to spend a holiday. Then there's the apres ski...

[gman88667733]

The £1k price includes everything.
The apartment we stay in is a family owned one, so I don't know what it is like.
I doubt i'd ever hear the end of it if I said I don't want to go....

[bristolbaron]

My first experience of snowboarding was a week in Les Arcs. No lessons, just a mate saying do this, now this, etc. By the end of the day I was alright, by the end of the week I was good.

If you’re skiing a few lessons may help, but snowboarding is much easier to get into!

[designforlife]

gman88667733 said:

The £1k price includes everything.
The apartment we stay in is a family owned one, so I don't know what it is like.
I doubt i'd ever hear the end of it if I said I don't want to go....

If you don't go you'll never find out.

I got bitten by the bug hard at 19 years old...15 years, 5 countries and two shoulder surgeries later i've never looked back although i have scaled back on the number of trips now that i'm married to someone who isn't into snowsports.

[S100HP]

Don't forget the spending money when you are there. Budget another 1k the way the GBP is going atm. Coke on the mountain, that'll be €8 please sir.

[GroundEffect]

If you don't have lessons it'll be wasted. It's not something you can really force (beyond just falling down the hill )

Worth getting lessons before you go at an indoor place or dry slope.

[banjowilly]

GroundEffect said:

If you don't have lessons it'll be wasted. It's not something you can really force (beyond just falling down the hill )

Worth getting lessons before you go at an indoor place or dry slope.

True enough, certainly skiing takes a bit of learning. Boarding much quicker to get going but the downsides are you effectively ride the hill in a stress position, at least if you're doing it properly you do, which is why you see so many boarders sat at the side of the piste, rubbing their hurty thighs & not as commonly held, to avoid the European skiers discussing where to have lunch, in the middle of the slope, usually just below a crest, all dressed in silver onesies & Poivre blanc wraparound shades.

[AJB88]

better get yourself some lessons quickly

[Jeenyus161]

Definitely go.

It's just a great week. Hugely sociable, lots of fun, get some exercise without really realising and see some absolutely beautiful scenery.

Also, like most sporty activities, the younger you learn it the easier you'll pick it up.

But i'd absolutely echo the posts that suggest lessons - the indoor snow domes are really good for that kind of thing. You'll also realise whether the clothes you're planning to wear will be warm enough!

My wife and I are taking our kids for the first time this coming winter; they will be 1 and 3 - can't wait!

Enjoy

[PAULJ5555]

Took some friends to Bulgaria for week on a first trip, cost £400 each flight, ski hire, lift pass, apartment for 6.

The ones who loved it now book Austria/swiss ect.


I always suggest start off cheap see how you feel, you pay for that you get with skiing.

[wrencho]

Do it you won't regret it.

I would snowboard if I were you...you will probably pick it up quicker than skiing.

[Hard-Drive]

Which resort? They are all expensive, but some more so than others.

Be ready to be paying £20 for sausages and chips on the mountain and similarly inflated beer prices. Be prepared to love it to...some of my most incredible life/feeling alive memories have been in the mountains.

If you want to get the most from your money I'd recommend:

-Go and get lessons at a snowdome in the UK so you're up and running slowly on day in resort
-Buy your ski kit NOW from Sport Pursuit. Salopettes, jacket, gloves, goggles, thermals, and helmet helmet helmet
-If you aren't already fit, get fit, especially in the legs
-Don't get stfaced every night in resort. Pace yourself and make the most of your time

Skiing-you can get reasonable very quickly and then it gets harder and harder to get really good. Boarding, much harder initially, be prepared to spend a lot of time on your ass, but once you've cracked it you can get very good much more quickly.

Enjoy...it's amazing.