1. Best for…Fun off the Slopes
Where: Courchevel, France
Art and chocolate: it could be the perfect combination for off-slope entertainment. This winter, the statue, ‘Mademoiselle Courchevel’, made by French artist David Cintract, will be launched in the resort as the emblem of the 2013 winter season and there will be plenty of events based around her. For skiing, Ski Sublime offers ‘Women’s Weeks’ with a female teacher and only female students, then after burning off all those calories on the slopes, it’s surely time for some alternative après-ski? Piste Noire, the artisan chocolate factory based in Courchevel is launching two new products this winter and will organise tastings where they will demonstrate the fine art of chocolate-making.
How Much: Ski Sublime (+44 (0) 131 208 2910; www.skisublime.com) offers a five-day women’s programme, featuring six hours’ tuition each day, for €200 per person (valid for any week outside of the peak season). Evasion Travel (0208 1334533; www.evasiontravel.co.uk) offers seven nights half-board in Chalet Grand Pige, Courchevel Le Praz, from £335 per person, excluding flights and transfers.
If you’re looking for a ski holiday that appeals to your feminine side, Katy Dartford rounds up the 10 best girlie getaways for the 2013 season
2. Best for…Après-ski and Nightlife
Where: Ischgl, Austria
With more than twice as many men as women visiting Ischgl, the après scene is perfect for girls who want to get noticed. There’s energetic off-the-snow action every day in the village that’s renowned for being a party resort, as well as having some of the best skiing and boarding in the Alps. Ski over the Austrian/Swiss border into Samnaun and stock up on duty-free perfume, cosmetics, jewellery and leather goods; then head back to the village where the pounding music and dancing will take you through from last lift to dinner time. After dark there’s more partying to be had, with many nightclubs offering free entry for girls.
How much: Ski Total’s (01483 791 933; www.skitotal.co.uk) Ladies Week of Ski, Sun & Fun takes place from 14-21 April 2013, and costs from £699 per person for seven nights’ half-board (plus afternoon tea), in the three-star Chalet Zita, based on two sharing, including return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Also included is a six-day lift pass, six days’ equipment hire and six days’ guiding with a ski host.
More info: Contact Ski Total quoting Snow Magazine and Ladies Week.
Where: Ischgl, Austria
With more than twice as many men as women visiting Ischgl, the après scene is perfect for girls who want to get noticed. There’s energetic off-the-snow action every day in the village that’s renowned for being a party resort, as well as having some of the best skiing and boarding in the Alps. Ski over the Austrian/Swiss border into Samnaun and stock up on duty-free perfume, cosmetics, jewellery and leather goods; then head back to the village where the pounding music and dancing will take you through from last lift to dinner time. After dark there’s more partying to be had, with many nightclubs offering free entry for girls.
How much: Ski Total’s (01483 791 933; www.skitotal.co.uk) Ladies Week of Ski, Sun & Fun takes place from 14-21 April 2013, and costs from £699 per person for seven nights’ half-board (plus afternoon tea), in the three-star Chalet Zita, based on two sharing, including return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Also included is a six-day lift pass, six days’ equipment hire and six days’ guiding with a ski host.
More info: Contact Ski Total quoting Snow Magazine and Ladies Week.
3. Best for…Couples, with Girlie Benefits
Where: Le Grand Bornand, France.
Sometimes it just pays to be a woman and in the pretty resort of Le Grand Bornand, one of the four Lake Annecy Ski Resorts, that’s certainly the case. The resort is offering free ski lessons for women from 19-26 January, when your partner books six and a half days of ski school with the Ecole du Ski Français. Le Grand Bornand is perfect for beginners and ladies hoping to make the jump from greens to blues. And what’s more, it’s only an hour-long hop from Geneva Airport, making it a great place to maximise your time on the slopes.
How much: Le Grand Bornand (+33 (0)4 50 02 78 06; www.legrandbornand.com) is offering seven nights’ self-catering accommodation from €624 per person, including two lift passes. There are only 20 places available, however, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Getting there: EasyJet (0843 104 5000, www.easyjet.com) flies to Geneva from £34 per person one-way.
Where: Le Grand Bornand, France.
Sometimes it just pays to be a woman and in the pretty resort of Le Grand Bornand, one of the four Lake Annecy Ski Resorts, that’s certainly the case. The resort is offering free ski lessons for women from 19-26 January, when your partner books six and a half days of ski school with the Ecole du Ski Français. Le Grand Bornand is perfect for beginners and ladies hoping to make the jump from greens to blues. And what’s more, it’s only an hour-long hop from Geneva Airport, making it a great place to maximise your time on the slopes.
How much: Le Grand Bornand (+33 (0)4 50 02 78 06; www.legrandbornand.com) is offering seven nights’ self-catering accommodation from €624 per person, including two lift passes. There are only 20 places available, however, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Getting there: EasyJet (0843 104 5000, www.easyjet.com) flies to Geneva from £34 per person one-way.
4. Best for…An All-female Group
Where: St Anton am Arlberg, Austria
It’s all about the girls in St Anton am Arlberg throughout January. ‘Ladies First’ is an annual event that this season takes place from 5-26 January, in the Austrian resort (+43 5446 22690; www.stantonamarlberg.com). The sole purpose of the female-focused event is to pamper female skiers and snowboarders in their downtime off the slopes. Collect a ‘Ladies First Book’ from the tourist office, which includes vouchers and discounts to use on ski equipment, restaurants, shopping, spa treatments and relaxation classes, such as yoga and Pilates and use them at your leisure during your stay. Drinks are also free in many bars, and services for women are included, such as one day’s free hire of an avalanche pack when you book a ski course with the Arlberg Ski School.
How much: Inghams (01483 791111; www.inghams.co.uk) offers seven nights’ half-board at the three-star Chalet Rose, St Anton, from £539 per person, based on two sharing, departing 12 January 2013, including return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers (half-board includes skier’s breakfast, afternoon tea and cakes, four-course evening meal with complimentary wines).
Where: St Anton am Arlberg, Austria
It’s all about the girls in St Anton am Arlberg throughout January. ‘Ladies First’ is an annual event that this season takes place from 5-26 January, in the Austrian resort (+43 5446 22690; www.stantonamarlberg.com). The sole purpose of the female-focused event is to pamper female skiers and snowboarders in their downtime off the slopes. Collect a ‘Ladies First Book’ from the tourist office, which includes vouchers and discounts to use on ski equipment, restaurants, shopping, spa treatments and relaxation classes, such as yoga and Pilates and use them at your leisure during your stay. Drinks are also free in many bars, and services for women are included, such as one day’s free hire of an avalanche pack when you book a ski course with the Arlberg Ski School.
How much: Inghams (01483 791111; www.inghams.co.uk) offers seven nights’ half-board at the three-star Chalet Rose, St Anton, from £539 per person, based on two sharing, departing 12 January 2013, including return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers (half-board includes skier’s breakfast, afternoon tea and cakes, four-course evening meal with complimentary wines).
5. Best For…Mixed-ability Girlie Groups
Where: Verbier, Switzerland
If you want to go with your girlfriends, but you all ski to different levels, then Diva Ski (+44 (0) 20 8748 6995; www.divaski.com) offers a series of ‘girls only’ ski programmes that are designed to take your skiing to a new level but also to, ‘escape, have fun and be pampered’. The gals at Diva Ski offer three levels of tuition: Diva Elements for beginners, Diva Experience for intermediate and advanced, and Diva Extreme for advanced skiers only. All the courses take place in Verbier, where there’s terrific shopping and a vibrant nightlife to complement the awesome skiing. Diva Ski recognises that girls are different from men: our bodies are different, the way we ski is different, our equipment requirements are different and our attitude is different. The courses aim to give ladies the confidence to ski out of their comfort zone and encourage putting yourself first, rather than your partner or kids.
How much: A four-night Diva Experience course, or a four-night Diva Extreme course featuring three mornings of ski tuition, with a maximum of four girls in a group, and three afternoons ski guiding, costs from £600 per person. Accommodation excluded.
Where: Verbier, Switzerland
If you want to go with your girlfriends, but you all ski to different levels, then Diva Ski (+44 (0) 20 8748 6995; www.divaski.com) offers a series of ‘girls only’ ski programmes that are designed to take your skiing to a new level but also to, ‘escape, have fun and be pampered’. The gals at Diva Ski offer three levels of tuition: Diva Elements for beginners, Diva Experience for intermediate and advanced, and Diva Extreme for advanced skiers only. All the courses take place in Verbier, where there’s terrific shopping and a vibrant nightlife to complement the awesome skiing. Diva Ski recognises that girls are different from men: our bodies are different, the way we ski is different, our equipment requirements are different and our attitude is different. The courses aim to give ladies the confidence to ski out of their comfort zone and encourage putting yourself first, rather than your partner or kids.
How much: A four-night Diva Experience course, or a four-night Diva Extreme course featuring three mornings of ski tuition, with a maximum of four girls in a group, and three afternoons ski guiding, costs from £600 per person. Accommodation excluded.
5. Best for…Ladies Making their First Tracks
Where: Châtel, France
If you’re new to skiing, then join a Ski Goddess course in Châtel, a small resort five minutes from the Swiss border, which is part of the huge Portes du Soleil ski area. Here you can join a small group or get a group of friends together for some skiing and tuition – whatever your level. Ski Goddess course are taught in a way that recognises that women often learn differently from men. But Katie Dobson, the company’s founder, believes that both men and women can reach the same level of skiing in the same amount of time, as long as the approach to learning is appropriate. With this in mind she tailors lessons, sessions, workshops and courses to suit the way you, as a woman and also as an individual, learn best.
How Much: Ski Goddess (07900 926 548/0033 (6)20 692 297; www.skigoddess.co.uk) offers a four-day intermediate course departing 9 January on a bed & breakfast basis from £1,100 per person, including transfers from Geneva airport, but excluding flights. Ski Goddess runs six courses a year between January and March.
Where: Châtel, France
If you’re new to skiing, then join a Ski Goddess course in Châtel, a small resort five minutes from the Swiss border, which is part of the huge Portes du Soleil ski area. Here you can join a small group or get a group of friends together for some skiing and tuition – whatever your level. Ski Goddess course are taught in a way that recognises that women often learn differently from men. But Katie Dobson, the company’s founder, believes that both men and women can reach the same level of skiing in the same amount of time, as long as the approach to learning is appropriate. With this in mind she tailors lessons, sessions, workshops and courses to suit the way you, as a woman and also as an individual, learn best.
How Much: Ski Goddess (07900 926 548/0033 (6)20 692 297; www.skigoddess.co.uk) offers a four-day intermediate course departing 9 January on a bed & breakfast basis from £1,100 per person, including transfers from Geneva airport, but excluding flights. Ski Goddess runs six courses a year between January and March.
7. Best for…Romance
Where: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
The majestic and spectacular Dolomites, with their pink and orange hues, provide the perfect backdrop for romance. And there’s no better place to get cosy with your beau than in the chic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, known as the Queen of the Dolomites. The Italian resort has designer shops, cute cafes, gourmet dining, sophisticated bars and luxury hotels. What’s more, the snow-covered slopes which rise above Cortina offer extensive skiing and boarding. For the ultimate in romantic meeting places, there’s an outdoor hot tub at the 2,255m-high Rifugio Scoiattoli next to the Cinque Torri chairlift, where you can drink champagne and watch the sun set on the majestic peaks.
How Much: Ski Solutions (020 7471 7786; www.skisolutions.com) offers seven nights bed & breakfast, at the Hotel Panda, Cortina, for £749 per person departing on 5 December, including return flights from London Gatwick to Venice and transfers.
Where: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
The majestic and spectacular Dolomites, with their pink and orange hues, provide the perfect backdrop for romance. And there’s no better place to get cosy with your beau than in the chic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, known as the Queen of the Dolomites. The Italian resort has designer shops, cute cafes, gourmet dining, sophisticated bars and luxury hotels. What’s more, the snow-covered slopes which rise above Cortina offer extensive skiing and boarding. For the ultimate in romantic meeting places, there’s an outdoor hot tub at the 2,255m-high Rifugio Scoiattoli next to the Cinque Torri chairlift, where you can drink champagne and watch the sun set on the majestic peaks.
How Much: Ski Solutions (020 7471 7786; www.skisolutions.com) offers seven nights bed & breakfast, at the Hotel Panda, Cortina, for £749 per person departing on 5 December, including return flights from London Gatwick to Venice and transfers.
8. Best for…Girlie Snowboarders
Where: Whistler, Canada
This winter the Canadian resort of Whistler is offering women a chance to improve their snowboarding skills on a two-day Roxy All Star camp. The camps are run by top pros and members of the Canadian National Snowboard team and welcome all levels of snowboarders. If you’re keen to explore the vast terrain of the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the location for the last Winter Olympics, and you fancy improving your boarding technique in a fun and relaxed environment, then this is the course for you.
How Much: A two-day camp including lift pass costs from $377 CAN per person (camps run on select dates throughout February, March and April). Inghams (01483 791 111; www.inghams.co.uk) offers seven nights at the four-star Delta Whistler Village Suites from £1,030 per person, on a self-catering basis, including return flights from Heathrow to Vancouver and resort transfers.
Where: Whistler, Canada
This winter the Canadian resort of Whistler is offering women a chance to improve their snowboarding skills on a two-day Roxy All Star camp. The camps are run by top pros and members of the Canadian National Snowboard team and welcome all levels of snowboarders. If you’re keen to explore the vast terrain of the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the location for the last Winter Olympics, and you fancy improving your boarding technique in a fun and relaxed environment, then this is the course for you.
How Much: A two-day camp including lift pass costs from $377 CAN per person (camps run on select dates throughout February, March and April). Inghams (01483 791 111; www.inghams.co.uk) offers seven nights at the four-star Delta Whistler Village Suites from £1,030 per person, on a self-catering basis, including return flights from Heathrow to Vancouver and resort transfers.
9. Best For…Adventurous girlies
Where: La Grave, France
If you are serious about your skiing, and you’re feeling flush, then try Jessica Baker’s Ski Diva’s ‘Ultimate Steep Skiing and Skill Building Camp,’ in La Grave. This course will teach you how to tackle some of the steepest and most challenging ski terrain in Europe. Areas covered include steep skiing skills, alpine safety, glacial travel/skiing, avalanche awareness and rope and anchor skills. Instructor Jessica Baker was 2004 US Freeskiing Nationals Champion. The course has a maximum of five guests per coach which means that you get heaps of individual attention. Off the slopes you can do yoga every morning, plus there are discounted massage therapies, French language lessons, wine and cheese workshops and even a camp finale party!
How much: The six-night Ultimate Steep Skiing and Skill Building Camp (001 307 690 3683; www.skidivas.com) costs from $3,800 (approx £2,340) per person staying in the three-star Hotel Edelweiss, on a half-board basis, including transfers from Grenoble, lift pass, coaching, video analysis and après-ski activities. Monarch (08719 40 50 40; www.monarch.co.uk) flies to Grenoble from London Gatwick from £37 per person one-way and from Manchester from £34 one-way.
10 Best for…Restoring that Feelgood Factor
Where: Morzine, France
The Portes du Soleil resort of Morzine is organising a week of women’s activities aimed at recharging your batteries and bringing a dose of calm to your life. From 28 January-1 February, you’ll find women-only Zen workshops, beauty workshops and vitality walks in the resort. In between skiing, or snowboarding in the world’s largest linked ski area, you can indulge in anything from Tai Chi to Afghan Walking – where you synchronise your breathing with each step. Budding beauticians can also whip up their own beauty lotions from natural ingredients, or if none of that appeals, how about just hanging out with some like-minded ladies?
How Much: VIP Ski (0844 557 3119; www.vip-chalets.com) offers seven nights at the VIP Club Alaska, Morzine, from £679 per person half-board, including flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers.
Where: La Grave, France
If you are serious about your skiing, and you’re feeling flush, then try Jessica Baker’s Ski Diva’s ‘Ultimate Steep Skiing and Skill Building Camp,’ in La Grave. This course will teach you how to tackle some of the steepest and most challenging ski terrain in Europe. Areas covered include steep skiing skills, alpine safety, glacial travel/skiing, avalanche awareness and rope and anchor skills. Instructor Jessica Baker was 2004 US Freeskiing Nationals Champion. The course has a maximum of five guests per coach which means that you get heaps of individual attention. Off the slopes you can do yoga every morning, plus there are discounted massage therapies, French language lessons, wine and cheese workshops and even a camp finale party!
How much: The six-night Ultimate Steep Skiing and Skill Building Camp (001 307 690 3683; www.skidivas.com) costs from $3,800 (approx £2,340) per person staying in the three-star Hotel Edelweiss, on a half-board basis, including transfers from Grenoble, lift pass, coaching, video analysis and après-ski activities. Monarch (08719 40 50 40; www.monarch.co.uk) flies to Grenoble from London Gatwick from £37 per person one-way and from Manchester from £34 one-way.
10 Best for…Restoring that Feelgood FactorWhere: Morzine, France
The Portes du Soleil resort of Morzine is organising a week of women’s activities aimed at recharging your batteries and bringing a dose of calm to your life. From 28 January-1 February, you’ll find women-only Zen workshops, beauty workshops and vitality walks in the resort. In between skiing, or snowboarding in the world’s largest linked ski area, you can indulge in anything from Tai Chi to Afghan Walking – where you synchronise your breathing with each step. Budding beauticians can also whip up their own beauty lotions from natural ingredients, or if none of that appeals, how about just hanging out with some like-minded ladies?
How Much: VIP Ski (0844 557 3119; www.vip-chalets.com) offers seven nights at the VIP Club Alaska, Morzine, from £679 per person half-board, including flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers.
