An insider’s guide to planning the perfect ski holiday

Born and raised in the Northeast region of the United States, New York City, I was fortunate that my parents, who were from India, had the foresight to introduce me to skiing, because not only would it grown to become one of my passions, but would also provide an enriching foundation for travel and relationships. It was on a ski trip to Verbier, Switzerland, that my now-husband proposed to me. He is a lifelong skier himself, an expert, and I’m convinced that he waited until the third day of the trip to propose so he could adequately assess my own skiing (and après-ski) abilities. Thankfully, he popped the question at a beautiful vista on a sunny day, and we became a skiing couple.

Today, we are married with five-year-old twins and while we enjoy skiing with them, we also continue to carve out time for ski vacations of our own. Based on my experience, there are four areas that require careful consideration and planning in order to plan a perfect ski holiday. Scroll ahead to find out what they are in this all-inclusive guide.

Ski terrain and ski schools/guides

For beginners, it is important to find places that are renowned for their ski schools and guides. It is best to make sure you have someone that speaks your language fluently—otherwise, a lot can get lost in translation. Encouragement and energy should be doled out generously to keep the momentum going. It is also important to make sure you have enough terrain to ski at your level, allowing you to explore. Think of it as going on a ski safari: you want to cover as much land as possible in optimal conditions.

Service

The experience of skiing may seem daunting, but it can actually be quite pampering. Gone are the days of breathless trekking with boots, skis, poles and clothing that makes you feel insulated and puffed up like a tire. Nowadays, when you are coming off the slopes at the end of the day, ready to take all that ski apparel off, there can be someone present at your resort to hand you water and remove your boots for you. To top it off, your boots may also be kept in a warmer overnight, so your feet are delighted to enter the ski zone the next morning. Some places such as Deer Valley, Utah, are renowned for their ski school and abundance of beginner and intermediate slopes, while other resorts cap off lift ticket sales to ensure there is no wait time at lift lines.

Après-ski and restaurants

Après-ski and wonderful dining experiences are key to fun-filled ski holidays. After a day of skiing, there is nothing like entering a place with great music and wine to get you excited for dinner. Sometimes, if a party begins, there can be dancing as well, which may push dinner reservations to later than expected. Après-ski is a perfected sport at some of the European ski resorts, which can explode into a daytime party at places like Courchevel and Verbier. Most restaurants cater to all kinds of dietary demands too, demonstrating their appetite to please.

Fashion

Swooshing down a ski slope in your fashionable ski armour is part of the fun. The underpinnings are essentials, as well as all the other paraphernalia to stay warm. A ski jacket and pants combination or a one-piece can look stylish anywhere. Some of more popular brands for ski clothing include Moncler (always a win-win), Fendi (for the uber brand conscious), Perfect Moments (which is fresh on the alpine scene), Bogner (a ski staple), and Fausalp (for a retro chic look), but these are just some of the many. Faux fur or fur adds a glamorous touch to the après-ski attire too, but works just as well to look cosy by a fire. Be sure to pack boots and shoes to match any occasion. Most importantly, don’t worry about dragging your luggage around, because there are services like Luggage Forward to help your bags arrive before you set foot at your snow destination. Most hotels will accept luggage prior to arrival.

Organisation

This is essential to executing a well-planned ski holiday. I have skied with my family as a child and with my friends once I got older, and some of my favourite spots gained the tag for being truly special, and because of the memories that were made there. A private house in Aspen was a treat while hosting one of my closest friends’ bachelorette weekend. And Deer Valley at the Montage Hotel hosts a variety of amenities like an indoor state-of-the-art arcade and bowling alley, tubing hills, and a Veuve Clicquot après-ski bar. In Europe, St Mortiz feels modern and warm at the Kulm Hotel, while The Omnia in Zermatt, Switzerland, takes things to the next level with its spa and a cave-like entrance. Only electrical cars are allowed to roam the ski resort here. Courchevel, with its four valleys, provides infinite ski terrane, and an afternoon spent dancing on tables at St Tropez can rival any day party.

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