Brits prefere skiing in France

21st December 2008

According to the 2008 edition of the annual Ski Industry Report, France accounts for 37.5 per cent of UK ski holidays last season.

In second place was Austria, with 21.8 per cent.

It's predicted that for the forthcoming season Italy and Switzerland will be jointly third placed..

So why don't Brits go to Switzerland or Italy more.

Swizerland Ski Holidays

Switzerland has got a ski heritage, it's got first rate facilities and in Zermatt there is all year glacier skiing. It's amazingly pretty too. Trains are efficient and resorts are clean.

Swiss ski resorts are continually improved, for instance amongst a host of new hotels, chalets and restaurants across Switzerland. There are some new ski lifts including an eight-seat chairlift at Champery, fashionable Engelberg has a new, panoramic cable-car with floor-to-ceiling windows; Grindelwald is launching the "First Flier", an aerial cableway on which speeds of 90 kmh will be achievable.

The downside to Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. The Swiss Franc has been pretty strong compared to the pound, generally UK skiers will find Switerland expensive. Although our range of independent ski chalets where you can book direct with the owners mean that skiers and snowboarders will be able to find accommodation bargains.

Ski Holidays in Italy

Italy in comparison has a reputation for being cheaper, generally the resorts are less well known, which can result in great value chalets and accomodation. The facilities are generally much improved than a few years ago, but in general terms the facilites are less good than France, Austria and Switzerland.

Although there are some great improvements to be had in Sestriere, Aosta-Pila, Cervinia, Pragelato and La Thuile

The good news for Italian skiing, is that the whole feeling of a Italian ski holiday is great.. The locals are friendly and outgoing, the restaurants offer great food at low prices. The Dolomites, which have received a really amazing dumping of snow for the start of this season, are truly one of the most beautiful mountains in which to ski, Italian skiers' are really chilled in queues. So if you can put up with some slightly outdated structure a ski holiday in Italy can be the most refreshing of changes.