A mild winter in Europe has led to a startling lack of snow, leaving ski slopes transformed to bare rock and sludge, but one resort is set to have lots of snow and lots of cheap beer.
Bled in Slovenia has a reputation for being affordable and according to the weather forecast this weekend, skiing fans will be pleased.
Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital engagement ateurochangetells Metro.co.uk: ‘Bled is a brilliant place to ski, especially if you’re keen to explore somewhere other than popular destinations in the Alps,’ she says, highlighting that this location is also affordable for beers.
‘The ski resorts tend to be much smaller than those in France and Italy, but that is by no means a bad thing, as they tend to have a friendly, homely atmosphere.
‘The aprèsalso tends to be a lot cheaper, with local beers costing less than £3.’
There are 1.3km of slopes available and three transport lifts for guests. The winter sports area is located between the elevations of 503m and 634m and has seven runs of easy pistes for beginners. The closest airport is Ljubljana.
Flights from London Gatwick to Ljubljana costs £54.99pp one way in February and tend to stay around this price range for the other months.
During the main skiing season (mid-December until late March) day tickets for adults tend to be around €17 for adults and €9 for children. Opening times can vary depending on weather conditions, days of the week and public holidays but tend to be between 9am and 4pm.
This weekend, 25.8cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 22.3cm on Sunday.
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The lack of snow elsewhere has been blamed on high temperatures as a result of the climate crisis.
‘A crucial detail is missing for a ski facility: snow,’ complained Vincenzo Regnini, president of the company that runs Mount Terminillo in Italy, said.
At Vincenzo’s resort, ski-lifts have been abandoned on the grass of the 7,274ft location, which is 62 miles from Rome.
It’s not just Mount Terminillo that has been impacted, some 90% of Italy’s pistes now rely on artificial snow to ensure an even distribution, according to data from Italian Green lobby Legambiente. In Austria 70% of pistes rely on fake snow, as do 50% in Switzerland and 39% in France.
Because the average skiing holiday can cost more than £3,500 for two people, the one thing you’ll want to see when you hit the slopes is snow.
So, here are six more ski resorts you can visit that are predicted to have significant fresh snowfall in the coming days, according to the European Snow Forecast.
Pila, Italy
This resort sits high above the Aosta valley and is home to slops up to 2700m. According to the official website, this ski resort is one of the ‘snowsure destinations in the Alps’.
The nearest airport is Turin and the closest train station is Aosta. It’s a good place for intermediates, but begninners and advanced skinners should be able to have fun too. Flights from London to Turin can be booked on British Airways for around £40-£45 during most months.
Laura says: ‘The Roman town of Aosta is home to lots of incredible ancient ruins too, so it’s a great place to incorporate a spot of culture into your ski trip.’
How much snow? This weekend 46.9cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 46.9cm on Sunday.
Gressoney, Italy
Made up of two villages, Gressoney is at the centre of the renowned Monterosa ski circuit. One of the villages, Gressoney-La-Trinité is said to be very charming and a total feast for the eyes.
This resort grants access to Monterosa’s 180km of pistes from 1,200m to 2970m. The closest airport is also Turin at just an hour and 30 minutes away. Ryanair, British Airways, easyJet, Lufthansa offer flights from the UK, with prices ranging between £34-£150.
‘This resort is much better suited to experienced skiers, due to its challenging off-piste areas and epic red runs,’ Lauren explains.
How much snow? This weekend 46.9cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 46.8cm on Sunday.
Saas Fee, Switzerland
Saas Fee is a stunning resort village in the Swiss Alps close to the Italian border. It boasts 150km of pistes and has a resort height of 1,800m and is best suited for intermediate skiers. Most of the 100km ski area is between 2,500m and 3,500m.
‘Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Saas-Fee ticks plenty of boxes for skiers. Its range of pistes means it’s a great choice for beginners or advanced skiers,’ says Laura.
Sion is the closest airport but you can organise travel from Geneva. Trip Advisor is currently offering deals for flights from London to Sion Airport from £522pp.
‘The resort sits above the quaint, cute village which is bursting with traditional Swiss charm,’ says Laura.
How much snow? This weekend 24.5cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 29.6cm on Sunday.
Alpe d’Huez, France
The main town sits 1869m above sea level at the centre of the Oisans region in the French Alps. The highest point the resort reaches up to 3,300m.
The resort has something for people at every ability level and is great for skiing and snowboarding. It’s even open and busy during the summer months. Plus there’s an ice-rink, sports centre and outdoor pool.
Alpe d’Huez is closest to Grenoble airport but if you can’t get a flight there, Geneva airport is your next best bet. Flights on British Airways from London to Grenoble are available from £46 one way this month.
How much snow? This weekend 25.5cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 26.1cm on Sunday.
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Travellers heading to Slovenia should consider Kranjska, which has a resort range of 838m.
Klagenfurt Airport is the closest, with it being located just 40 minutes away, but if you’re unable to book flights there, you can consider flying to Trieste Airport in Italy and driving for an hour to the resort.
Tui offers holiday deals to the beautiful mountain town in the Julian Alps starting from £677pp.
How much snow? This weekend, 34.7cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 24.9cm on Sunday.
Les Deux Alpes, France
Located in Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, this gorgeous village sits at 1,650m and lifts run up to 3,600m. It’s the home of the skiable glacier in Europe and is France’s second oldest ski resort behind Chamonix
‘Les Deux Alpes is one of the most reliable areas in the Alps for snow, as it is one of the highest peaks in the area,’ Laura says.
‘This resort is one of the best places to experience the true beauty of the Alps, its verticality means you can link turns on a track starting from the glacier at 3,600m, all the way down to the village of Mont de Lans without using the ski lifts.’
Grenoble Airport is the closest, followed by Chambery and Lyon Airports. It usually takes around two hours to transfer from Grenoble to the resort.
RyanAir offers flights from airports in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol from £14.99 one way for one person. EasyJet also has flights available from £14.99.
How much snow? This weekend 27.7cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday and 24cm on Sunday.
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