See in 2013 on the slopes

Posted on - Mon 1st October 2012

See in 2013 on the slopes

Don’t want to be away for Christmas, but do want to get to the slopes for your ski holidays over the festive period? The obvious solution is to take a New Year skiing trip. How better to see in 2013 than with fresh powder under your feet?

Taking a skiing break at New Year rather than at Christmas means you can still see all your family and friends over the festive period and make the most of the break from work. Go with friends and enjoy a big NY party in the snow, or take the kids and let them experience the magic of celebrating the festivities in the mountains. Ski resorts tend to make the most of Christmas and NY with decorations galore and plenty of party atmosphere.
But where to choose for your New Year ski holidays? That depends on whether you want to party hard with friends or relax with the kids. Most ski hotels will put on some kind of show for the big night, but check out what other fun there is to be had in the resort. Check the snow record too – a New Year spent in a lower altitude resort might not be quite as white as you’d hoped.

Here are a few suggestions of the resorts and hotels you could choose for a New Year break.

Families

If you don’t mind the longer flight, many North American resorts are fantastic for family NY skiing. Banff in Canada has the long season you need to guarantee good December snow, while it also has a great range of family-friendly entertainment, including ice-skating and dog-sledding. The choice of restaurants in town is excellent, though if you stay at the five-star Fairmont Banff Springs, you might not need to visit them. There are 12 restaurants, cafes and bars on-site, as well as a pool and spa with mineral baths, all of which is sure to keep everyone in the family happy!

If you’d rather stay closer to home, have a look at the Zurserhof-Zurs in the upmarket Austrian resort of Lech. Staying there at any time of year is a fabulous experience, with black-tie dinners and plenty of pampering. An on-site kindergarten means you can let your hair down a little knowing the kids are being safely looked after.

Groups

If you plan to travel with friends and want to hit the tiles, look for ski hotels in resorts with a bit of a party scene. Val d’Isere has long been a favourite with British skiers, and its energetic nightlife and friendly feel is part of the reason why. On New Year’s Eve, the place buzzes. Consider staying in the Kandahar – right on the main strip, and with its own pub downstairs. Mayrhofen in Austria is another resort famous for its nightlife, including the annual Snowbombing festival in April, so it’s no surprise the bars and clubs are rocking for New Year celebrations. Rather than looking at ski hotels in the resort, why not get a big group together and stay at the 43 bed Chalet Stoanerhof, with its own bar, to yourselves?