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Best Ski Resorts for Intermediates

If you crave the adrenaline rush of a tricky red or a challenging black run, but yearn for the comfort of familiar greens and gentle blues at the end of the day, intermediate ski resorts are your best choice. From French and Austrian intermediate ski resorts with superb après ski to Italian and Swiss ski resorts with incredible scenery. Finding a ski resort that’s just right for your skiing skills can make all the difference to your trip. Here’s our pick of the best ski resorts for intermediates in Europe.

Best French Ski Resorts for Intermediates

La Plagne, France

Located in the Alpine valley of Tarentaise, France, La Plagne is a family-friendly ski resort that offers lots of après-ski activities and accommodation. La Plagne is one of the world’s largest ski resorts and with over 200 intermediate runs together with the Paradiski ski area – which includes Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry – it’s one of the best ski resorts for intermediates. For accommodation, choose between self-catering chalets and apartments or three and four-star hotels.

Stay At:

Club Med La Plagne 2100 offers a contemporary-style hotel with ski-in ski-out access to La Plagne.

La Plagne ski holidays

Best Ski Resorts for Intermediates

Portes du Soleil, France

The Portes du Soleil ski area is composed of 12 resorts over two countries, France and Switzerland, with over 250 slopes and 30 snow parks. Conveniently, you can access all of the resorts with just one pass. There are some excellent intermediate trails that run near Avoriaz, Châtel, Les Gets, and Morzine on the French side, and Les Crosets, Champoussin, and Morgins on the Swiss side. Les Gets is also a great place for the kids – it’s an accredited ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ resort. The first and only national tourism label to approve the facilities and services available to families with children staying in French tourist destinations.

Stay At:

Sitting at 1,800m with ski-in ski-out access, the chic and modern Hotel Les Cimes du Soleil boasts one of the most convenient locations you could ask for.

Avoriaz ski holidays

Best french ski resorts for intermediates

Méribel, France

One of the best French ski resorts for intermediates, Méribel is part of the Three Valleys ski area –  the largest ski area in the world. With over 300 runs, 132 of which are blue, this is one of the best ski resorts for intermediates who’ll find there’s more than enough snow to sink their skis into. The main valleys are Méribel, home to the soaring Mont Du Vallon; Courchevel, where you’ll find stunning Mont Blanc; and Val Thorens, which usually has near-perfect snow conditions thanks to its height. Méribel also has two snow parks if you’re in the mood for freestyle frolics. Accommodation wise, it’s equipped with apartments, chalets and hotel options – many with ski-in, ski-out access.

Stay At:

The Hotel La Chaudanne in Méribel is a comfortable hotel which offers great access to the slopes.

Méribel ski holidays

Best ski resorts for intermediates

Morzine, France

Morzine is a brilliant skiing commune and part of the grand Portes du Soleil ski area, just over an hour from Geneva airport. Out of the rest of the Portes du Soleil ski resorts, Morzine is one of the best French ski resorts for intermediate skiers. There are brilliant modern chairlifts and plenty of wide cruisey slopes to keep you busy over a weekend of skiing.

Stay At:

Hotel La Clef des Champs is a fantastic mountain base for avid skiers looking to spend maximum amounts of time on the slopes exploring the Portes du Soleil ski area.

Morzine ski holidays

Morzine

Courchevel, France

An excellent intermediate resort, Courchevel is part of the massive Three Valleys ski area and a popular spot for a ski weekend. The ski resort is filled with blues and reds. The best intermediate slopes can be found around Saulaire and Courchevel 1650. With access to the Three Valleys, skiers can also take advantage of the entire 600km of great skiing terrain.

Stay At:

Hotel L’Ecrin Blanc is a luxurious ski-in-ski out hotel in Courchevel, with three on-site restaurants.

Courchevel ski holidays

courchevel

Megève, France

Megève is an intermediate skiers dream and one of the best ski resorts for intermediates in France. The slopes are made up of gentle, wide blues and a few tricky reds. They are also tree-lined and extremely scenic. The areas around The Rochebrune and Mont d’Arbois are the best for intermediate skiers. Megève is only an hour from Geneva airport making it a prime short break destination.

Stay At:

The Four Seasons Hotel in Megève is an exceptional five-star hotel with a Michelin star restaurant and spa.

Megève ski holidays

megeve

Chamonix, France

Chamonix is one of Europe’s skiing capitals and the area is well suited to intermediates. Almost 50% of Chamonix’s slopes are blues, with the best areas being around Flégère and Brévent. Chamonix is also in a prime location, only an hour from Geneva airport, making it a popular destination for those looking for a ski weekend.

Stay At:

Chalet Ardoise in Chamonix is a luxurious, bright and spacious chalet.

Chamonix ski holidays

chamonix

Peisey-Vallandry, France

Peisey-Vallandry is an ideal ski resort for intermediates because of the vast amount of red runs to progress on. There is 425km of slopes to explore in the area, with 170km of blues and 166km of reds. Part of the Paradiski area, it has great links to neighbouring ski resorts La Plagne and Les Arcs. There is great access to the lifts from the main village so you don’t have to travel far to ski from your accommodation.

Stay At:

Club Med Peisey-Vallandry offers an all-inclusive package and provides a hassle-free way to enjoy your ski holiday as everything is organised beforehand.

Peisey-Vallandry ski holidays

Peisey-Vallandry

Best Austrian Ski Resorts for Intermediates

Lech, Austria

One of the best Austrian ski resorts for intermediates, Lech is luxurious, exclusive, and packed with powder. Its ‘White Ring’ ski area is composed of a balanced mix of red and blue runs. It’s perfect for intermediate skiers looking for a more leisurely pace. The focus here is on taking in the sights. You can stop off at one of the many cosy Alpine huts for a bubbling beer and wood-fired pizza. Skiing isn’t the only attraction here – food is a major draw for Lech, and for good reason. Some of Austria’s finest cuisine can be sampled at restaurants such as Aurelio’s, which offers mouth-watering modern and traditional dishes and an impressive range of aged brandies.

Stay At:

With its first-class service and top cuisine, the Hotel Arlberg in Lech has excellent reputation.

Lech ski holidays

Lech

St. Anton, Austria

St. Anton is one of the best ski resorts in Austria for intermediates. The ski resort is part of the incredibly varied Arlberg ski area, which is perfect for both intermediate and advanced skiers. St. Anton is also located on a train line and only 90 minutes from Innsbruck airport; making it very convenient for a ski weekend.

Stay At:

The Hotel Arlberg in St. Anton is an excellent four-star hotel with a pool located close to the centre of town.

St. Anton ski holidays

st anton

Best Italian Ski Resorts for Intermediates

Dolomites, Italy

Italy’s appropriately named ‘Pale Mountains’, the Dolomites ski area, has over 1,200km of gleaming, snowy pistes. The best Italian ski resorts for intermediates in the Dolomites are Cortina d’Ampezzo and Alta Badia. All in all, you’ll find a good mix of runs all over the range. The whole of the Dolomite mountain area is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. There’s no better way to experience the sheer beauty of this area than on a pair of skis.

Stay At:

The Hotel de la Poste in Cortina is one of the resort’s oldest and most traditional hotels.

Cortina ski holidays

Dolomites

Courmayeur, Italy

Only an hour and a half from Geneva airport, Courmayeur is the perfect Italian ski resort for intermediate skiers. The ski area has a well-balanced level of difficulty with plenty of blue and red runs. You can look forward to weaving through tree-lined runs and enjoying the spectacular views of Mont Blanc.

Stay At:

Hotel Gran Baita in Courmayeur is just a 10 minute walk away from the fabulous Via Roma in the centre of the resort.

Courmayeur ski holidays

courmayeur

Monterosa, Italy

Named after the second tallest mountain in the Alps, the Monterosa ski area links three valleys: Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna. Home to off-piste skiing, it is popular with both weekenders and powder hounds looking for challenging terrain and fresh lines. The ski area covers 180km of scenic pistes that are usually quiet during the week. Heli-skiing is available for intermediates and experts, which unlocks plenty of terrain further afield. A rustic trio of Italian ski resorts, they have a friendly, unspoilt village feel that awakens on the weekends.

Stay At:

Aethos Monterosa in Champoluc is a contemporary eco-resort, a perfect base for those who are passionate about skiing and the environment.

Champoluc ski holidays

Skiing in Gressoney © Marco Spataro
Skiing in Gressoney © Marco Spataro

Pila, Italy

Above the old Roman town of Aosta, you can take the 20-minute gondola to the slopes. The tree-lined pistes offer pretty runs and powder opportunities within the trees, perfect for intermediates. Those looking for some competition could race their friends against the clock on the timed slalom run. The majority of the slopes are north-facing, and as a result, the snow quality doesn’t deteriorate. Après ski is family-friendly in Pila, and if you are staying in Aosta you have a wealth of restaurants and bars available. Image source: Skiing through the trees in Pila © Paillex

Stay At:

Hotel La Chance in Pila is a beautiful boutique hotel with true Alpine charm and located close to the slopes.

Pila ski holidays

Aosta Valley Ski Resorts

Best Swiss Ski Resorts for Intermediates

Engelberg, Switzerland

Engelberg is a jewel in the Swiss Alps. It is just over an hour from Zurich airport and is a perfect Swiss ski resort for intermediates. There are 82km of slopes with the majority blues and reds. The best runs for intermediates are around Jochstock. Engelberg also has great off-piste areas and is perfect for intermediates wanting to improve their off-piste skiing.

Stay At:

Hotel Kempinski Palace is a luxury escape in Engelberg, with beautiful scenery and skiing.

Engelberg ski holidays

engelberg

Verbier, Switzerland

Part of the massive 4 Valleys ski area, Verbier is a brilliant Swiss ski resort with over 300km of blue and red runs to keep intermediate skiers occupied. The slopes are extremely diverse and impeccably maintained. They will keep even the most seasoned skiers entertained. Verbier is also only a short transfer from Sion, making it great for short breaks.

Stay At:

Situated in the heart of Verbier, the Hotel Vanessa is an ideal spot for an Alpine break.

Verbier ski holidays

verbier

To find out more about the best ski resorts for intermediates in Europe, call our ski experts today on 0207 471 7700.

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