There’s no time like the present to start planning your next skiing holiday, especially as early booking can give you a substantial saving. These days, a charming dilemma exists between choosing European slopes for some traditional alpine skiing, or crossing the pond to experience the great skiing which the Rockies has to offer. To aid the decision making process, detailed below are a few key factors to consider when deciding whether to opt for a few days in Chamonix or journey to Aspen in pursuit of the ultimate skiing destination.
An important consideration is travel time. UK based skiers are only a few hours from the majority of European Alpine resorts. Particularly if a combination of fly/drive or fly/train transportation methods are utilised, travellers can depart early in the morning from a UK port and be skiing by the afternoon. Obviously travel to the Rockies takes far longer and may well involve two flights or more. For short holidays, a visa is not required for a UK citizen to visit the USA (just an EU passport) and all European Alpine destinations are accessible with an EU (UK) passport. Medical costs in Europe can be covered by acquiring an E111 card. Covering the cost of emergency medical treatment in America is more complicated and appropriate insurance is recommended in addition to ski travel insurance.
Whilst European time is an hour ahead of that in the UK, in the Rockies the time is about seven hours behind that at Greenwich. This can cause particular problems with jet lag and unsettled body clocks for vulnerable individuals. If you are planning on skiing for a week or more, then the Rockies is an attractive prospect. For shorter trips or for individuals who do not adapt well to changing time zones, a European resort may well be more suitable.
In terms of the type and quality of skiing available, picking the right resort at the right time of year will be most likely to give you what you want. Both continents offer a fantastic range of terrain, scenery and opportunities for boarding and cross country skiing as well as more traditional downhill skiing. The Rockies can boast drier, more powdery snow for longer periods than the Alps, but this is by no means a given and the Alps generally provides superb snow in season. Essentially, it is important to be clear what type of skiing you want and pick a resort accordingly.
Seasoned ski enthusiasts may argue that Alpine ski resorts have greater atmosphere and offer a more traditional skiing experience. The more celebrated resorts, for example Zermatt, Grindelwald and St. Moritz have all developed from old alpine villages, so benefit from traditional architecture and customs. In comparison, established American resorts offer nearly a century of history, as well as a very high standard of modern accommodation and premium health and fitness facilities.
With the exception of travelling time, both Alpine Europe and the Rockies offer a similar skiing experience in terms of quality and enjoyment. The traditions and customs vary from country to country, but these differences add to the unique and special memories which each holiday brings.
About The Author
Greg is an editor for the travel blog Travelling Tan where he likes to write everything from travel to lifestyle. Join him there for more great pieces.
An important consideration is travel time. UK based skiers are only a few hours from the majority of European Alpine resorts. Particularly if a combination of fly/drive or fly/train transportation methods are utilised, travellers can depart early in the morning from a UK port and be skiing by the afternoon. Obviously travel to the Rockies takes far longer and may well involve two flights or more. For short holidays, a visa is not required for a UK citizen to visit the USA (just an EU passport) and all European Alpine destinations are accessible with an EU (UK) passport. Medical costs in Europe can be covered by acquiring an E111 card. Covering the cost of emergency medical treatment in America is more complicated and appropriate insurance is recommended in addition to ski travel insurance.
Whilst European time is an hour ahead of that in the UK, in the Rockies the time is about seven hours behind that at Greenwich. This can cause particular problems with jet lag and unsettled body clocks for vulnerable individuals. If you are planning on skiing for a week or more, then the Rockies is an attractive prospect. For shorter trips or for individuals who do not adapt well to changing time zones, a European resort may well be more suitable.
In terms of the type and quality of skiing available, picking the right resort at the right time of year will be most likely to give you what you want. Both continents offer a fantastic range of terrain, scenery and opportunities for boarding and cross country skiing as well as more traditional downhill skiing. The Rockies can boast drier, more powdery snow for longer periods than the Alps, but this is by no means a given and the Alps generally provides superb snow in season. Essentially, it is important to be clear what type of skiing you want and pick a resort accordingly.
Seasoned ski enthusiasts may argue that Alpine ski resorts have greater atmosphere and offer a more traditional skiing experience. The more celebrated resorts, for example Zermatt, Grindelwald and St. Moritz have all developed from old alpine villages, so benefit from traditional architecture and customs. In comparison, established American resorts offer nearly a century of history, as well as a very high standard of modern accommodation and premium health and fitness facilities.
With the exception of travelling time, both Alpine Europe and the Rockies offer a similar skiing experience in terms of quality and enjoyment. The traditions and customs vary from country to country, but these differences add to the unique and special memories which each holiday brings.
About The Author
Greg is an editor for the travel blog Travelling Tan where he likes to write everything from travel to lifestyle. Join him there for more great pieces.
