The Courchevel 1850 resort in France is one of the best ski resorts in the world if you happen to be a beginner. Yes, we were all beginners once, and no one knows better than the Courchevel 1850 resort, that if you get the beginners right, the intermediates and advanced will follow. With over 50% of all runs dedicated specifically to beginners, it is a haven for those learning to ski, or looking to refine their skills and expertise whilst on vacation.

Rumoured to be the most expensive resort on the French Alps, this isn’t strictly the truth. You can find really good deals if you know where to look, and there are really good discounts for group bookings, although you get what you pay for, so don’t expect a cheap vacation. Courchevel is part of the Three Valleys resorts, and itself is divided into four distinct areas from the bottom to the top: 1300, 1550, 1650, and 1850. In general, the further up you go, the more expensive your trip is likely to be, so it is wise to consider going slightly further down, where you can still find some amazing skiing, both off piste and cross country, as well as some great downhill runs. With an astonishing 65 ski lifts across the resort, the Courchevel is an enormous skiing resort, and attracts a wide variety of tourists from across Europe, and indeed the world.

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When it comes to skiing and winter sports, Europe has more than its fair share of amazing resorts. From the greatly priced, to the more than reasonable, Europe has it all, and has so much to offer any skier. If you’ve never been to Europe on a skiing holiday, or if you’re looking to expand your experience, you’ll find something that catches your eye without too much research, and you might just end up joining the legions of skiing fans that wouldn’t go anywhere else in the world for their vacation.

On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection. From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, you’ve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from. France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation. With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip. Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip. From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europe’s film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europe’s finest skiing country. With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.

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Skiing in Kopaonik, Serbia is becoming a growing trend for skiers looking to move away from the commercial skiing facilities of Central and Northern Europe in search of more naturally occurring skiing trails. With a snow range of 1770-2017 metres and a village positioned 5,000 feet above sea level Kopeonik in Serbia is seen as the answer to many skiers’ dreams. With a three hour journey from the nearest airport Kopaonik is surely worth the effort, having cross-country skiing, night skiing, skydiving, sleigh rides, ice-skating, indoor tennis and many other activities for the winter sports enthusiast to enjoy.

The mountain climbs 35,000 feet into the cold Serbian sky, whilst ski lifts only climb to 6,617 feet. The skiing facility is yet to host a major skiing event; despite being home to several international snowboarding competitions and cross-country skiing as well. The living quarters are apt for pricing that would delight the weariest of tourists. Skiers can experience national cuisine such as Burek (pastry, cheese, spinach) and Pljeskavica (grilled mince) for well under $10 a meal. The old favorites such as burger, chips and pizza are still on the menu, and the price of $1.50 a beer might delight some holiday makers looking to do slightly more than just ski! The living area can handle over 5,000 tourists at the same time, whilst the bars and clubs around the area make the holiday destination more suited to the younger holiday-maker. Another issue that is quite prominent is the mistake that many make in travelling to Kopaonik to celebrate Christmas – the celebrations are of slight comparison to western culture, despite its labelling as a winter heaven.

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LAAX in Switzerland stands over 30 000 feet high, with skiing and snowboarding facilities that suit everyone’s needs – from beginners to world champions. LAAX has hosted all the big events in snowboarding and skiing, welcoming thousands of tourists from around the globe each week. LAAX was one of the first major skiing locations to get on the map, when in the 70s skiing holidays started to rise in popularity for western travelers – LAAX was right their, waiting to ride the wave. Millions of visitors later, LAAX are renowned for their 3rd slalom known only as “Death Mountain” by some. With glaring views down the steep, tangling mountain-side it is no wonder “Death Mountain” scares even the most resilient of skier.

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Around a year ago, I went on a skiing vacation to France and had a great time by all accounts. The best part was that I went with all my friends, all of which had varied abilities, but were all eager to give it a go. Some of my friends compete in competitions and the like, whilst others have only been on the slopes a few times in their life. The fact is that we were all really looking forward to it, and we were all sure to enjoy ourselves whilst we were away. Unfortunately, we don’t spend much time together, as we all go to different colleges, whilst others are trying to make it through the rat race.

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The world famous Big White resort in Canada is home to some of the nation’s greatest skiing. Renowned for its high quality snow, and simply breathtaking scenery, Big White is an ideal resort for skiers of any age or ability. In the shadow of the Monashee Mountains, the Big White is a world class ski resort, with a reputation to back it up. With over 20 feet of fresh snowfall every year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Big White was unpleasant climate wise – more often than not, the sun is shining, the ski is fresh, and everyone can have a great time.

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The Pyrenees Mountains are located across the border between France and Spain. Also on this border is the tiny principality of Andorra, as small country that’s skiing crazy! With two prominent world class ski resorts, Andorra is an excellent place to escape it all; a relaxing, picturesque, quaint place, with mountain views to take your breath away. And because it is so near France, you can always make a stop off in Andorra for a day or two on another European ski break.

Andorra is situated itself across the Pyrenees, and has a long and protracted dalliance with snow sports. Since the installation of their first ski lift in 1956, Andorra has been a great ski resort, and a great vacation for the hundreds of thousands of ski tourists who have wisely chosen to visit. For minimal fee, you can experience the wonder of skiing in Andorra, and enjoy the surprising depth of culture Andorra holds so dear.

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The world famous home of skiing, Austria, is an ideal resort for anyone who enjoys skiing. The fresh alpine slopes, combined with picture-postcard scenery, and a grand culture of centuries old make Austria an ideal holiday destination, whether or not you simply adore skiing like me!

Austria is home to a wide variety of ski resorts, catering for all abilities and tastes. From the lavishly expensive to the bargain basement (yet still of a consistently high quality), Austria has it all, from the highest peaks, to the snowiest landscapes, and with a bit of research you can find some really great deals.

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Aviemore is based in the highlands of Scotland, with impressive mountain views, and surrounded by country-side it stands 26,000 feet above rural farmland. The area is renowned for skiing, having recently had 2 European Level Competitions on its snowy peaks in the last two months. The ski resorts success, with professional skiing has also lead to success with tourists, having 12,000 people hitting the slopes each month. These massive numbers are also attributed to snowboarding, with boarding specific slaloms on one side of the mountains.

Aviemore recently commissioned a $4 Million state of the art ski lift that can travel up to 25 miles per hour, withstand winds in excess of 110 miles per hour, and has a total weight of 450 tonnes. The amazing structure travels over 15 miles and is certainly an amazing sight for any avid skier. Aviemore’s tourist based facilities are also highly impressive with 900 square feet, and a verging patio area that looks down the 26,000 feet mountain face.

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Ok, so I know Bulgaria isn’t likely to be the first place that springs to mind when you think about a skiing vacation. However, you’d be surprised to learn that Bulgaria is becoming an increasingly popular destination of choice for holiday makers across Europe, and the world. A new breed of European country, Bulgaria is beginning to build towards becoming an industrialised, metropolitan nation. The eastern European nation has a surprising depth of history and culture, and is truly an excellent place to discover. With this national growth comes the development of its inherent passion for skiing, and this is evident across the country, with various ski resorts springing up all over the place.

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