Photo: Nickphotos 

Spending your Christmas holidays in a European ski resort can be an unforgettable experience; just imagine the sun setting behind snowy mountains, a warm chalet with a fireplace and lit candles, a good French dinner with red wine and children waiting for Santa Claus to bring Christmas presents. Christmas vacation in a ski resort is definitely a great experience for a skiing family, but also singles, young couples and retired people can spend a lovely Christmas holiday at a ski resort.

At Homeboy Ski we have skied all the European countries and most of the well-known European ski resorts. We selected the 5 best ski resorts for Christmas travellers. The most interesting ski resorts are found in Switzerland, but France, Italy and Austria also provide unforgettable moments for Christmas skiers.

Zermatt - Lovely alpine village beneath the massive Matterhorn

Photo: Maurice Koop

The first time I entered Zermatt was a bit different, because I came over the mountains with two friends. We skied the classic Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. As we skied down the glacier during sunset, I paused to look over the valley. I had never seen such a beautiful place! With Matterhorn on our right we continued skiing down to the carfree village of Zermatt, which is surrounded by over 30 peaks more than 4000 meters high.

In addition to breathtaking scenery, Zermatt features nearly everything one can ask for. It has 100 runs equipped with 74 lifts provide skiing for all skill levels, while a high altitude (1620 - 3820 meters) guarantees good snow conditions. Zermatt village consists of luxury hotels, shopping, fine dining and lively after-ski. Spectacular mountain scenery combined with alpine museums, stylish boutiques and horse-drawn sleigh rides guarantee a unique Christmas experience.

St. Moritz - Filled with luxury and style

Photo: Webdevil666

If you prefer luxury and style, consider skiing in the truly cosmopolitan atmosphere in St. Moritz. Located at 1856 meters above sea level, St. Moritz offers something you cannot get at average ski resorts. It features unique activities such as horse-riding on ice, ice-golf, and cricket and polo tournaments, to mention a few.

Over 200 runs and 56 ski lifts offer good skiing for beginners, intermediate and family skiers, but skiing in St. Moritz is not the main point. In St. Moritz you can easily spot a handful of your favorite celebrities and stars enjoying the lively after-ski. St. Moritz is a true winter wonderland!

Gstaad - Pure glamour, unadulterated luxury and excellent service

Photo: Speculando

There are few total luxury ski resorts in Europe, and among these Gstaad reigns. Gstaad, the glamorous ski resort in eastern Switzerland, is known for being the winter playground of international stars and celebrities. Like Zermatt, Gstaad is also completely pedestrianised. You won't see cars on the streets; only horse-drawn sleighs glide by the lovely boutiques.

The breathtaking mountains surrounding Gstaad provide more than 80 runs equipped with 66 lifts. Gstaad ski resort is best for beginners, intermediate and family skiers, but there are also a few black runs for those seeking challenges. As the sun sets behind the mountains, the wide selection of after-ski activities buzzes to life. Nightlife in Gstaad is not wild, but not sedate either. Because Gstaad is known for its luxury, visitors must be prepared for a bit higher prices than at other resorts.

St. Anton - The pearl of Austrian ski resorts

Photo: Daniel.Kelpe

St. Anton is a classic. This famous Austrian ski resort draws loads of skiers from all over the world. This is no wonder, because 134 runs equipped with 83 lifts in this snowy paradise provide skiing for all possible skill levels and tastes, from powder hunting to mogul skiing and from new school riding to relaxed family skiing. In addition to its versatile skiing opportunities, St. Anton features a cosmopolitan atmosphere with dozens of activities, such as tennis, ice skating, swimming and paragliding.

Although St. Anton is truly a family skiing paradise, it also provides the wildest after-ski in all of Europe. St. Anton's is known the world over for its after-ski, which begins at lunch time and continues through the evening and into the night. It is so legendary that every skier should experience it at least once in a lifetime.

La Clusaz - Charming and pretty old Savoyard village

Photo: Nicephore

If St. Anton is the party resort and Gstaad the celebrity paradise, La Clusaz is something entirely different. This charming little French village is one of the most beautiful places to ski at Christmas time. La Clusaz is less well-known, so it's a perfect place to enjoy a peaceful and quiet Christmas. Nonetheless, it is still quite a large ski resort, with 80 runs and 55 lifts spread over a large geographical area. In addition to good skiing, La Clusaz features parks, pipes, gaps and rails for freestyle and new school riders.

Nightlife in La Clusaz is much more peaceful than in St. Anton, for example, but it is not completely nonexistent either. La Clusaz has a few excellent restaurants serving delicious French meals, as well as a few pubs and bars in which to enjoy a drink after a long day of skiing. La Clusaz  also offers other activities, such as paragliding, ice skating, a cinema and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

Go further: Read Thomas Uhrskovs portrait of Sainte Foy and click here to find out more about skiing in Zermatt.

"This is my boyfriend Mike. He is a skibum and is going skiing in Chamonix this season", said my childhood friend Tina as she introduced me to her new boyfriend. The year was 1996 and I had recently moved to Helsinki.. I grew up in northern Finland and I was an active skier. For years I read Powder magazine and watched my idol Seth Morrison skiing in films, but I never had experienced anything similar. I wanted to ride the mountains as well, but I was a newbie and I didn't know where to start. When I was introduced to this radical-looking skibum Mike, I knew my chance had come. "Now or never", I thought.

Skibum living                                                                                                                     Photo: Per.Edin

Only three months later I took the bus from Geneva airport to Chamonix village. I was going to spend my first season at Chamonix ski resort. I was sooo excited. I knew Mike was already there, but at that time he wasn't my close friend. I also knew that there are about 30-50 other Finnish seasonnaires living in small but tight groups of skibums. There was only one way to get to the backcountries, and it was with other Finns. I knew I must break into the tight gang of Finnish skibums. I felt like I was going to a party without an invitation, but it was no problem for me, because I get along with people easily.

Skiing all the classic off-piste routes of Chamonix

Photo: Speedywithchicken

It took me a few days to make friendships and start skiing with other Finns and a few British and Swedish skiers. During the first 10 days I skied all the runs in the Chamonix ski area and that felt really good compared to Finnish ski resorts. Finally the guys asked me if I wanted to join their trip to the legendary E.N.S.A. couloir, which is a pretty easy off-piste run in the Le Brevent ski area in Chamonix. It went well, and during the next couple of weeks we explored many interesting easy-to-access couloirs, such as Poubelle of L'Aiguille du Midi, Poubelle of Gran Montets, Glacier du Ronde, Pas du Chevre, Couloir Rectiligne and Couloir des Cosmiques. During snowfall we went to ski the forests of Flegere, Argentiere and Plan D'Aiguille, or simply enjoyed beer while watching big mountain riding on a wide screen at a local pub. It was great. So great.

After my first season as skibum Chamonix I was already deep in the tiny powder-hunting culture and society of Finnish skiers. All I was interested in was skiing big mountains. Even in summer time I went mountain biking with other skiers, and guess what the main topic of our discussions was? Skiing, Chamonix and the upcoming ski season. Summers were actually nothing but preparation for the next ski season.

Skiing the mountains and exploring new cultures

Photo: Jmlasalsa

During the next few years I spent my ski seasons in France, Norway and Finland. I skied +100 days every year from November to May. Together with my friends we skied fabulous off-piste runs, large powder fields and glaciers and interesting forests. We expanded our playground to cover other ski resorts such as Zermatt and Verbier in Switzerland as well as the Aosta valley in Italy. Sometimes we went ice and rock climbing as well as mountain biking,or just visited nearby cities such as Grenoble and Annecy. Personally I loved to walk around the cities, enjoy good coffee and observe people and French culture.

I took pictures in order to preserve those moments. Those years were fantastic and they form a big part of my life. It was not all about skiing. In fact, the very best thing of all those years is the friendships. It was a great privilege to meet all those great and inspiring guys with whom I shared so many mind-blowing experiences.

Skiing with my little termites

Photo: Dannisullivan

Then it all changed again. I met my lovely wife and we now have four children. At the same time I started studying at the Helsinki University and working at a technology firm. I realized I am too busy with studies, work and family to continue as a seasonnaire anymore. I had to quit skibumming. Years went by and I found myself spinning the same hamster wheel as other suits. I got stressed but I persisted because I am strongly goal-oriented.

A couple of years ago I decided to show our oldest son what skiing in the Alps is all about. I didn't even think about different ski resorts as choices, so we went to Chamonix. For some reason it was obvious for me to bring our son to Chamonix. After a hiatus of many years I was back there, and I felt the same excitement and enthusiasm as before. I didn't enter the backcountries with our 12-year-old son, but we explored the pistes of Le Brevent, Flegere and Gran Montets. It was great to see that our son loves speed as much as I do, and we skied very fast together. Oh boy, we had a lot of fun.

The circle is closing. After eight years of a 9-to-5 job I had had enough of the hamster wheel. I founded my own company with a handful of friends. Now we focus on building our own business based on things we really like. Economical growth is important, but there is one primary goal and driving force in our endeavour. It's the freedom to ski whenever we want. We are all skiers willing to go back to the playground. Although building a business can be hard sometimes, it feels good to be back doing what we really love. See you on the powder fields!

Go further: If winter seems light-years away then find out about a good place in the Alps to go for pre-season skiing and what it is like going skiing in Chile in July.    

For some people winter isn’t long enough to fulfill their addiction for skiing or snowboarding. A few years ago I was so busy at work that I could only manage one week skiing in the Alps in early March. That week was spent in springtime conditions, skiing piles of heavy slush. Needless to say, in May I found myself searching intensively for southern hemisphere topographic maps and such…

Photo: Antti Zetterberg

After a few meetings with a couple friends, we decided that South America was the best bet for summer skiing and powder snow. There are some summer skiing possibilities in Europe too, but generally speaking you must head to the glaciers and stick to the relatively limited skiing they offer. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just doesn’t compare to real winter conditions.

At first the obvious choice seemed to be to hit the biggest resorts in the High Andes near the capital of Chile, Santiago de Chile, resorts like Valle Nevado or Portillo. Or, alternatively, we could choose the Argentine side of the Andes and the resort of Las Lenas. However, we consulted with a Finnish snowboarder friend of ours who had been travelling to Chile for years for summertime training. We ended up with superb hints for a “secret spot” in the south: a relatively small resort called Termas del Chillan.

The Skiing Conditions in Chile

Photo: Antti Zetterberg

The weather in Chile can vary a lot. The resorts located completely above the tree line are worthless when the massive storms hit. This is the case with high Andean resorts. While they have the highest and largest terrain, visitors can miss many valuable days because of low visibility and storms.

Luckily Chile is a long country. Some five hundred kilometers to the south, the mountains get a bit lower and rounder, but at the same time the snow level starts at the significantly lower altitudes. This all means tree skiing lower in the mountains when the snow clouds come rolling in.

For us this logic worked really well: the two first days at the resort were spent skiing spring-like slush snow, but after that it started raining heavily in the valley for couple of days, which turned into a nice, light snow even at the lower mountain. All in all it snowed some 10 days in a row with only small pauses. We got about a meter of fresh powder – for a fanatic skier like me nothing beats floating, deep turns in the middle of July!

The Ski Resort Termas de Chillan

Photo: Antti Zetterberg

Termas de Chillan kind of puts a spell on you. I don’t know if it is the trees (weird ones for a Scandinavian), the smell in the air (I have honestly never felt the air so fresh anywhere else), the luxurious powder we had, or the people, who are warm hearted and friendly. Or the odd ski bum travelers we met suddenly, with whom that faraway feeling made us feel like immediate friends. Or perhaps it was the Andean Condors flying above when we were on the chair lift…

As a resort, Termas de Chillan might not be in the same league with the biggest and most famous ski resorts around the world. However, if the conditions are right the terrain just screams pure, unadulterated fun. You are not skiing high mountain couloirs found in places like Chamonix but nice mellow bowls, natural half pipes and other natural formations. This is the kind of skiing I like the most. I’ve had my share of steep couloirs and while that is a totally different form of skiing, I’ve always liked a more variable, forgiving terrain more. I am no Eric Pollard but the terrain in Termas de Chillan lets you imagine you can ski like the guys in the movies.

The condors themselves are one reason to travel that far. Patagonia is also relatively close, although in the winter (northern hemisphere summer) travel possibilities to it are extremely limited.

A very filling Chilean after-skiing meal                                                    Photo: Antti Zetterberg

Here is a carbon footprint hint: if you like to compensate for the environmental impact of flying or are just uncomfortable driving in foreign countries, then we recommend the local long distance buses. They are relatively comfy, cheap and seem to have a wide network of lines. We did not hire a car in Chile and the busses served us well.

All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend Chile, a beautiful, interesting country with lots of activities and very friendly people.

Go further: Read more about skiing in stormy conditions and find out about Wagrain's secret oasis.

Photo: Kashmir

A few years ago I spent two very interesting seasons guiding skiers in Jasna, Slovakia. I worked for a Finnish travel company called Elamysmatkat.com. Altogether, I spent about 11 weeks in Slovakia. In this article I will tell you about my experiences skiing at Jasna Ski Resort, Slovakia.

The western part of the Carpathian Mountains, Tatra, is most likely one of the least known Central European mountain ranges. However, the peaks in the Tatra Mountains are the highest ones between the Alps and the Caucasus. The nature in the area is also very unique. The phrases “the smallest big mountains in the world” or “the miniature Alps” are often used to describe these peaks.

The Jasna Ski Resort in Slovakia is actually located a bit south from the main Tatra Ridge, known as the High Tatras, in a slightly smaller mountain range called the Low Tatras. I use the term Tatra when talking about the Low Tatras as well. There are some differences between the areas but the overall feel is pretty much the same (for a skier at least).

Why go skiing in Slovakia?

You might ask why one would go to Slovakia for skiing? To be honest, it doesn’t fully compare to the bigger mountain ranges if you only look at the cold facts. But there are factors that still make the trip worthwhile: the relatively low price level, unique nature, and the rich culture. And, of course, the nice snow. The amounts of it might vary a lot from year to year, though. But the fact that from the Tatras there’s about a thousand-kilometer distance to any sea coast can make for a very dry and enjoyable, so-called “inland” snow (also found in places like Colorado, USA). This was one of the most pleasant surprises that Slovakia offered me.

In addition, it’s often pretty cold in the Tatras, a fact that I love. Yes, I love cold, true winter and the light snow it offers. In my book, skiing the trees in a snowstorm while the snow just fluffs everywhere is as good as it gets.

Jasna Ski Resort

Photo: Andrijbulba

Jasna Ski Resort is the most developed one in Slovakia. It has vertical meters of about 1100 meters (~3300 feet) and a modern lift system with four-person Doppelmayer lifts. The new Poma lift offers rides to the top of the Chopok Mountain, linking two previously separated ski resorts, Chopok-South and Chopok-North. This gives the skier in Jasna Ski Resort a lot more options as e.g. the snow situation can vary significantly between the two sides of the mountain (mainly due to prevailing wind direction).

If you want to get good groomed, on-piste skiing, get up early and head for the first lifts. Especially during the high season (the first three weeks in February), the lift lines can be long. My favorite trail is the FIS GS Slope from Rovna Hola to Zahradky, which is great for long and fast GS-type turns. Too bad Zahradky is also clearly the most crowded down station. So, getting there early is essential for good turns on a freshly groomed slope.

Jasna ski resort has several marked free-ride zones. Other parts of the ridge belong to the national park and are protected. Generally, the whole Tatra and Fatra (nearby smaller mountain range) are declared natural reservations.

The top lift basically allows you to get on the Low Tatra (Nizke Tatry) ridge and hike horizontally along the ridge – giving plenty of possibilities for nice backcountry skiing on both sides of the ridge in Jasna ski resort. North facing aspect even has some really steep (~50 degrees) relatively short chutes/couloirs of about 250 meters or 700~800 feet of vertical. Beware of the snow conditions and rocks though! The south side offers mellower and longer descents, often in a more “corn” type of snow, given its aspect towards the sun. The marked freeride zones offer plenty to explore, but if you want to ski out of bounds it is only allowed with a certified mountain guide.

Accommodation

Jasna ski resort has no clear village, just hotels located quite randomly near the ski lifts and/or along the beautiful Demanovska Dolina valley. When I was guiding at the Jasna ski resort we stayed at the relatively cheap Mikulasska Chata, near Otupne lift station.

By the way, ”Chata” means “hut”/”cottage” in Slovak but can basically be anything from a real mountain hut to a motel level accommodation. “Hotels” on the other hand are the ones with bars, lounges, restaurant, swimming pool; one could say anything with the status “Hotel” is pretty high class in Slovakia.

Jasna ski resort has a small number of very high standard hotels, e.g. Tri Studnicky, Hotel Grand. On the other hand, Hotel Sverma (this is for those of you looking the original seventies “Eastern Bloc” feel!) Hotel Liptov and Hotel Junior are clearly at a lower level, although they are cheaper too. The biggest hotels are owned by the same company that runs the lifts, so you can get valuable packages “all included” (accommodation, food, lift tickets). Anyway, prices are on the rise, and it is recommended to check out the smaller hotels/hostels for even better prices and offers.

Dining and night life

Photo: Orsinka

All the hotels offer standard western food (comparable to what is available in e.g. Austria/Germany). The price level is very reasonable too. Hotel Tri Studnicky is the most expensive but also very gourmet. Local game like deer and wild boar were my favorite dishes.

On the slopes a very good option is to head for Koliesko. It has the cheapest (and the most greasy!) slope-side restaurant food I’ve ever had, and a very cosy atmosphere. For dining and just taking it easy, Bar Peklo along Mikulasska Chata is recommended, with nice smaller or larger snacks, good food, and a polite staff. This was the favorite hang out for Finns in the early evenings. By the way, “Peklo” means “Hell” in Slovak…no wonder this was the place for Finns!

For even more options, head for the town called Liptovsky Mikulas down the valley. Busses commute regularly through the day between Jasna resort and the town. Also, taking a cab won’t drive you into bankruptcy.

The night clubs at the Hotels are the place to go in the evenings. Back in 2003 and 2004, Junior Hotel and Hotel Grand had the best crowds and even some nice DJs and theme parties now and then. The town of Liptovsky Mikulas is also a place to check out, and it is a good place to meet locals. The vibe there is mellower and surely something different from your typical ski resorts. In addition, there are even more cheap, great restaurants where you can eat really well. 

Oh and how could I forget? The local beer is good and cheap. Some say Czech beer is a lot better but I didn’t complain. Be very aware of the local poisons Borovicka and Slivovica; hangovers can be furious.

Other attractions

Photo: Kashmir

If you want to take a day or two off from skiing, or if the snow conditions are bad, there are plenty of cultural and physical activities you can engage in.
You can, for example, relax your body in one of the many spas found in the area. This is a very popular après ski activity. There is anything from family-type spa centers to open-air natural spas. I recommend the latter for an authentic feel. The town of Besenová has an open-air spa center. It is a pretty cool feeling to bathe in hot thermal water in cold winter air, under the stars and the nearby dark mountain peaks.

In the winter, walking the forest on a pair of snowshoes would be a viable option for an easier snow activity. Paragliding is also hugely popular among the locals, and they offer so-called tandem flights for the bravehearted.

Demanovksa Dolina, just a few kilometers down from Jasna Resort, has the most beautiful and popular stalactite cave in all of Slovakia. There are old towns with medieval castles and museums of all kinds virtually everywhere. The Old Town of nearby Banska Bystrica, and the cities Poprad, Kosice and Zilina are worth a visit. It is not a long way to the capital, Bratislava, either. Some of my clients even did one-day or two-day trips to Budapest, Hungary, or Vienna, Austria. In eastern central Europe the distances are not huge – you have plenty of options for exploring!

Go further: Read Thomas Uhrskovs portrait of Sainte Foy and find out why he dislikes extreme sports so much. 

Photo: Ptrktn

How about skiing in Finland? Imagine skiing in deep silence on a cold winter day, surrounded by snowy hills in the wilderness? How about enjoying a tasty meal made of reindeer while the light of an open fire flickers outside your cottage? How about going to a hot smoke sauna, then swimming in a hole cut in the ice-covered lake, and sleeping in an igloo? All this is possible in Finland, far away from all the hustle and bustle of metropolitan cities. 

Finland provides ski experiences you won't get anywhere else. Although Finnish ski resorts are much smaller than those in Central Europe, skiing in Finland can be a unique and different experience. Perhaps this is the reason why every year thousands of skiers England, Germany, Japan, Russia and elsewhere travel to Finland.

Five best ski resorts in Finland

There are several dozen ski resorts in Finland, but only a few are worth visiting from abroad. In this article, I will introduce you to the five best ski resorts in Finland.

Pyhä - Ski resort where Finnish ski bums and seasonnaires meet

Photo: Anttrouh

I was born in the middle of Lapland, in a small village north of the Arctic Circle. I learned to ski at six years of age, and I went skiing almost every single weekend at my "home hill", Pyhä ski resort. In 1997 I went skiing abroad. I skied many interesting resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland, but every spring I returned back to my "home hill" Pyhä ski resort because it was the place to meet all the other ski bums and die-hard skiers.

Pyhä ski resort is like Jackson Hole, but again a lot smaller. Pyhä ski resort is known for providing the most challenging runs and backcountries in Finland, and that's the reason why ski bums meet there. Pyhä is pretty small, but it also offers many other winter activities. After-ski in Pyhä is fairly mellow. There are a couple of nice restaurants where skiers meet after a long day of skiing. If you are looking for good slopes and genuine Finnish backcountries, Pyhä ski resort is the place for you.

Saariselkä - Peaceful and charming ski resort for families and older skiers

Photo: YoungRobV

Finland is a northern country with 5 million inhabitants. Almost all the people live in the southern part of the country. The farther north you go, the less people you meet. Saariselkä ski resort is located quite high above the Arctic Circle, and it is one of the most silent ski resorts in Finland. Alpine skiing in Saariselkä is not the main point, but the relaxing silence and nature is. Saariselkä is good for families and older people, because in addition to a number of fairly easy slopes, the resort also features a spa and other wellness services.

Saariselkä ski resort is where Sami people live. When you spend your holidays at Saariselkä ski resort, you can experience the unique and exotic culture of Sami people. You can even see street signs written in both Sami and Finnish languages. After-ski in Saariselkä is pretty quiet, leaving plenty of opportunity to enjoy the silence of the northern wilderness.

Ylläs - Biggest Finnish ski resort with longest runs

Photo: Ristok

Just like Saariselkä, Ylläs ski resort is located far to the north in Finland, but more on the western edge of the country. Ylläs is one of the biggest ski resorts in Finland. In addition to the longest runs in Finland, Ylläs also provides many other winter and snow activities. Ylläs is located near Levi and Kittilä airport, so accessing Ylläs is very easy.

From an after-ski point of view, Ylläs ski resort is also pretty quiet, at least in comparison to the neighboring Levi ski resort. Ylläs provides fine dining and a couple of bars, but "party animals" usually stay away from Ylläs. If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing place to ski and enjoy nature, check out Ylläs ski resort in Finland.

Pallas - Unique place to enjoy the silence of the wilderness

Photo: Blog20

The last Finnish ski resort in this list is totally different from the others. Pallas is a very unique ski resort, almost a well-kept secret. Pallas has only a few runs and a couple of lifts as well as one hotel and restaurant. Pallas ski resort is very quiet and peaceful, so those looking for wild after-ski should point their skis toward Levi ski resort.

The best thing in Pallas is the almost palpable silence. During the darkest time (January) you can feel the wild nature around you, hear the Willow Grouse and see big groups of reindeers. Pallas ski resort is one of the best places for sky watching and observing the northern lights. Pallas can provide you an unforgettable experience. Check out Pallas ski resort for a completely different skiing holiday.

Levi - The most versatile ski resort in Finland

Photo: Kaimp

Levi ski resort in Finland is like a miniature version of Les Trois Vallees in France. Levi is the most versatile Finnish ski resort in that it not only provides excellent skiing in different forms, but also other winter activities, such as snow mobile safaris, reindeer safaris, winter fishing, horseback riding and arctic rally driving.

Levi ski resort features 44 runs and 28 lifts, quality hotels, luxury cottages and a spa. After-ski in Levi is pretty wild, so prepare to stay up late with all the other party animals. Levi ski resort is easy to access because of the nearby airport in Kittilä. Having a car in Levi makes it easy to get around, so consider renting a car beforehand.

Go further: Read Thomas Uhrskovs portrait of Sainte Foy and click here to read about storming skiing in St. Anton.