00:00Welcome to TravelSmart, the insider's travel guide from Independent TV.
00:04This is a series where we share our takes on the best destinations to visit from around the globe.
00:09With the ski season rapidly approaching, we're looking at the best places to plan a trip to the mountains.
00:16The right resort for you will depend on a variety of factors,
00:20including when you plan to ski, your level of skiing,
00:23and whether you're a solo skier, booking a family trip,
00:26a romantic getaway, or a holiday with a group of friends.
00:37The obvious choice when travelling from the UK is the Alps,
00:41and Europe has a wide range of resorts all within easy reach.
00:45There are lots of ski companies that offer package holidays,
00:48which is often the easiest and most cost-efficient way to travel.
00:52As well as your flights and accommodation,
00:54you can have your ski pass, ski hire, and meals included,
00:57which takes the stress out of planning.
01:02There are plenty of family-friendly resorts where you'll find
01:06excellent ski schools for children, kids' clubs,
01:09and plenty of activities to keep non-skiers and little ones occupied,
01:14like dog sledding, tobogganing, ice skating, and snow tubing.
01:20Families love Meribel and Les Manoirs in France's Three Valleys,
01:25and we would also recommend La Rosière,
01:28which has a great ski area of 152km of linked slopes with La Tuile in Italy.
01:35Val Gardena in the Dolomites has some challenging piste for experienced skiers,
01:40along with excellent restaurants and family-run hotels.
01:44This makes it a great choice for families with mixed abilities and interests.
01:50Also in the Three Valleys is Val Thoren, a high resort with a long season.
01:55It's known as a bit of a party town, with a ton of great options for apres.
01:59And if it's fun when the skis come off your after, here are some brilliant choices.
02:06In St. Anton and Meierhofen in Austria,
02:09you'll be spoilt for choice for bars with DJs and live music,
02:12both on the mountain and in town.
02:15For a high-end ski trip with fine dining and designer shopping,
02:18head to the gorgeous town of Courchevel.
02:21Chamonix is also a fun town with plenty of bars, restaurants and shops,
02:25so you'll be all set for apres.
02:27It's also a top choice for more adventurous skiers who want to go off-piste.
02:31There's no shortage of guides who know the area,
02:33and will be able to help you make the most of off-piste skiing.
02:37It also has miles of backcountry that's perfect for ski touring
02:41and testing your skills in a variety of terrains.
02:44Also in France, Megev is luxe but more low-key,
02:47while over in Austria, San Maritz effortlessly blends snow sports with glamour,
02:52while Lech has a luxe feel with prices that aren't quite so eye-wateringly high.
02:58Speaking of less expensive resorts,
03:00an increasing number of skiers are finding new places
03:03that offer more affordable holidays.
03:09The resorts of Bansko and Borovac in Bulgaria
03:13provide great snow at reasonable prices.
03:16Turkey is also starting to make a name for itself as a ski destination,
03:20thanks to its high mountains and wallet-friendly prices.
03:24Whilst in the Alps, Andorra remains a popular choice for affordable skiing.
03:30While Europe's mountains are of course some of the most popular destinations for a ski holiday,
03:35here's our pick of some of the best in other parts of the world.
03:41Banff in Alberta and Whistler in British Columbia
03:45offer skiing for all levels in Canada,
03:47and they're both great towns for a holiday.
03:50The east coast of the United States offers some opportunities for snow sports,
03:54but if you're going to cross the Atlantic, you might as well head for the Rockies.
03:57Try Aspen, Vail and Brecon Ridge in Colorado,
04:01Park City in Utah or Jackson Hole in Wyoming.
04:05Japan is also surging in popularity as a snow sports destination,
04:09with many suggesting that it has the best powder in the world.
04:13Why not try Chile, where you can discover the wonders of the Andes,
04:16or head to India to explore the backcountry of Gulmarg in Kashmir.
04:22That's it for our ski holidays episode.
04:24Be sure to check in to our next TravelSmart Weekly,
04:27which you can watch onsite on the Independence mobile app or on your smart TV.
04:32And for all the latest travel news, reviews and advice,
04:35be sure to check out independent.co.uk forward slash travel
04:39and listen to Simon Calder's daily podcast.
04:43you
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