The views from excessive within the French Alps are mesmerizing, as is the snow itself, which gently crunches and grips your skis as you carve into it.
That is the great thing about snowboarding in Europe: Epic surroundings and nice situations are complemented by scrumptious meals and welcoming lodges — all at a price that many skiers would contemplate far more reasonably priced than what a visit units vacationers again in america.
And main ski manufacturers are noticing. This 12 months, the Ikon Move added 5 new mountains inside the Valle d’Aosta area of the Italian Alps, together with the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl, increasing entry it already provided to resorts in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland and the small nation of Andorra within the jap Pyrenees mountains. Equally, the Indy Move added greater than a dozen new European resorts, together with in Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Slovenia and past.
Vail Resorts additionally added a handful of Austrian mountains to its Epic Move for the 2025-2026 season. The corporate offers limitless entry to 2 resorts in Switzerland and provides as much as per week at a number of others all through Switzerland, Italy, France and Austria.
“The dynamics of the ski trade in Europe are actually completely different than in North America, and as we increase our presence there, we’re targeted on listening and studying because it pertains to all elements of the visitor expertise,” Laura Bonfiglio, the director of worldwide media relations for Vail Resorts, advised TPG. “The pricing mannequin in Europe is at the moment completely different. That stated, the great thing about Epic Move is that it makes it simpler to ski and experience near dwelling and take a dream journey overseas.”
Here’s what vacationers must find out about planning a ski journey to Europe, from securing carry tickets and reserving lodges to which airports to fly into and the cool perks skiers can anticipate alongside the best way.
Associated: Why it may be cheaper to fly overseas to ski
What to find out about carry tickets
Snowboarding in Europe is in the end cheaper than just about anyplace in North America, and that is largely due to the price of carry tickets. Multiresort passes just like the Epic Move, Ikon Move, Indy Move and the Mountain Collective supply entry to numerous resorts throughout fashionable mountains like Italy’s Dolomiti Superski, Switzerland’s St. Moritz and Crans-Montana, France’s Chamonix and extra.
These passes can price upward of $1,000 for the season and might make quite a lot of sense in case you plan to ski for a number of days or at a number of places within the U.S. or overseas. However whereas every day carry passes at fashionable West Coast mountains could set you again a number of hundred {dollars}, it is lots cheaper in Europe.
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A one-day carry move at Tignes and Val d’Isere in France, for instance, begins at simply 75 euros ($88) within the winter season for adults, whereas a one-day move to Les 3 Vallees, which payments itself as the most important ski space on this planet, prices simply 81.80 euros ($96) — nonetheless coming in at lower than $100. Switzerland tends to be a bit costlier, however day passes at Zermatt, for instance, nonetheless begin at 88 Swiss francs ($110).
Leases are additionally cheaper. In Val d’Isere, for instance, at a number of retailers vacationers can hire skis and boots for about 50 euros ($59).
Past Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland, vacationers may plan ski journeys to a number of different European nations, together with Finland, Norway and Georgia.
The place to remain
There are many nice lodges throughout Europe’s ski resorts the place loyal vacationers can earn and redeem factors.
Marriott Bonvoy members ought to contemplate a keep on the W Verbier. The property options 123 rooms and suites, every with its personal hearth, simply steps from the Swiss ski resort. Charges for the property begin at $1,403 or 162,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening for a keep in January.
Followers of IHG One Rewards can indulge at Six Senses Crans-Montana, which boasts ski-in, ski-out entry and a mountain-chic aesthetic full with pure supplies like quartzite stone, native larch and oak woods and slate roofs. Rooms begin at $1,476 or 221,000 IHG One Rewards factors per evening for a keep in January, and are a part of The Edit by Chase Journey, which provides perks like every day breakfast, a property credit score and room upgrades.
Whereas each of these are expensive money charges, in case you use factors, you are getting a stable deal primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations of Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards factors.
In Switzerland, vacationers can e-book properties just like the Me and All Lodge Flims utilizing World of Hyatt factors. The resort, which provides ski-in, ski-out entry and a moody trendy design, is a Class 5 property. Charges in January begin at $304 or 23,000 factors per evening.
Hilton Honors followers will admire the comforts and comfort of the Hilton Backyard Inn Davos in Davos, Switzerland. Rooms there embody balconies with views of the Alps, whereas the resort includes a wellness space full with a sauna and steam bathtub for the proper post-ski restoration. Charges begin at $213 or 60,000 factors per evening for a keep in January.
Vacationers who hate to plan all of the little particulars and like to simply e-book the whole lot as a bundle ought to contemplate Membership Med, which operates an abundance of all-inclusive ski resorts throughout the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. A keep at these properties sometimes consists of carry tickets, group ski classes, youngsters classes and programming, and — after all — all meals and drinks (as a result of what would a day on the slopes be with out apres?).
Associated: 9 greatest locations on this planet for apres ski
Finest airports to fly into
Understanding the place to fly in Europe for a ski journey relies upon largely on which resort you will and the way far you’re keen to drive.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is good for accessing lots of the hottest ski resorts within the Swiss Alps by automotive or prepare, reminiscent of Engelberg, Titlis and Andermatt. Switzerland’s Geneva Airport (GVA) is best for lots of the resorts within the French Alps, together with Megeve and Chamonix.
Vacationers may attain lots of France’s prime ski resorts from Lyon. Chamonix and Val Thorens, for instance, are every lower than a three-hour drive from Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS).
Skiers can fly into Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to move to the Italian Alps and the Dolomites, however are higher off with a automotive or bus for these resorts. Most of the greatest Austrian mountains — like Kitzbuhel and Mayrhofen — are accessible by flying into Munich Airport (MUC).
However it’s simpler to succeed in others, like St. Anton am Arlberg, from the smaller Innsbruck Airport (INN), which serves carriers like Austrian Airways, British Airways, EasyJet, Finnair, Icelandair, Lufthansa and extra.
Upgraded tech
There are many gondolas and high-speed lifts throughout the U.S., however Europe takes that to the following stage. Carry tickets could also be cheaper, however European resorts are investing in cool know-how positive to impress any skier.
In Switzerland, for instance, you will discover the Titlis Rotair, a gondola that rotates 360 levels when you ascend over snowy mountains and deep crevasses. And in France, you’ll be able to board the Vanoise Categorical, a two-level cable automotive that transports as much as 200 folks directly between La Plagne and Les Arcs.
There are additionally shifting sidewalks that deliver skiers from the carry line on to the chair, making loading right into a carry simpler.
Backside line
Snowboarding in Europe is a novel expertise with attractive high-alpine views, wonderful meals (howdy, fondue and raclette) and unimaginable runs. Most significantly, it tends to be cheaper than heading to resorts within the U.S., making it simpler to plan a trip for much less. Vacationers may discover loads of nice factors and miles redemptions obtainable at a number of the greatest resorts in Europe and might simply get there by flying into main airports throughout the continent.
