Tips on planning a weekend ski break

If there’s some good snow forecast, followed by lovely sunny weather, now is the time to book. You don’t have to plan miles in advance to enjoy a weekend away on the slopes – there are plenty of last-minute ski weekend deals for luxury ski weekends, and all-inclusive ski weekends, just decide how much you want to organise yourself, which country you’d like to visit and go for it

Book to stay in a ski area close to an airport. By doing this, if you take a Friday or Monday off work (or both!) you can minimise travel time and maximise slope time. Club Med's Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon Resort on the Plateau des Saix, for example, is just 60 minutes from Geneva airport. It sometimes helps to fly to a smaller airport, such as Chambery, France, where you can be skiing in Peisey-Vallandry just 90 minutes after landing. If you’re going fancy a longer ski weekend though, you might find cheaper prices in areas a little further away such as Pragelato Sestriere, Italy. It may be a two-hour transfer but all worth the effort when you get there.

Hire equipment and do your research on the journey: equipment is an expensive hassle to transport and if you’re really clever you could travel with just your hand luggage on a European ski weekend, making the most of cheap flight deals with budget airlines such as Easy Jet and Ryan Air If you’ve already studied the piste map and researched the mountain restaurants on your journey, you’ll be ahead of the game by the time you get on the slopes. Pre-book your ski hire and ski pass and with any luck they’ll be waiting for you when you arrive in the resort.

Maximise your time on the slopes – if you’re only out for a ski weekend, get up early and catch the first lift. A top trick is to ski all morning, all the way through traditional lunchtime, then stop for a tasty mountain lunch around 2pm. That way you’ll ski while everyone else is eating (fewer queues on lifts, less crowded runs) and get faster service in the restaurant when you finally sit down. Plus, if you decide to indulge in a glass of wine it doesn’t matter if you only ski one or two runs in the afternoon!

If you need to take ski or snowboard lessons, it can be better value to take a half-day private lesson rather than book in for several days, one-on-one attention from an instructor will offer faster improvement than ski school, plus it allows you to have time off to enjoy with your holiday companions.

Experience the ultimate in convenience with Club Med’s all-inclusive skiing holidays. Our all-inclusive packages are designed to make your ski trip seamless and enjoyable, covering everything from accommodation and gourmet dining to lift passes and ski lessons. With our world-class resorts located in some of the most renowned ski destinations across the globe, you’ll have access to pristine slopes, breathtaking mountain views, and a variety of winter activities tailored for all skill levels.