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 motels — all at a value that many skiers would contemplate rather more reasonably priced than what a visit units vacationers again in the USA.
And main ski manufacturers are noticing. This yr, the Ikon Cross added 5 new mountains throughout 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 japanese Pyrenees mountains. Equally, the Indy Cross 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 Cross for the 2025-2026 season. The corporate gives limitless entry to 2 resorts in Switzerland and provides as much as every week at a number of others all through Switzerland, Italy, France and Austria.
“The dynamics of the ski business in Europe are actually totally different than in North America, and as we increase our presence there, we’re centered on listening and studying because it pertains to all points of the visitor expertise,” Laura Bonfiglio, the director of world media relations for Vail Resorts, informed TPG. “The pricing mannequin in Europe is at present totally different. That mentioned, the great thing about Epic Cross 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 raise tickets and reserving motels 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 raise tickets
Snowboarding in Europe is finally cheaper than just about anyplace in North America, and that is largely due to the price of raise tickets. Multiresort passes just like the Epic Cross, Ikon Cross, Indy Cross 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 may make a variety 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 each day raise passes at fashionable West Coast mountains might set you again a number of hundred {dollars}, it is lots cheaper in Europe.
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A one-day raise 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 biggest ski space on this planet, prices simply 81.80 euros ($96) — nonetheless coming in at lower than $100. Switzerland tends to be a bit dearer, 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 lease skis and boots for about 50 euros ($59).
Past Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland, vacationers also can plan ski journeys to a number of different European nations, together with Finland, Norway and Georgia.
The place to remain
There are many nice motels 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 fire, simply steps from the Swiss ski resort. Charges for the property begin at $1,403 or 162,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time 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 night time for a keep in January, and are a part of The Edit by Chase Journey, which provides perks like each day breakfast, a property credit score and room upgrades.
Whereas each of these are dear 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 ebook 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 fashionable design, is a Class 5 property. Charges in January begin at $304 or 23,000 factors per night time.
Hilton Honors followers will admire the comforts and comfort of the Hilton Backyard Inn Davos in Davos, Switzerland. Rooms there embrace balconies with views of the Alps, whereas the resort encompasses a wellness space full with a sauna and steam tub for the right post-ski restoration. Charges begin at $213 or 60,000 factors per night time for a keep in January.
Vacationers who hate to plan all of the little particulars and like to simply ebook all the things as a package deal 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 raise tickets, group ski classes, youngsters classes and programming, and — in fact — 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
Realizing the place to fly in Europe for a ski journey relies upon largely on which resort you’ll and the way far you’re prepared to drive.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is good for accessing most of the hottest ski resorts within the Swiss Alps by automobile or prepare, similar to Engelberg, Titlis and Andermatt. Switzerland’s Geneva Airport (GVA) is healthier for most of the resorts within the French Alps, together with Megeve and Chamonix.
Vacationers also can attain a lot of France’s high 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 go to the Italian Alps and the Dolomites, however are higher off with a automobile 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 achieve 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 degree. Carry tickets could also be cheaper, however European resorts are investing in cool expertise certain to impress any skier.
In Switzerland, for instance, you may discover the Titlis Rotair, a gondola that rotates 360 levels whilst you ascend over snowy mountains and deep crevasses. And in France, you’ll be able to board the Vanoise Specific, a two-level cable automobile that transports as much as 200 folks directly between La Plagne and Les Arcs.
There are additionally transferring sidewalks that convey skiers from the raise line on to the chair, making loading right into a raise simpler.
Backside line
Snowboarding in Europe is a novel expertise with beautiful high-alpine views, superb meals (hiya, 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 also can discover loads of nice factors and miles redemptions out there at a few of the greatest resorts in Europe and may simply get there by flying into main airports throughout the continent.
