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Beginner ski holidays
- Try our 'beginners' filter to find resorts
- Easily add ski lessons & passes
- Beginner ski holiday tips? Give us a call!
Are you planning your first ski holiday? Ace. We can't wait to show you what it's all about! Get ready for exhilaration, lots of fun with friends and family, and views that’ll blow your knee-length socks off.
Looking for some advice? Give us a call. Our super-friendly team (who were all beginners once!) are on hand to guide you every step of the way.
Or, if you're ready to start searching for your first beginner skiing trip right away, use the 'beginner' filter, and we'll only show you beginner-friendly ski holidays suited to newbies.
Where are the best ski holidays for beginners?
- Avoriaz offers some of the best beginner skiing in France, with an expansive ski area, hassle-free ski-in/ski-out accommodation, and excellent nursery slopes well-suited to first-timers.
- Arinsal in Andorra is a great budget-friendly pick for beginners. Its wide, gentle greens and quiet, crowd-free blues are ideal for those seeking a cheap beginner's ski holiday.
- Flaine in France is rated one of the best beginner ski resorts, with free nursery slope lifts and an excellent ski school.
- Trysil in Norway is a great place to learn the basics, with two-thirds of its pistes rated either green or blue.
- Seefeld in Austria is perfect for a ski weekend or short break, offering plenty of beginner-friendly pistes just a 20-minute transfer from Innsbruck airport.
Most Popular Beginner Ski Holidays
Avoriaz, France
If you were to design the perfect beginner's ski holiday in one of the highest and most spectacular areas of the Alps, you’d probably come up with Avoriaz – exactly what they did in 1966. One of our bestsellers, come here for smile-inducing blues, perfect for families and newbies.
Hidden Gem Beginner Ski Holidays
La Massana, Andorra
La Massana is a fantastic beginner's ski resort for families. Home to gentle slopes amid the Pyrenees, this charming mountain village is a quiet alternative to the more lively Arinsal and Pas de la Casa.
FAQs about beginner ski holidays
Your questions answered by our beginner ski holiday expert
Sarah Cramer
Where is best to go skiing for beginners?
Arinsal in Andorra, Avoriaz, and Alpe d'Huez in France are excellent resorts for beginners, offering wide, gentle slopes, dedicated beginner areas, and numerous fantastic ski schools. For more great beginner ski resort recommendations, check out our blog here.
When is best to ski for beginners?
Typically, you can save money by going in the quiet seasons, such as:
- Early December, before Christmas and New Years
- January on the whole (before February half term)
- Late March and April, when the season is quietening down
But if you're looking for reasons to go other times, including with kids, then look instead at:
- Enjoying the magic of Christmas or New Year's Eve on the slopes - something that has to be experienced to be believed!
- Aiming for the heavier snowfall dumps in the February half term (to hopefully experience a true powder ski holiday!)
How many days should I go skiing as a beginner?
However many you want. If you have a full week, book yourself some ski lessons and enjoy learning the ropes while trying other non-ski activities on the mountain such as ice skating, sledding, winter hiking, and swimming. Alternatively, if you've only got a weekend free, book a ski weekend trip and enjoy a couple of days of lessons and practice.
Am I able to book beginners ski lessons with Heidi?
Yes. For many resorts, you can book beginner ski lessons with Heidi directly through the website. However, if you have any questions or can't find the ski lesson information, please get in touch with our team directly. We'll be happy to help you find the answers you need regarding lessons.
How many ski lessons should I book for a first ski holiday?
The number varies from person to person and your budget. Many people will be content with completing a block of group lessons and applying their learning to the slopes at their own pace. Other people might want to pay for more private one-to-one lessons (to fast-track their route), but this isn't necessary; it's more a nice-to-do.
No matter what you're thinking, the Heidi team is always on hand to help you with any questions you have, either before booking or after. Just get in touch and we'll always be happy to help.
Is the ski pass and hire included in the price?
No. After choosing your resort, accommodation, and flights, you can then opt to add ski passes and ski hire during checkout.
Because Heidi is all about flexibility, we don't want to assume what people require for their holiday.
However, it's extremely easy to add ski passes and ski hire to your ski holiday booking (or even after you've booked, in case you're unsure at the time). Ski passes, equipment, and even lessons (if available) can be booked on the Extras Page (when booking your holiday) or the My Booking page (after booking).
The price will also vary for many reasons, ranging from the resort you're visiting, to the part of the ski season you holiday in (for example, in many resorts, early and late season is often cheaper than peak season around February / March time)
Still have some questions? Don't worry, we're here for you! Just get in touch with our expert team today.
What is the cheapest way to try out skiing for beginners?
If you've never skied or snowboarded before, then it makes sense that you wouldn't want to commit a lot of money to a brand-new hobby (even if we're confident you'll fall in love with it!). And naturally, some resorts and countries are more cost-effective than others.
For example, in Andorra and Bulgaria, the ski pass and equipment hire is a lot cheaper. You'll also find that you can get a lot more value for money with the accommodation as well. The icing on the cake is that you can find smaller and quieter resorts or those in more affordable countries, such as Andorra and Bulgaria, which offer lower costs for essentials like food, drink, and evening activities, meaning you won't break the bank while enjoying yourself post-skiing.
Finally, you can choose to go on a shorter ski break as a taster to snow holidays, rather than forking out for a full week on the slopes. This gives you the time to fall in love with it, but at a much lower cost than a full week's holiday.
How do I know if a resort is good for beginners?
All resorts have beginner-friendly areas within their skiable area, but some resorts are better for first-timers than others. The best way to check is to visit our resort-specific pages (accessible through the website navigation) and see if we label them as suitable for beginners. You can then explore the table showing the volume of beginner-friendly runs. It also helps to check out the 'piste map', so you can get an idea of where these skiable areas are located in the resort.
When it comes to 'pistes' (the groomed runs that you ski and snowboard on down the mountain), France and Spain mark their easiest runs as green, with blue being the next 'level' up in terms of difficulty. Whereas most other countries mark their easiest runs as blue, and then red is the next 'level' up.
However, if this feels overwhelming in any way, don't worry! We're here to help - get in touch with our team today for the best answers to your questions.
As a beginner, do I need to choose a resort that has a big ski area?
No. While the opportunity to take a beginner ski holiday and traverse the land while gliding across the snow can seem like a dream to many, it's often the dream of overambitious beginners and can lead to disappointment. The last thing you want is to end up paying for a huge ski pass that you barely get a chance to use!
On a beginner ski holiday, you'll naturally be starting out on more gentle terrain and beginner runs, and until you build a level of confidence and skill, you'll be best staying in these areas of resorts.
And there's a big advantage to this! - As a beginner, you can target both smaller and quieter resorts, which are often substantially cheaper than their bigger brothers and sisters. So play it smart, and spend your first skiing trips learning somewhere comfortable and more affordable. For more help choosing your resort, check out our blog on the best beginner ski resorts here.
Need some help knowing where's good for beginners? Our expert team is always on hand to help - get in touch today.
Are ski-in / ski-out accommodations worth booking for beginners?
Yes, depending on the resort, your accommodation, and how comfortable you think you'll be with getting around the resort.
While many hotels are ski-in and ski-out, some accommodations may be beside an intermediate slope that doesn't suit your ability. And at the end of a long day, with weary legs, it's often nicer not to put yourself through the challenge that it may be.
Focusing on ski-in / ski-out properties will also limit the available options, both in terms of price and location. You may find that the accommodation is a bit further from the town and other activities or is more expensive. So, by being flexible with a short walk to the slopes, you open up vastly more options to yourself.
But when it's all said and done, nothing beats being able to ski right into the boot room of your accommodation (and then quickly onto your room's sofa!)
Is skiing hard to learn for beginners?
It can be challenging, but that's part of the fun! Learning to ski and snowboard can take time and effort, but many beginners find they can confidently ski on beginner slopes after just a few lessons.
Will I ski every day on my ski holiday?
Only if you want to! The most important thing is not over-pushing yourself. The last thing you want to do is tire yourself out and not have the stamina for the rest of your trip. So please take it as it comes and focus on enjoying yourself most of all!
And choose one of the many amazing resorts that cater to non-skiing activities. You'll have countless other things to do, from heading to high-altitude viewing points to ice skating and even swimming in the many high-altitude swimming pools (who says you shouldn't treat yourself to a hot tub while on holiday!)
Are 'nursery slopes' free to use?
Yes, they can be! Some resorts have areas specially designated for beginners to ski in. And with that, many resorts have free 'magic carpets' or chairlifts, which don't require a ski pass to use. They take people to the top of the beginner areas, making it easy to do laps while you learn the ropes. The only thing you'll need to get is the ski or snowboard equipment.
If you have any questions on resorts that have these free-ski areas, then feel free to get in touch, we're always happy to help!
Does it get cold on the mountain?
- If the resort is south-facing vs. north-facing.
- If the resort is in a valley as opposed to being located nearer the peak of the mountain.
- If the resort is more exposed to wind or not.
If you're concerned about the cold or unsure if your gear is good enough, then there's no harm in looking at going later in the season, such as March or April, when temperatures are usually warmer (but be aware, weather is unpredictable, so you may sometimes be blessed by a cold dump of snow randomly at various points on your trip!)
What do I need to wear for a ski holiday?
It's a great question - we've got everything you need to know about what to wear on your skiing trip all in our expert-written blog
Can I hire ski clothing in the resort?
Another great question - owning your gear can be expensive, and while not everyone does, some people opt to rent for their first skiing holiday.
If you're unsure if you can rent clothing in the resort you're thinking of resort, then give us a quick call and we'll be happy to help get the answer for you!
See our ski holiday reviews
Why book a beginner ski holiday with Heidi?
Blogs about Beginner Ski Holidays
How to save money on a ski holiday
Skiing on a budget? Just trying to get the best value from your holiday? Follow our top tips for saving money on your ski trip...
Sarah Cramer
8 Aug, 2025
1 min read
The best ski resorts for beginners
Wondering where to book your first ski trip? Leave it to us! Here are our best recommendations for the top beginner ski resorts in Europe.
Sarah Cramer
9 May, 2025
1 min read
Our pick of the best après ski resorts
From dancing on tables to Euro-pop classics to relaxing beers on a sunny terrace with mint mountain views, this is the best après ski in Europe.
Sarah Cramer
9 May, 2025
1 min read
All flight-inclusive holidays sold on Heidi are fully financially protected under the ATOL scheme (ATOL 11456)