5 Reasons You Should Trade Sand for Snow Next Vacay

By Camille Poire | BLOG

Sep 28
5 Reasons You Should Trade Sand for Snow Next Vacay

When you stop to think about it, which elements of the typical beach holiday do you really love? Is it the hot sun that seems to warm your body and soul from the outside in? The soft, silky sand that caresses your toes? The cool, crystalline waters that feel as warm and welcoming as a bath? 

Granted, these attractions are pretty awesome, but a snow sports holiday can be equally good. Many resorts enjoy sunshine despite their cold climates, skiing and snowboarding are exhilarating, and the apres-ski culture is a special social scene that is very friendly and inclusive.

If you’re not yet convinced, here are 5 reasons you should trade sand for snow next vacay. 

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Skiing is fun

What could be more enjoyable than strapping a couple of wooden planks to your feet, grabbing some sticks, and swooshing down a mountain at high speed? The very concept of skiing is pretty wild, which is what makes it such fabulous fun!

It's also a great form of exercise and a perfect way to spend time out in nature, breathing fresh mountain air and enjoying epic landscapes. Nothing is more satisfying than the 'good tiredness' you feel when you regain the warmth of your chalet after a few hours on the slopes, ready for a comforting meal and a glass of mulled wine or hot cider!

Snowboarding is also fantastic

snowboarding

If you prefer to have both feet on one board, snowboarding is just as exciting as skiing! When snowboarding inventor Sherm Poppen fastened a pair of skis together in 1965 to create an impromptu board he called a ‘snurfer’ (a hybrid of ‘snow’ and ‘surf’) little did he know that it would develop into a global sport.

Since then, snowboarding has won over surfers, skateboarders, and other amateurs of strong sensation, and has become the cool alternative to skiing. If you’ve never tried carving up the slopes on a board, you’ll love it!

You can admire stunning scenery

Whether you’re gazing up at the Mont Blanc from the Chamonix Valley or staring at Mount Sneffels in Colorado, the scenery in and around ski resorts is ravishing. And it’s not restricted to snow-capped mountain views either: you’ll find rushing streams, powerful waterfalls, and serene forests too.

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To add a touch of magic to your stay, some ski resorts even have gorgeous natural hot springs where you can relax your sore muscles in a fairytale-like setting after a day on the slopes. When you’re holidaying in some of the highest parts of the planet, there’s panoramic scenery aplenty.

You can gorge on fab food

The food on offer in any quality ski resort is usually of a very high standard. But if haute cuisine in particular is your bag, it’s hard to beat the French resorts  ̶  Courchevel alone has a mind-boggling seven Michelin-starred restaurants, meaning that you can have a different award-winning meal every day of the week! Skiing holidays in France with Erna Low can be customised so that you’re staying near fine restaurants as well as the slopes, if slaking your thirst and satisfying your appetite are priorities.

eating fondue

More casually, a stay in a winter resort is also your chance to indulge in typical mountain dishes like fondue, raclette, and other cheese specialties. They may not be the lightest foods, but they're scrumptious - and anyway, you do need some fuel to tackle the slopes and fight off the cold, right?!

You can enjoy a range of exciting off-slope activities

There will be days during a snow sports holiday when you need a little downtime to relax, unwind, and bond with friends and family away from the pistes. Luckily, most ski resorts have a range of alternative activities, like cinemas, spas, ice rinks, ice grottos, toboggan runs, snowshoe walks, and husky dog sleigh rides. 

Don’t forget the apres-ski culture either  ̶  as guests return from their daily snowy activities, many head out into town later for drinks, dancing, live music and more. 


Conclusion

And voila! We hope these top five reasons you should swap sand for snow for your next vacay left you as tempted as we are to book a snow holiday this winter. When you want a healthy holiday in a beautiful setting, a ski vacation is always worth considering!

Are you more of a beach or snow sports lover? Do you have a favorite ski resort? Let us know in a comment below!

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About the Author

Hey, I'm Camille! I'm a 30-something "ex-French" girl turned world explorer. In 2013, I quit my life to travel the world - and I haven’t stopped since! I have lived in the UK, South Korea, Thailand, and Colombia, and have visited 50+ countries as a location-independent travel writer and affiliate marketer. I like sleeping in hammocks, riding scooters, eating all the foods, and scaring my mother trying adventure sports! I now share this journey with my nomadic boyfriend Mr B, with whom I recently bought a home base in the mountains of Bansko, Bulgaria.

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