Our flexible ski weekends and midweek short breaks tend to range from 3-5 nights, letting you decide a duration that suits your plans. They’re just the ticket if you can’t take a full week off, but don’t want to completely miss out on the mountains.
By planning early arrival and late departure times and picking a resort with short transfers from the airport or rail station, savvy skiers can squeeze in an extra half day - or even full day - on the slopes. Choose between our short break packages with flights, train or coach travel included to find the best journey for you, or give us a buzz on the number above and we’ll do the searching.
Transfer times vary hugely in the Alps, some taking just over an hour’s drive and others more like three. Picking somewhere with transfers on the shorter end of the scale makes the most of your precious time off by giving you more time on the mountains and less on the road. The resorts in the Portes du Soleil, Grand Massif and Chamonix Valley ski areas are excellent in this department. If you’re travelling a little further (e.g. to the Paradiski area or Espace Killy), opt for accommodation with doorstep skiing and make up your time by being able to ski straight out each morning.
If you’re balancing a budget as well as time, midweek ski breaks often work out cheaper than ski holidays that run over weekends. Flights cost less outside peak times, and as a bonus, the pistes are a lot quieter during the week too. Different mid-week packages depart on different days, with most setting off on Sunday or Monday.
Who said Britain’s favourite ski accommodation was only for week-long stays? Plenty of chalets work with short bookings, and when breakfasts, afternoon teas and suppers with wine come in the overall price, you can focus on skiing and lunchtimes on the mountain. Pair this with a position near the slopes and ski lifts, and you’ve got a fabulously hassle-free few days.
Ranging from 5* lodgings for luxurious mini-breaks to more basic bases, our hotels with short break availability come in every shape and size.
Half board hotels throw in breakfasts and suppers with lodging, giving you more time to spend skiing and less planning where and when you’re eating. To make things even easier, go for an all-inclusive ski weekend which covers all the food and drink you’ll need, and often extras like lift passes and lessons too.
Or if you want to see as much of the resort as possible during your time away, look for a deal with B&B or room-only.
• If you can get away with it, bring just carry-on luggage and save time waiting at the baggage carousel when you could be sipping a hot chocolate on the mountainside instead.
• Book as many of the ‘extras’ as you can in advance: airport parking, lift passes, equipment hire, ski lessons… So it’s all ready and waiting when you reach resort.
• Check the transfer time to the resort you’ve chosen – does it warrant a long journey, or is it worth picking a closer resort to maximise slope time?
• Opt for a midweek break to keep costs down.
When you’ve only a few days to spare, a more superior lodging could be exactly what the doctor ordered. There’s oodles to choose between, from the plushest chalets in the Alps to 4 and 5* hotels with swimming pools, spas and celebrated restaurants. Ensure you spend as much time on the mountain (or in the hot tub) as possible by booking private flights or helicopter transfers.
Even for short breaks, organising a bunch of friends or coachload of colleagues can take a lot of effort. We’ll do the legwork for you – just give us your group size and specs and we’ll come up with the best options to browse, whether it’s a big hotel, sole occupancy chalet or a bundle of nearby apartments. When it comes to getting there, bespoke coach trips can be planned around your needs, we can put together packages flying from different airports or source a private jet to transport everyone in ultimate comfort.
Join a coach trip or book a bespoke coach just for you and your party. Most set off in the evening and arrive in resort the next morning, stopping off at service stations along the way. With spacious seating, TV screens and toilets, the best coaches are kitted out to make your trip as comfy as possible. If you’re the kind of person who can sleep anywhere, you can sleep through the journey and wake up for a full day’s skiing in resort. The bonus of overnight coach journeys is that they give you a whole extra day on the slopes while most other visitors are still travelling.
Having departures from regional airports all over the UK means you can set off close to home, saving travel time at this end. Fly into the airport nearest your chosen resort, and most packages will include a transfer service to meet you in arrivals and whisk you to the mountains. If you can fit all you need in hand luggage, it’ll help make the journey even smoother – seeing you on your way to the mountains while the rest of the plane are still waiting for their baggage.
For the UK skiers, you’ll mostly be looking at France, Austria, Switzerland and Spain (the Pyrenees) for a short ski break or ski weekend. Our short break packages tend to focus on resorts that offer convenience. Ski destinations like Flaine, Morzine and Avoriaz are typically good choices because they have short transfer times that let you maximize your time in resorts.
Yes! Generally, you’ll find it’s not just Saturday and Sunday though. Most places run durations like Thursday-Monday which give you three solid ski days once you’ve factored in travel times.
Try these ski resorts for a ski weekend:
Here are some of the shortest transfers (based on average traffic and weather conditions):
When booked through us, a typical short break will include:
And ski/snowboard hire and lift passes can be added on extra.
Accommodation | Resort | Price (per person) from |
---|---|---|
Hotel Precise Tale Seehof Davos | Davos | £ 913 |
Grand Hotel Belvedere | Wengen | £ 1002 |
Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof | Grindelwald | £ 1050 |
Walliserhof Grand Hotel & Spa | Saas Fee | £ 1150 |
Design Hotel Levi | Levi | £ 1649 |
Le Mirabeau Hotel & Spa | Zermatt | £ 849 |
Hotel Belvedere | Grindelwald | £ 998 |
Hotel Beausite Park and Jungfrau Spa | Wengen | £ 1043 |
Hotel National | Zermatt | £ 1125 |
Hotel Alex | Zermatt | £ 1172 |