What’s life like back in the ski resorts?
It’s been a long time since most Britons last heard the crunch
of fresh corduroy beneath their feet, a pristine piste laid out in front of them. But as the season reaches its peak, on the
slopes of Europe and North America it is almost business as usual and the unfiltered joy of being on a ski holiday
remains untainted. Masks aren’t required when
skiing, and, around resorts, establishments are lifting their
shutters with glee. There is plenty to keep skiers entertained, fed and watered. Away
from the slopes, spas, swimming pools and shops are open
and restaurants and cafés are back taking reservations, with
many now also branching out into takeaway. New activities,
from zip-lining to yoga, promise to keep everyone entertained in the fresh air. Après-ski is back too, albeit
muted, with table service replacing dancing on tables – but that hasn’t dampened the
atmosphere among snowstarved skiers. Top tips for ski
holidays in 2022 include having a stock of masks in your backpack, and to carry a portable phone charger in case
the cold zaps your battery and
leaves you unable to access your digital health pass. In all
other respects, the basics of going on a ski holiday haven’t changed. And there is further reason to celebrate. According to the recent Post Office Travel
Money’s Ski Resort Report, prices for essentials such as
lessons, equipment and lift passes have fallen on average since 2019 in most of the resorts
surveyed. Costs continue to vary hugely between destinations – a week of lunches on the
mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland, will still set you back four times as much as it would in
Borovets, Bulgaria – but it proves that the mountains are once again open to all, whatever your budget or ability.