Don't Snowball with Our Guide to Your First Ski Holiday
So you’ve decided to take the plunge (poor choice of words?) and you’re embarking on your first ski trip. With summer drawing to a close and ski season just shy of commencing, it’s probably a good idea to start considering your checklist now and make sure you've got everything you need.
Luckily for you, the My Favourite Voucher Codes team have thought of everything and brushed up a guide to help you smooth out all those lumps and bumps on the pistes – that's tracks to you ski novice folk.
From ensuring you've packed everything you need to tips only a well versed skier might know. Find out all you need to know, including preparation at home and dining between the peaks. We've got you covered. Now all you need to do is remain vertical.
How to Prepare for a Ski Holiday Before You Go
Although there are the usual aspects you should consider when going on any kind of holiday. For instance, money exchange, travel insurance (we'll get onto that later) and airport parking (Purple Parking voucher codes can get you great rates, just FYI), what we're actually talking about is the mental and physical preparation.
Skiing will be a real challenge, no matter your natural born talent, so why not:
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Visit your local indoor slopes to get an idea of what your body will be asking of you when hurtling down the snowy mountains.
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Get in the gym. It may be a holiday, but that doesn't take away from the fact skiing is an extreme sport and you're going to need to up your fitness.
Our exercise check list is:
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Deep lunges and split squats with added weights for your quads
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Clam exercises for your hip muscles
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Jump from side to side onto a step to work on propelling your body
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Ensure you're still doing cardio to keep your heart and lungs fit and healthy
As mentioned before, travel insurance is key. Whilst you should never go to another country without being covered, it's especially true when going on holiday to take part in extreme sports. Skiing and snowboarding are perfect examples and therefore your policy must be appropriate. Don't try and scrimp on costs; it's of the utmost importance you declare all holiday activities so that you're prepared in the event of an accident.
What to Book for Your Trip on the Slopes
There's no denying ski holidays can be expensive. You'll likely be looking to save where you can when booking your holiday wherever you choose to go. Our recommendation would be to book into a chalet rather than self-catering accommodation. Although initially it may seem like the more expensive choice, you'll usually find the cost weighs up to about the same with chalet packages also including your flights and airport transfers.
Booking with holiday Crystal Ski promo codes means that you can choose between the two. Self-catering resorts average at £375, whereas an all-inclusive package settles at around £550 per person. Although there's a significant price difference, it's easy to see how the cost of food and other necessities, as well as actually getting there can add up. Flights alone could cost anywhere between £100-200 depending on your destination.
- By booking into a chalet, you'll also reap the benefits of having resort managers as your best guide to the slopes, as well as advice from the staff. Really, it sells itself.
- You may even find you get a good deal on ski schools and lift passes, which are two things you should strongly consider booking as first timers.
When it comes to lift passes, there are usually a variety giving you limited access to the different pistes depending on your level of ability. Hold your horses on forking out for a full pass. If you're attending ski school, you likely won't need it and you may even find you get a lovely discount on passes when enrolling at the school.
Tip: Ski school should be high on your priorities. Even if you're going skiing with a group who know what they're doing, their promises of teaching you will fall short when they inevitably grow bored of the easy slopes. Save yourself the embarrassment of nose diving when joining the big boys and get off on the right foot... or ski.
Your Essential Ski Packing List
When it comes to packing, there's a lot of equipment essential for skiing. As well as keeping you warm, it'll also act as your armour against any tumbles you're more than likely to take. Sorry, but let's just be realistic.
Slope Appropriate Clothing
There are plenty of retailers that offer the essentials you'll need, including Blacks discount codes that have incredible savings of at least 25% off and a huge range for passionate skiers. Find jackets, trousers, boots and accessories for men, women and children. Really, it's a family affair.
If there's one thing you should invest in, it's your gloves. Everyone knows a good time in the snow is often spoiled the moment your hands get too cold and start to sting. Shop trusted brands like The North Face or Berghaus at Blacks. These Etip Gloves from The North Face, now with 25% off, even allow you to use your smartphone. Quiksilver discount vouchers can also get you a fantastic snow range with many of their gloves coming in edgy designs.
Get Equipped to Ski
Tip: When it comes to buying clothing and especially equipment, try not to. Apart from your gloves, of course. Borrow where you can and hire equipment like skis or a snowboard when you're out there. You may find once you've had a go that snow sports just aren't for you and you don't want to have wasted hundreds of pounds on equipment you'll never use again. You might even find equipment is a part of your chalet package anyway.
Other Ski Trip Must-Haves
And what about those other items you might not think to take?
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We promise we'll stop being such pessmisits in your abilities, but it's a good idea to take a well stocked first aid kit, including sport supports, deep heat, blister pads and chap stick. You'll thank us later when you learn the meaning of second day aches.
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Sunscreen. Sure, you may not be lazing on a beach, but the sun is still out there and you could get some pretty nasty burns. Just think about the whiteness of snow and its reflecting abilities.
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And for goodness sake, don't forget your swimwear! You may not be diving head first into a mountain of snow, but you might just be warming up your chilly bones in a hot tub. Seriously, don't forget your swimwear!
For much of the My Favourite Voucher Codes team, the hot tub at the end of the day is the most appealing aspect of skiing for us. That, and wrapping up warm for winter.
Posted By: Alice Marshall - My Favourite Voucher Codes - 29th August 2018