With fireworks exploding over star-lit skies, the festive clink of hot mulled wine or Champagne glasses, and outdoor adventure among friends and family, the Alps are a wonderful place to celebrate New Year on the snow. If you’re looking to ring in the New Year in style, there’s a lot to consider, so read on and check out our selection of New Year ski holidays below.
Celebrate the New Year in the Alps
There are many different ways to enjoy New Year in the Alps, and ski resorts lay on all kinds of festive treats for their visitors. Family-friendly event schedules include music concerts, torch-lit descents, and more, while for thirsty après skiers, live DJs and bands keep visitors entertained in lively bars and nightclubs across the Alps. When midnight strikes, everyone wraps up against the cold Alpine air to watch fireworks exploding over the snowy mountain peaks.
Early booking ensures the best ski deals for New Year on the snow
Demand is high for New Year in the Alps, and booking early is one of the best ways to help ensure you get the best value for money. Ski holiday prices are higher than normal, but there are still plenty of plenty of reasons to be an early bird.
In the low-season, tour operators and chalet companies offer lower prices on their chalets and hotels compared to the run-up to the New Year. With this in mind, you can enjoy better prices, bigger group discounts and better value for money by placing your booking in advance.
Ski schools and childcare facilities like nurseries have more availability for those booking ahead of time, and you’ll have an easier job finding the tuition or childcare programmes to match your group’s needs.
On the travel side of things, booking your New Year ski holiday in advance means you can choose from a wider range of transport options. You’ll find more flights from the airport(s) of most interest – often with lower prices – as well as cheaper early-booking fares on the ski train.
The best Alpine destinations for unforgettable New Year celebrations
What’s your priority, traditional Alpine charm or high-altitude ski access? Thankfully, you don’t always have to compromise – and early-bookers do get the pick of the bunch. Across the Alps, some resorts work better than others for New Year on the snow – so here are a few recommendations and suggestions.
If you’re looking for a high-altitude Alpine destination with effortless access to the lifts and slopes, plus plenty of ski in/ski out chalets and apartments, then a purpose-built resort could be the best pick. Places like La Plagne and Les Arcs in France’s famous Paradiski area, Val Thorens in the stunning Three Valleys, Tignes in the Espace Killy, or Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil are all popular choices for those wanting easy access to the slopes.
On the other hand, if you’re heading to the mountains in search of Savoyard charm, Tyrolean tradition, and that elegant little chocolate-box chalet you’ve always dreamed of, then a historic mountain town might be more suitable – and the Alps offers a wide selection! In France, resorts like Chamonix,and Val d’Isere offer charm and character in spades, while over in Austria, St Anton, Ischgl and Lech are beautiful. The Swiss resorts of Saas Fee and Verbier also offer bags of traditional Alpine charm.