If you’re a first-time skier, interested in booking a ski holiday, there is so much to consider – it can be a very daunting prospect! In fact it’s really difficult to know where to start, especially when there’s so much choice.

So, here’s our ‘Top 10 Tips’ to make sure that not only do you choose the right ski holiday, but it’s also memorable for all the right reasons!

1. Choose Your Resort Wisely
The resort you choose is vitally important to the success of your holiday and your overall enjoyment. You need to find a resort that has good facilities for beginners and that has a decent progression, so that as you improve, you can continue to push yourself to the next level. I would recommend skiing in Pila, a stunning resort in the Aosta Valley, Northern Italy. Pila is an excellent choice for novices – not too steep, not too crowded and offers great progression, along with a nice mix of tree-lined skiing and open bowls.

2. When To Travel
If you can, avoid the busy school holiday dates such as February half-term and Easter. Resorts get very busy at this time which can mean lots of queues at lifts and mountain restaurants. The extra demand also makes these the most expensive dates to travel. Instead, have a look at January, although it can be cold. As a first-time skier, I’d recommend early March as a great time of year to go. The weather is generally that bit warmer, but it’s really quiet in most resorts meaning there are some great deals to be had.

3. Check What’s Included
To enable you to go skiing each day you will need to purchase a lift pass. These typically cost between £150-250, depending on the resort and time of year. For some reason, most ski tour operators don’t include this in the cost of the holiday and instead sell it as an optional extra. This might seem crazy, but it’s more common than not!

When you’re pricing up who to go with, just make sure you factor in this essential extra cost as it can dramatically change the price of your holiday and it’s guaranteed you can’t go skiing without it!

4. Book Ski Lessons
Even if you’re travelling with your partner or friends that ski and have offered to teach you. I would highly recommend that you invest in professional expert lessons, I guarantee that this will enhance your overall experience. When you learnt to drive, you didn’t just jump behind the wheel and head for the motorway, so adopt the same attitude with skiing and pay for a professional to get you started – it will be worth every penny.

5. Stay Safe
You might hear lots of people boast about how they’ve ‘nailed a black’ or ‘tracked an off-piste’. This is all good fun if you’re at the right level, but as it’s your first time don’t set your expectations too high. Skiing is great fun, but it needs to be done so in a safe and controlled manner, otherwise you risk injuring yourself and others. The mountain environment is potentially a very dangerous place, so needs to be treated with respect.

6. Keep Drinking…
…And I don’t mean at the bar! Skiing is a physically demanding sport, and if you’ve not been before, there’s a good chance you’ll be using muscle groups which you don’t normally exert to this level. Take regular breaks to rehydrate and make time for snacks to keep your energy levels up.

7. Protect Yourself From The Sun
It’s often assumed by people new to skiing that it will be cold and you need to wrap up. Whilst this is often the case, it’s also true that higher altitude combined with glare from the snow can make the ski slopes a bit of a sun hazard. Apply plenty of high-factor (minimum SPF30) sun cream to all exposed areas of your skin and make sure you re-apply at least once during the day.

8. Layer Up
The best protection from the elements whilst skiing is to have plenty of layers. Layers trap air between them, helping to insulate and keep you warm, but also mean if you get too warm you can take a layer off and reduce your temperature gradually until you reach your optimum.

Your outer ski clothing needs to be wind and water proof. It may not come as a surprise, but when you start skiing you can spend a lot of time falling over. If your outer clothing doesn’t stay dry, I can guarantee you’ll have a miserable time!

9. Use Your Head
Not so long ago, there was a small minority of skiers who used helmets. Recent changes in legislation in some countries, coupled with greater awareness of the dangers and risks has seen a dramatic rise in the number of people now using helmets. Not many people realise, one of the greatest risks is actually collisions with other skiers rather than hitting your head on the slope.

Purchasing a helmet can be inexpensive and you can also hire ski helmets in most resorts. It’s surely worth an extra few dollars/euros?

10. Use a Specialist Ski Tour Operator
Check your ski tour operator is ABTA bonded and ATOL protected, if flying. Read through your chosen travel insurance (make sure it covers winter sports!) policy to check that you are covered for accidents and excess charges. Does your chosen tour operator have resort rescue if needed? All of these things are important to check out, so that you’ve got complete peace of mind.

As we suggested at the start, although booking your first ski holiday may appear daunting, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re not overly confident about where you want to go, what you want to do and what you want to include, I would suggest booking through a specialist ski tour operator is a must. Not only can they help guide you through the process, they will also be able to recommend the best resorts and hotels for your needs.