Ski Holidays for Beginners: Everything to Expect from Your First Trip

Updated for the 2026/27 season.

If you’ve never had a skiing holiday before but can’t stop thinking about how fun it would be, this is your sign to take the leap and book it. Skiing holidays are full of fun, beauty, and non-stop snow – what’s not to love?

But if this is your first time, you probably have some questions. We get it: skiing holidays for beginners seem overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve compiled this article full of everything you need to know. We answer your questions and give you top tips – read on to find out all you need to know about your first time skiing.

How Does a Ski Holiday Work?

As with most types of holidays, you’ll find that skiing holidays for beginners follow a particular pattern in how they work. While on a summer holiday, you might spend most of your time by the pool or in the sea. And on a city break, most of your time is spent walking the streets and admiring the history and architecture of your chosen location. Well, on a ski holiday it’s all about the slopes and powder.

But this is your first trip, so let’s break it down. Your holiday will mainly comprise several aspects: accommodation, nightlife, and – you guessed it – skiing (or snowboarding if you prefer). Other activities you may do include shopping, spa days, and excursions such as ice skating and snowmobiling.

When you arrive at your resort, you’ll check into your accommodation, then you can take a walk around and familiarise yourself with where everything is. You’ll have dinner served to you in your chalet and then get a good night’s sleep ahead of a day of skiing.

So, you’ll wake up, put on all your gear and head to ski school, where fun, enthusiastic, and professional teachers will show you the ropes. Depending on how long your holiday is, you can expect to be in ski school for a few days before you’re unleashed onto the slopes solo.

And then it’ll be time for the world-famous après ski – whether you fancy a quiet drink to unwind after a full-on day or you’re ready to let loose at the parties, there’s something for everyone once the lifts close.

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All-Inclusive Skiing Holidays for Beginners

For your first ski holiday, we recommend going all-inclusive. As a newbie to the scene, there’ll be lots to get used to, and it’s safe to say that ski holidays are way more active than most. That means you’ll be a little more tired than usual, and who wants to cook or figure out where to eat when they’re tired? If you go all-inclusive – especially in a chalet – all you’ll have to do is sit at your dining table (which most of the time overlooks the mountains you conquered earlier in the day!) and be served mouthwateringly good food.

Other benefits of all-inclusive ski holidays are that your travel is included – that’s flights and transfers – and you’ll also have the ability to get discounts with your provider for things like your ski passes and rentals. For such an activity-packed holiday, going all-inclusive makes so much sense – especially if this is your first time skiing. And don’t worry – if you’d rather have a self-drive ski holiday, you’re still able to go for the all-inclusive option. Either way, an all-inclusive option makes the whole week so much easier.

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What Is the Best Ski Resort for Beginners in France?

So, you’ve decided to take the leap, you understand how a ski holiday works, and you’ve confirmed you’d like to go all-inclusive. The next thing to decide is the resort you’d like to go to. Now, this is a big decision – there are so many to choose from! Each ski resort has its specialities, and not all are ideal for beginners, so we’ve done the work for you and have put together a list of the best ski resorts for beginners in France.

While other European countries offer some great skiing locations, the French Alps go above and beyond. If you’re looking for that quintessential ski experience, that’s where you want to be. So, for beginner ski holidays, we’d recommend Tignes, Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, or Reberty 2000. These are truly the best ski resorts in Europe for beginners.

Each has dedicated beginner sections that include magic carpets and nursery slopes, ideal for when you’re just getting started. They also have between eight and 13% green slopes, which means once you’ve built your confidence a bit, you can progress at your own pace. There are even some smaller ski lifts available, which is a great way to get used to what the bigger ones will be like.

A few numbers to show what that looks like on the ground:

• Tignes and Val d’Isère share one huge ski area with 25 green and 65 blue runs between them, nine free beginner lifts and a dedicated beginners-only zone.
• Val Thorens has four covered magic carpets and a reduced-price beginner lift pass covering eight easy lifts, so you are not paying for terrain you cannot use yet.
• Reberty 2000 is the quietest of the four, with gentle nursery slopes right by the chalets, which many first-timers prefer.

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To Ski or To Snowboard?

Now, without putting too much pressure on you, this might end up being a significant decision in your life. Each has its own culture, and each carries its own reputation. Okay, so maybe we’re exaggerating a little. While it’s true that there is some historic and friendly rivalry between the groups, it honestly doesn’t matter. No matter which you start on, there’s always the opportunity to learn the other later down the line.

With regards to which you should start with, that all depends on your skills and what you’d prefer. For example, if you’re good at roller or ice skating, then you’ll likely pick up skiing easier, whereas if you can skateboard, you might find snowboarding easier.

That being said, there is a belief in the world of snowsports that skiing is easier to learn but harder to perfect and that it’s the other way around for snowboarding. For that reason, it might be best to start with skis. Also, if you’re booking your first trip as a group or family, it might be easier if you all choose to learn the same one.

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How Do Ski Lessons Work?

After all the organising and travelling, when you finally arrive at the resort, it’ll be time to start your lessons. And it should definitely be noted that lessons are all but mandatory if you’ve never skied before. Trust us – it’s for your safety as well as for those around you. Skiing is a sport and comes with hazards; after all, you’re sliding around on snow and ice up there.

So, your lessons are booked by the week and usually take place for a few hours each morning. That means you’ll have lots of time in the afternoon to practice and hone your skills. To begin with, you’ll start learning in the dedicated beginner section, which has magic carpets, and it’s here you will learn the basics like how to use the equipment and – crucially – how to stop.

From day two onwards, your lessons will likely take place on the green (or maybe even blue) slopes, where you will learn turns, speed, and how to be respectful of other people on the slopes around you.

Ski lessons are specifically done in small groups so that your instructor can ensure everyone gets some one-on-one time and all the help they need. It doesn’t sound like enough time to learn a whole new sport but trust us – you’ll be confidently flying down the slopes by the end of the week, desperate to return.

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How Should Beginners Prepare for Ski Lessons?

While beginner weeks and ski school are specifically designed for people who have never skied before, there are some things you can do to prepare. After all, skiing is a very active, very physical sport. In order to ski, you’ll need to have a good level of fitness with decent stamina and all the patience in the world. You know what they say – Rome wasn’t built in a day.

To prepare for your beginner ski holiday, ensure you have reasonable fitness, dress appropriately and have layers (you’ll be surprised just how hot you’ll get out on the snow), do your stretches, and – probably most importantly – be prepared to be bad to begin with. While we have our fingers crossed for you, unfortunately, it’s unlikely that you’ll step foot into your skis and discover you are the next Mikaela Shiffrin. You will fall a lot, that’s okay – it’s part of the fun. You’ll get there in no time.

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Can I Go Skiing With No Experience?

100% yes! Not only is it possible to learn to ski from scratch, we actively encourage it. As far as we’re concerned, the more people who can ski, the better. It’s a hugely fun and exhilarating sport, and we want everyone to experience the freedom and beauty of it.

Of course, as we mentioned in the above section, you will need to have lessons (a beginner-friendly resort makes that easy) – you definitely should not attempt skiing without them – but we’re confident that in less than a week of learning, you’ll have all the skills you need to be a great skier. And as soon as you do, you’ll get addicted just like the rest of us; it’ll be the start of a great love story!

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What to Pack For Your Ski Holiday?

If you’re this far into planning your first ski trip, you’ll probably know that there are some ski-specific clothing you’ll need. We promise it’s not just a ploy to get you to spend more – these items all have specific uses, and you’ll be very glad to have them when you’re out on the slopes. It should also be noted that while some of these items can be expensive if you go for brands, second-hand or rental options are just as good and can save you a lot of money!

So let’s get into it. What do you need?

• Ski jacket – these are designed with pockets everywhere and are so convenient because they’re perfect for your ski passes.
• Ski trousers/salopettes – thick, waterproof trousers (sometimes with dungaree-type braces) with the ability to attach to your ski jacket to keep you warm and stop snow from getting in.
• Ski socks – very long and thick socks that will rise above your boots.
• Goggles – being able to see is obviously very important, so see if you can get an option with changeable lenses for different weather and UV types.
• Hat, gloves, scarf, and sunglasses – while you’ll get warm skiing, you’ll quickly cool down when you stop for a drink mid-way.

For beginner ski holidays, we’d recommend renting your helmet and equipment. As for everything else, pack for cold weather, and you should be fine. You won’t need anything to dress up in as après ski is usually a casual affair. Remember comfy shoes/boots with good grip and base layers are a good idea, too. Oh, and don’t forget your swimsuit for the spa!

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What to Budget For While On Your Ski Holiday?

What a beginner week really costs

A catered chalet week takes care of the big variables: accommodation, breakfast, afternoon tea and evening meals with wine are all in the price, and flights and transfers are included on our packages. On top of that, budget for four extras:

• Lift pass: beginner passes covering the nursery zones cost less than full-area passes, and several of our resorts run free beginner lifts.
• Equipment hire: skis, boots, poles and helmet, usually rented as a weekly bundle.
• Lessons: group lessons run in the morning for five to six days.
• Lunches and après: mountain lunches and a vin chaud or two are part of the experience.

Ask us for a like-for-like quote and we will price the extras for your resort at the same time, so there are no surprises when you arrive.

The great thing about an all-inclusive beginner package is that practically everything is paid for – your travel, accommodation, food and drinks are all sorted. The only thing you’ll need money for is the extras you might want. For example, food and drinks when you stop on the slopes during the day, any activities you choose to do (e.g. snowmobile or ice skating), and – let’s be honest – no first ski trip would be complete without drinks at après ski.

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What Else Do You Need?

While all-inclusive packages are definitely the best idea for your first trip, there are a few extra things that aren’t covered that you’ll need to consider – don’t worry, there are fair reasons why they are extras.

• Rent Equipment – the main reason this is not included in most ski deals and packages is that some people have their own skis, helmets, boots, etc. In fact, if you inevitably fall in love with skiing the way most people do, it will work out cheaper in the long run for you to buy your own. So, when you’re booking, make sure to account for equipment rentals on top of that.
• Lift Pass – As a first-time skier, you might not be aware, but most resorts have many lifts that take you all across the resort so that you can experience the full range of slopes available to you. It’s literally your ticket to ski (there’s even a dedicated pocket for your pass on your ski jacket). You’ll find that there are options for how long you need your pass to be valid for (e.g. 1, 3, 5 days etc.), and as everyone’s plans on holiday are different, this one is best organised separately from your package.
• Insurance – you absolutely should not travel without having insurance first. Skiing can be an extreme sport, but even if you take it easy (especially if you are a beginner), accidents can happen. Due to the fact that insurance is based on an individual’s history and health, this needs to be done separately from your package holiday. Please also note that most insurance companies do not cover skiing as standard, and you will need a snowsport-specific package.

Despite the fact that these aspects of your holiday are best organised separately from your all-inclusive ski holiday package, a lot of companies will offer discounts on them. Certainly for the rentals and passes. Make sure to check with your provider when booking.

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Family Ski Trips with First-Timers

Some of the best first ski trips are those you have with your family. What better way to get that much-needed quality time together than by learning something new, having a laugh surrounded by stunning mountains, and playing in the snow? Especially if you’re from somewhere that doesn’t have mountains nearby. It’ll be a magical experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Whether that means taking your young children and gifting them the love of a new sport or you go when the whole family are adults, you’re guaranteed to make memories that will go down in the history books and be bought up every Christmas. Sometimes we just need to see our parents fall over in the snow, and that’s exactly what a family ski trip is for. And if you’ve never après skied with your kids before, you’re in for a treat! Good times guaranteed.

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Beginner Ski Holidays for Groups

That being said, learning to ski with a group of your best friends – that’s just something you have to experience. Be prepared for inside jokes, banter, and everyone remembering how you couldn’t stay upright on your skis for the first three days of the trip.

Group ski holidays have the ability to bring out the best (and maybe the worst) in you – we’ve all seen the Wham Last Christmas video, right?! There will be competitiveness like never before, fashion shows with your new gear, and some of the best nights of your life partying until the sun comes up over the mountains.

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How Long Should a Beginner Ski Holiday Be?

While seasoned skiers and snowboarders can go for ski weekend breaks or even just go skiing for the day, that’s not advised for beginners. Beginner trips are usually booked by the week, and that’s because you want to give yourself enough time to learn the skills, gain your confidence, and then show off everything you learned outside of the lessons.

The minimum you should go for is five days, but a full week would be better, and if it were us, we’d definitely opt for two. The feeling of flying down those slopes is so addictive and fun that you won’t want to leave. Why limit yourself?

Remember, also, that as it’ll be your first time skiing, you’ll be working muscles you’ve potentially never used before; all that work is going to take it out of you. You don’t want to rush and pack as much in as you can, then hurt yourself in the process. Give yourself time to take a day off and relax in the spa.

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Top Tips

By now, you should have a good understanding of what to expect for your first-ever skiing holiday. From what to take, what lessons will be like, and even what to pack. A first ski trip can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not entirely sure what you’re getting yourself into. But that’s what we’re here for; we want you to be fully clued up – not only will that help you plan properly, but it’ll mean you’ll be so much more excited knowing what’s to come.

If the terminology still sounds foreign, our ski jargon guide decodes every phrase you’ll hear in your first week, and our first-time skiing guide has more tips for the nervous. But our assistance is not over yet; we have a few more top tips to make sure your first week on snow is the best it can be:

• Choose a less popular week – if you’re worried about all the pros being out on the slopes and crowding the resort, select your week carefully. If you’re lucky, it’ll also save you some money.
• Choose a lesser-known resort – while Tignes and Val d’Isère are big names in the ski world, opting for a lesser-known resort, such as Reberty 2000, will afford you some peace and tranquillity that is perfect for when you’re first learning to ski.
• Choose entry-level skis – though it’s easy to be swept away in the glamour of fancy designer skis when you’re a beginner, go for the entry-level options. Not only will your bank account thank you, but they’re actually specifically designed for beginners, so it’ll make your learning journey much easier.

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How to Book Your First Ski Holiday

To book, you’ll need to decide on things like the resort you’d like to go to, what type of accommodation you’d like, and when you’d like to go. Once you have that information and you’re ready to officially start the countdown, you can either book online here or give us a call on 01252 365490.

Our teams are passionate skiers and experts in planning first ski trips; they can answer any questions you have and ensure you have everything you need to have the skiing holiday of a lifetime.

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Skiing holidays for beginners are specially designed to cater for first-timers who might have never stepped foot on a ski or snowboard before in their lives. At Ski Vertigo, we believe everyone deserves the feeling of freedom and exhilaration that skiing brings, so we have dedicated ourselves to going above and beyond to ensure everyone has the best holiday possible – especially beginners.

Now that you know what to expect from your first ski holiday, we hope you’re as excited as we are, and we can’t wait for you to fall in love with skiing just as much as we do! For more information, contact us on 01252 365490, email us at holidays@skivertigo.co.uk, or find us on thesocials.