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Senior Ski Holidays
Age is SNO object: Whether you’d like to try something new or return to a much loved hobby, there’s no age limit to enjoying a week of fresh air, exercise and good food in the mountains.
We’ll help you plan a week that suits you swimmingly; be it schussing dawn ’til dusk, mixing skiing with other activities, or finding good cafes to watch the world ski by from.
020 7770 6888 ← online or call ↴
020 7770 6888
The best resorts for Senior Skiers
Ski Holidays for older skiers
Unless you’re bringing the grandchildren, retirees have the freedom to avoid busy school holiday dates – saving money on accommodation and sidestepping those lengthy lift queues. We love March ski holidays as the weather tends to be milder with more hours of daylight. If you’re a seasoned skier who isn’t too fussed about the type of accommodation or resort you end up in, our last minute deals might be just the ticket to keeping costs down.
Whether you’re seven, seventeen or seventy - having hassle free access to the slopes and resort can make a mountain of difference. Ask us about our ski in, ski out chalets and hotels, or pick one with its own transport service to whisk you from A to B. If you’re traveling with non-skiers or like to split your time between skiing and exploring the local area, choose a lodging in the hub of the resort within easy reach of cafes, shops and attractions.
Advice for mature skiers
Let us do the legwork
Give us your preferences and we’ll find somewhere that suits – maybe you’d rather have a ground floor room or lift-served accommodation, in somewhere quiet, central, or with doorstep skiing... Ask us about our adult-only chalets and hotels if you favour a more refined, mature atmosphere.
There’s nothing better than a ski holiday to celebrate a special occasion - whether retirement, a milestone birthday, anniversary or introducing the grandkids to the mountains - let us know and we’ll help you arrange a most memorable week away.
Lessons and guiding for senior skiers
More and more people are picking up skiing later in life – and anyone in good health with a large dose of enthusiasm can have a cracking time learning to ski! Private lessons are perfect: have an instructor to yourself for fast progression, or book a lesson together with friends for a convivial atmosphere.
If you haven't skied for a while and want to get your ski legs back, booking a private instructor can also be very beneficial. Or, for competent skiers in a new resort, a guide will be able to show you the best parts of the ski area suited to your level and the snow conditions.
Winter Sports Insurance for older skiers
Some winter sports insurance providers have upper age limits, while others add weighty premiums for over 65’s - even if you don’t have a pre-existing medical condition. On the other hand, you will also find companies that specialise in ski insurance for mature skiers. Using price comparison websites or an insurance broker to shop around is the best way to find a decent deal.
Always make sure your travel insurance includes “winter sports cover”. If you already have an annual travel policy, it might not include this as standard - you may have to phone up and see if they can add it on.
Cheap and Free ski passes for seniors
You can usually find significantly reduced lift passes for skiers aged around 65 years and over. Pick the right resort, and you mightn’t have to pay a penny. We’ve also seen fabulous deals where you pay a pittance for passes – like the Paradiski, which when we last checked, charged over 75’s only €10 to ski, and Baqueira Beret, where a day pass only sets seniors back €3! If you don’t plan to ski all day, look out for half day or half week lift pass options. This all makes carrying some form of ID well worth it – youthful looks and no proof of age can result in having to fork out for pricier passes!
Read on for resorts offering discounts and freebies (bear in mind offers change, so it’s worth double checking the latest offerings direct with the ticket office).
Ski resorts offering free ski passes for seniors
Age 70+
Andorra: Grandvalira (Pas de la Casa, Soldeu El Tarter), Vallnord (Arinsal, La Massana)
USA: Arizona Snowbowl (AZ), Snow Valley (CA)
Age 71+
USA: Timberline Lodge (OR), Mt. Hood Skibowl (OR)
Age 72+
France: Les 2 Alpes
Age 75+
France: Val d’Isere, Tignes, Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens, Val Cenis, Montgenevre, Serre Chevalier, La Rosiere
Canada: White Water, Panorama, Red Resort
Ski resorts offering discounted ski passes for seniors
Age 60+
Slovenia: Vogel-Bohinj, Kranjska Gora.
Japan: Niseko, Rusutsu
Age 61+
Austria: Ischgl
Age 62+
Switzerland: Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren
Age 64+
Switzerland: Davos, Klosters, Flims, Laax (for women)
Age 65+
France: 3 Valleys, Val d’Isere-Tignes, Paradiski, Portes du Soleil, Alpe d'Huez, Megeve, Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens and Chamonix.
Italy: Bardonecchia, Dolomiti Superski, Livigno, Aosta Valley, Bormio, Via Lattea and Cervinia
Switzerland: Davos, Klosters, Flims, Laax, Verbier, Villars-Gryon, Les Diabrelets
Austria: Obergurgl, Solden, Ski Arlberg Pass (covers St Anton, Lech, St Christoph), Ski plus City Stubai Innsbruck pass (covers 13 resorts incl. Kuhtai, Axamer Lizum and the Stubai Glacier)
Canada: Whistler, Big White, Revelstoke, Jasper, Kimberley, Kicking Horse, Fernie
Andorra: Grandvalira (Pas de la Casa, Soldeu El Tarter), Vallnord (Arinsal, La Massana)
SNO Experts - senior skiing tips
Dr Mike Lagran, Ski-Injury
“The main things I would advise Senior Skiers would be to ensure that their ski equipment is well maintained with bindings serviced and set correctly and strong consideration given to wearing a helmet. Watch out for end of the day tiredness as muscles fatigue. We see more injuries from the "one last run..." scenario. Finally, for those who thought that skiing was now beyond the capability of their knee joints, have a look at the Ski Mojo device.”
Mike Hammond, Instructor at Ski Skills in the Portes du Soleil
“Having lost my right leg in a motorcycle accident in my early twenties, I decided to change career path and get involved in skiing. I’ve represented GB in seven Paralympic Games and various world and European championships. I have spent more than 38 years as a Ski Teacher, racer and race coach and have been teaching in Avoriaz, Morzine & Les Gets for 18 years now. The Portes du Soleil is great for senior skiers as over 65's get a discount on the lift passes. There are lots of wide open pistes, blues and red runs but also good blacks and off piste areas for those who want more challenging terrain. Check out the Porte du Soleil tour. This is an all-day affair and although most of the runs are technically undemanding the quantity of skiing and the length of time involved make it unsuitable for the less experienced and the less fit. There are also a few button lifts involved. However I have met some very fit and able over 60’s who have loved it.”
Mark Watson, Ski Hardware Operations Assistant at Ellis Brigham
“I have worked for Ellis Brigham for 9 years and now run the ski hardware training for the company as well as helping with the operational ski hardwear side of the business. My ski boot advice for senior skiers is that ski boots should hold the foot, but it shouldn’t be like having a couple of vices on your feet either. Boots should have that blend of feeling like the foot is being held but without any pressure points, we describe it as a ‘firm hand shake’. Any boot with a ski/walk mode will make walking or standing around in ski boots a lot more bearable. Just make sure you put it back into ski mode when you click into your bindings. One thing for sure is that to get the most comfortable inside a ski boot, you should consider arch support and at Ellis Brigham we believe that the best option is a customisable insole, one which is specific to your foot. If you suffer from foot or arch pain, sore shins, blisters or cold feet then perhaps a footbed could help solve your problems. Overall the best advice is to get the shell right as none of the above matters if you are in a boot that does not hold the foot correctly. There are many things that can be done to adapt a ski boot to better the fit. Any good boot fitter will be able to do these boot modifications and sometimes the smallest tweak can make the biggest difference.”
Which are the best ski holidays for senior skiers?
| Accommodation | Resort | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Eiger | Murren, Switzerland | £1008 |
| Hotel Le Kaila | Meribel, France | |
| Chalet Kobuk | Avoriaz, Franxce | £1430 |
| Hotel Boglerhof | Alpbach, Austria | £1629 |
| Hotel Terminal Neige Totum | Flaine, France | £1379 |
| Hotel Schwarzer Adler | Kitzbuhel, Austria | |
| Hotel Piolets | Soldeu, Andorra | £739 |
| Parkhotel Beau Site | Zermatt, Switzerland | |
| Grand Hotel Miramonti Majestic | Cortina, Italy | |
| Hotel Ducs De Savoie | Courchevel, France |
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