Looking for the ultimate ski vacation?

You've come to the right place! I've been downhill and cross country skiing for more than 20 years, a member of Professional Ski Instructors of America for 10 (taught thousands of people to ski), and taken some extreme ski vacations in the US, Europe, and even South America. Within this site you'll find commentary, pictures and reviews of the places I've been including Las Lenas Argentina, Interlaken Switzerland, and Lake Tahoe Nevada.

Where should you go? It depends on your budget, what type of ski vacation you are looking for, the time of year, and your skiing ability. Most ski resorts and ski towns offer accomodations for all budgets and preferences. Often the best ski mountains are often not the ritzy resorts so its sometimes necessary to balance glitz and glamor with the type of terrain you want to ski. Las Lenas is my all time favorite but its not going to be for everyone.

What equipment will you need? If its your first ski vacation, the best bet is to go with rental or demo skis which you can pick up at the resort. Demo skis are often better than those you'll find at the standard resort rental shop, so go with demos if you are going to rent skis. The equipment you'll need also depends on the terrain you plane to conquer and where in the world you plan to ski.

What does a ski vacation cost? A typical one week ski vacation will cost between $1000.00 and $1500.00 including airfare, food, lodging, and lift tickets. Depending on the location, the type of trip you select and the apres' ski activities, side trips, and souveneirs you indulge in, the tab may be as high as $5000.00.

You can often save a bundle if you shop around, go with a ski club or mid-week, stay close to home, or pack a bunch of people in the same condo. Skiing in Europe is often better and less expensive than many resorts in the Western United States.

How dangerous is skiing? There is always an element of risk in the outdoors, particularly when skiing for the first time. To continually improve you need to challenge yourself and take lessons. For expert skiers, the real danger (and thrill) often comes from skiing out of bounds. In the US, avalanche precautions are usually outstanding, however, when going to Europe or South America avalanch control is not as much of a priority. If you ski plan on going off piste', make sure to carry an avalanche tranciever such as the Ortovox M2, a shovel and a probe, know how to use them, and go with a guide.

Somewhere in the world someone is skiing right now. It should be you! If you need to get away from the office and take a break, go book a ski vacation, it'll give you something to look forward to and you'll have the time of your life. Enjoy the site!

--Adam Jewell