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If your budget for a skiing break is larger than normal, then you are
able to consider going further than Europe. But with so many leading
resorts just a few hours away, you’ve got to ask yourself if it’s really
worth the extra money to go stateside.
Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of both. |
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Prices |
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The flight prices are the first obvious factor, with flight prices to
America dwarfing its European equivalent.
Ski passes are another big difference, with Aspen, the USA’s flagship
resort, pricing 6 day lift passes at a steep £215, whilst the European
big boy of Val D’Isere prices its 6 day pass at a modest £121, almost
£100 cheaper.
So by going to Aspen, you’ve already increased your expenditure by
about £400 taking flights and lift pass into account.
Prices of the restaurants and hotels are fairly equal and the Apres-Ski
activities likewise.
Travel insurance will cost slightly more when going to the USA due to
the greater distances involved. Try a reputable provider like AA
travel insurance or Go
travel insurance for a quote. |
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Europe 1 USA 0. |
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Slope Quality and Snowfall |
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The difference in slope difficulty is what really sets the two apart,
with the American slopes catering much more for the die-hard black-slope
skier than the European slopes.
Aspen for example has 83 black runs compared to Val D’Isere’s 14.
This is due partly to the much larger scale of the mountains in the USA,
with some having runs as wide as the European ones are long.
In terms of beginner and intermediate runs, the two are fairly
similar. |
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Europe 1 USA 1 |
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Accommodation |
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European resorts have a reputation for providing excellent
accommodation, with hundreds of hotels, chalets and apartments to choose
from there is something to suit everyone.
This is not to say that the American equivalent is not up to
standard, far from it, and if you know what you’re looking for you will
find it. But for ease of finding a great place to stay, places such as
Val D’Isere, Tignes and V’al Thorens offer more than Aspen and Winter
Park. This is due largely to the greater influx of visitors and,
therefore, higher demand for accommodation in the European resorts.
Hard to separate on this one and Europe only nudges ahead due to the
greater number of places and ease of availability. |
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Europe 2 USA 1 |
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All in all it depends
on budget, with an American ski holiday undoubtedly costing more than a
European one, both in terms of travel and ski passes, the steep price of
the latter being quite simple, you are paying more for bigger ski runs.
If you have the extra
cash, the USA is a fantastic place to ski and should be done if your
budget allows at least once in life, but if your eye is on the bank
balance, opt for France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain or
especially Poland for a much more affordable and no less enjoyable ski
break. |
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