Try to make the first lift!
Take advantage of other holiday goers having a lie in and try to make it on the first lift of the day. You will benefit from perfectly groomed pistes and less crowding on the slopes. Easier said than done, but rest assured it will be worth the early wake up call!
Explore further afield
Many large resorts have links to nearby resorts – e.g. The 3 Valleys, linking Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires. Venturing away from the crowded slopes and going further afield into other valleys will offer quieter slopes and more untouched territories.
Book a lesson!
All of our instructors on Maison Sport are experts at navigating their local areas. They will be able to guide you around the less crowded slopes of the resorts and take you safely on off piste or tree runs. You will also benefit from being able to use the ski instructor lanes to avoid busy lift queues.
Secure your lift pass ahead of time
Lift pass offices are often extremely busy in the morning as the lifts are opening. You will be able to save time if you can visit the lift pass office in the afternoon or night before your first day. Also look out for electronic machines to purchase lift passes that will often have smaller queues than the manned desks. You may also want to check online in your resort of choice to see if they offer passes you can purchase in advance.
Adjust your lunch schedule
You will find the slopes much quieter over lunch time. Pack a snack and choose a later lunch time if you would like to ski during the peak lunch hours. Alternatively pack a lunch with you and shorten your lunch time to make the most of when others are taking a break!
Try more remote resorts
If you don’t enjoy the hustle and bustle of the busy, popular resorts, we have come up with a list of ‘hidden gem’ resorts. These resorts are small and charming but without overcrowded, long queues at the lifts and, are often at a more reasonable price point. So if you haven’t booked your stay yet, check out one of these hidden gems and start planning your winter holiday.
Organise your dates so you can ski on ‘changeover day’
Resorts can be considerably quieter on Saturday as many book their trips Saturday-Saturday so will not be on the slopes on their travel day. If you can book your trip to include Saturday as a day on the mountain you will be able to enjoy much quieter slopes whilst others are travelling.
Consider using buses in resort
Many resorts have free shuttle bus services that will take you around the resort or to neighbouring valleys. It is quite common that a resort will have one or two major lifts at the bottom of the mountain that will have big queues at the start of the day. If you are able to travel to a nearby lift and find an alternative route up the mountain this will save essential time at the start of the day.
Check if the resort you’re going to offers express lane lift passes
Some resorts have started offering lift passes that allow you access to a fast-track lane to skip the queue. Expect to have to pay a premium for this option but it will save you time in the queues during busy periods. If you are taking lessons with a Maison Sport instructor they will also be able to take you through these fast-track lanes.
Check for school and national holidays
If you have the flexibility to travel outside of school holidays this will be your best chance of avoiding crowds on the slopes. Also look out for local national holidays as you may find some weekends bring in a lot of holiday goers from the local area if they have extended weekends or special days off.
