Skiing holidays to France are very popular especially to resorts in the French Alps with popular places like Courchevel and Meribel, but France has absolutely hundreds of kilometres of ski slopes, which are situated in some of the most spectacular mountainous regions in the world.

So when you go on your family skiing holidays or snowboarding, you need to find the right place with the right ski slopes or the nursery slopes for the beginners, so you can be sure of getting the ideal holiday, and whether this is through a travel agency for a luxury package ski holiday, or you are organising everything yourself by choosing your own chalet or staying in a hotel and being pampered whilst off the ski slopes, the choice is endless but you will not be disappointed.

Also, France has some of the biggest ski resorts such as Les Trois Vallees, which is made up of three valleys and includes resorts like Courchevel and Meribel, with this area having around 600km of pistes for skiers of all abilities and experience so there is enough choice for everyone.

Meribel can offer skiing to people with all abilities, as there are some fantastic beginners slopes but The Three Valleys area offers a good challenge for more experienced skiers, and has an incredible choice of ski schools, which cater from groups to individual tuition.

And although it is generally a purpose built resort, you will find it like a fairytale atmosphere with the ski chalets that blend into the scenery, however, it does have quite a lively nightlife and can get very busy in the peak season as it is such a popular destination.

Courchevel is an outstanding place to ski or snowboard, but can be a little on the expensive side, although the extensive slopes of the resort will offer extensive and varied skiing. It is made up of four villages known by their altitudes and they vary immensely from their access through to facilities, but some places you can get to ski right out of the door of the hotel!

Font Romeu is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe and also has the biggest snow making operation in the Pyrenees and with well over 2500 hours of sunshine each year, this makes it another very popular resort for weekend breaks and longer holidays alike.

Chamonix is a town in a valley and there are five very good resorts, but these are not near to the slopes and you would need transport to get to them, but this place has everything from great shops to a wonderful atmosphere, yet because of how well known it is, the whole area can seen very crowded compared to some other skiing towns, especially around the ski lifts.

Alpe d'Huez is one of Europe's largest and highest ski resorts and is currently one of only around twenty in the world that offers a lift-served vertical of over 2000 metres, plus it has the largest slope in the world where you can ski for well over an hour without taking any ski lift, although these are definitely not for the beginner or intermediate skier.

Yet even though many think of skiing as a winter sport, there are a few places in France where you can still get to ski on the glaciers in the summer months, such as Tignes or Val d'Isere. And there are very few great skiing areas in the world that can excite the imagination more than the Val d'Isère and L'Espace Killy is considered to be one of the best ski areas in the world, plus an amazing variety of different skiing can be achieved through ski lifts and ski buses that link the area of Val d'Isère to the neighbouring Tignes,

But if you have never been skiing then it is advisable to book you holiday through a tour operator, as they will know exactly what resorts are going to be suitable, and it is also an idea to have some lessons on dry slopes prior to going, so that you can make the best of your holiday, rather that spending the first few days just learning to stop falling over on the snow!

Of course, booking your skiing holiday independently can save you quite a lot of money, but there can be downsides as well, especially if you have never been to the resort before, for instance, you may not realise how far it is to get from your accommodation to the slopes, or even how far it would be to get to the ski hire places.

And lets face it, you do not want to be spending a whole day just getting set up rather than on the slopes doing what you went there to do, please do bear in mind that even if you do not have your own skis or skiing boots, you will still need to purchase other items of equipment before you go such as proper skiing gloves and sallopettes to keep you warm and the snow out.

There is a wide range of ski accommodation in France and you can choose from purpose built private ski chalets, chalet apartments or hotels. French skiing accommodation meets the needs of all skiers, with self-catering cabins to fully serviced luxury apartments and hotels, ideal for the skier on every budget.

But the choice of accommodation can be quite mind-boggling and you have to consider all the people in your party, especially if you have young children where childcare facilities or entertainment may be an important issue, or if you are a more experienced skier, you may wish to look at chalets nearer to the more difficult runs rather than the nursery slopes or perhaps opt for a little more luxury in a hotel with gourmet meals by evening in peace and tranquillity.

Speaking to people that have already been to a resort, or even going on to forums can help a great deal, especially if you wish to know what places are the best for good value restaurants when you are on a self-catering holiday, or maybe even avoiding a resort with a lively night life if you have little ones that need their sleep!

Of course, you will also need to look into what other activities that are available in your chosen resort, as there are always things for all of the family to enjoy, such as shows, archery, concerts, squash, tennis, ice skating, golf, swimming, dancing, saunas and spas, plus much, much more.

It is time for the annual family vacation, and planning a ski trip may be something that will appeal to all the family members. Something different and yet exciting, the time to plan a ski vacation is six to eight months in advance – yet it is possible to find slots open within two weeks at some resorts. Making a list of what the family needs and wants, within the boundaries of their skiing expertise, form the types of ski resorts open to their vacation.

First of all, not all ski resorts are just open for winter activities in the winter – the Timberline in Oregon is open all year, and many other resorts have extended seasons. Some ski resorts have other sports activities during the spring and summer. The thing to remember is that everything within the ski vacation label has open options; the date of the vacation what type of ski resort is needed, the different type of winter sports, or the services that will be required.

If you have a family, choosing a ski resort that welcomes family and children would be important to know, as not all ski resorts are suitable for beginner skiers. The terrain and services in some of them are geared only toward advanced skiers, which rules out any first-timers for safety reasons regardless of the ages. If this is the family's first time skiing, check online for ski resorts with dedicated beginner areas, in addition to instructors and lessons.

Some resorts offer package deals with slow and easy lessons for small family groups, with transportation to the top of the beginner slope area. A full day of learning, appropriate skis, boots, poles, and a two hour lesson. Plus, emergencies do arise, so what happens if you have to cancel? If the resort does not have this or if some features are not available that is really wanted or needed, look somewhere else – all ski resorts want your business! A new family learning to ski is a learner's market, because without satisfied customers, they would not be in business.

It is also a good idea to not only begin looking for skiing and snowboarding activities, but also other activities to do. Some of these activities could be: special dining-out local sites; Apres-Ski activities such as concerts, clubs, or daily events at the ski resort; other winter activities such as tubing or snowboarding; sight-seeing; shopping for things you know you will have room to take home; plus visiting historical sites for some resorts are extremely exciting and educational.

It's time to plan the family vacation – and everyone wants to go skiing, but unless skiing is done 24 hours in a row, a break now and then before going back to the slopes is not only fun, but exciting.

Where the family will sleep and eat is just as important as skiing itself, unless the ski resort is within driving distance of home. Check to see of there are slope condominiums available. For a whole family, sometimes this is an option, as you will not have to worry about finding transportation to and from the slopes every day. They usually have one or two bedrooms, a dining room or eating area, and a kitchen. The money a family will save on restaurants for three meals a day, plus the convenience, will more than make up for the added price of the condominium. If the condominium is out, see if there is a suite with a kitchenette.

If you have a vehicle, make sure there is outside access to the parking spot for skies and boots, or has a closet inside for their storage. Comfort at a reasonable rate should be a high priority, especially at the end of the day on the slopes. Aching muscles, cold, and tired may take on a new meaning the first time or two out. See if they have an exercise room, pool, Jacuzzi, or a sauna, not only for your body but for the children's "left-over" energy level!

Remember – it is YOUR market, so make the most of it!

If your family wants to go skiing on your next vacation, but you do not know how to ski, go ahead and plan that ski vacation anyway! You can learn how to ski, and you will have a great time doing it. You do not even need to know the first thing about skiing before you arrive at the resort. All of the knowledge you will need is there waiting for you, and you can literally be skiing down a mountain after an hour of instruction.

Learning to ski is really quite easy. Most resorts have a ski school on the premises, and lessons are reasonably priced. Group and private lessons are usually available. It is a good idea, however, to schedule an appointment before you arrive at the resort. This will ensure that you can start learning

to ski the very first hour of your vacation.

Most ski instructors start by showing you how to maneuver around with your equipment. When you are wearing ski boots, you will be inclined slightly Forward. There is a reason for this. When you are skiing down a mountain, you will be inclined forward. Walking in ski boots the first time is a bit difficult but it works just fine if you learn to walk with your knees slightly bent.

The first maneuver you will learn is called the plow, or snow plow. This is a technique that is done by literally using your skis as a snow plow. You make the back of the skis slowing move outwards, away from your body by applying pressure and this stops you. You guide yourself on skies by bending your knees and leaning in one direction or another, depending on which way you want to go. All of these techniques can be learned in one hour, even if you have never been on a pair of skis in your life.

The beauty of skiing is that after you have learned how to snow plow, and how to guide yourself on the skis, you are ready to ski! Get on the lift, head up the mountain, and give it a try. Control your speed by snow plowing and go slow at first. When you want to pick up some speed, draw your skis back in to pick up a little speed, then push them back out into the plow position to control that speed.

As a beginner, you should stick to the trails that are designed for beginners. At most resorts, these trails are marked with a green emblem. Blue trails are for intermediate skiers, and after one day of skiing the beginner trails, you may be ready for those trails. The black trails are for experts. These trails can be dangerous for people who don't have the skill level to handle them! Avoid black trails until you have had a great deal of ski instruction and experience. You will know when you are ready!

Ski Vacations on a Budget

When you start thinking about ski vacations, you will find a lot of information about various resorts and packages. Finding terrific vacation spots is not difficult. However, finding ski vacations that fit into your budget can be a bigger challenge.

To save money, look for lesser known resorts. This does not mean that these resorts would not provide you with a fun vacation. It simply means that they are not quite as well known as other resorts, and therefore, the prices may be a great cheaper. Also look for ski vacation packages that will include your lodging, lift tickets, lessons, rentals, and possibly even some meals.

Be willing to make some sacrifices if money is a real issue. For instance, instead of eating in an expensive restaurant each night, eat cheaper fast food, or make sandwiches in your room. Borrow equipment from friends instead of renting it. Join a group for lessons instead of taking private lessons. Do not stay at a lodge, stay at a motel farther away from the slopes if necessary. There are numerous ways that you can cut down on the expense of your ski trip.

My family loves to ski but the weekend ski trip has gotten extremely expensive.  Taking a day trip to go skiing can cost a family of four over $300 (lift tickets, food & equipment rental).  Here are five tips to help save you money on your next ski trip:

1) Find a local ski club in your area.  Local ski clubs often offer discounted packages on ski trips they organize.  They work with local resorts to get cheaper lift tickets and lodging.  Just do a website search for clubs in your area.  

2) Contact your county or township government office to see they offer any discounted lift tickets to local ski resorts.  Often local government offices provide discounted lift tickets as a service to their residents.

3) Pack your lunch/snacks/drinks before you go to the ski resort.  This is pretty simple, but we often forget this step.  A family of four will spend $40 to $50 on food and drink alone if they eat at the ski resort.  Why pay $8.00 for sandwich and $2.00 for a soda when you can stop at a supermarket on the way to the resort.  You'll save money and you can bring home any food/drink that you didn't use.

4) Ski at off peak times.  Often it is cheaper to ski during the week or during evening hours (if available). Take a day off during the week and get cheaper lift ticket prices (it’s less crowded, too).

5) Shop online to buy new skis, snowboards or gear.  Go to your local ski store to get fitted for your skis, ski boots, snowboard and gear. Then go online to shop for the best deal.  There are plenty of online ski and snowboard retailers out there.  One of my favorite websites is SkiHeart.com. They search online ski and snowboard websites for sales on skis, snowboards, ski jackets and gear. They then post all the sales and deals on their website. For example, if you were looking for a ski sale, you could go to their website and find multiple deals on ski brands and styles. This is a great website to help you to comparison shop.

I hope this article helps to save you some money.  See you on the slopes!