How to get the most from your skiing season

When you are choosing an Alpine property, one of the key things to consider is how you intend to use it. Some people enjoy the summer season for walking and climbing, whereas for others it’s all about the snow. If skiing is your absolute priority, you really need to narrow down your search for a property for sale in the Alps to resorts which have a long snow season.

While some resorts close down the ski lifts by the end of March, others are generally open for skiing through to the end of April and even to mid-May. For families, an extended snow season offers the added bonus of the opportunity to go skiing during both the Christmas and Easter school holidays.

Altitude plays a big part in the length of the skiing season, but other factors can influence how long a ski resort is open for, such as the direction in which the slopes face, and the quality of snowmaking machinery available to supplement natural snow when needed. Here are some of our favourite resorts in Europe for an extended ski season.

Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere is one of Europe's largest and best known ski resorts, and has hosted many major winter sports competitions including Olympic events, the World Cup and the World Championship. You can expect good snow conditions between November and May, and with snow right down to the resort, which is situated above 1,500m, there is scope for finding ski in/out property in Val d’Isere. The highest ski lift reaches 3,450m.

Verbier

This Swiss resort makes a great choice for those looking to ski for as many months as possible, with the ski lifts in operation from November right through to late April. In addition to some impressive verticals, there's a wide range of slopes suitable for all levels. Cross country skiing and ski mountaineering are also popular in Verbier.

Chatel

The ski season in Chatel starts with weekend opening in November, and moves to full opening in December through to late April. Chatel is the ideal resort for families, and has won awards for its family-friendly facilities. Combined lift passes allow access to lifts in neighbouring resorts such as Morzine and Les Gets.

Courchevel

Courchevel (1850) is the place to head for the longest snow season in the area. Now favoured by the rich and famous, Courchevel is the ski resort of choice for those seeking a luxury property for sale in France. There is a variety of pistes to suit all standards of skier and there are plenty of top quality ski schools to choose from, including several British and English-speaking schools.

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