Four types of ski base
Alpine ski areas fall into a few broad types. Each has trade-offs for cost and comfort.
| Type | What it is like | Budget upside | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose-built high resort | Built for skiing, often above 1,600 m, with apartments close to the lifts. | Self-catering apartments and walk-to-lift stays cut transport costs. | Peak-week demand, and fewer shops and cheap places to eat. |
| Traditional village | An older village with chalets and a center that existed before the lifts. | More guesthouses and family-run places, and life beyond the slopes. | Lower altitude, so check snow on the runs back to the village. |
| Valley town | A larger town at the bottom of the valley, linked to the slopes by lift or bus. | Often the widest range of rooms and supermarkets, and a rail station. | Daily travel time up and down, and bus or lift timetables. |
| Small local area | A handful of lifts, used mostly by locals and families. | Simpler passes and quieter slopes. Good for beginners. | Less variety for a full week, and a greater risk of closure in poor snow. |
Read the altitude figures
Resorts usually publish three heights: the village, the lowest point of the ski area and the top lift. The village height tells you how snowy the streets are. The share of runs above about 2,000 m tells you more about snow reliability.
- 1
Valley towns
about 500 to 900 m
Rail stations, supermarkets and the widest choice of rooms. Often linked to the slopes by a gondola or a ski bus.
- 2
Traditional villages
about 1,000 to 1,600 m
Chalets, a church square and runs that end among the trees. Snow at the bottom can be thin late in the season.
- 3
Tree line
roughly 1,800 to 2,200 m
Above it the slopes are open and exposed. In a storm or flat light, the runs below the trees are the ones that stay usable.
- 4
High resorts and top stations
about 2,000 to 3,000 m
Purpose-built resorts and upper lifts. Colder, more reliable snow, and more wind.
- 5
Glacier areas
about 3,000 m and up
A few lift-served glaciers open early and close late. Stay on marked runs: glaciers hide crevasses.
Linked areas versus smaller ones
Some Alpine ski areas connect several villages by lift, giving a very large network of runs on one pass. Big linked areas suit strong skiers who want to cover distance. For beginners, families and short trips, a smaller area often makes more sense: the pass is simpler, and you will not use most of a huge domain in a few days anyway.
Many large areas also sell a local pass that covers only the lifts near one village. See lift passes.
The Alpine countries in general terms
Skiing in the Alps spans France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Liechtenstein. Each country has many kinds of resort, so treat these as broad tendencies.
- France has many large, high, purpose-built resorts as well as old villages, and good rail links to the northern Alps.
- Switzerland has an extensive rail network that reaches many resorts directly, and several villages that are car-free.
- Austria has many traditional villages, often at lower altitude, and several towns on main rail lines.
- Italy covers the southern side of the Alps, including the Dolomites, with a mix of large linked areas and small local hills.
- Germany has a smaller slice of the Alps along the Bavarian border, with mostly smaller ski areas.
- Slovenia has smaller ski areas in the Julian Alps and nearby ranges.
Costs depend mostly on the specific resort, the week and the type of stay. Compare like with like: the same dates, the same kind of room and the same pass length.
Questions to check before you book
- How much of the ski area sits above the tree line, and how much above about 2,000 m?
- Do runs reach back to the village, or do you ride a lift down in poor snow?
- How far is the room from the nearest lift or ski bus stop, with boots on and skis on your shoulder?
- Is there a beginner area with gentle slopes and its own lift? See first trip.
- Is there a supermarket, and can you cook where you stay?
- Can you get there by train and bus? See getting there by train.
- What runs stay open in a storm? Tree-lined runs are easier in flat light.
Resort questions
Is it cheaper to stay in a valley town?
Rooms and food are often cheaper in valley towns, but add the daily lift or bus time and cost. If a gondola runs from the town into the ski area, a valley base can work well.
What does ski-in, ski-out mean?
It means you can ski to and from your door. It saves time and transport but usually costs more, and in practice some places described this way still need a short walk.
Should beginners avoid big linked areas?
Not necessarily, but a beginner will use only a small part of one. A local pass or a smaller area often gives the same learning terrain for less.