Travelling overseas for a ski holiday? Well, have we got some handy ski holiday tips for you! Below are 13 tips we swear by to help make your next ski holiday a breeze.

1. The Basics

The easy things to look over. This may sound simple, but these are essential items – pack a couple of pens in your carry on luggage (at least 2 in case you lose one). You can thank me later as having a pen on hand makes filling out forms and passing through airports just that little bit easier. Wear comfy shoes and socks to keep your feet happy during the walks around the airport, waiting in lines and on the plane itself.

2. Protect Your Skin and Hair

Most overseas ski climates are quite different to the humid weather we are used to in New Zealand and Australia. Remember to pack chapstick, moisturizer (preferably with SPF for those bluebird days), and hair oil or conditioner. These climates are really dry and it takes a toll on your skin and hair which does not have you feeling your best. Having a chapstick/moisturizer with you will help keep your skin in tip top shape!

3. Getting Ski Fit

Make sure you get in shape and are fit for your first day on the slopes. There is no doubt after a few days your quads, glutes, hamstrings and core will be sore but preparing is the best way to ensure you get the most out of your holiday. Starting with simple exercises a few months before your holiday can make all the difference! We highly recommend Matt from Get Snow Fit. He offers online programs as well as personal training (in the Auckland area) all based around getting you fit for your ski holiday.

4. Rental Equipment

If you plan on hiring rental equipment overseas, definitely have this booked in advance! Further, you can have your measurements and abilities pre-sent to to the rental company to speed the process up. And a second side tip, if you have comfy boots that fit then take these with you. This means you only need to hire skis/poles or a snowboard overseas – and saves a bit of cash. Skiing overseas is typically very different to skiing in your own country and the resorts have rental equipment that best cater to skiing in their conditions.

5. Ski Helmet

Safety first! So please remember to take your helmet with you. If you do not own a helmet then it is definitely a good idea to buy one either before your go or at the resort. This ensures you have a clean, good fitting, well padded helmet that you can trust. Most of the time, renting a helmet will actually cost you more than buying one.

6. Lessons/Activities

We highly recommend having any lessons or activities pre-booked as they can fill up fast. We would hate for you to miss out on that essential lesson or the once in a lifetime dog sled tour! At travel&co. we can make all of these arrangements for you and at discounted prices by pre-purchasing – bonus!

7. Insurance

Accidents can happen so make sure you take out insurance as soon as your holiday is confirmed. This means you are covered for any expenses if you need to cancel before the big trip. Please also make sure you are covered for skiing as this can be classed as an ‘extreme sport’ with some insurance providers charging extra for this. It is also important that you have the right insurance cover for what you are doing. For example, if you plan on doing some back country skiing or even heli-skiing, travel&co can provide you with separate cover for this as it is not included in your normal ski travel insurance policy.

8. Visas/Passport Requirements

Make sure you have your visas (if required) and a valid passport before you travel! Oh, and of course, do not forget to pack your passport! Trust me, it’s happened before – Double check, Triple check & Quadruple CHECK if you have to. For travel to the USA, an ESTA visa is required and for travel to Canada an ETA visa is required. These are both electronic visas. On a side note, when you apply for the USA and Canada visas make sure you follow the links we provide as there are a lot of scam websites out there.

9. Luggage

If you are taking your own gear with you and want to save on extra luggage charges then consider taking your ski bag as your checked bag and packing all of your essentials in it. Remember, most airlines allow you to take 2 carry on bags with you – 1 backpack sized item normally up to 7kgs and 1 personal item (i.e. handbag). Further, if travelling to Canada you can use the ArriveCAN app which allows you do to do an advance luggage declaration which massively speeds up your time when arriving at the airport.

10. Ski Apps

Downloading an app such as TraceSnow or Snoww allows you to ‘check-in’ to to the ski resort and add your friends and family. Then start a session each morning and the app will record all your stats including distance, vertical metres, fastest speed and more. It also records it based on the trail maps which are stored on the app so you remember your favourite runs. Further, it has location sharing services which shares live location with chosen friends and family when recording a session which makes it super easy to meet up on the mountain or check in with others.

11. Ski Clothes

Only pack one set of ski clothes. These can take up a lot of room in your luggage that could be better used for something else like souvenirs or shopping. Most accommodation offer either a washer/dryer in your room (condominium style) or they have shared laundry facilities inside the building (hotel style). This comes in handy if you need to do a load of washing for those longer stays. However, don’t forget to pack your thermals and bring plenty for both skiing and around the village!

12. Swimwear

Swimwear, togs, budgy smugglers – whatever you call them – are a must for a ski holiday and an essential if you plan on relaxing in the hot tub after a long day hitting the slopes. So don’t forget to pack these!  One pair is fine to save on luggage space.

13. Mountain Guide/Host

Ask us at travel&co. if there is a free mountain guide or host program at the resort you’re travelling to. This is certainly something you want to take advantage of! They show you around the mountain and is a great way to get a handle on the ropes of what the ski resort has to offer. Even better, most of these programs are free!

To book a beyond ordinary ski holiday including flights, transfers, accommodation and activities call the Snow Travel Experts at travel&co NZ Toll-Free: 0800 555 035 or click here for our latest offers.