January Ski Deals
![[EL_AltText_Deals1]](https://cdn2.ernalow.co.uk/images/landing/deals/EL1.jpg)
January is hands down one of the best times for a ski holiday in France and across Europe. The holiday crowds have cleared, leaving slopes a little more peaceful for those carving out turns in the fresh new year. January tends to offer some of the best snow of the season too, thanks to chilly temps and solid snowfall. It's like winter's sweet spot for skiers who want high-quality snow without the holiday crowds — think fewer lift lines and wide-open runs where you can really let loose.
And then there’s the value factor. After the New Year rush, prices usually drop, so you’ll find great deals on packages, from flights and transfers to cosy chalets or swanky mountain hotels. This can mean snagging luxury perks that might be out of reach during peak weeks. Whether you're looking to relax with après-ski drinks in a French chalet or explore vibrant après scenes in Austrian resorts, January’s lower prices mean you can often get more bang for your buck forget that January is prime time for European après-ski. With fewer crowds, it’s easier to meet like-minded skiers and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. There’s nothing like hitting the bars with friends and enjoying live music, or just soaking in the mountain views without the hustle. So, if you’re looking to kick off your year with some epic ski vibes, January is the way to go.
![[EL_AltText_Deals2]](https://cdn2.ernalow.co.uk/images/landing/deals/EL2.jpg)
January Ski Deals
Great picks for terrain
Meribel, France
Located right in the heart of the world-renowned Three Valleys ski area, Meribel is a fantastic January holiday destination. It is a modern, all-around resort that can appeal to skiers of all age groups and can also offer a fantastic holiday proposition at any stage of the season. Its location in the heart of the Three Valleys gives it convenient access to up to 600 kilometres of pistes across the region ( one of the largest interlinked ski regions in the world). The local slopes around Meribel are beginner-friendly and better suited to both beginners and cautious intermediates, and with more majority of the pros and advanced skiers favouring the slopes of Val Thorens, Courchevel and other resorts in the Three Valleys, Meribel might just be the best place to be especially if you are visiting to spend some time on the slopes and improve your skiing. January also represents the ideal month for skiers to take advantage of the world's largest ski area with empty slopes and fewer queues at the lifts, there really isn't a better opportunity to enjoy and cover every inch of the Three Valleys. Make the most of the low crowd numbers and tackle some of the most popular slopes which are extremely popular and busy at peak times, for example, the popular Cime Carron cable car over at Val Thorens will be a lot less busy and will ferry you in no time to its summit at 3,200 metres altitude from where you can enjoy the popular red runs back to the village, whilst taking in some of the Three Valleys most breathtaking scenery. Méribel’s Roc de Fer competition is a World Championship ski event that invites some of the world's top skiers to its pistes every January. It is a heavily contested event that sees successful competitors advance to the World Cup Circuit. The fanfare which follows the event is equally as lively and adds to the excitement within the resort. With fewer families at this time of the season and more adult visitors, this means that it is a lot easier to get table reservations at some of Meribel’s top restaurants. It also means the bars are buzzing and the apres-ski is very lively with the adults having a run of the manor. You can celebrate Christmas twice at Meribel with the resort celebrating Orthodox Christmas for its Russian guests and visitors every 6th of January. It is held at the La Chaudanne and features exciting performances such as juggling, fire dancing and illusionist tricks; ending with an elaborate fireworks display.
Best Places Ski Resorts to Visit in January
Meribel, France
Located right in the heart of the world-renowned Three Valleys ski area, Meribel is a fantastic January holiday destination. It is a modern, all-around resort that can appeal to skiers of all age groups and can also offer a fantastic holiday proposition at any stage of the season. Its location in the heart of the Three Valleys gives it convenient access to up to 600 kilometres of pistes across the region ( one of the largest interlinked ski regions in the world).
The local slopes around Meribel are beginner-friendly and better suited to both beginners and cautious intermediates, and with more majority of the pros and advanced skiers favouring the slopes of Val Thorens, Courchevel and other resorts in the Three Valleys, Meribel might just be the best place to be especially if you are visiting to spend some time on the slopes and improve your skiing. January also represents the ideal month for skiers to take advantage of the world's largest ski area with empty slopes and fewer queues at the lifts, there really isn't a better opportunity to enjoy and cover every inch of the Three Valleys. Make the most of the low crowd numbers and tackle some of the most popular slopes which are extremely popular and busy at peak times, for example, the popular Cime Carron cable car over at Val Thorens will be a lot less busy and will ferry you in no time to its summit at 3,200 metres altitude from where you can enjoy the popular red runs back to the village, whilst taking in some of the Three Valleys most breathtaking scenery. Méribel’s Roc de Fer competition is a World Championship ski event that invites some of the world's top skiers to its pistes every January.
It is a heavily contested event that sees successful competitors advance to the World Cup Circuit. The fanfare which follows the event is equally as lively and adds to the excitement within the resort. With fewer families at this time of the season and more adult visitors, this means that it is a lot easier to get table reservations at some of Meribel’s top restaurants. It also means the bars are buzzing and the apres-ski is very lively with the adults having a run of the manor. You can celebrate Christmas twice at Meribel with the resort celebrating Orthodox Christmas for its Russian guests and visitors every 6th of January. It is held at the La Chaudanne and features exciting performances such as juggling, fire dancing and illusionist tricks; ending with an elaborate fireworks display.
Great Picks for snow in January
![[EL_AltText_Deals3]](https://cdn2.ernalow.co.uk/images/landing/deals/EL3.jpg)
Cervinia, Italy There are hardly any ski resorts in Italy that offer better snow conditions than Cervinia. It is arguably Italy's most snow-sure ski resort, possessing one of the European Alps most reliable snow records. The ski season kicks off early in Cervinia with the glacier usually opening from mid to late October every year. By the time November rolls around, a lot more ski terrain is opened and usually begins with the Cime Laghi Bianco run. The resort is able to open earlier than other ski resorts in the European Alps thanks to its excellent snow record and high altitude slopes. The resort sits at an altitude of 2100 metres and its highest piste peaks at 3,820 metres. By the time January comes around each year, the pistes on Cervinia are in fantastic condition having received snowfall over the start of the season up until January, there is a lovely base on the slopes for skiers to enjoy. With most Italian resorts costing relatively less than their French, Swiss and Austrian counterparts, Cervinia is a splendid January ski holiday destination that offers better snow conditions on its pistes than the rest at a much lower price. Cervinia shares its access to the glacier with Zermatt over the border in Switzerland and a ski pass here also grants skiers access to the pistes on the Swiss side of the border. Cervinia is generally a quiet ski resort, however, in January it does get slightly quieter, leaving little to no queues at the lifts and plenty of non-crowded pistes to explore. With an abundance of snowfall in the month of January, there are fewer places offering better skiing conditions.
Get that Alpine Charm in January
Saalbach, Austria
Saalbach ski resort is one of Austria's most well-known and vibrant ski resorts. Nestled within an old, traditional and attractive Tyrolean village with bags of character, Saalbach is also linked with the neighbouring ski resorts of Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn which together make up the large and interlinked Skicircus region in the Austrian Alps. With up to 270 kilometres of pistes between them, the area has an ample amount of skiing pistes to explore.
The slopes at Saalbach and the remainder of the Skicircus are most beginners and intermediate friendly and as such, advanced skiers and thrill-seeking skiers may not find too much satisfaction here, also taking into considering the modest elevation of the slopes here hovering between 830 and 2,096 metres. That being said, Saalbach is the ideal January ski holiday destination for skiers looking to enjoy a laid back winter break with easy skiing, low crowds and a great deal of apres-ski partying. Saalbach’s resort centre is a charming enclave of its traditional past captured and symbolised by its mediaeval onion-domed church and surrounding old buildings.
The atmosphere at the resort is a mix of a cosy, welcoming feeling with a buzzing undertone as evening draws in. Saalbach is not just about skiing, especially in the month of January. It is an ideal party resort with a fantastic apres-ski scene. It's the perfect destination for beginners or people just looking to experience a traditional ski resort with a great atmosphere. January offers the best opportunities for this as the resort has low attendance numbers with families and young children away and partying carrying on until the early hours each day.
Front row seat to snowsport events!
Kitzbuhel, Austria
Kitzbuhel possesses just about everything that one would require in a ski resort. A large and expansive ski area, snowsure pistes which cater to all ski abilities, spectacular beauty and a vibrant apres-ski scene; not to mention several non-ski activities for everyone to enjoy and get involved in. Kitzbuhel is very well renowned for its beauty and is often ranked amongst some of the most aesthetically pleasing ski resorts not only in Austria but across the Alps in general. It sits at a very modest 760 metres and its pistes range between resort level and 2000 metres altitude.
In the Austrian Alps, these numbers may not exactly fill any experienced skier with much joy or confidence however, despite the modest resort height and relatively low ski slopes altitude, Kitzbuhel still happens to be the venue for the daring Hahnenkamm World Cup race every January, thanks to its famous “Streif” World Cup Downhill course. The race is viewed internationally by millions of viewers across Asia and Europe with an equally passionate crowd of supporters and revellers viewing the events in person at the resort. Kitzbuhel also plays host to the Snow Polo World Cup and has hosted the event for the last 20 years.
Considered the world's largest polo tournament held on snow, it is a wonderful spectacle and draws in a lot of interest not only from the winter sports enthusiasts but also equestrian fans as well. With two internationally recognised events taking place in the same month, the atmosphere in Kitzbuhel in January is one of the liveliest anywhere in the Alps at that particular time. Even though its high season, Kitzbuhel does not suffer a lot from overcrowding with it being term-time, the crowds are not as heaving as one would expect. Kitzbuhel has in the past, had low snowfall levels but the resort is well equipped with snowmaking machines that adequately supplement any snow shortages and are also key in ensuring that the season lasts up to 200 days. In addition, the cold January temperatures help in preserving the snow on the slopes keeping the surface in great condition even after a day or two. Visiting Kitzbuhel in January is perhaps one of the best Alps experiences.
Best Ski area for january skiing
Tignes - Val d’Isere Ski Area, France
Val d'Isère and Tignes should be at the top of anyone's list for a January trip to the Alps. Either resort is ideal at this time of the year which is why we have suggested both. Formerly known as the Espace Killy ski area before being renamed more recently as the Tignes - Val d’Isere ski area, both resorts offer some of the most snow-sure pistes not only in France but across the entire Alps.
Offering up to 300 kilometres of pistes across both resorts there are more than enough pistes to cater to all ski ability levels. There are also not one but two glaciers in the ski region with pistes reaching up to 3,500 metres altitude. The conditions on the glaciers are fantastic due to the altitude that skiing lasts all through summer; the fantastic snowmaking facilities ensure the pistes are well supplemented all through. But we aren't here to talk about the summer or the snowmaking facilities, which may not be necessary to call on in January at Tignes - Val d’Isere ski area, thanks to its amazing snow record.
Even after the occasional warm and dry December, there are still a lot of snow-sure pistes to find at Tignes-Val d’Isere, more than 70% of which sit above 2000 metres altitude. There is also an abundance of snowfall in January around the Tignes - Val d’Isere ski area; previous records have registered over a metre of snowfall within just a week. With schools being in term-time and university students preparing for the end of semester exams, January possesses a fantastic opportunity to visit Tignes and Val d’Isere, as the Christmas comedown has in the past seen fewer crowds at the resorts; however, powder hunters and athletes also realise this is a great time to visit, so be prepared to run into a lot of seasoned skiers on the slopes. If you wanted a break from the snow and needed a bit of relaxation, the “Classicaval” music opera has been performed in Val d'Isère's old baroque church, St Bernard Menthon for over 20 years and features very talented international musicians.
FAQs
What are the best ski resorts in Europe to visit in January?
If you’re after fewer crowds, deep snow and low accommodation rates, you’re best exploring a January ski deal. High-altitude resorts like Zermatt and Val Thorens offer extensive slopes and excellent snow coverage in peak winter months like January. Austria’s St Anton offers lively après-ski and exceptional off-piste options all season but its quieter atmosphere in January makes it a prime choice looking to enjoy its famous snowfields.
If you cannot find what you are looking for please contact us and we can help you build your package.