Without a doubt Europe and North America have some of the best ski vacation destinations that allow skiers to ski the fabled slopes all the way from Aspen, Colorado to the slopes of Park City to the peaks of the Andes. Europe provides idyllic skiing opportunities in Switzerland, Italy, Scandinavia and more. In spite of the misconception that American ski resorts are overcrowded, there are more than six hundred snowy playgrounds that are not only unheralded, but also relatively uncongested.

Mammoth Mountain, Aspen, Banff And More

Mammoth Mountain, California is big and includes a ski season that lasts till June or July. It even boasts of a ski school with hundreds of instructors, and provides high quality groomed snow throughout the winters. Aspen, Colorado is famous, and has many black-diamond runs as well as steep, narrow trails twists down. It challenges the skier to take on the Rockies. Aspen certainly has quality terrain combined with powder and steep drops that comprises over six hundred acres of skiing excellence. With expert runs and room enough for first-time skiers, Aspen is a hot spot for North American ski vacations.

Banff is another popular North American ski vacation destination. It is located in Canada. It has been in existence since 1883 and has been a haven for skiers from all across the world down to this day. This ski destination provides three ski areas that have more than two hundred and fifty runs spread over 7,700 acres and is consistently rated as being the top ski destination for skiers as well as snowboarders.

The Andes provides plenty of skiing opportunities and the list of ski resorts is quite long. The Andes of Argentina is certain to provide world class ski vacation opportunities and you can be sure to find a day or two of satisfying downhill skiing available at places such as Las Lenas, Cerro Catedral and Chapelco. There are also limited skiing options available on the volcanoes of the Los Nevados range in Colombia.

In Ecuador, one can ski the four highest peaks called Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe and Antisana. Peru too has potential for exploratory skiing, while one may want to try out the Chacaltaya Mountain just outside La Paz in Bolivia.

Europe no doubt is a haven for skiing and there are many ski vacation destinations you can choose from including Davos, Adelboden, Champery, Engelberg, Gstaad and many more skiing destinations in Switzerland. Davos is certainly the largest ski resort in Switzerland. It is also the highest city in Europe and is one of the oldest and most fashionable ski resorts that has an enviable reputation for providing excellent skiing along with an exciting night-life. It has five ski areas on both sides of the valley and has much variety in terms of terrain that is ideally suited for alpine skiing.

Of special interest to serious skiers would be a ski vacation that takes in Zermatt in Switzerland, Innsbruck in Austria and Chamonix in France. Also favored are ski vacations in Italy where the Dolomoti Mountains comprise ski regions like no other and high peaks coupled with gentle slopes provide excellent skiing. There is plenty of adventure available for everyone and with an abundance of ski vacation packages available, you can find entertainment, excellent shopping as well as an international skiing holiday for the beginner as well as the experienced skier.

Further north in Scandinavia can be found plenty of skiing opportunities like the impressive Lillehammer Olympic region in Norway. To experience the best in Alpine and cross-country skiing, the Hafjell Ski resort provides excellent conditions with Soft-Packed and Machine-Groomed snow. Oslo has the famous Holmenkollen ski jump that attracts plenty of visitors taking a ski vacation in Norway.

Once you have planned your dream ski vacation, it is necessary to know what to pack since this is a difficult part that involves selecting ski gear such as jackets, pants, gloves, helmets, goggles, base layers and more. Whatever you do, don't forget to pack the ski wear in the order that you will be wearing them. Pack ski accessories as well as those items of clothing you will wear when you are not skiing. Most important of all, your ski equipment should be packed including ski boots, skis, and poles, and having a ski bag for them is recommended. Of course, if you would rather travel lightly, which is what we would recommend, then renting your ski gear is the way to go!