Reasons to Book a Sunday–Sunday Ski Holiday – and Where To Do It

The longstanding tradition of Saturday–Saturday ski holidays is being challenged by new initiatives aimed not only at increasing flexibility for guests but also at making ski trips greener by avoiding the traffic jams caused by Saturday transfers to resort, which create twice as much CO2. Busy Saturdays see more than 100,000 travellers stuck on motorways and struggling through airports.

'Perhaps best of all is that Sunday-Sunday ski holidays allow skiers to enjoy the mountains on calm Saturdays, when many others are sitting in traffic, and to benefit from a final day on empty pistes with queue-free ski lifts.'

Among those challenging the status quo is self-catering residence specialist Pierre & Vacances (P&V), who also point out that arriving on Sundays allows guests to avoid expensive Saturday flights as well as longer queues at airports on Saturdays. That said, they also encourage skiers to ‘travel smart’ by coming by Eurostar and TGV via Paris or Lille, which requires shorter transfers from train stations. In general, there is greater availability of transfers on Sundays, too.

In terms of P&V’s own properties, the firm adds to the ease and efficiency of Sunday arrivals by allowing guests to collect both their lift passes and their apartment keys from the receptionists, so they can make a beeline for the ski shop to collect their equipment – everything is quicker on Sunday. 

But perhaps best of all is that Sunday-Sunday ski holidays allow skiers to enjoy the mountains on calm Saturdays, when many others are sitting in traffic, and to benefit from a final day on empty pistes with queue-free ski lifts. You can hire your ski equipment for any period of two to seven consecutive days.

If you do arrive on Sunday, your lift passes can be ready to use from your arrival, or you can choose for them to start on Monday. They are bookable from two to 13 consecutive days at all the relevant resorts, irrespective of arrival day.  You can also book ski lessons to start on Monday with P&V’s official ski school partner ESF, which offers both group and private ski lessons for Monday–Friday and private lessons on Saturdays; bookings can be made directly on the Pierre & Vacances website.

Sunday arrivals and departures are available in 20 P&V residences in the following top ski destinations throughout the season, including February half term. Because this season in 2022, Christmas falls on a Sunday, changeovers to all P&V residences can be organised on Fridays or Saturdays just for the Christmas/New Year period, so that Christmas dinner can go ahead as normal. 

French Alps

La Plagne and Belle Plagne: These resorts within a group of purpose-built villages in the Paradiski ski area are unrivalled as a place for children to make progress and for families to ski together. As well as plenty of beginner areas, there are runs taking even moderate skiers all the way down from the 3,250m glacier to 1,350m villages.

Avoriaz: Once dubbed the ‘Saint Tropez de Neige’ but now more down to earth, this alpine paradise perched above Morzine at 1,800m  is a car-free resort particularly great with younger kids. Think Horse-drawn taxis, traditional wooden chalets jostling with quirky 1960s architecture, central nursery slopes and facilities for all abilities.

Méribel: In the heart of the famous interlinked Three Valleys (Trois Vallées) and connected to neighbours Courchevel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires by a vast network of around 200 ski-lifts giving access to more than 600km of piste, Méribel has something for everyone, is constantly updating its facilities, and has good après-ski and plenty of family-friendly restaurants and cafés.

Courchevel: Also occupying one of the Three Valleys (and hence also linked to Méribel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires), Courchevel similarly affords access to more than 600km of piste. It actually comprises four different resorts named by altitude: 1850, 1650, 1550 and 1300 (La Praz).

Val Thorens: At the head of the Belleville valley (one of the Trois Vallées), this is the highest ski resort on the Continent, at 2,300m. Most accommodation is right on the piste, where there are big nursery slopes, and there’s great skiing for intermediates and experts here and over into the fourth valley, the Maurienne.

Andorra 

Known as a great-value family ski holiday destination, this is a Catalan-, French- and Spanish-speaking duty-free principality in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. The Pierre & Vacances hotels and residences here can mostly be found on 200km of varied piste in the Grandvilara ski area, which links the resorts of Pas de la Casa by the French border right up to El Tarter and Canillo with Soldeu in the centre. Alternatively, families on a budget and who don't need a lively nightlife scene should investigate the Peretol area just five minutes from Soldeu, which now features a new chairlift with direct access into the system.

Book your P&V ski holiday now with an early-booking discount of up to 20% off and free cancellation.