The hallowed ski or snowboard week. That one week a year where you head to the mountains and hit the slopes. It is sacred to many people, but have you had blasphemous thoughts of a weekend skiing holiday instead?
In this article we will pit week vs weekend, to compare them over a range of important factors. In each section we’ll compare one week against one weekend and against two weekends (giving you roughly the same amount of time in resort) to decide which is best.
Time spent skiing
You’d think that a three day weekend skiing holiday would mean a lot less time on the slopes then you get to enjoy over one week. However it is not quite as clear cut as you would think.
Over a week you have a much greater opportunity to ski but most people don’t ski or snowboard as hard as they do on a short break. Have you ever said ‘I am saving myself for tomorrow’, ‘I deserve a lay-in’, ‘hot chocolate break’ ‘gluhwein time’ or ‘the weather is bad lets finish early’? These excuses are far more common on a week trip than a weekend.
Part of this is to do with who you are skiing with. Week long holidays are often with family, or big mixed ability groups. Both of which mean less into it ski partners, more faffing and less skiing. Normally only committed skiers go on weekend skiing holidays, so you ski hard every moment you can.
While you might not get three full days in due to arrival and departure times you are on the slopes as long as your body – and the lifties – will let you. There are no hot chocolate stops, long lunches, lay-ins, or weather induced half days, meaning per day you cover more miles.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner week (but not by as much as you would think)
Week vs two weekends: Winner weekend
Time off work
Most ski holidays run Saturday to Saturday, and although companies like Alpine Elements offer Sunday to Sunday you can’t avoid taking a full week off work. But for a weekend you can fly out late on a Thursday and back late on a Sunday, only taking one day off work for three days skiing.
If you were to go on two ski weekends you get six days on the slopes for just two days holiday – a 60% saving of annual leave used compared to a one week holiday. If you have a partner who’s not into skiing or snowboarding you can go on two ski weekends, and you’ll get quality slope time without using up all the annual leave on something they just don’t understand.
Also for most people a week off work has to be booked way in advance. Sometimes you can’t get the time off as a more organised colleague got in first. But booking one day off is rarely a problem, and often it can be done with just a few days notice so you can wait until you know conditions will be good.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner weekend
Week vs two weekends: Winner weekend
Cost
The cost of a ski weekend is less than that of a week, but it is not half the price. One week half board in mid January, to Chalet Tuteliere in Val d’Isere, costs £566 with Alpine Elements. The same weekend at the same chalet costs £360 with their sister company iGO SKI. So going on two ski weekends would cost 27% more than one ski week.
As ski weekends require less forward planning it means you can wait to get a late deal. Also because you are not flying on Saturdays, and because you are flying at the least sociable hours – to maximize slope time – you often get cheaper airfares.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner weekend
Week vs two weekends verdict: Winner week
Getting there and back
Getting to the airport is as stressful as you make it – is it ever relaxing? – but doing so at the weekend is nicer then battling rush hour straight after work. Often package holidays with charter flights are conveniently mid morning to mid afternoon. Inconveniently this means the airport is busy with long check-in queues.
On arriving at your destination airport, there are normally multiple charter flights landing at the same time from various tour operators – it helps coordinate transfers. This creates chaos at luggage collection, and means busy transfers with lots of waiting around.
You arrive at your accommodation – having stopped at every hotel in your resort first – knackered after a full day travelling. On leaving resort, transfers are again long and normally leave ridiculously early and getting to the heaving airport with four hours to kill is not uncommon.
For weekend skiing holidays flights are normally either the first or last of the day to fit around work. It means there is an inevitable rush to the airport, but at least it is comparatively less busy.
The destination airport is also quieter, and most people on scheduled flights are not joining you up the mountains meaning the roads are clearer. Transfers are normally in a minibus, hire car or taxi with minimal waiting around and a much quicker transfer. On the downside you arrive late and normally just hit the sack rather than the apres.
On the way home from a weekend skiing holiday you normally ski or board hard until three or four, then quickly pack up your stuff and start the journey home. Transfers are quicker, airports quieter but you will arrive home late and will be aching at work the next day.
On a weekend trip you don’t lose two days travelling – instead you lose sleep, but over three days does that matter? However given the choice of doing all the travelling once or twice I can’t imagine anyone preferring to do it twice.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner weekend
Week vs two weekends: Winner week
Having a relaxing holiday
On a one week ski holiday you get time to relax and unwind. A spa visit, lay-ins and recharging your batteries are part of the holiday experience. For many people, after getting to a ski resort coming home again three days later – after skiing hard and possibly partying harder – is not their idea of a relaxing break.
Weekend skiing holidays are exhausting, you normally don’t get a moment to relax and will be hitting the slopes every moment you can. Travelling in the evenings, missing out on sleep and working the day before and after a trip, means they are more for people who want to ski rather than want a holiday.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner week
Week vs two weekends: Winner week
Flexibility
With week long ski holidays departing at the weekend it means two consecutive weekends are wiped out. This won’t fit in everyone’s schedule, and if trying to arrange a trip for a group of busy friends it’s almost impossible.
Weekend skiing holidays can start and end when you wish to fit around your schedule, flight prices or availability of cheap accommodation. Most people are more flexible getting one day of annual leave at late notice. This means you can wait to get a deal, or wait for the right conditions before booking.
You can also take a four day weekend, or even five days – a short week according to my wife – the choice is yours.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner weekend
Week vs two weekends: Winner weekend
Ease of booking
The inherent flexibility of a ski weekend makes it harder to book – there are just too many options. Often you end up booking each part independently or at least booking the flights on your own. However companies like iGO SKI make booking ski weekends much easier.
Comparatively booking a ski week is fairly easy. Either you are destination or price lead and you choose the best option for you, on the dates you have available.
Week vs weekend skiing: Winner week
Week vs two weekends: Winner week
Conclusion one week vs weekend skiing holiday
The score is seven wins each – not planned I promise – which ultimately means whether to book a week or a weekend depends on your priorities. If having a proper holiday, relaxing and ease of booking are important book a week. If flexibility, maximising slope time for time off are important to you then a weekend skiing holiday is ideal.
Interestingly if you compare a week to one weekend the weekend wins four to three. But comparing one week with two weekends the week wins four to three. So if you are struggling to fit in a week skiing or snowboarding, or to afford the cost, then book a weekend. But I wouldn’t recommend planning two weekend skiing holidays instead of one week.
Of course there is nothing to stop you having the hallowed one week ski holiday plus a blasphemous ski weekend too!
