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Unusual ski holiday destinations

When someone asks you to think of a ski holiday resort you probably imagine somewhere in the Alps; maybe a stylish French town or a classic Austrian or Swiss alpine village complete with traditional buildings and chalets.

Of course there are many locations that match this description, but the ever expanding interest in winter sports and off season holidays means there are some more unlikely places to consider when it comes to booking a skiing trip.

One of the things that makes a holiday based around winter sports such an attractive proposition is that it is based around the idea of a group of friends or family travelling together and taking part in activities that all can share. Choosing to stay in villas provided by leading holiday providers such as Villas4You, this provides the perfect environment for those looking for a shared holiday experience.

With the popularity of winter holidays having increased massively in recent years, as people aim to take advantage of cheaper 'off peak' costs and avoid the crowded main season getaway crush, winter sports activity holidays now have a range of options that are far more widespread than the obvious choices of destinations.

Turkey

Most people will think of Turkey as being a classic beach holiday destination and of course the summer months provide some of the very best beaches. It might surprise some, then, to find that the Turkish government has been ploughing money and resources into developing a year round tourist industry based on the idea of promoting winter sports. This has led to a swift introduction into the calendar of many skiing enthusiasts who are looking for something unusual.

Villas in Turkey have long been an ideal solution to a family holiday for the summer months but now there is a full range of slopes to suit all skill types situated in forest regions where mountains of medium height mean conditions are never too harsh. The pistes range from the easiest, beginner friendly, to slightly more challenging terrain for those of a greater skill level.

Some of the main ski resorts are Uldag Bursa, which is the most popular winter resort in Turkey, Kartepe Sapanca, which has a seventeen hundred meter summit, and the resort of Erzurum Palandokon, which is the highest and coldest ski resort in the country.

Portugal

Portugal is another country that many would even assume had a presence when it comes to winter sports. Already known as one of the world’s top surf and golfing locations, renting villas in Portugal is an established way to enjoy the best of what each of those disciplines has to offer.

Today, Portuguese ski holidays are becoming ever more popular. The country’s main ski resort is located nearly two thousand metres above sea level at the top of the Serra da Estrela mountains. It is in fact the only natural developed resort in the country and its short season, which lasts, only a few weeks each year means there is a limited opportunity to enjoy it.