Why go to the Northern Hemisphere for snow?

If you’re not keen on facing the heat of our Australian summer, make tracks north! Here are a few reasons why ski resorts in the northern hemisphere are worth the trip:

Bigger resorts

The resorts are generally larger and, apart from the cost to get there, they tend to be less expensive.

New gear

Much of the ski gear for hire in the bigger resorts gets completely replaced at the beginning of each snow season – bonus!

Après-ski nightlife

There's a fantastic après-ski nightlife, plus plenty of shopping and entertainment options to keep you busy when you’re not on the slopes.

Ultramodern facilities

They’ve got state-of-the-art facilities like heated chair lifts that can take as many as 2400 passengers per hour!

Perfect timing

December and January will have lots of snow and less crowded slopes. February and March have longer, sunnier days.

White Christmas

Everyone should experience at least one White Christmas!

Top Winter destinations in the Northern Hemisphere

Here’s our top list of winter destinations for a ski holiday if you're heading up north.

Ski at the biggest resorts in the United States

Not surprisingly, the ski resorts in the USA are big, bold and brash… but they’re also some of the ones with the most up to date facilities and activities.

Popular Places to Ski:

• Utah: The ski resorts are located near Salt Lake City like The Canyons, Park City, and Snowbird Ski Resort.

• Colorado: Ski the Rocky Mountains at Breckenridge, Vail, and Keystone, or, if you want to hobnob with the rich and famous there’s always skiing in world-famous Aspen.

• Other States: You can also ski in the northern states of Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, and Montana.

Check out our USA travel guide post for more highlights!

Try snow sports in Canada

Canada’s ski facilities are just as impressive as the USA but more laid back and offer plenty of off-slope activities like snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.

Popular Places to Ski:

• Alberta: The town of Banff has Sunshine Village and Lake Louise.

• Quebec and Ontario: These are slightly smaller but that may be your thing if you’re not into crowds.

• Whistler Blackcomb: If you’re homesick, head to this popular resort - it's staffed by so many Aussies you’d think you were back at home!

Check out our Canada travel guide for more highlights!

If you're thinking about a Canadian working holiday, check out our IEC Travel Insurance guide for more information.

Try a different ski holiday in Turkey

Want to take the slope less travelled? Head to Turkey.

It may not have the world-class facilities of Aspen, or the impressive après-ski life of European resorts, but you’ll certainly get to experience the rich Turkish culture without the crowds - or the price tag!

Popular Places to Ski:

• Bursa: Ulugag (where wealthy locals normally go)

• Bolu: Kartalkaya

• Erzurum: Palandoken

Ski and then soak in Japan

You might be surprised to learn that despite its small size, Japan has over 500 ski resorts. That's almost as many as the much larger United States!

The bonus with skiing in Japan is that the ski resorts are located in rural areas, so you won’t be paying Japanese city prices.

Not to mention you can also look forward to soaking those tired limbs in an onsen (hot thermal springs) bath after a day on the slopes.

Popular Places to Ski:

• Hokkaido: Niseko, Furano

• Nagano: Happo One, Hakuba resorts

• Tohoku: Appi Kogen and Zao Onsen

PS: If you’re also going for a cultural immersion, avoid Niseko as a lot of Australians like to go there. English is spoken widely and even the signs are translated for you!

Read our Japan travel guide for more handy tips!

Hit the Olympic ski slopes in South Korea

If you want to maximise your snow time, South Korea is nearest to Australia and is on a similar timezone to us.

What’s more, their biggest and most popular resort Yongpyong opens at 8:30am and stays open till midnight so you can fit in plenty of action on the slopes!

Pyeongchang County hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, so you can also try out the facilities before the professionals come and do their thing.

Popular Places to Ski:

• Pyeongchang: Yongpyong, Phoenix Park

• Jeongseon: High 1

• Muju: Deogyusan

Make sure you read our South Korea travel guide if you haven't travelled there before!

Enjoy the most scenic ski resorts in Europe

Much of the ski action is in the Alps, spanning the Mediterranean coast of France through to Switzerland, Northern Italy, Austria, and Slovenia.

However, snow slopes for the Europeans are more of a romantic notion, so off-slope activities tend to take precedence over skiing.

Think horse-drawn sleigh rides, rich comfort food, stunning scenery from cable cars over snow-capped ranges, church spires, chalets, and ancient cobblestone streets.

Popular Places to Ski in Europe:

• France: Chamonix Mont Blanc (which hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924), and Val d’Isere.

• Switzerland: Zermatt, St Moritz, and Verbier.

• Italy: Sestriere and Dolomites.

• Austria: The home of alpine skiing boasts St Anton, Lech, Zurs, and Innsbruck ski resorts.

Seize the season and make tracks north for a white Christmas or a ski holiday this December! If you're planning to hit the slopes, make sure you consider travel insurance that covers skiing, snowboarding, and any other winter sports you want to do.

Fast Cover's Snow Sports Plus travel insurance policy can cover a huge range of winter activities! Get a quote today and choose the right coverage for you and all your snow sports adventures ahead!

Please note: To have cover under the snow related benefits whilst travelling overseas you need to specify ‘Snow’ at the time of policy purchase. Max 69 years of age for Snow Sports Plus policies. Any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the PDS prior to deciding whether this policy is right for you.

FAQs

What should I pack for a ski holiday?

Pack smartly: warm clothes, ski gear, sunscreen, and a good travel insurance policy that covers snow sports.

Do I need travel insurance for a ski trip?

It's important to think about Travel insurance when planning your ski trip! Travel insurance can provide cover for a range of unexpected events such as overseas medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and any accidents on the slopes. Make sure you read the PDS prior to choosing a policy as not all policies will cover everything. For example, only our Snow Sports Plus policy offers cover for skiing or snowboarding.

What is après-ski?

Après-ski is the social activities and entertainment following a day on the slopes, including bars, restaurants, and other fun events.

Please note: To have cover under the snow related benefits whilst travelling overseas you need to specify ‘Snow’ at the time of policy purchase. Max 69 years of age for Snow Sports Plus policies. Any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the PDS prior to deciding whether this policy is right for you.