If you're a solo traveler and ski fanatic, you might want to follow Gabriella Le Breton's winter adventure. Le Breton is the subject of a series of articles in Britain's The Telegraph, called "Single for the Season" about a single woman who is visiting 20 ski resorts this winter.
In mid-January, Le Breton was in Klosters, Switzerland, solo skiing her way at the "preferred ski destination of Prince Charles."
In late January, in report a on Le Breton's solo skiing I found on a blog called Travel Blog Land she was at Courchevel, a ski resort in the French Alps.
I've never skied in Europe. It's such a romantic notion, though. I imagine skiing into huts mid-mountain for hot soup or buttered rum. And skiing right into town at the end of the day, perhaps directly to the back door of my chalet?
I base my fantasies on one spring visit to Zermatt, Switzerland, where these things seemed possible, although I wasn't skiing there. I was staying at the Zermatt youth hostel (I was definitely a youth then) and several fellow hostelers had skis stored against a wall near the door. A few bucks a night for a room near the Matterhorn? Not a bad deal, whether you're skiing or not.
Le Breton describes skiing solo in Zermatt in a Christmas-time article. She says Zermatt has an exclusive reputation and that new properties there seem to be "über-luxurious." (read: über-expensive) Luckily there's that youth hostel!
The problem with these articles, though, is there aren't any tips geared specifically for solo skiers. What I can glean from one article is that in Davos, Le Breton connected with a local guide and two skiers from a Great Britain ski club. So she had company on the slopes that day, at least.
And I see in another, on Klosters, Switzerland, she is with a guide, who, um, proposes marriage. She nearly "chokes on her rosti" until she realizes he's joking.
She does talk about the night life. But not why it would be ideal for solo travelers. Still, if you're a big skier, these reports provide some good information about what some of the European slopes are like.
Photos by: Tilmandralle and Marcel Wiesweg
Being in Zermatt (with you!) is one of my fondest travel memories. :) Thanks for making me think of it!
Posted by: Adele | January 28, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Click on the link for the hostel, Adele. It's exactly how I remember it.
Posted by: Ellen | January 28, 2011 at 08:29 AM
I just love skiing and these places are just so amazing for the activity. I am an explorer but I have to admit I never been to this places. Thank you for sharing this blog and I hope to visit some on some of my lucky days.
Posted by: Ian | February 10, 2011 at 01:27 AM
Yeah I agree. I love skiing too and snowboarding. This extreme sports made me enjoy life.
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Posted by: Emily88 | February 28, 2011 at 10:52 PM