Forget about city breaks to Paris or Rome, or a weekend away to the beaches of Spain or Portugal – there’s now a new type of holiday that’s become a must-have.

Short – but glamorous – ski trips to places such as Megève, the resort village nestled at the foot of the Mont-Blanc massif in France, have now become a hit with Instagram-conscious holiday-goers.

Heidi, the fastest growing ski travel business in the UK which specialises in offering flexible holidays for skiers and snowboarders, has seen a 58 per cent increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months.

Google data has also shown a huge spike in searches for ‘ski weekends’ and ‘short ski break’ in the same period, reported the popular brand.

The rise in those searching for shorter bursts on the slopes coincides with more holiday-goers embracing a trip to a ski resort despite having no desire to take part in winter sports.

Instead, some go for the Instagrammable moments – from the Michelin-starred restaurants serving up delicious food to the fun-filled après-ski and the picturesque setting of the mountains.

One skier who recently spent four days in the Alps with friends who didn’t plan to ski told FEMAIL how his pals were more interested in exploring their resort and loved the atmosphere rather than the idea of going down the slopes.

The British holiday-goer said: ‘We organised this trip more to hang out together in a stunning setting, with a cabin to ourselves and I know our partners have loved the photo opportunities.

Short - but glamorous - ski trips to places such as Megève (pictured), the resort village nestled at the foot of the Mont-Blanc massif in France , have now become a hit with Instagram-conscious holiday-goers

Short – but glamorous – ski trips to places such as Megève (pictured), the resort village nestled at the foot of the Mont-Blanc massif in France , have now become a hit with Instagram-conscious holiday-goers

‘It doesn’t bother me going skiing by myself, as when I join them in the town, we all have a great time together. I don’t think ski resorts are just for hardcore ski-lovers anymore, it’s for anyone.’ 

According to Heidi (heidi.com), online travel forums are being increasingly filled with people asking the question ‘which resorts are good to go as a couple if your partner doesn’t ski’.

One such place is the ultra-glam French ski resort of Megève – popular with both skiers and non-skiers alike – and which featured in the sixth episode of the fourth season of Netflix’s Emily in Paris.

It’s the location where American fashionista Emily (played by Lily Collins) takes to the Alps as she tries skiing for the first time – and she’s not the only one who’s keen to visit the area.

Heidi has seen a 183 per cent increase in ski holiday bookings for Megève for the 2024/2025 season versus last year.

The sophisticated destination boasts a village filled with designer outlets, such as Rolex, Dior and Hermès, as well as high-end art galleries and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Heidi, the fastest growing ski travel business in the UK which specialises in offering flexible holidays for skiers and snowboarders, has seen a 58 per cent increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months. Pictured, an influencer in Megève

Heidi, the fastest growing ski travel business in the UK which specialises in offering flexible holidays for skiers and snowboarders, has seen a 58 per cent increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months. Pictured, an influencer in Megève

Google data has also shown a huge spike in searches for 'ski weekends' and 'short ski break' in the same period, reported the popular brand. Pictured, an influencer in Megève

Google data has also shown a huge spike in searches for ‘ski weekends’ and ‘short ski break’ in the same period, reported the popular brand. Pictured, an influencer in Megève

Marcus Blunt, co-founder at Heidi, said: 'We’ve seen a 58 per cent increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months'

Marcus Blunt, co-founder at Heidi, said: ‘We’ve seen a 58 per cent increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months’

If that wasn’t enough to entice non-skiers to the Alps, there’s also the Balneoform, an impressive spa that offers an outdoor pool surrounded by the glistening mountains, a 16-meter high giant swing and the oldest jazz club outside of Paris, Club les 5 rues.

Plus there’s Ski Joëring – skiing behind a horse – through pristine snowy meadows, paragliding across scenic views, a 3km toboggan run through snowy forests, snowshoeing with enthusiastic and helpful guides and horse-drawn carriage rides.

For those interesting in staying in Megève, there’s plenty of impressive five and four star hotels, such as Les Loges Blanches, which boasts its own spa, as well as a chic restaurant serving up mouth-watering dishes.

It’s one of many hotels that are just a short walk from the centre of the resort, which presents a pleasant festive theme thanks to the giant twinkling tree in the town square and the dazzling light display at night.

But it’s not only Megève that could be a popular destination with those looking for a long weekend at a ski resort – whether to ski or not.

Heidi also noted how Seefeld and St. Anton, in Austria, Chamonix, La Clusaz and Borovets in Bulgaria are some of the top destinations in Europe for a long weekend resort break.

Marcus Blunt, co-founder at Heidi, said: ‘We’ve seen a 58 per cent increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months. 

‘When you book four nights rather than seven, you still get plenty of time to ski but will naturally save on accommodation, lift passes, ski hire, and even flight prices.

The rise in those searching for shorter bursts on the slopes coincides with more holiday-goers embracing a trip to a ski resort despite having no desire to take part in winter sports. Pictured, a group snowshoeing

The rise in those searching for shorter bursts on the slopes coincides with more holiday-goers embracing a trip to a ski resort despite having no desire to take part in winter sports. Pictured, a group snowshoeing

One such place is the ultra-glam French ski resort of Megève (pictured) - popular with both skiers and non-skiers alike - and which featured in the sixth episode of the fourth season of Netflix's Emily in Paris One such place is the ultra-glam French ski resort of Megève (pictured) - popular with both skiers and non-skiers alike - and which featured in the sixth episode of the fourth season of Netflix's Emily in Paris

One such place is the ultra-glam French ski resort of Megève (pictured) – popular with both skiers and non-skiers alike – and which featured in the sixth episode of the fourth season of Netflix’s Emily in Paris

If that wasn't enough to entice non-skiers to the Alps, there's also the Balneoform (pictured), an impressive spa that offers an outdoor pool surrounded by the glistening mountains

If that wasn’t enough to entice non-skiers to the Alps, there’s also the Balneoform (pictured), an impressive spa that offers an outdoor pool surrounded by the glistening mountains

‘For example, if you’d like to enjoy a family ski holiday over February half term but want to cut costs, a family of four could save over £2,000 by flying Monday to Friday, avoiding the typically more expensive Saturday ‘changeover’ days. 

‘Our technology will also suggest lesser-known resorts which might have a cheaper price tag but give just as brilliant an experience.’

Explaining how his brand is prepared for this rise in shorter ski holidays, he added: ‘It’s really easy to search for long weekend ski breaks on the Heidi website. 

‘You can either put in the exact dates you want or choose the flexible “long weekend” option on the search calendar. 

‘We even have a ‘short transfer’ filter to help you find resorts with less travel time. Or you can always call our friendly, knowledgeable team for some expert advice.’

Marcus also shared his top tips for making the most of a long ski weekend – such as piste proximity, with the co-founder explaining: ‘It’s important to choose a resort that makes the trip as worthwhile as possible, so go for one with a short transfer time.’

He also explained that holiday-goers should get an early flight out and late flight back to maximise skiing time, while also picking accommodation close to the slopes and resort centre.

‘An easy commute means less time getting to the first lifts and more time on the pistes. Ski-in/ski-out options are ideal for this,’ said Marcus.

Megève also boasts a 16-meter high giant swing (pictured) and the oldest jazz club outside of Paris, Club les 5 rues

Megève also boasts a 16-meter high giant swing (pictured) and the oldest jazz club outside of Paris, Club les 5 rues

A pair of holiday-goers pose in front of the Megève sign at night as they enjoy their trip to the resort (pictured)

A pair of holiday-goers pose in front of the Megève sign at night as they enjoy their trip to the resort (pictured)

‘Meanwhile, if your resort is out of town and requires a bus, choose a hotel on a bus route for less travel time.’ 

Elsewhere, the Heidi co-founder explained how booking last minute can actually help skiers find a holiday for a cheaper price.

‘Long weekends and last-minute deals can go hand-in-hand. When the season begins, you can book your holiday with Heidi up to two days before departure,’ said Marcus. 

‘Not to mention easily find resorts with great snow by using our snow conditions filter. So, if there’s a fresh dump of powder in Chamonix on Wednesday, you could book the same day and be carving the slopes from Friday to Monday.’



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