Are you sure you know the best ski resorts? Winter is in full swing, but the snow cannons don't shut up because, with a few exceptions, the surrounding ski areas are not exactly covered in snow. But the winter holidays of 2015 are approaching and many people will take advantage of them to visit ski resorts and cut white slopes with curbs. Although we have one of the best ski resorts in the world in our (in)direct vicinity, you probably haven't even heard of some of the best. But only until today. You're welcome.
When the word applies to the best ski resorts in the world, we are first offered destinations that are also regularly visited by the Alpine Skiing World Cup caravan. However, it does premium offer it is far from ending there. Check which ski resorts you don't know yet, where you can live out all your skiing dreams and what their trademark is.
READ MORE: 10 most fashionable European ski resorts
Bansko, Bulgaria
Bansko lies at the foot of the Pirin mountain and offers more than 70 kilometers of tracks, which are interspersed with 25 cable cars. One of them, a ski slope, is named La Bomba, after the famous Italian skier Alberto Tomba, who is extremely fond of this place. It is the best that Boglari has to offer and for half price it offers what other renowned alpine centers offer. Although it is still relatively young (it has ten full seasons behind it), it is proof that with the right investment and dedicated work, it is possible to offer top skiing in Eastern Europe as well. The tracks are suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, while the black streaks cannot be overlooked.
> The best ratio between quality and price
Soldeau, Andorra
Soldeau is a newcomer to the host venues Alpine Skiing World Cup matches, but he is already a veteran among skiing fans, as he is famous for two world-famous ones ski schools. Trapped in a pocket of the eastern Pyrenees (between France and Spain), its location allows skiing until spring. They like to come here skiers from all over the world and in the gondola it seems as if you have wandered into the streets of Babylon, because the real world is small. They mix French, English, Spanish, Russian, German, Italian,... With one ticket you have at your disposal 100 tracks and 3 freestyle areas. Andorra, a ski destination. Who would have thought.
> Best for beginners
Barèges/La Mongie, France
We are staying in the Pyrenees. Barèges is the largest ski resort in the French part of this mountain chain, called Grande Tourmalet (the Tour de France caravan regularly turns over the mentioned pass in the summer). Together with La Mongie, they offer 100 kilometers of ski slopes of all levels of difficulty, and to these we can also add two snow parks and 50 kilometers of running tracks. If, in addition to skiing, you would also like to enjoy panoramic views, step into the gondola that takes you up to Pic du Midi observatory, where a phenomenal view and the most difficult route await you. The place - the first with a spa tradition, and the second purpose-built as a ski starting point - are located in the heart of the 2877 meter high Pic du Midi du Bigorre mountain and are from the nearest airport Pau Pyrenees 90 kilometers away.
> Best for weekends
Baqueira Beret, Spain
Baqueira Beret has many blue colored lines on which blue blood also skis or king of spain. It is a center that grew precisely because of the ski resorts and serves as a starting point for three areas - Baqueira, Beret and Bonaigua. Med 120 kilometers of track in addition to the blue ones, you can also find many red ones, and most of them curl above the forest line (1800 m +). Because this year the ski resort commemorates Abraham, that is 50 years of operation, the season is peppered with many celebrations and you can still catch a few. Although the terrain is more "family" oriented, the destination is also a magnet for more experienced skiers, who come here at their own expense on outdoor, unserved lines, which, like other areas, are regularly covered with snow during the season.
> Best for intermediate skiers
Alyeska, Alaska
Alyeska is one of Alaska's premier ski areas located 65 kilometers from the capital Anchorage, wedged between the spectacular glaciers of the mountains Chugach. On average, it falls due here over the course of a year 16.5 meters of snow (thickness of the snow cover can be a problem, but only because there is too much of it), so it is not surprising that there tube track in abundance, even those that do not descend for 1000 meters (which is equal to the height difference between the Vršič Pass and Kranjska Gora). It provides almost 6 square kilometers of land (which is a third of that of Vail, Colorado), for all adrenaline seekers and, in addition to the tracks themselves, also "cat" or ratrak skiing and heli skiing (when the helicopter brings the skier to the top of the hill). Of course, it's not cheap, but what an adrenaline sport it is. The best time to visit is from February onwards.
> Best for the experienced
Niseko, Japan
In terms of the amount of snow, Alyeska is not far behind the Japanese Niseko, where it is located on the island of Hokkaido, as it is considered one of the snowiest ski resorts in the world (it reaches 15 meters per year, which is twice as much as the usual thick shipment on the snowiest European ski resorts). Near Siberia it just does its thing, so you can expect snowflakes every day. It is a popular ski spot for Australians, who in addition night and touring skis (one of the few in Japan that allows it), is also famous for its nightlife. They form it four connected ski areas, stitched with the cables of 30 cable cars, spread over almost 900 hectares and which the skier can transport in a single run. The largest of them is the Niseko Hirafu ski resort with a rich "accompanying program" - snowmobile track and two amusement parks.
> Best for pipe lovers
Portillo, Chile
Portillo in Chile is out of season the base of many alpine skiers, who are sharpening their form in the Andes before the start of the season. They also liked to train here Tina Maze and Lindsey Vonn. This is probably the most beautiful possible advertisement for a ski resort, which, although it lies in the middle of raw nature, offers a unique charm. Because it is located in the southern hemisphere, can satisfy all snow lovers when summer reigns here. It is a small but iconic place, represented by a bright yellow Hotel Portillo (see cover photo), built in the 1940s, which was run by the Chilean government before it was handed over to the US in 1962. A carefree stay for a maximum of 450 guests is ensured 550-member staff. It stands by the lake from where they lead two unrelated tracks. And you don't come here for those morning rides, as smooth as a baby's ass, but after furrowed terrain, like Keith Richards' face. Guide it is almost a must if you want to use the terrain to the last meter.
> Best for tube lovers in summer
