The Alps are one of the most beautiful mountain systems in the world. They are ideal for sports, relaxing outdoors, and many other types of recreation. You must carefully plan your trip to conquer the Alps and get the most out of it. This isn’t easy, so we decided to help you a little. In our article, you will find the best plan for preparing for a trip to the Alps and many valuable tips.
Choosing the Season
The first preparation stage for a trip to the Alps should begin several months before the trip. At this stage, you should decide on the time of year that will be optimal for you. The most apparent option for a holiday in the mountains is winter. It allows you to have a great time at snowy resorts, enjoy magnificent landscapes, and do winter sports.
This kind of holiday will appeal to everyone and become a memorable event. Among the most significant disadvantages of winter in the mountains are the cold, which has recently become an increasingly rare, gusty winds, and the likelihood of avalanches.
If you want to see a completely different Alps, plan your summer holiday. At this time, the length of daylight hours becomes maximum, which opens up more opportunities for you. In the summer, everything grows, blooms, and smells like it is in the Alps. The air smells of herbs and flowers, improving your mood.
The choice of entertainment is even more excellent than in winter. In addition to hiking, you can conquer the Alps on mountain bikes, fly a paraglider, or have picnics in nature. Among the main disadvantages of summer is the heat. Even at high altitudes, it can be felt and creates a certain discomfort.
Those who do not like crowds of tourists should plan their mountain vacation in spring or autumn. At this time of year, there are not as many visitors to the Alps as in winter and summer, so it is possible to spend several days or weeks in relative silence.
There is usually enough snow in the mountains in early spring and late autumn, so if you want, you can even go skiing. The Alps have summer weather in May and September, but there is no excessive heat. Thanks to this, you can safely include even the most challenging and long hikes or bike rides in your vacation plan.
Choosing a Vacation Spot
The Alps are a mountain range covering the territory of eight countries. Each one has excellent conditions for tourists and lovers of mountain recreation. If we do not consider the options with tiny Monaco and Liechtenstein, then the contenders’ circle will narrow to six countries.
In most cases, lovers of mountain recreation choose the French Alps. They attract attention with abundant beautiful places where you can have a great time at any time of the year. Picturesque landscapes, clean air, and the remoteness of most popular resorts from large cities make the French Alps one of the best places to relax.
Among the many locations suitable for tourists, the most popular are Tignes, Val d’Isere, Alpe d’Huez, Courchevel, Val Thorens. These resorts will allow you to discover what the real Alps are and will become your favorites after just a few days of rest. If you are looking for the most beautiful places in Europe, plan your vacation in the Swiss Alps.
In each popular resort (St. Moritz, Crans Montana, Andermatt, and others), you will find many unique natural locations and enjoy the scenery. The presence of many ski lifts characterizes all the famous places in the Swiss Alps. There are fewer of them at the resorts in France, Italy, and other countries. Switzerland also has a well-developed network of mountain railways.
They not only take tourists to the places they need but also allow them to observe the breathtaking view from the window throughout the trip. When planning your mountain holiday, you should always consider the option with Italy. The local Alps are distinguished because they have steeper slopes, making skiing and cycling more difficult and risky.
In this regard, Italy is most often chosen by experienced tourists who have visited the Alps and spent their holidays there. Among the advantages of a mountain holiday in Italy are the abundance of landscapes, the diversity of the landscape, and the opportunity to be convinced every day that the Italians are the most hospitable people in Europe.
Among the most popular places for vacation are Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Val di Fiemme. Many travelers who have never been to the Alps often include Austria in their plans. The mountains in this country are not as high as in France or Italy, so it will be much easier for beginners to ski or bike and overcome numerous hiking routes.
In all other respects, the Austrian Alps are very similar to the Swiss ones. They are characterized by abundant beautiful places where you can enjoy a peaceful vacation. The most popular among visitors are the Austrian resorts of Soelden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Schladming, and Kitzbuehel.
Experienced conquerors of the Alps who have previously been to Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland should include a visit to the mountains in Slovenia and Germany in their vacation plan. These countries have many magnificent resorts where you can have a good time 12 months a year. In Slovenia, the most popular are Kranjska Gora, Rogla, and Bovec, and in Germany – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Reit im Winkl, and Berchtesgaden.
Gathering All the Necessary Things
You can conquer the Alps only after you have collected everything you need for your vacation. This planning stage is one of the key ones since replenishing the missing items everywhere is far from possible. First of all, we are talking about clothes. The weather can change quite quickly in the mountains, so you must be prepared for any surprises. It should also be considered that the air temperature in the highlands is always lower than at a low altitude above sea level.
Before the trip, you should collect a basic set of items for any tourist. If you plan to vacation at resorts without matches, flashlights, knives, and other items, then you can limit yourself to various hygiene products and medicines. The latter should be given special attention since, in certain European countries, the medicine you need may not be available for sale.
Resorts in the Alps offer vacationers the rental of skis, snowboards, bicycles, and everything else. However, if you plan to use your own sports equipment for riding (for example, custom-made to suit your every need), it should also be included in the checklist. In all other cases, there is no point in bringing bulky equipment with you, especially if you live on the other side of the planet.
Renting a Place to Live
An essential step in planning a mountain holiday in the Alps is finding a suitable place to stay. To visit a resort, you must book a hotel room or a popular chalet (a wooden house built in a picturesque place) in advance. This will be extremely difficult to do since many people always want to do the same thing. It will be tough to cope with the task if you plan to relax at the height of the resort season. You must constantly monitor the situation to succeed and choose the right moment to apply.
If you are going on holiday to the Alps without having a pre-booked place to stay, you will have to look for suitable options immediately after arriving at your destination. You will likely have to visit several locations where chalets or hotel rooms are still available. It is best to move from one resort to another in your transport, purchased at a car auction in London, Ontario or other cities. This will speed up your search and help you find the best accommodation.
Planning Activities and Entertainment
The Alps do not limit your choice of activities and entertainment. In any country where this mountain system passes, you can do your favorite thing and get the most out of your trip. If we consider the mountains, vacationers often plan skiing or cycling.
Both options have long been synonymous with “Alps,” so finding suitable routes and appropriate sports equipment is pretty straightforward. Hiking is often an alternative. They are relevant at any time of the year and are no less attractive than skiing or cycling. When planning such entertainment, you need to carefully choose the route and listen to the recommendations of the organizers.
For those who prefer a more relaxing holiday, the Alps allow enjoying beautiful landscapes, breathe clean air, participate in entertainment events, and taste local cuisine. When planning each of these activities, you need to study the best locations in advance and, depending on this, choose a place to spend your vacation.
Only those who carefully planned their vacation can conquer the Alps. When doing this difficult work, you must choose the best time to visit the mountains, find a suitable location, rent accommodation, collect everything you need and think about ways to entertain yourself. Having done this, you are guaranteed an extraordinary mountain holiday and will not regret the time spent.
