Holidays
The Exhilaration of a Ski Holiday
On a ski holiday the exhilaration of skiing is matched by its congeniality. The special world of sun and snow, slopes and chairlifts, brings quick and easy conversation and friendships which follow into the apres-ski life, long after the lifts have stopped, and the snow turns long-shadowed. The relaxed mood and physical well-being induced by the excitement of the day is enjoyed in the cosmopolitan and happy atmosphere of apres-ski activity.
Skiing makes a marvellous holiday, the resort a refreshingly new way of life, in all, an escape from the noisy humdrum of a grey winter. It is a return to the elemental, transporting one high into the mountains, beyond ice blue brooks and silent frozen waterfalls to a new world combining relaxation and exhilaration.
That is why skiing has become the widest participant sport in Europe, enjoyed by all ages and lifestyles and, having once had a ski holiday, skiers can’t wait to return to the snow.
Ski Club of Ireland
The Ski Club wants to bring this world to you and to the many others who use our slopes every year. The Ski Club was formed 60 years ago by ski enthusiasts who organised winter sports holidays abroad each year. That tradition continues today for its members. Non-members are very welcome to join us too for an additional fee of €50 (which entitles you to a free lesson or practice at Kilternan). Indeed, there are generally more non-members than members on our trips. We especially encourage any individual who wants to ski but for many reasons must do so on their own, to come with us. Within 24 hours, they will feel part of the group.
2026 Holidays
2026 will see the Club organising 2 holidays - Courchevel (Jan 10 to Jan 17) and Bad Gastein (Feb 21 to Feb 28)
Courchevel - France
The holiday in 2026 will be in the 3 Valleys (Courchevel) from Jan 10th to 17th with Dave Beattie and the Skivo2 Group, which we have used for many years. This will be a specially tailored 5-day course (one day free skiing) targeted at intermediate to advanced skiers with about eight people in each ski group. Tuition is all-day for the 5 days, with video feedback and coaching from the very best of instructors who have worked with the Ski Club for many years. This is a terrific opportunity to raise your personal skiing performance to a higher level and but always with enjoyment built into it. For advanced skiers, should snow conditions permit, off-piste skiing would be included.
People need to arrange their own flights, and the selected one is FR1378 Ryanair to Grenoble returning on FR1379 to Dublin. Skivo2 provide the transfer between the airport and the resort. Skivo2 provide accommodation and half board in Chalet Roger and Chalet Valeriane. There will be a lot of socialising between those in the two chalets. Pricing from Skivo2 is in Sterling and therefore will depend on the exchange rate at the time of payment. The figure is likely to be circa €1460 for sharers and €1890 for the limited number of single rooms.
You don’t have to be a member to come on the club holiday. Besides the excellent tuition in a fantastic resort, what really makes the holiday is the camaraderie of the group.
So, if you are interested in going, please contact holidays@skiclub.ie to secure your place.
Bad Gastein - Austria
The second club holiday in 2026 will be in Bad Gastein for the week commencing Saturday, February 21st. It is set in the beautiful Gastein valley, part of a 220km ski area, one of the biggest in Austria. For the daredevils, there is the H1 Hohe Scharte Nord - one of the longest descents in the Eastern Alps - a thrilling 10.4km run with a vertical drop of 1,440 meters.
Noted for its spas, Bad Gastein also has enough bars and restaurants to entertain visitors. We have reservations in the excellent 4* Hotel Salzburger Hof, only about a 5-minute walk from the lifts. The hotel is a very popular one with Irish guests. The airport transfer is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The basic price for a half-board hotel, flights and transfers will be approx. €1750, to be confirmed. A limited number of single rooms will be available at an extra cost, also to be confirmed. Extras will include lift pass, ski tuition (if desired) and equipment rental (if required).
The February holiday caters for all grades of skier from near-beginner, through intermediate and advanced. Ages range from young adults to people in their seventies, with the majority spread in between. Many of those who have been on previous club holidays enrol in the local Ski School. Others prefer to free ski – the choice is yours. For advanced skiers, it is hoped to get into the off-piste as much as possible.
We encourage any individual or group who wants to ski but, for a variety of reasons, must do so on their own, to come with us. Within 24 hours, they will feel part of the group.
We have taken a provisional booking of rooms with the tour operator Topflight Holidays, and it is very unlikely that we will get an increase. As there is a finite number of rooms available in the hotel, it is strongly advised that the earliest possible bookings are made. So please contact holidays@skiclub.ie and put your €200 deposit down (€250 for non-members) to secure your place.