Ski Guides
Although it's great to talk to everyone 'in resort' about the 'best places' to ski, ski guides tend to know the mountains and the weather much better than anyone else. That can make Ski Guiding a really good investment to make the most of your skiing holiday. You simply won't need a ski guide if you're a beginner or in a small ski area, but if you are 'immediate skiier' that doesn't know the resort well or even an expert skiers, ski guides will tell you best places to ski on and off piste.
Ski Guiding - is it expensive?
Ski guides normally charge per half day and most will not charge extra for the number of people they are guiding (although some guides may insist on a sensible maximum). So the bigger your group the more people there are to split the cost. That means that it can be cheaper to hire a ski guide than take ski lessons. Be warned, ski guides are not ski instructors and although some will give you pointers about your technique, others will simply adjust the difficulty of the routes they take you.
It's not just too little snow that can close pistes. At times, in high very high resorts like Val d'Isere snow can be too abundant making conditions dangerous (high winds, avalance and zero visability).
Off Piste - a ski guide is essential
Even if you are a good skier/snow boarder it's sensible to have a ski guide for off piste on a mountain you're not familiar with. It makes for a much safer experience (avoiding crevasses etc) and you're guide should know where the freshest snow and best routes are which makes for a better experience. If you're after the Cheapest skiing holiday possible, it's not a good idea to save money by not having a ski guide off-piste.
Getting a ski guide
You may find that your holiday/accommodation will provide you a guide for free. Although, it's fairly easy to hire a guide for half or full days in the majority of the main resorts.
Ski holidays
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