Long Ski Weekend - Heidi Reports 58% Increase In Bookings

Flexible ski holiday specialist Heidi has seen a 58% increase in long weekend bookings over the last 12 months (with Google searches showing a huge spike in searches for ‘ski weekends’ and ‘short ski break’ in the same period).  

Want a quick ski fix, have a tighter budget before or after Christmas, or can't quite squeeze in a week's annual leave this winter? Cue the long ski weekend, which has seen a surge in popularity for the 2024/2025 season, according to ski holiday specialists at Heidi.

Marcus Blunt, Co-Founder at Heidi, comments: “We’ve seen a 58% 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. 

“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.”

He adds: “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’ top tips to make the most of a long ski weekend getaway:

• Piste proximity - there’s no time to waste when you've only got a few days! It’s important to choose a resort that makes the trip as worthwhile as possible, so go for one with a short transfer time. We can even book you a private transfer.
• Get an early flight out and late flight back - To maximise skiing time, choose an airport with regular flights and transfers so that your journey is as seamless as possible.
• Choose 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. Meanwhile, if your resort is out of town and requires a bus, choose a hotel on a bus route for less travel time.
• Book last minute - 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. 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.

Heidi’s top five European resorts for a long ski weekend

They all have airport-to-resort transfers of 90 minutes or less and we’ve picked the best accommodation options close to the slopes.

1. Best for beginners: Seefeld, Austria, Travel time from Innsbruck airport – 30 minutes

• For those who like their airport transfers as short as possible, Seefeld is the dream resort for a long weekend getaway, especially for beginners. Seefeld is home to 34km of mostly cruisy pistes, spread between two distinct areas - the 1,500m Gschwandtkopf mountain and the higher and more extensive Seefelder mountain, served by an efficient lift system. The resort itself is full of traditional Austrian charm and there’s always lots to do in town.
• When to go: One of the best times is when there’s something festive going on, for example, ‘Fasching’ in late February - the pre-Lent carnival when everyone dresses up and parties - which fortunately tends to coincide with the best snow cover.
• Book it: 4 nights’ B&B (two sharing a deluxe double room) at the four-star Krumers Alpin - Your Mountain Oasis from Thursday 20 - 24 February - £878pp, including return flights (London - Innsbruck) and shuttle airport transfer. The hotel is a 4-minute walk from the slopes and has an extensive sauna area, spa, and swimming pool. 

2. Best for advanced skiers: Chamonix, Travel time from Geneva airport – 70 minutes

• The iconic resort of Chamonix is an ideal long weekend option for more advanced skiers and snowboarders who want to maximise their slope time. Why? Short flights, quick and easy transfer options and, of course, plenty of fabulous skiing. There are plenty of runs to test you, or you can book a ski guide and head off piste on the world-renowned Vallee Blanche route. Top it all off with the rugged cliffs and glaciers of Mont Blanc as a stunning backdrop. 
• When to go: Chamonix is a great pick throughout the season, but we enjoy late January/early February.
• Book it: 4 nights’ (two sharing a double room with Mont Blanc view) at Hôtel Le Labrador from Thursday 30 January - Monday 3 February 2025 - £760pp, including return flights (London - Geneva) and shuttle airport transfer. The hotel is a 3-minute walk from the slopes and has a sauna, steam room and hot tub. 

3. Best for groups with mixed abilities - and night skiing: La Clusaz, France Travel time from Geneva Airport – 60 minutes 

• Located in the Aravis mountains, La Clusaz has something for everyone, and the backdrop is out of this world – think epic views of Mont Blanc and a charming mountain village with traditional chalets. It’s a top pick for both skiers and boarders, with a range of slopes to explore across five sierras. A generous mix of greens and blues makes it ideal for beginner and intermediate skiers. And there are black runs and off-piste terrain for powder fiends and freeride heroes.
• You can also enjoy floodlit night skiing to maximise your time further! Even more special are the full moon night skiing events the resort organises during the winter season. Ski by the light of the moon, stopping in the cabins on the way down the mountain for live music and mulled wine aplenty.
• When to go: For those wanting a pre-Easter skiing holiday in La Clusaz, March is typically the best month for fresh flurries of snow.
• Book it: 4 nights’ self-catering (two sharing a double room) at Hôtel Prestige Odalys Le Chamois from Thursday 13 - 17 March 2025 - £674pp, including return flights (London - Geneva) and airport transfer. The hotel is a 2-minute walk from the slopes and has a swimming pool and spa. 

4. Best for tight budgets: Borovets, Bulgaria Travel time from Sofia airport - 75 minutes 

• Cheap and oh-so-cheerful, Borovets is often thought of as the place for students and après party people. But it’s also so much more than that. Easily accessible for short weekend ski trips, beginners and intermediates can enjoy plenty of cruisy piste through ancient pine forests, while boarders hit the terrain park rails, boxes, and kickers. When the skiing’s done, become a part of Bulgaria’s legendary après scene with a round of cheap, ice-cold beers at the base of the slopes.
• When to go: Get the ultimate bang for your buck in March with warmer temps, longer days, and - usually - the snowiest weeks of the season.
• Where to stay: 4 nights’ B&B with spa access (two sharing) at Hotel Samokov from Thursday 13 - 17 March 2025 - £346pp, including return flights (London - Sofia) and private airport transfer. The hotel is right in the resort centre, a 3-minute walk from the slopes, and has a swimming pool and a spa.

5. Best for après ski: St. Anton, Austria Travel time from Innsbruck airport – 75 minutes 

• Mention St. Anton and chances are it won’t be long before someone brings up the Krazy Kanguruh, or the Mooserwirt. The slopeside bars have been the scene of many a memorable night for decades. So, if you’re up for a long weekend of skiing and partying in the mountains, St. Anton should be at the top of your list! That said, its great reputation is down to much more than its vibrant après scene.
• With skiing up to 2,800m, St. Anton is one of Austria’s most snow-sure resorts. It’s also in the country’s largest linked ski area, the Arlberg, which packs 305km of pistes, mostly in the intermediate range. For the ambitious, there are plenty of challenges, including the 85km Run of Fame, a route which begins in St. Anton, crosses three mountain passes, and finishes in Warth 
• When to go: The resort opens from early December and runs until mid-April. You can find great après throughout, but if sunkissed drinking out on the terraces appeals the most, opt for March.
• Book it: 4 nights’ B&B (two sharing a double room with balcony) at the four-star Hotel Arlmont Valluga Hotel from Thursday 20th - Monday 24th March 2025 - £1,295pp, including return flights (London Gatwick - Innsbruck) and shuttle airport transfer. The hotel is a 1-minute walk from the slopes and has a spa and swimming pool.

Heidi was launched in 2018, formally known as Ski Zoom. Founded by the Blunt brothers, Marcus and Alexander, the company was born out of the lack of flexibility in the winter ski market and the desire the duo had to discover new destinations.

The company has seen exponential growth with revenue having quadrupled in the past two years – from £8.8m in the year to April 2022 to £37m in 2024. Heidi is now the UK’s third largest ski holiday operator, carrying over 34,000 passengers in the most recent season, and has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot. In summer 2024, Heidi came 63rd in the Times top 100 fastest growing UK companies and shortly after secured £5.6 million investment.

The founders, who are half Norwegian, admit they were lucky to have snow as part of their DNA growing up in a country where enjoying the terrain of a white winter was part and parcel of everyday life.

The millennials have successfully amalgamated their experience of working in the travel industry, in different guises with a savvy technical prowess to develop a completely new way of searching and booking ski trips, which brings a totally modern and flexible approach to today’s market. Users of Heidi have thousands of options to choose from to find their perfect break, whether they’re a family looking for a budget friendly option for beginners, or a group of friends after a quick, convenient mid-week getaway, close to the slopes, with tons of après ski. Customers can now build their perfect break in minutes and everything is planned and covered by Heidi, which is protected under ATOL. Ski passes and equipment can also be booked online through the business.