5 Ideal Ski Resorts for Group Travel

Booking a ski trip for a group is as much about the resort as the people. A mix of abilities, different ideas about après-ski, and a few non-skiers all pull in different directions. So how do you choose? It starts with terrain for every level, easy places to meet for lunch, a short transfer, and enough to do off the slopes. These five resorts get there in different ways, and we teamed up with Ski Weekends and ski writer Rob Stewart to pick them.

• Terrain for every level in the group, from gentle beginner slopes to steeper runs
• Easy places to meet for lunch, so people can split up and regroup
• A short transfer from the airport, so nobody loses a day to travelling
• Après-ski and off-snow activities that suit everyone, including non-skiers
• Food that works for the whole group

La Clusaz has something at every level, with gentle slopes for beginners, long blues and reds for intermediates and steeper, more varied runs for stronger skiers and snowboarders. The ski area isn't huge, but it spreads over five sectors and has around 125 km of pistes. The slopes face mainly north, which helps them hold snow, and La Balme, the highest sector, usually has the best conditions. The base sits at 1,100m, so check how the snow is looking before you book.

Geneva is about an hour and a quarter away, which makes La Clusaz a good fit for a long weekend. Après-ski is relaxed, with plenty of bars and restaurants, and for a late night there's L'Ecluse, a club with a glass dance floor over the river.

• Around 125 km of pistes across five sectors
• Base at 1,100 m, top at 2,600 m
• About 1 hour 15 minutes from Geneva
• Relaxed after-ski, with L'Ecluse for late nights

Engelberg has made its name as a freeride capital. The Laub descent and the other off-piste routes known as the Big Five draw strong skiers and snowboarders, and the town has a lively atmosphere, especially at weekends when visitors from the nearby cities arrive. It's a Swiss village rather than a purpose-built resort, and it's best for groups with some experience.

It still works for a mixed group, though. The Brunni sector has gentle, sunny slopes for beginners, while Titlis has the steeper terrain and the glacier, with around 82 km of pistes in all. Getting up Titlis is a day out in itself: the Rotair, the world's first revolving cable car, climbs to just over 3,000m, so even non-skiers will want the ride. Zurich is about an hour and a half away by road.

• Around 82 km of pistes, plus the Laub and Big Five freeride routes
• Brunni for gentle beginner slopes, Titlis for steeper terrain and glacier skiing
• Rotair cable car up to 3,020m
• About 1 hour 30 minutes from Zurich

Sierra Nevada is Europe's southernmost ski resort and the only one in Andalucía. Málaga is about two hours away and Granada under an hour, so groups often pair a few days on the slopes with time on the coast. The base village, Pradollano, sits at 2,100 m; the slopes climb to around 3,300 m, and there's over 100 km of pistes. The season usually runs from December into April, sometimes to early May. Snowmaking helps, but at this latitude conditions depend on the winter, so keep your dates flexible.

The village has a central hub with a range of restaurants and bars, which makes it an easy place to meet for lunch. The coast is within reach of the slopes, so a spring trip can mix skiing with a beach day, especially around Easter.

• Over 100 km of pistes, from 2,100 m up to around 3,300 m
• About 2 hours from Málaga and under an hour from Granada
• Season is usually December to April, sometimes into May
• Easy to combine with a beach break

Ischgl suits high-energy groups of confident skiers and snowboarders who want to cover a lot of ground and go out afterwards. The Silvretta Arena has 239 km of pistes and 45 lifts, and it links Ischgl with Samnaun across the border in Switzerland. The lifts are fast, so it's easy to get around, and the skiing suits intermediates and above, with long red runs and freeride zones. Beginners have their own learning areas near Idalp.

Après-ski is a big part of the appeal. The Top of the Mountain concerts take place at the start of the season, at Easter and at the end, and the village has a high standard of accommodation and food. Innsbruck is about an hour and a half away.

• 239 km of pistes across Ischgl and Samnaun, with 45 lifts
• Best for intermediate and advanced skiers, with beginner areas near Idalp
• Freeride zones and a lively après-ski scene
• About 1 hour 30 from Innsbruck

Morzine sits in the Portes du Soleil, a ski area of up to 650 km of pistes across France and Switzerland, though not all of it is linked by lift. It's big enough that a group can split up for the morning and meet again for lunch at one of the mountain restaurants, which makes it a good match for mixed abilities and different interests. Geneva is about an hour and a half away.

Après-ski is a draw too. Folie Douce in Avoriaz is the big one, and Happy Hours, at the bottom of the Ardent lift, is a local favourite. The lifts close in the afternoon, so check how you'll get back to Morzine before you settle in at either.

• Up to 650 km of pistes in the Portes du Soleil, not all linked
• Easy to split up and regroup for lunch
• Folie Douce in Avoriaz and Happy Hours at Ardent for après-ski
• About 1 hour 30 from Geneva

Once the resort is sorted, our guides to ski jackets, ski pants and skis cover the kit.

Shop skiing at Snow+Rock to get set up before you go.