Skiers and Non-Skiers, can they mix ?

There is no doubt about it. A dedicated Ski break (complete with war stories and intensive apres-ski) is best when everybody is as close to the same mind as is possible.
But what to do when partners, close friends, relatives etc. want to be on holiday with you at the same time and definitely not ski ? NB I am not talking about a group with nervous or beginner skiers, they are a different issue, I mean confirmed non-skiers (perhaps through health or age or just a different sense of fun and adventure ! ).

Is it worth ducking the issue and possibly even put off skiing for a year or two? Run separate holidays for a while ? Or is it worth exploring the possible compromises ?

• If you are amongst the skiers, will it spoil your evenings if there are people around you who might want to talk about things other than skiing ?
• What will the non-skiers do during the day ? Other specialist activity, Spas and Pampering , Snow excursions, Shopping, History & Culture tourism ?

It all could get expensive and less than satisfying overall, but need it be that awkward ?

Not if thought through properly.

Possibly this is where European Skiing can really excel. For a start distances can be small. Many Mountains have cities and towns around them that have a life outside of skiing. Many have Arts, Music, History or shopping possibilities that would outpace any 'ski' stay anyway. Try Turkey or the Sierra Granada (the very south of spain) and you can even add beaches to the possible mix.

'Fine if you have an unlimited budget and a helicopter' you might say, after all no one locality can be snow-sure, offer good skiing and also good dry-feet tourism can it ? Well snow-sure is becoming more of a variable feast with our 'warming environment' and even snow machines won't create something from nothing, but....

The Pyrenees (French and Spanish, Catalan and Basque) are one area where it can all come together, and are good value. See http://www.lespyrenees.net/html/en/rep_sport_hiver/acchiver.asp

and www.GoodViews.co.uk (my own base in the area)

Austria has distinct attractions. Even the French Alps have spots such as Chamonix with something for nearly everyone.

'But all that travelling to the skiing' and 'no skiing back to the doorway' I can hear the activists say. And indeed it is true that even a 'classic' resort like Chamonix, or an off-resort Pyreneean town, will involve some travelling to the slopes. Perhaps an hour ? Is that extreme ?But once you get back home in the evening there will be restaurants with better food and prices than ski resorts; there may be Thermal Spas, concerts, even sports matches that don't involve snow (Rugby, Football..) . Not to mention your friends and loved ones to share an evening with.

But where are the best areas to make this all worthwhile and economical for everyone. And which is best a catered chalet, a hotel or self-catering (explore & eat-out) or self catering (eat -in & rest) ?

This page is only an introduction. Hopefully we will get some constructive input, and then I will add more from my experiences and researches over many years.