These are the favorite ski resorts of the Spanish
Sierra Nevada triumphs within Spain; Switzerland, Canada, and the US are the three destinations that Spaniards would like to go to for a winter sports vacation
Winter sports are a growing trend and more and more Spaniards plan their trips during this season in order to practice them. For this reason, ViajerosPiratas has carried out a European survey among more than 6,000 users, -of which more than 1,500 were Spanish-, to find out what their preferences are when planning their winter holidays.
Spanish ski slopes
When it comes to practicing winter sports, for 81% of those surveyed the first option is the Spanish slopes, placing France in second place with 23% and finally Andorr a with 17.5%.
Regarding the national destinations preferred by those surveyed when it comes to practicing winter sports, 41% choose Sierra Nevada (Granada) , followed by Baqueira-Beret (27%), Aramón Formigal (22%) and La Molina (17%).
In terms of favorite international destinations, they are led by Switzerland (33%), Canada (29%) and, in third place, the USA , followed closely by Norway. Among the 10 favorite destinations for winter sports, there are the most classic such as Austria and Italy, but also new destinations such as Japan or New Zealand.
When choosing a destination in the ski season, 40% of those surveyed prefer to ensure a good quality and variety of the slopes, compared to 34% who look at the ease of access from their place of residence, and only for 27 % of those surveyed the price of the pass is decisive. Landscape and nature are also a relevant factor in decision-making, since for 40% it is the most important when choosing their destination. Regarding accommodation, 42% of those surveyed say that this year they will stay in hotels, while 31% plan to rent an apartment for a weekend or two and 12% will rent it for more than a week.
Skiing versus snowboarding
Skiing remains the favorite white sport of the Spanish. 63% of those surveyed acknowledge that it is the sport they practice during the winter season, followed by 21% who practice snowboarding and 13% of those surveyed say they like to go on snowshoe excursions. However, there are only 40% of those surveyed who will try a new discipline this season, snowboarding being the most popular, although 17% also want to try snowmobiles.
What to do without snow?
This is one of the biggest concerns for skiers and winter sports enthusiasts: the possibility of no snow. What if the holidays are already booked? On many occasions vacations are booked with so much time that when the time comes there isn't enough snow. Faced with this possibility, 75% of those surveyed state that they would carry out other activities such as hiking, while 13% say they would use the leisure and wellness facilities in the area. Only 11% say they would cancel the trip. Regarding future predictions and the threat of climate change, 91% of those surveyed say they are concerned that one of its consequences is the lack of snow.
Ski vs. Beach
78% of those surveyed affirm that they do travel in the winter season, however, more than half of Spaniards are clear about it, they do not dedicate their trips to skiing, 35% admit that they do not do so due to the high cost, while 21% simply prefer to escape the cold and travel to beach destinations. Outside the season, respondents say they make other types of trips, with city tourism being preferred for 45% of Spaniards.
