The choice depends on what you want from your holiday. A mountain hotel (especially a ski-in/ski-out hotel right by the slopes) saves time: you ski out of the hotel and ski back; but your evening options may be limited to the hotel. A ski town (e.g. Bansko) combines the slopes with a social life. Staying in a city or a nearby tourist area (e.g. Cappadocia for Erciyes) means a transfer every day, but offers far more options in the evenings and on bad-weather days. For someone who has never skied, a winter activity holiday with transfers and equipment organised makes the logistics easier wherever you stay.
At hotels right by the slopes, you ski out of the hotel and ski back at the end of the day; your equipment usually stays in the hotel's ski room. This is a big convenience, especially on short holidays and for families with young children. At some resorts in Turkey the lifts are run directly by the hotels (e.g. Uludağ and Kartalkaya); at these resorts, your choice of hotel also determines which lifts and runs you can reach easily.
The downside: Evening options are often limited to what the hotel offers, and there is less to do in bad weather. We explain the ski-in/ski-out concept separately in our guide What Is a Ski-in/Ski-out Hotel?.
Example: On Doğadayız's Sarıkamış programme, you stay at a 5-star mountain hotel right next to the slopes and chairlifts; three meals a day and the hotel's evening entertainment (live music, a Caucasian night) are part of the programme.
Ski towns
Some resorts sit right above a town; the slopes and town life are intertwined. In the evenings there are restaurants and live music venues; you get to the lifts on foot or by a short shuttle.
Example: In Bansko you go up to the ski area by a gondola that leaves from the town. The mountain hotel used on Doğadayız's Bansko programme is a short walk from the town centre and about 350 metres from the gondola station.
In a city or a nearby area
Some resorts are very close to a city: Palandöken is 4–7 km from Erzurum, and Erciyes about 20 minutes from Kayseri. At these resorts, staying in the city can be an advantage for your budget and evening options.
Another option is to stay in a tourist area near the ski resort. On Doğadayız's Erciyes programmes, you stay in cave hotels in Cappadocia (Ürgüp), about 1 hour from the resort. The reason is that participants both take lessons in Erciyes and explore Cappadocia on the same holiday; if the weather on the mountain is bad, an alternative sightseeing programme can be run in Cappadocia, and in the evenings the area's nightlife adds a social atmosphere to the programme. For details, see our guide Ski Lessons in Erciyes and a Cappadocia Holiday.
The downside: The daily transfer time comes out of your time on the slopes; you need to get up early.
Which one suits whom?
Your priority
Suitable accommodation
The most time on the slopes, little logistics
Mountain hotel, ski-in/ski-out
A holiday with young children
Mountain hotel or ski town
Nightlife and a social atmosphere
Ski town or city/area
Skiing + exploring the region
A nearby tourist area (e.g. Cappadocia)
Budget
A city hotel at resorts close to a city
Accommodation and the activity holiday
Wherever you stay, what makes a first ski holiday hardest is logistics: transfers, equipment, the ski pass. On an activity holiday, these are planned together with your accommodation, and the hotel you share with the group becomes the centre of your evenings. On Doğadayız winter programmes, participants who come alone share 2- or 3-person rooms with other solo participants of the same gender; this shared living is also why our programmes are a social adventure holiday. For all programmes, see the winter activity holidays page.
Doğadayız Packages
Doğadayız packages for your level
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
The easiest way to learn to ski: a winter activity holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
Is a mountain hotel or a town hotel better for a ski holiday?
It depends on your priorities. A mountain hotel (especially ski-in/ski-out) gives you the most time on the slopes; staying in a city or a nearby tourist area means a transfer every day but offers more options in the evenings and on bad-weather days.
Where should I stay when skiing in Erciyes?
You can stay in Kayseri city centre, at hotels in Erciyes or in Cappadocia. On Doğadayız's Erciyes programmes, you stay in cave hotels in Ürgüp, about 1 hour from the resort, and transfers are included in the package.
Are there ski-in/ski-out hotels in Sarıkamış?
Yes. The hotel used on Doğadayız's Sarıkamış programme is right next to the slopes and chairlifts; you can ski out of the hotel and ski back.
Ski-in/ski-out means accommodation where you can ski out of the hotel to a run or a lift and ski back to the hotel at the end of the day; it is a term used by the tourism industry and is not found in dictionaries. Its biggest advantage is time and convenience: no transfers, long walks or carrying equipment. Utah's official ski tourism organisation says that ski-in/ski-out is everyone's first choice but is often more expensive. Do not confuse it with “close to the slopes”: with real ski-in/ski-out, you connect to the slopes without taking your skis off.
Erciyes Ski Resort is about an hour's drive from Cappadocia, so you can learn to ski in Erciyes and stay in Cappadocia. The plan is simple: lessons and practice in Erciyes during the day, dinner and nightlife in Cappadocia in the evening, and, depending on the length of the programme, one day for a balloon ride, the valleys and the underground cities. On Doğadayız Erciyes programmes, accommodation is in cave hotels in Ürgüp; on the 4-night, 5-day programme, a balloon ride, an ATV safari and a Cappadocia regional tour are included in the package alongside two days of lessons. It is a complete winter activity holiday that combines skiing with exploring a region.
Each of the three appeals to a different kind of skier. Erciyes (Kayseri) has the largest slope network (41 runs) and the highest ski area (3,346 m); with its training areas and accommodation in Cappadocia, it is the best option for those who have never skied. Sarıkamış (Kars) is known for runs through Scots pine forest and dry, light snow; the Doğadayız programme there is an experience package at a ski-in/ski-out mountain hotel for those who can already ski. Bansko (Bulgaria) is a European resort reached by gondola, with a World Cup run; it is for those who can ski on their own and want a winter activity holiday abroad, and holders of a burgundy passport need a Schengen visa.
