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Filed under: Travel News by kathryn
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The Alpine ski season has had its earliest start for decades, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph this week.  With many Alpine resorts already looking like they’re in the middle of winter instead of late autumn, things look very promising for the 2009/10 ski season.  Skiers and snowboarders flocked to the slopes this weekend in the handful of European resorts that opened their lifts early, enjoying outstanding conditions following snowfalls of more than 50cm.

A spokesman for the Ski Club of Great Britain told the Daily Telegraph, “We’ve seen some fantastic snowfalls across Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland, which is very unusual for this time of year.  This is great news for people looking to book trips in December and in the New Year, because they can be confident that there will be a good base layer of snow on the pistes.”

Tour operators are reporting a big increase in the number of bookings compared to this time last year.

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Ski flight specialist Snowjet is offering ski flights from £29 one-way (inc all taxes and charges) from London Stansted to Chambery Airport in France.  Chambéry is the local airport for many of France’s top ski resorts including Méribel, Val d’Isère, Tignes, Courchevel and Les Arcs and therefore has the shortest road transfers. 

All flights include 20kg FREE baggage allowance and you can choose your seat number at check-in.  Newly introduced this season is a service to Sion in the Swiss Alps.

Snowjet flights from Stansted to Chambery are operated by Titan Airways (using 204 seat Boeing 757-200 aircraft) and depart from Stansted’s main Terminal.

For timetables and flight booking go to www.snowjet.co.uk

Filed under: Destination Guides, Travel News, Travel Tips by kathryn
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Méribel, Three Valleys

20 – 26 March 2010

If you fancy a ski holiday with a difference, how about heading to Meribel in March next year, where you can join in the fun at the Alps’ one and only comedy festival?  The brainchild of comedian Marcus Brigstock and promoter Richard Lett, the Altitude Festival has a ‘winning formula of laughs, music and snow’, according to Times Online.  Acts are yet to be announced, but previous line-ups have included performers such as Omid Djalili, Ardal O’Hanlan and KT Tunstall.

If you want to go just for the festival, a three show pass costs £50.  Rail Europe (0844 848 4064, raileurope.co.uk) has rail returns to Moûtiers from £100 — Méribel is a short taxi ride from there.

For more information, watch this space or visit the website altitudefestival.com

Filed under: Destination Guides, Travel News by kathryn
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If you’re new to skiing, going out ‘on the piste’ may not mean what you think it does!!  Piste is the French term for a defined ski run, usually marked by poles at each side and shown on a piste map available at the lift stations.  Marked pistes are avalanche protected, groomed (nightly by huge ‘pistebashers’ ) and patrolled to ensure the safest conditions possible.  European pistes (they are called ‘trails’ in North America) are classified according to difficulty from green and blue (easy) through red (intermediate) to black (difficult).

Beginners start off at the nursery slopes, usually with a drag or ‘button’ lift to haul you up to the top and then you’ll head off to longer green or blue runs by chair lift or gondola as you progress.   Be aware that pistes are affected not only by steepness but also by weather conditions – you may be easily able to cope on a red run in good snow but struggle on a blue when it’s icy.  ‘Moguls’ or bumps can quickly develop after fresh snowfall as the loose surface snow gets moved about by the actions of the skiers – these can take some negotiating!  Blue and green pistes will vary from wide ‘motorway’ style runs in open mountain bowls to gentle runs through the pine trees.

‘Off piste’ is exactly that and we advise you not to venture off the piste (on purpose, at least) until you have a bit more experience under your belt!

Filed under: Destination Guides, Travel Tips by kathryn
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Use Nectar points to travel to the heart of the French Alps on a Eurostar Ski Train

• Choice of day or night train
• Unwind on board & arrive ready to ski
• Transfer to top French resorts in 30/45 minutes

Trains depart from St Pancras or Ashford International to Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne, Bourg-St Maurice.  Onward transfers to the top resorts of the Three Valleys, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val d’Isere and Tignes take approximately 30 – 45 minutes.

Outbound night train services run from 1st January 2010 to 2 April 2010

Outbound day train services run from 10th December 2009 to 10 April 2010

Standard Class
There is a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and snacks. If you are planning to take your own alcohol on board, there is a limit as to how much you can bring.

Leisure Select
Night – Evening meal with wine followed by breakfast
Day – Lunch with wine and afternoon tea

If you opt for the night train, you can enjoy an extra 2 days on the slopes.

Outbound

Inbound

For more details, go to www.nectar.com

Filed under: Destination Guides, Travel News, Travel Tips by kathryn
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The AA states ‘In any country the driver is responsible for equipping and controlling his vehicle correctly. Drivers may be liable to a fine if they impede the normal flow of traffic or cause an accident as a consequence of not adapting their vehicle (tyres/snow chains) to suit the prevailing weather and road conditions.’

‘Road conditions in winter in many resorts will be much more severe than anything encountered in the UK – we only recommend driving in extreme winter conditions if the driver is confident and the vehicle suitably equipped.’

In France, ‘Snow chains should be carried and used as dictated by local signs or road conditions. Reduced speed limits may apply.’

Winter Fuel Specs

In very cold conditions wax crystals can form in diesel, block the fuel filter and prevent fuel flow.

The European quality standard for diesel fuel includes winter requirements specific to each country which ensure that fuel is suited to the local climate. Fuel capable of operation down to at least -20C is normal in the popular winter resort destinations.

By comparison the specification for winter diesel sold in the UK ensures operation down to a minimum temperature of – 15C.

The AA recommends that drivers avoid carrying UK spec diesel fuel, i.e. in a spare can, as this doesn’t have the same extreme low temperature capability.

For further information and advice, go to www.theaa.com.

Filed under: Travel Tips by kathryn
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A little cheaper than last year, tickets are now on sale for Eurostar’s ski train services to the French Alps for the 2009/10 season.

Weekly day services begin on 19th December, joined by a night train from 1st January 2010 until 17th April 2010. The cheapest fare available is currently £149 return.

Stop Press!

The famous snow train will not be running this winter, with Rail Europe blaming poor exchange rates and high operating costs for its demise. So sadly, you’ll no longer be able to party through the night on your journey to the Alps.

Eurostar will continue to operate a direct overnight service to the French Alps and has just released prices for next season.

www.eurostar.com

Filed under: Destination Guides, Travel News, Travel Tips by kathryn
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 Self–catering ski holidays are a great way to enjoy your favourite sport at your own pace and budget. Your time is entirely your own, you can get up when you like, come in when you like and you don’t have to take you meals when and where someone else tells you to!  If you’re organised about it, you can even enjoy tea and cakes ‘catered-chalet style’ on your return from the slopes and knock up quick and inexpensive meals for lunch, dinner or both.  If you don’t wish to cook, there will be an array of restaurants at your disposal………

Unlike the old days when it was difficult even to buy fresh milk, resorts are now able to cater for your every need.  Well-stocked supermarkets, convenient mini-markets, bakeries, banks, launderettes and chemists are all readily available and will generally have some English-speaking staff.  Mosts resorts have a choice of shops staying open to around 7pm, whilst essentials such as lift passes, ski hire and lessons can be easily booked online before you travel .  With the French Alps so accessible by plane, train or car, you can tailor your travel plans to suit your requirements and budget.

Whether you opt for a chalet or apartment is down to personal preference.  When choosing a self-catering apartment, it is worth noting that most ski apartments have been designed as a base to return to at the end of a day’s skiing – practicality and convenience are often considered more important than space.  With this is mind and if budget allows, a group of four people may be better to take an apartment that sleeps six so that no-one has to fight over who gets the sofa bed in the living room!  The big advantage of purpose-built apartments over some individual chalets (other than price, of course) is that they are usually in a great position for easy access to the lifts and slopes, with all amenities close to hand.

Always a  popular choice with families, self-catering  is great for groups too.  Book several apartments in the same block and you can meet up at the ski lifts in the morning and for pre-dinner drinks in the evening before you hit the town!  Alternatively, how about sharing the cost, catering and fun with close friends or relatives in one large chalet?  Take a look  at the selection of ski properties we have available throughout the French Alps on the Chalets to Go website.

Filed under: Travel Tips, Website by kathryn
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