Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for the ‘Ski’ Category

The premier ski resort in south-western Bulgaria, located in the heart of the Pirin Mountains, Bansko is not only one of the best ski resorts in the country but also one of the best places to enjoy a holiday during the winter or summer months and experience a culture that is both heart-warming and adventurous. While the city itself was mostly a farming and travelling merchant community before the advent of ski tourism, it has transformed over the last few decades into one of the ski capitals of the country, and a major tourist point for both winter and summer recreational activities. The combination of mountains, lakes and forests make this the ultimate stopping point for the mountain lover.

After a day on the slopes above Bansko, there’s nothing more relaxing than a massage and a soak in hot mineral springs.  The village of Banya is just five kilometres out from Bansko, offering visitors the perfect finishing touch to their ski holiday. Above and beyond the ski slopes and the hot springs, however, Bansko is also known for its variety of restaurants featuring a range of national cuisine as well as several Irish and British pubs and restaurants catering to the U.K. traveller. In addition to the winter and summer festivities, the town also features an annual women’s race in the Alpine Skiing World Cup and the annual Bansko Jazz Festival. And to finish off the perfect winter or summer holiday in Bansko there is also a scenic train ride on the route from Septemvri to Dobrinishte, two villages in the surrounding mountains.

One of the things that skiers and boarders want the most is guaranteed snow and whilst it is not possible to predict Mother Nature, some resorts can virtually guarantee that you will have snow when you hit the slopes. Les Deux Alpes is warm and lively, with low-rise buildings and lots of hotels providing the atmosphere often lacking in an apartment resort. The resort occupies a high, wide and sunny valley with excellent skiing on both sides.

Take a ski holiday in Les Deux Alpes and you’ll soon find that the runs you see from the resort are only half the picture! Invisible from the valley are miles of piste on the biggest skiable glacier in the Alps where skiing is possible 365 days a year. This enormous and high plateau is one of the best things about Les Deux Alpes ski holidays, offering crisp snow, bright sunshine and easy runs well above the tree line.

Skiing is great for all abilities, beginners, benefit from the gradual progression and wonderful conditions. Les Deux Alpes ski holidays offer intermediates endless cruising runs and some amazing powder on not-too-steep slopes at altitude. The runs back to resort are great to challenge the intermediate skiers and beginners can either take the long looping green or a gondola. Advanced skiers are not forgotten, some of the best black runs are situated immediately above the village, including the fearsome offsite run to La Grave.

A quick search of the internet can produce many good results when searching for ski deals. For those looking for skiing holidays, France is an ideal place to go. This is particularly true for those located in the UK or mainland Europe as it is centrally located, which makes it easily accessible.

Low cost budget airlines are now making air travel extremely affordable and making the skiing holidays – once just thought of for the elite – more appealing to people from all walks of life.

For both experts and those who have never skied before but who are interested in trying a ski holiday, France has everything you need — from low budget resorts suitable for families and friends looking for fun to high class, cosmopolitan resorts where people go more to be seen and less to ski.

It is even possible to hire all the equipment whilst there. This saves money on buying expensive equipment when you may find that skiing is not a favourite hobby.  Ski schools with fully trained instructors also help to make the holiday more enjoyable for those who have never done it before as a few lessons help build a little of the confidence needed to tackle the slopes alone.

Choosing the correct resort is imperative.  A beginner does not want to be in a resort full of black runs, and an expert skier does not want to be stuck with only beginner or intermediate runs. Many resorts offer a wide range of slopes, but a little research beforehand will go a long way in ensuring that your ski holiday is spent at a resort that is right for you.

Tignes and Val d’Isère share a huge area of slopes known as L’espace Killy. Locally, Tignes’ biggest asset is the Grande Motte – and the runs from, as well as on, the glacier. The underground funicular from Val Claret whizzes you up to over 3000m in seven minutes. Fast chairs and gondolas get you up the mountain from most parts of the ski resort. Recent investment has added more fast chairs higher up too, but a few key slow ones remain that could do with being upgraded.

The main lifts towards Val d’Isère are efficient: a high-capacity gondola from Le Lac to Tovière, and a fast chair with covers from Val Claret to Col de Fresse. You can head back to Tignes from either: the return from Tovière to Tignes-le-Lac is via a steep black run but there are easier blue runs to Val Claret.

There are some serious challenges for the expert skier, Tignes has converted six of its black runs into ‘naturides’, which means they are never groomed, but they are marked, patrolled and avalanche protected. The intermediate skier is well catered for and for keen intermediate piste-bashers the Espace Killy is one of the top three or four areas in the world. For the inexperienced skier there are suitable areas, but for a beginner you would be better off in the Val d’Isere resort.

When looking for ski holidays France is an ideal choice. It is located within easy reach of most European destinations which also makes it easy to access from worldwide. Chamonix ski resort is the largest and the oldest ski resort in the country. It is one of the most popular places for skiers to enjoy their ski holiday. France has many such resorts catering for this market.
Located in the Chamonix Valley, overlooked by the highest mountain in the Alps mountain range, Mont Blanc, Chamonix ski resort offers excellent ski conditions for all levels of experience from intermediate to off-piste. 

Skiing in France, especially in a resort such as Chamonix used to be regarded just for the elite, but with the introduction of low cost airlines, there are many bargain ski deals to be found, and a quick search of the internet brings so much choice there is bound to be something to suit everyone.

Although Chamonix has plenty of slopes for strong skiers and those that enjoy extreme sports such as snowboarding, there are also slopes for the beginners and families too. Chamonix is also an ideal place for groups of holiday makers, even if some of the party do not like to ski. The resort offers so many activities for the non skier that everyone will love their ski holiday; France has much to offer for all age groups.

Non skier activities include swimming and tennis, and for the more adventurous there is mountaineering, ice climbing and even dog sledding. Chamonix truly is the ideal ski holiday destination, and if looking for a ski holiday, France is a top choice.

The ski resorts of Italy are perhaps not as famous as those in Austria, Switzerland or Germany but Alpine skiing in Italy definitely has a charm all its own. Should you choose the South Tyrol region, there is a definite German flavour to the resorts, while over in Aosta Valley the slopes have a French feel to them. The skiing meanwhile still remains very Italian.

There are apartments to rent that offer the option of summer skiing, all year round snowboarding and border free, snowshoe trails into duty free zones high in the mountains. The one thing you are always assured of at northern Italian apartment resorts is the usual high quality food, full-bodied wines and a friendly welcome.

Turin, the host for the 2006 Winter Olympics, is an excellent starting point; it is in close proximity to the mountains, the Italian-French border, and the Susa Valley which has resorts like Bardonecchia and the very popular Sestiere skiing destinations. At 2035 metres Sistiere has an ice rink, cross-country skiing and slopes supported by ski lifts.

Further north and into the Aosta Valley you are heading into traditional mountain ski terrain; here you will find the breathtaking splendour of the Monte Rosa, the Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn all towering above you. Nestling in to the foothills of Monte Blanc is the elegant Courmayeur resort with its ice rink, cable cars and ski lifts to the slopes.

The Dolomites in the northeast also offer excellent slopes for the winter sport enthusiast and the resorts of Madonna di Campiglio and Cortona d’Amprezzo are superb locations worth considering.

No longer is a winter sports holiday the exclusive preserve for the well to do, skiing and snowboarding are considered the essential alternative a winter holiday to lying around in the sun in the Canaries. Over the past 20 years or so, as more and more resorts have been established, a new budget skiing market has grown and in turn ski holidays have become accessible for the whole of society. Some long established resorts as well as newer ones to the British ski market have become established and can offer really good ski deals.

France still remains the top spot for British skiers and boarders and if you search around some ski deals that are very tempting will be found. However, if you are looking for a friendly area where good ski deals can still be found, look no further than the French Pyrenees. Andorra used to be the place in the region but prices have really taken off price wise, but one that remains very good value is Arinsal. This resort has an excellent selection of confidence-building slopes and is ideal for first time skiers looking to avoid broken bones as well as a serious dent in their bank balance.

Bulgaria is a growing ski area, but for the experienced skier, it still has to continue to build on the existing ski areas. It has two main resorts, Pamporovo and the better known Borovets. They are undoubtedly amongst the best value resorts in Europe, both in terms of the cost of your travel and accommodation and spending money while you are there.

Skiing is not a cheap sport and the cost of extras such as ski passes, equipment and lessons can push the budget to the limit. But there are places where it is possible to get a good ski deal, and some skiing holidays to France can be reasonably priced.

By shopping around and being careful, it is still possible to save money. If there is a group of you travelling it is worth considering hiring a car and driving to your destination. Food at ski resorts can be very expensive so look around for cheap places to eat. Clothing does not have to be the highest standard as long as it is warm and comfortable since fashion is not the most important factor.

Andorra used to be a cheap place for ski holidays but with the advent of the Euro it is now necessary to travel further afield. Eastern European destinations such as Bulgaria are worth a try although generally the destinations are not up to the standard of the French resorts. Many of the travel firms now offer skiing holidays, not just the specialist ones, but the summer package firms too. There can be bargains to be had with all of them. If your accommodation is included in the price as well as your meals, then it can be a really cheap way to holiday. There are bargains to be had especially if you are not restricted to times and dates of travel.

With fifty runs and the largest snowboarding area in Europe, Tignes ranks high for snowboarding. Established schools dedicated to snowboarding will put the beginner at ease, but snowboarders at any level—from beginner to Olympic contender—Tignes has it all.

Situated in the in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, the high altitude of Tignes provides a consistent amount of powder. Snowboarders can get on piste quickly by using the acclaimed system of ninety-seven lifts and two high-speed funicular railways.

Lift passes can be for winter, autumn, or summer and family discounts can also be purchased for the whole Espace Killy area. Tignes Spirit Snowboard hire is highly recommended for having the best ski deals for equipment and even hires clothing.

Keeping the children occupied will be no problem as Tignes offers several childcare services. Jelly and Ice Cream can care for children as young as six weeks and watch after a single child or groups. T4 Private Nanny Service Holiday provides a full eight hour’s worth of individualised supervision. Finally, the Tignes Nanny Service also features an equipment hire service where parents can hire buggies and other items per week rather than worry about transporting them on the plane.

Tignes has après ski choices to suit no matter the mood, from cosy restaurants to all-night bars. The budget conscious may prefer TC’s Bar in Le Lavachet, Tignes or if money is no object, try Saint Jacques in Val Claret.

It almost seems as if Tignes was specially designed for snowboarders. It is easy to source economical or last-minute travel to France from anywhere in Europe. The best snowboarding France has to offer is often only a few hours away by car, air or rail.

Skiing is not just for the young. Mature skiers have formed groups and organizations worldwide that allow them to enjoy the best ski resorts in the world. Joining an organization can offer variety as well as the benefit of obtaining some of the best deals and discounts.

Depending on the organisation, skiers can ski solo, as part of a couple, or as part of a group. The main purpose of these groups is to get skiers of an age together, make new friends, and have fun.

In America, The Over the Hill Gang International is just such a group allowing people over the age of fifty the leverage of group purchasing power to obtain ski deals. While most of the focus and discounts is for resorts throughout Canada and the United States, they do have European trips.

Ski Club of Great Britain is a non-profit organisation and open for people of all ages. Ski Freshtracks’ Peak Experience programme is designed for the mature skier from beginner to expert. Offering many options for resorts in France, Italy, and Germany, holidays and resorts are geared towards skiers aged fifty and over.

In Canada, The Seniors Alpine Ski Club based in Calgary, Alberta is open to membership worldwide for mature skiers over the age of fifty-five. No matter the level of experience, seniors can indulge in skiing in the majesty of the Canadian Rockies.

Age is only a number. But for the mature skier, there is a number of ways still available to enjoy skiing.