Chamonix takes in number 1 spot with British skiers as per EasyJet's compilation.

European discount airline Easyjet recently released the top-10 winter ski resort destinations by  British skiers and have compiled them into a hot list. Ski Rebel Magazine has managed to get a copy and has them available for you if you read on…

Continue reading ‘Europe’s top 10 ski destinations as chosen by UK travelers’

Igloo villages are a big tourist attraction.

Iglu Villages have opened for the winter at seven Alpine locations, each requiring 3000 tonnes of snow to provide their storm-proof lodging.

In addition to Gstaad, Davos-Klosters, Zermatt, Engelberg, the Zugspitze and Grandvalira in Andorra, an Igloo Village will also be offered for the first time in St. Moritz.

The new St. Moritz igloo village has been created at a stunning location next to the top station Muottas Muragl, offering a view over the Upper Engadine lakes. Two large igloos, decorated with artistic ice sculptures, provide guests with the perfect setting to while away the hours in cosy surroundings – whether as a place to stop during a winter hike, for some reinforcements before tobogganing down the slopes or for a gourmet evening by candlelight.

Continue reading ‘Bringing igloo villages to the Alps’

British skiers can save a bit when traveling to the French Alps with the new SnowBall pass.

A new discount pass has been launched in the Alps which offers savings on a wide range of in-resort expenses.

The new SnowBall Pass allows holders to simply show their pass at selected venues in top French resorts to receive special prices, offers and discounts. The Pass can be bought before departure in the UK fort £15 (€17) and is valid for multiple trips, all season.

Continue reading ‘New discount pass availalble for French ski areas’

Val Thorens has opened for the season. The French ski area the highest major resort in the Alps.

Many of the world’s major resorts in at least a dozen countries opened for the season this past weekend.

In Europe, several major alpine resorts opened their doors. Europe’s highest major resort Val Thorens is the second resort to open in France, joining Tignes which has been open for nearly two months already. In Austria, Obergurgl is opening and in Switzerland, Andermatt, Davos, Klosters, Flims and Laax join Engelberg, Zermatt, Verbier, Les Diablerets and Saas Fee which are already open. In Italy, Livigno is opening early and is running its lifts free of charge this week with no lift pass required.

Continue reading ‘Update: ski area openings’

A new on-snow festival is set to rock the Andorran resort of Arinsal this winter according to local organizers. The Big Snow Festival is going to be held from March 14th-21st, offering what the organizers predict will be a weeklong rollercoaster of skiing and snowboarding, combined with top music acts and pumping beats.
Launched by the organizers of the sell-out UK music event, The Big Reunion, The Big Snow Festival offers top music talent from world-renowned promoters including Judge Jules and Kissdafunk. Headline acts will be announced later this year.
Ian Kaye, Event Organizer at The Big Snow Festival, said,

by bringing together a mix of the biggest DJs, promoters and live acts and dropping them slap bang in the middle of one of Europe’s top snow resorts, The Big Snow Festival means booking this year’s winter holiday just got much, much easier.”

Arinsal lies in the heart of the Pyrenees, is nestled between France and Spain and is connected to neighbouring Pal. For those who want to tailor their trip, tickets with various flight, accommodation and wristband options can be purchased. Big Snow Packages are also available, which include return flights, transfers, accommodation and all events from £399 ($850 USD).
www.thebigsnowfestival.com

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Grandvalira is freezing prices on all lift tickets and some packages will be cheaper.

The cost of a six day lift ticket at Andorra’s largest ski centre, Grandvalira, is dropping for next season – albeit by just half a Euro for a six day pass, other tickets will cost the same as last winter 08-09.
However the change is significant as the resort’s lift ticket price had increased at a percentage rate faster than most other resorts over the past five or so years as huge investment in state-of-the-art lifts and many other improvements moved the resort from a collection of small provincial ski centres in to the world top 50 by size.
The cost of a Grandvalira high-season, six day, adult lift ticket drops from 213.5 Euros to 213 Euros.
In another new development, both Grandvalira and the other Andorran ski region VallNord have introduced a ‘teen’ price range from age 12 to 17, during which time children in that age bracket receive about 10% off the full adult price, which was previously payable from age 12  and up. in common with most French and Spanish resorts.

Both Grandvalira and VallNord also offer a ‘low season’ when prices are discounted by about 15% on the full ticket price. Low season dates in Grandvalira include December 9 – 18, January 11 – 24 and March 27 to the end of the season. Vallnord has more extensive low season periods. www.skiandorra.ad

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Included in Inghams’s upcoming winter Ski and Snowboard programme are new trips to resorts in Slovakia, Andorra, and Romania, among 90 other resorts in 13 countries.
“Inghams extensive ski programme continues to grow,” said Inghams Chief Executive Litsa Constantinou. “Despite the current climate, the ski market is resilient and diversifying.”
Trips to Poiana Brasov, Romania include lift pass, ski equipment hire, tuition and half board accommodation from as little as €762 ($1078 U.S.). There are also added value savings including free lift pass and free ski hire and 2 for 1 on ski and snowboard lessons offered in many resorts.
In Slovakia, new to Inghams this winter, is the resort of Salla in Lapland which offers many activities including reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris, ice fishing and Learn to Ski and Board packages. Inghams also offers a choice of five resorts in Lapland and three and four night Santa Short Breaks in December.
For those looking for more than just a ski holiday, Inghams offers once in a lifetime winter experiences including sleeping in a glass igloo, ice-driving, ice-karting, snowshoe trekking, dog sledding, winter walking trails, train excursions, ice fishing, gold panning and spa treatments.

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