Nighttime in Zermatt during mid-winter.

The Summer Weekender in Zermatt is coming back for its fourth consecutive year this summer.

From the 15th to the 18th of July, the Swiss ski area will host the annual event created to give people that work in the Snowsports industry a snow fix in between seasons. The weekend is an opportunity to network, party and race on the glacier.

The weekender includes two races on the glacier, the Ski Club of Great Britain Giant Slalom and the Metrosnow.co.uk Team Dual Slalom. There will also be the chance to take part in the Matterhorn Mystery Challenge, details of which will remain secret until arrival, but will no doubt involve some super sleuth skills.

Continue reading ’4th annual snowsports insider weekend this July’

Colorado's Copper Mountain ski resort.

Colorado’s Copper Mountain and Italy’s Val di Fassa have topped a list of the most satisfying ski vacation destination this season.

The numbers come from a poll conducted by TUI Ski, the company which owns Britain’s largest ski tour operator Crystal, as well as other leading brands Thomson, First Choice and Flexiski.

Copper Mountain in Colorado is the most popular overall, although as the company sends a limited number of clients there, the verdict is not based on the number of passengers. The company believes Val di Fassa would probably triumph if the number of forms returned was factored.

Continue reading ‘Copper and Val di Fassa top ski satisfaction survey’

Many ski travelers were stranded for days.

The UK’s largest tour operator has been praised by its customers for getting them home from Europe following the eruption of the volcano in Iceland.

TUI Ski is the company which runs three of the UK’s leading ski tour operators including the country’s number one, Crystal Ski. It was hailed on Twitter and via email after last week’s air travel nightmare.

The company, which also runs Thomson Ski, First Choice Ski and Flexiski had over 2,500 skiers and boarders in Europe for the last week of the season. Working closely with all airlines with whom those customers had been due to fly back on April 17th, it decided that it was better to transport all of our customers back to their UK airport of origin by coach.

Continue reading ‘Tour operator defies volcanic ash cloud’

Hotel Les Sources in Leukerbad.

Leukerbad’s Hotel Les Sources des Alpes has been upgraded to superior five-star status.

The HotellerieSuisse association has awarded Hotel Les Sources des Alpes superior five-star status – the top official star category in Switzerland. The luxury hotel is steeped in history and its gourmet restaurant “La Malvoisie” holds 15 out of 20 Gault-Millau points.

The “Relais & Châteaux” property, which dates back to 1834, has just 30 beautiful rooms and suites. Hotel facilities include two thermal baths (indoor and outdoor), sauna, Turkish bath, solarium, fitness room and a beauty and well-being centre offering a large choice of treatments and packages.

• Continue reading ‘Swiss hotel gets star-studded rating’

Tignes in the French Alps.

With excellent late season snow conditions dominating the European ski resorts, it’s a good time for Brits to catch a good deal for the Bank Holiday.

Ski Freshtracks is offering a weekend break for all ski abilities over the first of May weekend, based in the snow sure French resort of Tignes. It includes evening flights and convenient transfers giving four full days on the snow.

The Bank Holiday Blast is open to skiers of all abilities (except beginners) wishing to sample the wide range of pistes and glacier runs in the Espace Killy. The price of £595 (€678) includes four nights bed and breakfast in a three star hotel, twin share, return scheduled flight and coach transfer and Club leaders.

Continue reading ‘Ski for cheap on the Bank Holiday weekend’

The Kitzsteinhorn glacier in the Austrian Alps.

If you’re looking for summer skiing in the Alps, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Zell am See-Kaprun should be a fine destination.

The Austrian resort is enjoying its snow sure spring skiing season, and is already planning ahead for its summer season

All those who are looking for a freestyle challenge have to drop in at Mellow Park. The snow park boasts three different areas which are all located at an altitude of above 2,500 metres (8,200ft) which is a guarantee for natural snow.

Continue reading ‘Looking to the summer Alpine glacier ski season’

Tignes is one of several destinations on First Choice list of short stay deals.

Next season’s 2010-2011 First Choice ski vacation brochure has some new additions worth checking out.

New items in next year’s edition include new short stay holidays to 44 ski resorts from 13 UK airports, a new ski resort and special early booking offers.

The extensive range of new short stay holidays include four and five night breaks from £249 (€279).

Continue reading ‘Short stay ski vacations are the new deal’