Last Minute December Ski Holiday Offers!

With plenty of special offers up for grabs and huge snowfalls all over the Alps why not book a last minute ski trip to get away from it all with Erna Low…

La Tania for £175 per person (30% off accommodation price)

Save £67 per person on a week’s self-catering board in the Chalets de La Tania, sleeping 10. Includes one return Eurotunnel crossing with Free FlexiPlus upgrade, departing 17^th December.

Chalets de La Tania

Serre Chevalier for £99 per person (40% off accommodation price)

Save £50 per person on a week’s self-catering board in the Les Chalets du Jardin Alpin, sleeping 7. Includes one return Eurotunnel crossing with Free FlexiPlus upgrade, departing 17^th December.

Belle Plagne for £173 per person (40% off accommodation price)

Save £86 per person on a week’s self-catering board in Residence Cassiopee, sleeping 4. Includes one return Eurotunnel crossing with Free FlexiPlus upgrade, departing 24^th December.

Les Menuires for £260 per person (20% off accommodation price)

Save £60 per person on a week’s self-catering board in Residence Les Chalets de L’Adonis, sleeping 8. Includes one return Eurotunnel crossing with Free FlexiPlus upgrade, departing 24^th December.

Valloire for £140 per person (30% off accommodation price)

Save £47 per person on a week’s self-catering board in Residence Les Valmonts, sleeping 6. Includes one return Eurotunnel crossing with Free FlexiPlus upgrade, departing 24^th December.

Flaine for £182 per person (20% off accommodation price)

Save £38 per person on a week’s self-catering board in Residence Les Pleiades, sleeping 6. Includes one return Eurotunnel crossing with Free FlexiPlus upgrade, departing 31^st December.

For our full selection of special offers visit our website special offers page here.

Plus book before midnight on the 19th December and receive an additional £50 off courtesy of Erna Low, just call it an early Christmas present from us!  Terms and conditions apply, for full details visit our website here.

Enjoy some awesome spring skiing in Val Thorens

Ex Erna Low rep, Simon Clarke gives us the lowdown on the latest conditions in Val Thorens…

Web cam image from 6th April

“We are approaching the Easter holidays and even though we’ve been seeing some really hot Spring days, the skiing here in Val Thorens is still awesome!

Whilst other lower resorts might be seeing the ‘brown’ patches of the cow fields below, we still have a complete snow cover and the conditions are quite simply fantastic!
The compact Spring snow is a delight to slide across, allowing you amazing amounts of grip under foot. There’s nothing quite like the effortless riding on a sugary snowy white surface that is Spring skiing!
You have to make sure you catch it during the best few hours of the day though – generally over an extended lunch time period, but it’s well worth one final mountain adventure and you’ll be glad you fitted in that last winter holiday before the snow goes into hibernation until next season!
By afternoon the snow has softened nicely and we are seeing some of the best mogul skiing I’ve experienced in ages. Well formed, soft bumps, with good lines are there to be smashed and it’s a pure joy!
Stay off the steep black runs, and you can enjoy groomed pistes for a good proportion of the day.

Whatever level of skier you may be, there is something here for everyone and an end of season trip to Val Thorens would be highly recommended.

Come and join us for huge amounts of fun on this snowy mountain before it’s too late!”

View Val Thorens snow report»

Half way there… a season in Val Thorens!

I’m sat in The Frog and Roastbeef Val Thorens in the 3 Valleys during apres ski and enjoying a fabulous hot chocolate with brandy and whippy cream. Mmm mm mmm! Nothing like a strong tasty wee number to warm the cockles after a chilly day on the mountain!
It’s been a rather unusual season so far. Cold, cold, cold weather with regular snow falls. Whoever believed all the hype about global warming? – I’m into my 21st season and I don’t think I’ve ever felt it colder on the hill! That’s been the fantastic news this season for all us snow lovers. You don’t have to go to Canada to find yourself some of the most fantastic snow conditions on the planet. On piste there’s groomed runs with soft perfect snow, whilst off piste there’s lots of the light white fluffy stuff to roll around in!
Normally by this time of the year we’ve had some seriously hot days and that makes the snow melt. When it becomes cold again, we’re left with solid hard icy pistes. Not so much fun unless you have Bode Miller tuned race skis on and you know how to handle them!
The added bonus this year is the fact that with the recession came a dip in the holiday market, and it means great deals to be had in some of the best resorts in the world and really quiet pistes for us to charge around. Even this week as the February holidays kick in, there’s hardly a lift queue in sight.

Simon at the Frog's Karaoke fundraiser!

It’s my first season in Val Thorens so I’m not sure how things normally are here, but this season just keeps getting better and better! Regular snow falls, followed by amazing blue sky days, followed by ripping the turn down to the new apres ski hotspot to hit the mountains – Le Follie Douce! It’s the same recipe as the one in Val d’Isere that’s been pumping out loud tunes with brilliant musicians and entertainers for years. Our new party place has all the same ingredients but with a bit extra thrown in at every turn. The terrace is brand spanking new and the inside has been extended and totally refurbished. Add to that a high quality state ot the art stereo system and you have yourself a noise that’s almost capable of starting an avalanche – Whoop whoop whoop!

The night life here is as good as it gets in France with bars and clubs everywhere. Once you come off the mountain from a hard day on the slopes and a couple of drinks at the Follie Douce,  you ski straight into the Frog and Roastbeef to a warm welcome from the English staff who work there. You can chat about your days entertainment up the hill whilst watching any of the top sporting events on the big screens they have on every wall. If you decide not to return back to your apartment you can stay and taste some of the best burgers ever made. I truly believe that if the boys at the Frog ever wanted to open a world wide global burger establishment, they’d absolutely wipe the floor with the competition! I find myself eating there almost every evening!
If you fancy a more rocking atmosphere après ski then there are several bars including The Tango, Sneskos or The Saloon that have live music on most days of the week. I tend to avoid these places however as the years haven’t been kind to me and as I’m now knocking on the door of the big four zero, I’m becoming more of a Victor Meldrew than a hard core party animal!

I’m actually considering buying a ski property in the mountains at the moment because with the dip in the English market for purchasing apartments has come a massive drop in prices. This more than compensates for the poor strength of the pound to the euro with a good property now available from between 70-100,000 euros (or even less if you want a shoe box!). I’m actually considering building a property empire out here just now and retiring to a life of fresh mountain air within a stress free environment which is a million miles away form life back home! What makes this prospect even more appealing are companies like CMS Maintenance who are based in the Belleville Valley. It’s taken a long time to happen, but these guys are all English tradesmen who can carry out every aspect of any renovation works or re-decorations to an extremely high standard and will be totally reliable and cost effective too. Add to that no language barrier and therefore no communication issues and you can see why the CMS boys are doing really really well for themselves. I’ll be booking them for my first project!

The skiing in this area is absolutely awesome as anyone who’s been out to the 3 Valleys will testify to, but when that’s combined with perfect snow conditions and a good number of blue sky days, you’re guaranteed to return home from your holiday with a smile on your face that’ll be difficult to remove for some time to come!

Hurry! Snow (and prices!) are falling in the Three Valleys!

We are overjoyed with the recent news that the 3 Vallees – generally renowned for its expensive prices – has had a change of heart by adapting their food and drink prices to better represent the current economic market. The prices of beverages, snacks, and meals in various resorts around the French ski area are becoming more competitive, making it possible for skiers to not only enjoy the thrills of the slopes, but also the comfort of a hot chocolate or warm meal at the top of the mountain without breaking the bank! Such resorts participating in this new ‘low price’ campaign include favorites like  Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, La Tania, Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens. With so many options to choose from, skiers can now take fantastic ski holidays to the 3 Valleys with prices to suit all budgets and tastes. The process is ongoing and is still only in its initial stages, but prices have already fallen exponentially with 27% of 3 Vallees resorts having lowered their prices for this winter season! Val Thorens has persuaded 85% of bar and restaurant owners, so far, to change their coffee prices from €2,20 to less that €2.00; though this may seem minimal, we all know how quickly money adds up, and with all that saved change, why not purchase a beer – now less than €3 in 40% of the restaurants! Méribel, too, sets a good example for other resorts, with restaurant owners now applying VAT cuts on at least 8 leading products, such as pasta, fizzy drinks, coffee, children’s menus, and dishes of the day! Furthermore, half of the resorts participating in the price cuts are charging only €10 (or less!) for each main course, and 35% of restaurants will be applying the VAT reduction. With all these fabulous deals, skiers are given yet another excuse to enjoy a family lunch overlooking the snowy mountain tops. Seems that they have the right idea and hopefully other resorts won’t be far behind! Happy skiing!

mine's no longer a tap water!

Get the most out of your ski pass and discover other Alpine resorts

Taking advantage of the quiet January weeks, Tim Wilson, our rep in La Plagne heads over the 3 Valleys with a friend for the day…

With our Paradiski season passes we get 2 free days in the Three Valleys (Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens) and two in the Espace Killy (Val d’Isère/Tignes). There is a reciprocal arrangement between these three domains allowing people with a six day full area pass to use one of those days in another domain. Just ask the lift pass office for a special card which will then be stamped when you get your day pass in the other area.

We set off at 8am from la Plagne and got to Brides les Bains within 45 minutes, only a short drive up the Bozel Valley from Moutiers.

Me at top of Orelle overlooking Maurienne valley

The Olympe gondola from Brides les Bains gets you to to Meribel in about 30 minutes, from where we headed for Val Thorens. Having worked seasons in VT a while back, we both had our favourite spots to aim for. The “Boismint” red piste off the top of the chair with the same name had perfectly groomed snow, leaving our legs burning by the bottom.

Another old friend was the “Tete Ronde” from the top of the Funitel Peclet which used to be a red run but is now designated a blue.

As one of the highest ski areas in the Alps, Val Thorens is blessed with very good snow quality, but we had to keep one eye on the clock and start making our way back to the Meribel Valley in good time.

Stunning panoramic views from the top of Val Thorens

On our way up the Plein Sud chair we saw the new Folie Douce mountain restaurant just getting into gear with a house DJ and live musicians accompanying. The legendary Val D concept has found a welcoming crowd in Val T!

It seemed a shame to leave behind such a great party vibe, but the last gondola down is at 5pm so we made the most of the final descent with a beautiful late afternoon light over the mountains.

Quiet slopes on the way back down to Mottaret

WitwooFlybaboo! France Ski Flights Just Got Easier via Oxford-Geneva!!

Can’t believe  we can avoid Gatwick this winter and fly from Oxford to Geneva.  I AM ON CLOUD NINE! Someone pinch me!!! 

Flight operator, Flybaboo, has just announced that they will operate a twice daily flight from Oxford Airport to Geneva from 19 December 2009 until 13 March 2010.  Flights will leave Oxford at 12.20 and 14.05 (so civil … no battling the Oxford ring road rush hour)! Flybaboo says if there is enough demand, they’ll extend the route through Easter which falls between 2-5 April next year.

For those of us who live in Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas, this news will transform our ski holidays.   Between the cost of a car to London airports or the slog of taking a bus (with skis anyone?) and the simplicity of checking in at a smaller airport , the time saved and the hassle avoided is an early Christmas present. 

Watch Flybaboo’s flight finder in the next week or so for the newly announced Oxford-Geneva route!   Then match it with one of our many nearby destinations in France or Switzerland.   Witwoooooooooo Flybaboo!!!

X-factor events in the Alps this ski season! Superslide me!!!

Our pick of the best events to be seen at this winter… Hope to see you there!

It looks set to be an exciting upcoming ski season in the Alps from world-class Superpipe competitions and giant Slalom contests to car racing on ice and prestigious film festivals. I hope you can take the time to experience some of these action-packed moments to come.

Take part in the ultimate season opening in Les Deux Alpes from 28th November to 5th December 2009 with the NJR Powderweek, which offers fun and action for any young skier or snowboarder. Depending on snow conditions, the complete ski region will be open to explore, meaning 220 km of wide pistes and a fantastic 240,000 m² large snow park! Check out this site for more details.

having a little too much fun girls?

I am particularly excited about the Winter X Games taking place in Tignes from 10th – 12th March 2010; the first X Games to be held outside the United States. Several world class sport athletes will be invited to France to compete in 8 different events over the 3 days including Ski and Snowboard Superpipe and Slopestyle. For more details go here.

Hop on over to Val d’Isere for the Superslide week starting on 12th March 2010 and enjoy 5 days devoted to all the different ways one can travel down the mountain on various contraptions. Go here for more info.

Two amazing events taking place in April 2010 are the Flying Kilometre in Les Arcs and the Val Thorens Luge Cup. Be part of the spectacular sporting contest of speed skiing in Les Arcs where contestents travel as fast as possible along a kilometre-stretch of piste with a near vertical run-up or take a trip to Val Thorens where the resort arranges a unique tobogganing competition with six kilometres of track; the longest tobogganing course in France, with different competitve categories for children, adults, couples and professionals.
For more on the Flying Kilometre go here or if the Val Thorens Luge Cup takes your fancy check this out .