France Ski Bargains - Skiing Holidays in France » French Alps

French Alps have so many destinations to choose from

Alan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:26:06 +0000

The region around the French Alps is one of the most popular with British skiers, with many returning year after year to enjoy the scenery, amenities and excellent winter sports facilities.

Almost 300,000 travellers head from the UK for the French slopes each year – no doubt drawn by the short flights, but also by the unique attractions that the region has to offer. Whether you’re an experienced skier looking for the challenge of a black run, or a novice searching for the right nursery slopes to learn a new skill, there will be a resort in the French Alps that will suit your needs.

After all, there are over 200 resorts to choose from in the French Alps region, each with its own charms and its own particular winter sports speciality. Some are little more than villages while others feel more like large cities in the busy winter months; some are aimed at families taking youngsters away on their first skiing trip while others have a lively apres-ski scene for those more interested in nightlife than life on the slopes.

The Grand Massif is the largest of the resorts in the French Alps, actually made up of a series of smaller resorts linked by cable cars and chair lifts, and served by nearly 280 kilometres of ski slopes. In fact, many of the resorts that make up the Grand Massif are not resorts at all, but traditional Alpine villages that have adapted to provide accommodation and entertainment for visitors. The larger town of Flaine is the only part of the Grand Massif that was built recently,with skiing holidays in mind.

No matter what your skiing level, there will be slopes and activities in the Grand Massif to suit your experience. Add to this range of slopes the fact that you have so many packed into a relatively small area, most first-time visitors find themselves surprised by the lack of queues at the lifts, even at the busiest part of the day.

Travelling between the resorts that make up the Grand Massif couldn’t be easier, whether you make use of the chair lifts and cable cars strung between the villages or hop on the courtesy buses that run between the major tourist centres. Both options make exploring the different slopes, and the different villages, very easy.

As with most resorts in the French Alps, the Grand Massif is also home to an excellent ski school which has classes for adult beginners as well as children, run by the well-established and well-known ESF chain. Even if you have been skiing before, a quick refresher lesson with an instructor can be just the thing to restore your confidence before you head for the slopes.

Of course, a ski resort can have the best slopes and the best amenities in the world, but without a regular and reliable snowfall there is little point in visiting. Luckily, the French Alps are known for their perfect skiing conditions all winter long, and many resorts have been known to employ snow cannons on the lower slopes if Mother Nature hasn’t played her part.

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Fresh snow at the end of the ski season

Alan — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:54:05 +0000

Fortunately the Alps have recently been covered in snow even though the ski season is close to being over. The end of April is chosen by many to go skiing. The spring sunshine and lively parties that mark the end of the season are enticing to anyone.

You may think the ski season has gone by and maybe even quicker than others, but the specialists at SkiHorizons have ski holidays and advice for anyone that wants to get the most out of the slopes.

The high temperature and sun have caused some problems at some the ski resorts, but resorts in the northern Alps in France still have a great deal of snow and will not be closing before May and that includes Tignes and Val Thorens.

There is more than 2m of snow in both Switzerland and Austria at Solden and Engelberg and skiing is still available. SkiHorizons can help you make the right choice and let you know about some of their secrets. Winter is not quite finished.

Night skiing for example is a great way to get more out of your skiing holiday. Not only do you end up skiing longer but night skiing is wonderful experience that transports you to another world under storybook starry skies. There is an enchanting feeling as you glide down the starlit slopes and experience the peaceful quiet of the mountains. There is hardly another soul to share the slopes so you have unlimited space and unlimited skiing.

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The joys of skiing in France

Alan — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:34:07 +0000

For those that love to ski, there is little that can hold a candle than sailing down the slopes of France. Whether you are out on the slopes enjoying some of the best downhill runs in the world or heading across some of the top cross country trails, France is known as a skier’s paradise for everything it has to offer the winter sports enthusiast. Featuring some of the best scenery of any slopes in the world, the contoured runs and fresh alpine air helps seal the experience as something that is to be cherished forever.

While in France on a ski holiday you need to make sure you try out some slopes on the Alps. France is known for its Alp ski pistes and given that the Alps sit on the France/Switzerland border you can even pop over and visit the Swiss for a bit while out on the slopes. Plus, you do not have to worry about lugging your equipment around since there are dedicates ski shops spread out everywhere that are aimed at pleasing tourists resulting in some excellent ski hire bargain prices.

Another reason to head to France for a ski holiday is because it is home to the famed Val d’Isere resort which is a large ski expanse spread out of the Alps. Best known because of Jean Claude Killy, the resort area is a tourist attraction because of its near perfect seasonal conditions.

In addition, the resort has plenty of accommodation options and pistes for every skill level so that everyone on your holiday can enjoy a challenge on the hills. Plus, the surrounding area is built for après ski activities with plenty of refreshment areas, activities, and hotels to choose from making it a great place for singles and families on holiday.

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France is most popular with expert boarders

Alan — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:25:59 +0000

Skiing holidays have been known for quite some time as a luxury sport popular among the famous and rich. As such, it is no surprise that the British royal family also enjoys skiing with Prince Charles regularly heading to the French and Swiss Alps for two weeks with William and Harry.

In fact, the Prince has made the trip so frequently that the main cable car on top of Gotschnagrat is referred to as the Prince of Wales.

However, the market has loosened up in recently with the spread of budget air and lower costs in general for holiday packages helping increase the popularity of ski holidays in France every year.

Travel agent, First Choice Holidays, have determined that the top skiing destinations for holiday are France and Austria as both countries continue to experience an increase in the amount of UK travellers heading to the slopes.

A spokesperson for the travel company stated that France is most popular with guests that are expert boarders and skiers while those who book Austrian holidays are in search of great skiing and traditional accommodation. They continued to state that they have seen an increase in families searching out French holidays.

Investors looking at France get an added bonus from the leaseback scheme because French law dictates that an overseas investor can purchase a property and then lease it back to a management company who handles the property.

This allows for a steady stream of income and that there is still income during the off-ski season.

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Is it time to think about the 2011 ski season

Alan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:58:10 +0000

As winter slowly melts away most skiers are probably starting to look towards next year’s ski holiday potential. If you are thinking about next year after a wonderful year skiing this year, it may be time to think about booking your ski holidays in advance for 2011 to ensure you get the best of the best on the slopes.

Those who want to travel to France for their next holiday would be wise to check out some new runs that will be open in 2011 at some of the top resort locations.

Meribel in the French Alps is a great place to ski if you want to get quickly onto the slopes without too much hassle due to the fact that the Chambery airport is close by allowing you to grab a quick bus transfer and be on the slopes in very little time.

There is plenty to see once on the Meribel slopes as well since there are about 330 ski runs within the region and plenty of heli-skiing, snowboarding, and off-piste opportunities. Also available are plenty of outside activities that are both family orientated and perfect for those who enjoy a bit of après ski during their ski holidays.

Part of the charm of travelling to Meribel is the fact that it is the oldest snowpark in the Les 3 Vallees and is found directly in the heart of the valley allowing for easy access to 600km of trails for all levels of skiers. Toss in the fact that there are 174 ski lifts and you can see why it is the perfect location for a jam packed ski holiday.

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Don’t drink and ski campaign

Alan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:49:42 +0000

Every year Brit’s head off the slopes looking for a mixture of skiing and alcoholic lunches but every year as a result a few dozen return to Britain hurt or even dead.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has decided to launch a new campaign that aims to target holiday makers with the message ‘don’t drink and ski’ to reduce the amount of people killed out of the country on the slopes of Italy, Switzerland and particularly France,

As part of the campaign new posters will be hung at popular ski resorts, airports, and stations that warn Britons of the dire effects of alcohol at high altitudes and that slower reaction times on the slopes can lead to incidents that will destroy a holiday.

The problem was brought to light by a new study by the government that showed about 33% of all skiers under the age of 25 were involved in accidents that were caused by drinking while on ski holidays.

The Lyons France, British consulate stated that every year there are about 30 Britons under the age of 25 who die in the French Alps.

Head of Albertville hospital orthopaedic surgery in the Alps, Nedjib Benammar, stated the majority of skiing accidents happen after lunch time with fatigue or alcohol consumption playing the largest role. He proposed that a limit be placed on skiers in the same way that drink driving is illegal.

Currently in France the only law that exists is that if a skier causes an accident while drunk they can be prosecuted.

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