Early bird bargains

ESTABLISHED in 1986, Ski Solutions are the UK’s original specialist ski tour operator and travel agency, celebrating 30 years of arranging hotel and chalet holidays to the Alps and North America, these great offers must all be booked by January 3rd.

Half-Term escape, Gressoney, Italy seven nights half board accommodation at the three-star Hotel De Gletscher.

New Year escape to the French alps, Courchevel, France seven nights chalet board accommodation at the three-star Chalet Elan.

Luxury chalet escape in January., Val d’Isère, France seven nights chalet board accommodation, at the four-star Chalet La Saulire.

Five-star service at the W Hotel, Verbier, Switzerland seven nights bed and breakfast accommodation at the five-star W Hotel.

www.skisolutions.com

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Ski Japan

#JAPAN is expecting a La Nina winter which usually means heavy snowfalls across Japan - so what better time to organise yourself a #skiing holiday to the Japanese Alps.

Japan has a reputation for being expensive, but resort prices are actually more affordable than at many top resorts in Europe and America.

If that’s not enough to tempt you away from Chamonix or St. Moritz, skiing in Japan also offers comparatively uncongested lifts and slopes and extensive night skiing in addition to fantastic food, revitalizing hot springs, warm-hearted hospitality, and amazing cultural experiences and festivals.

http://www.seejapan.co.uk

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Picture Credit: (C) HAN "the Coffee Man" flickr.com/photos/20277530@N00/24385712132 "Solo..." Yuzawa, Nigata 2015 via photopin.com

Cross Country Skiing

ESPECIALLY for Cross Country Ski Enthusiasts: Opening Days at Tirol’s Nordic Ski Centers.

Avid cross country skiers are once again lured to the grand Bring on Winter Nordic Festival in Leutasch at the heart of Seefeld Olympia Region. Now in its 18th year, there will be learn to ski and skill enhancement programs for all abilities along with displays of the latest Nordic ski equipment from December 09 to 11, 2016.

East Tirol’s capital Lienz will host the fourth Austrian Ski Touring Festival the weekend of December 08 to 11, 2016. Experienced mountain guides will lead guided tours and teach introductions to avalanche safety and awareness. The festival will again showcase mountaineering legends, such as Reinhold Messner, who will share their unique experiences over the years in inspiring lectures.

Learn More:
http://www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/events/winteropenings

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Picture Credit: sky#walker 59683764@N00/5306685171 Wetterstein via photopin.com

The longest tri-cable gondola in the Alps?

THE new 3S Eisgrat cable car lift by Leitner ropeways plans to open on October 29, increasing the capacity and access to the Stubai glacier in #Austria. The reworked cable car route will also open up a new #ski run Fernau, a 3.8 km long descent to the valley.

The sophisticated tri-cable gondola is the longest of its type to be built in the Alps, and the project at the Stubai Glacier has entered the history books as the largest single lift investment made by any ski resort, with 48 modern cabins capable of transporting 3,000 people per hour . The journey from the valley to the mountain will now take just 11 minutes.

www.stubai.at

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Picture Credit: Schneidersphotography 124918242@N04/17937032592 Stubaital via photopin.com

Eurostar prepares to launch ski season 2016 tickets

#SKIERS looking for the best way to travel to the slopes can start planning their winter adventure with Eurostar. The high-speed passenger rail service linking the UK with mainland Europe opens sales this month (July) for its popular service from London St Pancras and Ashford International to the French Alps.

The day and night services offer a generous baggage allowance to carry plenty of ski gear; each passenger can take two suitcases plus hand luggage and skis or snowboards at no extra cost.

The Friday overnight service gives winter sports enthusiasts an extra two days on the pistes, arriving in the #FrenchAlps on a Saturday morning to be welcomed by quieter slopes as other holidaymakers board their coach transfers to and from airports.

The 2015/2016 seasonal ski services will run weekly from December 17 until April 8.

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Brits party on the piste

WINTER ‘gappies’ are overtaking the clubland sun-seekers in the British holiday market, with 44 percent of UK holidaymakers saying they prefer #skiresorts to beach ones. The phenomenon of the ski season gap year is growing rapidly in popularity, a study by my Travel Cash found.

Young people are favouring luxury ski resorts thanks to the increase in party destinations and budget ski deals on offer. The study found that one in five British holidaymakers are abandoning the booze cruise and shunning sunny shores in favour of luxury ski resorts to holiday with friends.

The survey revealed that off-piste activity is the top trend for ski resort tourists. Winter holiday hotspots such as #Vald'Isere and Tignes have shot up in popularity, where the action can be less exciting as what happens back at the lodges. Even for those who like to take to the slopes, 68 percent spend at least a day and a half of their holiday enjoying food and drink in their cabins, as well as shopping and sight-seeing, rather than hitting the slopes. Thirteen percent do not take part in any snow sports.  

A ski instructor at the French ski resort of Morzine confirms that it’s not the landscapes and sporting opportunities that offer the biggest pull to young Brits: ‘Ski season means party season, and the nightlife is as important as the daytime activities in Morzine. #Apre-ski starts at around 4pm and continues in to the early hours, then those who do ski or board will get up to clear the hangover with fresh air back on the pistes.’

For those who take part in sports activities, a ski season offers the chance for tourists to pad out their CVs while simultaneously enjoying the party lifestyle. Morzine’s ski instructor continues: ‘It’s common for Brits to become qualified ski instructors while they do a season. This looks good to employers and is an alternative to doing promo or holiday repping in Ibiza.”

Ian Johnson, Sales Director at my Travel Cash, said: ‘Overall, snow holidays are currently more achievable than previously thought. Sterling has recently experienced its biggest high since 2007 against currencies including the euro, meaning holiday money can stretch a lot further than people might think, especially in European destinations.

Top 10 snow destinations highlighted by the My Travel Cash research:

 1.     France (35%)
2.     Austria (31%)
3.     Italy (9%)
4.     Switzerland (9%)
5.     Bulgaria (5%)
6.     USA (4%)
7.     Canada (3.5%)
8.     Spain (2%)
9.     Norway (2%)
10.  Germany (2%)

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Head north to the pistes

HAVING seen the winter’s first #snow falls in #Scotland, Natural Retreat’s CairnGorm Mountain is preparing to open for the #ski season.   

With investments in a stock of iconic Burton Riglet Snowboard equipment and the launch of a Snow School this season, the company says the mountain is more family friendly than ever before. Even under-fives can reap the benefits with boards as small as 70cm (2.3ft).

The mountain has:

• More than 18 miles of pistes 
• Britain’s highest restaurant, post box, and Starbucks 
• Two shops, 
• An exhibition 
• Disabled access throughout  

A ten-minute drive from Aviemore, the resort can be reached on the Caledonian overnight train from London’s Euston station.

 www.cairngormmountain.org

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53725815@N00/2188769441">P1120605</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/127130111@N06/16320826225">The Guardians</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Ski school on the Scottish slopes

NATURAL RETREATS #CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN is starting its own in-house snow school for the 2015/2016 #skiseason. By bringing the ski school in-house, booking lessons will be integrated with on-site ski hire and ticketing systems. 

Other changes have been implemented for the season, including: new fencing to catch more snow; a beginner’s ski-tow; mechanical reliability improvements to many of the existing ski-tows; and a ‘grab-and-go’ Storehouse Express for snacks on the slopes. 

Early Bird season passes cost £315 for adults and £76 for 6-16-year-olds.

One day of lessons at the ski school, including ski pass and ski hire, costs £99 for adults, £75 for children and seniors, and £57 for under 5’s.

www.cairngormmountain.org

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