Posted by Ruth Miller on Tue 11th December 2007 at 03:49 PM, Filed in Skiing
Virgin’s first venture into the world of skiing will be with “The Lodge” a premium chalet based in Verbier, Switzerland. It will include nine luxurious bedrooms that can accommodate 18 adults and bunk room for up to 6 children.
The Lodge web site says:
“The Lodge is located in Verbier, Switzerland, one of the Alps most exclusive resorts and Europe’s hottest ski spots. The Lodge itself provides a unique and fun setting: skate on the mini-ice rink, swim in the indoor pool, pampering in the Spa, or just relax after a day on the mountain whilst enjoying a wide selection of tailored menus and fine wines. Whether you need us to entertain the kids or fix a perfect gin and tonic, leave it to us; The Lodge will provide the perfect year round escape.”
It sounds great, and the price tag is reasonable, with one week all inclusive costing £35,250 ($70,500).
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Posted by Ruth Miller on Wed 5th December 2007 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Skiing, Winter Trips
Skiing is fast becoming about where the snow has the highest probability of falling. Slushy slopes are not what any of us want…
So La Clusaz in Haute-Savoie France could well fit this requirement because it has one of the best snow records in europe and great resort atmosphere to boot.
If you’re going for Christmas, which is a great time to go incidentally, you can enjoy the feast of Christmas celebrations (Pestacles du Père Noël). You also get circus workshops, fireworks displays, Santa’s grotto and street entertainers.
One of the best hotels in La Clusaz is the Hotel Alpen Roc which does very reasonable half board deals.
Posted by Ruth Miller on Mon 3rd December 2007 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Skiing
Innsbruck provides a metropolitan flavour to your skiing. Talinn in Estonia only comes close to providing a similar level of city life.
Innsbruck is the ancient regional centre for this region, forever associated with the Hapsburg empire of the 15th century. One of it’s suburban mountain villages - Igls includes an Olympic bobsleigh course and is renowned for Franz Klammer winning his skiing gold in 1976.
As an added bonus, Innsbruck runs a wonderful Christmas market and includes a superb art museum.
One of the noted Innsbruck hotels is the four star Sporthotel Igls which costs around £1,500 ($3,000) half board.
Posted by Ruth Miller on Wed 28th November 2007 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Skiing
Finland probably isn’t the first place you would think of for great skiing. The Alps usually have a monopoly on first instinct skiers.
However Levi in Finland has a flourishing ski industry that runs in parallel with a flourishing Santa industry!! One day meet ups with Santa go for £380 per person (incl flights) nowadays. Not a bad fall back activity should the snow not be favourable. More often than not you are almost guaranteed snow in this region. That’s more than can be said for many French resorts.
Activities outside skiing include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, reindeer sleighs and ice hole fishing… As an added bonus you might even see the natural phenomena that is the Northern Lights - an awesome natural light display.
One of the best hotels in the locality is the four star Levitunturi spa hotel which costs around £1,300 per person half board incl flights.
We all know how spectacular the scenery in Switzerland can be - therefore where better to get hold of some guaranteed powder. Jungfrau a domineering mountain reaching up 4,000 meters could be just the place for a spot of Christmas skiing - and includes some of the most breathtaking views in the Alps.
Basing yourself at Grindelwald, which is one of the best equipped resorts in the area - you can enjoy toboggan runs, one of which winds beneath the Eiger, skating, cross country skiing and snow shoeing.
It’s very unlikely that you will be lacking snow at these sorts of altitudes - but if fresh powder does become thin on the ground you can always take a train to Europe’s highest railway station, situated at 3,454 metres.
Discounts are usually offered in Autumn with something like the four star Hotel Scheizerhorf costing around £1,457 ($3,000) per person half board.
