Archive for January, 2009
France overtook Austria as the most popular destination for British skiers and snowboarders some years ago, and it is by far the most popular country with our readers. It’s not difficult to see why. France has the biggest linked ski areas in the world; for those who like to cover as many miles in a day as possible, these are unrivalled. Most of these big areas are also at high altitude, ensuring high-quality snow for a long season. French mountains offer a mixture of some of the toughest, wildest slopes in the Alps, and some of the longest, gentlest and most convenient beginner runs. French resort villages can’t be quite so uniformly recommended; but, equally, they don’t all conform to the standard image of soulless purpose-built resorts, thrown up without concern for appearance during the boom of the 1960s and 70s.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 
For a few years now, Italy has been a booming destination. Most people were attracted initially by price; in the mid-1990s, while the French franc, Austrian schilling and Swiss franc soared, the lira plummeted even more than the pound so Italy became cheaper while other Alpine countries were finding themselves priced out of the market. Such variations are now supposed to be a thing of the past, since the lira has a fixed rate to the euro and should in due course disappear altogether. In fact, as we prepare this edition there is talk of Italy pulling out of the euro. What is clear is that Italy isn’t as cheap as it was partly because Italian lift companies, hoteliers and restaurateurs cashed in on the boom. So Italy must compete with the other Alpine countries on quality, not just price.
Read the rest of this entry »
Australia Ski Resort
Offers skiing and boarding during the European summer
In one holiday you can also take in a visit to tropical northern Australia
It’s a long way from anywhere except New Zealand and south-east Asia
Mountains are rather low, and lift/ trail networks small by Alpine standards
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Andorra Ski Resort
Excellent choice for beginners, with resorts that offer good tuition and mountains that won’t frighten
Lively nightlife in most resorts, sometimes making it feel like a summer holiday package destination
Resorts close enough to each other to sample at least one other during a week
Tax-free status of country is a real boon cheap alcohol, cigs and some electrical goods
Limited slopes, with little to challenge experts
Most resorts have little in the way of charm, and Soldeu and Pas de la Casa are sited on the busy main road through the country
Nightlife tends to revolve around booze and clubs little variety
Read the rest of this entry »
Popular Searches