Posted by IanLocke on November 26, 2008 under Ski Blog News | 
Where to get in on the action in Val D’Isere and Tignes…
By Ian Locke
The biennial FIS Alpine World Championship will take place in the Espace Killy ski area in Val d’Isère and promises great action – some of the World Cup’s fastest races have been held there. It’s a major event for the French, as the championships haven’t been held in France since 1962.
They are promising a spectacle with the men’s and ladies’ racecourses set facing each other - the “Face to Face” concept.
Team, media and fan club demand for accommodation in Val and Tignes will make those resorts a trifle hard to book during February, but don’t be put off. You could still enjoy some of the most exciting downhill action if you choose to stay in a quieter resort nearby, with access to the Espace Killy:
Resort: Sainte Foy Tarentaise, France
Location: 15 minute drive from Val D’Isere/Tignes
Two-storey, five double-bedroom luxury apartment in first class chalet-style building in the heart of pretty Sainte Foy village. Sleeps 10. Book Week commencing 31/1 for just £1800.
Remember, spectator access to races is free – but you must register on the world championships website to get your “invitation”….
Off-piste attractions
• Classical and jazz music concerts,
• Environmental seminar by a scientist Nicolas Vannier with his sledge dogs,
• Ski museum
• Snow and ice sculptures
• Photo exhibitions.
• Street activities - fireworks, parachute jumping,
• Jean-Claude Killy’s special soup, and much more
…see you there?
http://www.valdisere2009.org
Posted by IanLocke on under Ski Blog News, Ski Travel |
I’ve been flying to the Tarentaise and Three Valleys ski regions for several years with my family, and I know the airports and motor routes like the back of my hand. I’ve also picked up plenty of handy insights into the way the different airports are run, and where the best deals are for motor hire. When you’re booking from far away, it all looks simple, but many a slip from the cup to the lip…so read on for some tips that could save you precious hours on your quest for the slopes…
Insurance Excess – don’t get caught out
In the majority of cases, your car rentals package will include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Waiver(TW), which will insure you against the costs of the vehicle being damaged or stolen, beyond a stated excess.
It is well worth checking what this Excess amount is though, as for some car hire companies, it is a significant amount - more like £250 than the £50 you expect with your normal car insurance at home.
When you pick up your car at the airport, you will generally be given the opportunity to ‘top-up’ your insurance to cover the Excess as well, although this further adds to the cost of your car rental for the week, so that ‘cheap car hire deal’ that you got, doesn’t seem quite so cheap any more!
For this reason, if you’re likely to rent a hire car for 2 weeks or more during the year, we recommend the Annual Excess Car Hire Insurance product from Insurance4CarHire. We’ve used this product ourselves for several years, and have been glad that we did, as we’ve had 2 occasions when our hire car has been damaged, through no fault of our own, when without the Excess Insurance we’d have had to cough up twice for an excess.
Queue tips
One final tip - if you are booking your car hire direct with the rental company, possibly via the Low Cost Airline that you are flying with, it’s possibly worth considering avoiding the airline’s recommended ‘partner’ rentals company, simply because a lot of people arriving with you on your flight will have booked through them, so often they will have a massive queue, while other rental desks alongside will be deserted!
The Ski Airports
While it’s not likely that you’ll change your choice of airport just to make your life easier in terms of car hire, it is worth knowing the pros and cons of each, so that wherever you do fly to, the process at the far end will be as smooth as possible.
Geneva Airport
The French car hire minefield
The key thing to consider with car hire at Geneva Airport though is whether you want to rent from the French side of the airport or the Swiss side, as there are significant differences!
As regular users of car hire companies at Geneva Airport, we’ve found that you can invariably get cheaper car hire through car hire agencies / brokers such as Auto-Europe (Swiss and French side) Holiday Autos Car Hire (French side) than you can by going direct to the car hire company themselves.
Fun and games on the French side
The one and only benefit we can see in renting on the French side of Geneva Airport is the cost! Even this is however not quite what it seems, as rental cars on the French side don’t generally come with snow chains as standard (so an additional €40 a week to add for those), nor a carnet for the Swiss motorway (so 35CHF if you want to use the short stretch of motorway through Geneva).
If you decide not to buy a carnet for the motorway, it’s quite a difficult task to avoid the motorway when leaving the airport, and you’re adding about 30 minutes to your journey - assuming you don’t get lost in Geneva itself! Getting back to the airport is an even bigger nightmare, probably adding an hour to your journey.
Another complication is that you’ll land Swiss side, go through Swiss Customs, then have to go back out through French customs to the car hire desk. Finding how you get to French Customs also isn’t easy, as it’s through a little door at the right hand (as you’re looking at the departure gates) end of the Departures level of the airport!
And if that’s all not got you truly wound up, the car hire parking area on the French side is total chaos, with a lot of the hire cars double-parked, thus delaying you further!
Swiss car hire benefits
Stop Press 26th January 2009 New changes at Geneva Airport create extra hassle for car rentals. Read more>>
As you’ll have gathered, we much prefer the organization on the Swiss side - and if you book early enough, the prices aren’t that much more than the French side, especially as they automatically include winter equipment and a carnet for the motorway.
The whole rental process is that much simpler - you just come out on the Arrivals level, go to your left to the car hire desks, sort out the paperwork, then walk back to your right, cross the road and collect your hire car from the civilised multi-storey car park!
Then out of the airport, hit the motorway, and follow the sign to Annemasse or Annecy, depending on which ski resort you’re going to. There’s a good step-by-step of the route at Driving from Geneva Airport to Val d’Isere, which is relevant for the Three Valleys, Paradiski and other Tarentaise resorts as well as Val d’Isere.
On the Swiss side, we’ve in the past had some good deals from Auto-Europe and AutoReservation.com (need to book early though, and check prices regularly, as they do fluctuate quite a bit).
Lyon airport
Not a lot needs saying about hiring a car at Lyon airport - it’s a big airport, close to the motorway, and on the ‘right’ side of Lyon for the ski resorts, so no need to get into Lyon itself. Access to the airport and its car parks is very easy.
Again, you can book through a broker such as Auto-Europe or Holiday Autos, or shop around direct with the major car hire companies.
Grenoble airport
The main thing to say about Grenoble airport is that it isn’t in Grenoble, or even very close to it! It’s stuck in the middle of nowhere about halfway between Lyon to the north, and Grenoble to the south.
It’s a very basic airport, and as yet isn’t that well equipped to handle the volume of skiers that pass through it in the ski season!
The car hire offices are across the road from the airport terminal in a portacabin - if you wish to book direct, Hertz, Europcar and Avis have car hire desks there, or book via Holiday Autos Car Rentals or www.auto-europe.co.uk.
When you leave the airport, if you’re going to resorts in the Three Valleys (Meribel, Couchevel, Val Thorens etc) or Tarentaise (Val d’Isere, Tignes, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Sainte Foy Tarentaise), it’s best to head north towards Lyon rather than down towards Grenoble, as the ring road round Grenoble can be a nightmare for traffic.
Chambery Airport
Again, not much needs saying about car hire at Chambery airport - it’s a small airport, not far off the motorway outside Chambery itself, and a number of car rentals companies operate there. Or again, book through a car hire agency such as Auto-Europe Car Hire or Holiday Autos.
Hope that helps. Got any comments? Please post to the blog or if you prefer, email me at iml @ internet-cottages . com
Posted by IanLocke on November 25, 2008 under Ski Blog News, Ski Travel |
Eurotunnel announced this week that they have increased their shuttle frequency to a minimum of one train every 90 minutes, although as this still represents only one quarter of their ‘normal’ operating capacity, it will still be difficult to get bookings during peak periods such as Christmas and New Year. Full details of the announcement are shown below:-
Maintenance work is on schedule and the target date for reopening the last section of the North Tunnel is mid February 2009.
We are pleased to have increased shuttle frequency from one departure every 2 hours to a minimum of 1 departure every 90 minutes.
Please see below the current revised departure frequency:
One departure every 90 minutes Monday – Friday
Two departures every 90 minutes Saturdays & Sundays
Due to the revised departure frequency, we have limited spaces available in the run up to a very busy Christmas and February half term. To avoid disappointment we would therefore urge you to make your booking as soon as possible in advance of your preferred dates.
Posted by IanLocke on November 20, 2008 under Ski Blog News, Ski Deals |
A skiing holiday does not have to be expensive. Do your homework and create your own low cost package.
Accommodation, flights and transfers – all-in under £250 pp per week?
It’s possible with a systematic approach:
1. Timing – select a low-cost off-peak week. The first two weeks after New Year are a time when some of the best accommodation and flight bargains are to be had, for example. Be flexible – book a shorter break for 3-4 days and find a real bargain. Or you could travel mid-week when there are cheaper flights available: increasingly, chalets and apartments are allowing flexible stays.
2. Place – why do you need to be in a famous resort? Unless you are after serious après–ski action there are plenty of quieter Alpine villages which offer delightful skiing. Take at look at Samoens for example - a beautiful traditional village offering access to extensive skiing in The Grand Massif.
3. Accommodation – book direct with a chalet owner to find the best possible deal and pay in local currency (Euro). You can source them through local websites that offer links to accommodation providers such as www.samoenschalets.co.uk, or save time surfing the web for such gems with a quick skim through a direct booking portal such as www.internet-cottages.com.
4. Food – why not offer a free place on your trip to a non-skiing talented cook? Agree a budget and let them loose daily in the market while you enjoy the piste.
Here’s how little money you could spend:
Accommodation
Week: Sat 17 Jan 09: 7 nights
Place: LE CHALET FISCHER self-catering ski chalet to sleep 8 at Verchaix, near Samoens, 60km from Geneva.
Cost when booked via www.internet-cottages.com: Euro 1205 (approx £119 per person based on 8 people sharing).
Price includes:
A. electricity
B. hot water
C. heating
D. bed linen (beds are prepared prior to arrival of guests)
E. towels
F. toiletries (soaps, shower gels, shampoos)
G. end of stay cleaning
H. logs
I. local taxes
J. for guests with laptop computers, high speed WiFi internet access
K. items such as washing up liquid, washing up sponges, dishwasher tabs, coffee filters, kitchen towels
In with the price, the owner also offers assistance with pre-reservation of skis, boards, and boots in advance of the holiday.
Transport
Flight: Easyjet Flights £67 / person
Return airport transfers €46 / £36 per person
Daily transfer to slopes €30 / £24 per person (6 days)
Total per person (excluding ski pass, hire and food) £246.00
Alternatively you could hire 2 cars at £170 each car (£42.50 per person) from www.auto-europe.co.uk for a Citroen C4 which would bring down the cost to £228.50 per person (excluding fuel and insurances).
Posted by admin on November 14, 2008 under Ski Blog News, Ski Technique |
The attractions of your nearest indoor snow slope.
Chances are you’ll only have a week in the mountains. So get a head start and maximise your enjoyment by signing up for lessons in the UK first – especially if you can get to one of the new breed of indoor, snow-covered slopes, where you can book lessons or go for a burn on your own. Other activities such as tobogganing and snow tubing are usually available too.
The Slopes, O2 Greenwich, London (0844 856 0202, www.theo2.co.uk ) The capital’s first ever indoor artificial twin 45-metre ski slopes open late November to January 2009. Visitors will be able to ski, snowboard or snow tube. Prices start at £15.00 per adult per hour (Ski/board rental £5) and snow tubes £8 per half hour. Private Lessons: The Warren Smith Ski Academy (Verbier) will offer coaching for all levels.1 on one lesson £35 per hour, 2 person lesson £50 per hour, 3 person lesson £65 per hour, 4 person lesson £80 per hour, Family Lesson (2 adults and 2 children) £70 per hour. Call 0844 844 2121 to book.
Snowdome, Tamworth, Staffordshire (08705 000 011, www.snowdome.co.uk ) The original indoor snow slope, featuring a 170-metre (560ft) doglegging slope. A one-hour group lesson for adults costs £28pp, including skis, boots and poles. 2008 attractions: Santa’s Winter Wonderland
SNO!zone, Xscape Special attractions 2008: Santa on the Slopes, airbagging, bar events and slope events.
Three locations
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (0871 222 5670, www.snozoneuk.com ) The original SNO!zone, in the large Xscape mall in Milton Keynes, features both a main slope for regular skiers and a separate area for beginners. One-hour group lessons cost £27pp, including skis, boots, poles and helmets.
- Castleford, West Yorkshire (0871 222 5671, www.snozoneuk.com ) The design of Castleford’s SNO!zone is similar to that of the Milton Keynes slope. It opened in 2003 and is loaded with 1,500 tons of snow. One-hour group lessons cost £27pp, including skis, boots, poles and helmets.
- Braehead, Renfrew (0871 222 5672, www.snozoneuk.com ) Indoor snow in Scotland? It seems odd in a country with five outdoor resorts, but in 2006 Braehead, outside Glasgow, got its own snow shed. One-hour group lessons cost £27pp, including skis, boots, poles and helmets.
Chillfactore, Manchester Trafford Centre (0161 749 2222, www.chillfactore.com) . Something approaching an authentic Alpine experience - it’s covered in about 1,600 tons of man-made snow. A 90-minute session for adults starts at £17pp, including ski and boot hire; four-person family tickets start at £48. Three 110-minute beginner lessons cost from £130. Be sure to book ahead for weekend and evening visits, when the centre is busy – your best chance of getting in at the moment is to aim for a midweek morning or early afternoon
Coming soon to the East of England!
…in the pipeline Hemel Ski Centre, Hemel Hempstead is opening April 2009. (www.thesnowcentre.com )
Posted by admin on November 13, 2008 under Ski Blog News |
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