Posts Tagged ‘val thorens’
Ski + City Breaks in Europe
Make the most of your holiday time with our definitive guide to the best European cities for a short break – before or after a stay in the mountains.
Whether you want to take advantage of cheaper weekday flights, or you just fancy a bit of culture and shopping to enhance your ski holiday, Ski Independence can easily add on a night or two in a city destination.
Here are 7 great cities that work well combined with a ski holiday – with some recommendations of where to stay and what to see while you’re there.
1. Verona – The City of Love
What’s New in the French Alps this Winter
France’s excellent ski resorts have all kinds of new activities, gastronomy and accommodation to discover after the hiatus of the past 18 months. Here’s a taste of what’s new in the French Alps this winter:
Après-Ski with a difference
Ice Floating
Take your wellness routine to the next level! Float on the icy waters of Lac Ouillette (Val d’Isère) or Lac de Tignes in a specially designed waterproof wet-suit and experience a completely unique way to relax. Get even closer to nature by floating under the stars once the sun has gone down.
Read the rest of this entry »Après-Ski with a difference
Ice Floating
Take your wellness routine to the next level! Float on the icy waters of Lac Ouillette (Val d’Isère) or Lac de Tignes in a specially designed waterproof wet-suit and experience a completely unique way to relax. Get even closer to nature by floating under the stars once the sun has gone down.
Read the rest of this entry »What’s New in the Three Valleys
Meribel, France. Credit: 3Vallees, David Andre
With over 600km of pistes, the Three Valleys (Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens) is the largest ski area in the world. This alone is reason enough to plan a trip there but there are also plenty of exciting developments in store this winter. Read the rest of this entry »
Our Tips for Driving to the Alps in Winter
Flaine, France. Credit: Kasya Shahovskaya on Unsplash
Not only is driving to the Alps cost effective, it gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace, stopping off en route at some lovely places. Read the rest of this entry »
Top Tips for a Successful New Year Ski Holiday
Celebrations in Morzine
Along with the partying, eating copious amounts of food and celebrating in the streets, one of the most integral elements of a New Year ski holiday is snow. The start of the year is generally a great time to ski in Europe, however snow cover in late December and early January can vary from resort to resort, so why not pick our brains for information on the most snow-sure destinations?
Our knowledgeable reservations team will be more than happy to talk through your requirements and point you in the right direction. So whether you’re looking for wild après, the ultimate in-resort dining or high altitude slopes, we’ll do our best to make sure you bring in 2019 in style.
La Folie Douce on the slopes of Val Thorens
Here are just a few of our picks for high-altitude early-season skiing in Europe:
Verbier, Switzerland
The highest slopes sit at 3,300m, ensuring snowy mountains throughout the season.
Tignes, France
Great piste-grooming and high altitude make Tignes a dependable New Year resort!
Val Thorens, France
The village sits at 2,300m, making it the highest resort in the Alps and a snow-sure destination.
Our Top Tips
1. Once you’ve decided where to go, make the most of the mountain by letting us organise your instructor. Whether its group or private lessons, we can help!
2. Book your lift pass before you travel. With the majority of our French resorts, we can send your hands-free cards out with your travel documentation to ensure you’re not waiting to get on the slopes. Read the rest of this entry »
New for 2018/19 – Ski Independence Update
Find out all about what’s new for 2018/19!
We’re excited to announce that the brand new Ski Independence brochure has arrived, bookings are rolling in and early booking offers are high in demand.
Now is the best time to book and to give you some inspiration here’s an overview of what’s new for our European & North American programmes.
>> Order your copy of our Winter 2018/19 brochure now
Europe
Les Gets is a hotspot for families with its French charm and easy access to the huge Portes du Soleil ski area. Read the rest of this entry »
8 Unique Ski Experiences to Try This Winter
Great alternatives to your usual après-ski
Dancing in your ski boots, soaking in the outdoor hot tub, indulging in hot chocolate & freshly baked treats, sipping cold beers on a sunny terrace – all highly recommended after a day on the mountain! Après-ski is a ski holiday must, but the range of unique activities and alternative ski experiences on offer is now bigger and better than ever, so whether you’re looking for an alternative to traditional après-ski or for a different way to spend your day on the slopes, check out our pick of the latest and greatest in unique ski experiences.
1. Sample the Dolomites’ finest cuisine on a Gourmet Ski Safari
Alta Badia is the place to be for anyone who loves eating and drinking as much as they love skiing! This is thanks to its Sciare con Gusto programme (roughly translated as “skiing with flavour”) which is a series of events throughout the season combining passion for winter sports with delicious cuisine. With the stunning scenery of the Dolomites and unrivalled local hospitality, this is simply not to be missed.
Gourmet Ski Safari (image: Alta Badia Tourism)
Ski from one mountain hut to another, sampling a different dish designed by top Michelin-starred chefs in each one, as part of the Gourmet Ski Safari; this year’s theme was childhood favourites so traditional dishes executed to perfection were the order of the day. Book a place on a Sommelier on the Slopes event if you want to taste some of the best local wines in the company of a ski guide and local wine expert. Just remember you need to ski down the mountain at the end of the day! If you like to be first up on the slopes you can also enjoy breakfast on the slopes at the Las Vegas Lodge – take a snow cat up the mountain and sample the best local products from the Alto Adige region. To top it all off, you’ll be on the slopes before the lifts have even opened!
Catherine, Senior Ski Product Support
>> We recommend: the fabulous 5-star Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, just a 5 minute drive from the Alta Badia ski area.
2. Get closer to the locals in Jackson Hole
Top 5 Family Ski Holidays
Europe’s short travel times and great skiing make for the ideal family ski holiday destination, but which resorts are best for families? Finding the right ski area, ski school, childcare options and accommodation all within a reasonable travel time can be challenging. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve short listed some of the best European resorts and accommodation for all the family…
Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens, France
Ski Independence Top 5 European Luxury Ski Hotels
Peak Of Chic – Luxury Ski Hotels
Ski Independence are proud to offer some of the worlds most exclusive luxury ski hotels and chalets. This list is comprised of our top 5 European picks for this season.
Hotel W, Verbier
Verbier has long been renowned as a place of luxury, but the addition of the Hotel W has taken standards to dizzying new heights. Arriving at Verbier’s only 5-star ski-in Hotel, the W’s attentive staff provide an unrivalled welcome with their ‘Whatever/Whenever’ service, which does exactly as the name implies.
Hotel W, AROLA Restaurant
Early Season Skiing – France November 2013
Nikki and Nicole from our reservations team have just returned from a few days in the French Alps where they managed to visit a lot of resorts, stopped in on many of our featured properties and also managed to get some fantastic early season skiing and snowboarding in. Here’s a round-up from Nikki and some great photos from Nicole.
Working with Ski Independence definitely has its perks, and this week we were lucky enough to take part in a fam trip to France. Not only to familiarise ourselves with the resorts, but to see all the amazing properties where we send our clients every winter. Knowing the resorts and properties inside-out is an essential part of being in the sales team, it means we can give the very best advice and share our first hand experiences. Read the rest of this entry »
