Sunday, November 25, 2012

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Cost Of A Winter Holiday

It's something that one assumes everyone knows, namely how much is a week's skiing? But I watched something with Eddie Edwards (yes, "the eagle") some woman and some PR bloke from Austria and it dawned on me that perhaps people might like to be told.

Skiing (when I say skiing I mean sliding on snow holidays, boarders don't get your noses out of joint, it's just skiing is a shorter word to type) has always been considered expensive, there was a democratising of price that went on during the eighties and until quite recently, but now you'd be lying to say it was cheap, although perhaps we had more money then.

The papers and PR mouthpieces always try and say "good value yada, yada" - do not believe it, in truth I reckon you're looking at the best part of a grand in any currency for a week per person.

There are three ways you can do the holiday: a hotel - up to you how much you spend, self catering or package. The latter former: A week's ski is usually about GBP500 a head (could be a bit less, could be almost double on the busy half-term week) but as a yardstick a monkey is what you're looking at. This includes flights, transfers, an evening meal (with booze) with breakfast and usually an afternoon tea after leaving the pistes.

Now, when you see 500 it looks to be a deal, BUT (do you like big buts?) this does not include lunch (usually), does not include a ski pass - Eur200 and does not include ski hire - Eur100. There is also one night a week where you will not get fed as the chalet staff are entitled to one night off - perish the thought that enough staff be employed to cover this contingency.

So there you go, the best part of a grand, but this will come with peace of mind. Now the other type of holiday is your self-catering. I'm going to say for a two bedroom apartment in some comfort (such as Alice in Monetier) you're looking at Eur1000 for low-season and say Eu1500 for higher, more if it's half term. Of course you can squeeze your mates in on the sofa-bed, but aren't you getting a bit old for that? I's not 18-30 you know. So let's say Eur300 p/p for a bed.

Flights say Eur100 p/p, could be less, could be more, but as a working figure it's about right. Transfers: Eur50 each way p/p. Or a hire car. The airports that serve Serre Chevalier are Turin and Grenoble with Lyon only 20 minutes beyond that. Car hire is about Eur150 a week.

So we're up to Eur400 right there. Ski pass and hire brings you to Eur700 and I'd say you'd get change out of Eur100 for a supermarket shop for a week, with booze, you do get the ability to make a lunch up, so that makes up for paying rather a lot for food on the hill.

I wish I could say eating on the piste is good value, but you're probably looking at Eur20 p/p per meal. For a family of four that's Eur480 over the week. Yes you can have a sandwich and a bowl of onion soup, always the most economical and hearty, in which case you can pay less. Not certain kids would understand why they can't have a can of coke, but there you go.

Chuck in lessons, that's another Eur100 for the class. There are some places that do bundles lessons, ski-pass and ski hire, such as the Serre Che-based Ski Connections, this can help shave points off the price and are worth investigating. There are some deals to be had, but for the packages these are usually in January or April, the price soars in school holiday times - and anyway why be on the slopes when they are full of kids?

In truth skiing is expensive, but man is it worth it.

The Cost Of A Winter Holiday

It's something that one assumes everyone knows, namely how much is a week's skiing? But I watched something with Eddie Edwards (yes, "the eagle") some woman and some PR bloke from Austria and it dawned on me that perhaps people might like to be told.

Skiing (when I say skiing I mean sliding on snow holidays, boarders don't get your noses out of joint, it's just skiing is a shorter word to type) has always been considered expensive, there was a democratising of price that went on during the eighties and until quite recently, but now you'd be lying to say it was cheap, although perhaps we had more money then.

The papers and PR mouthpieces always try and say "good value yada, yada" - do not believe it, in truth I reckon you're looking at the best part of a grand in any currency for a week per person.

There are three ways you can do the holiday: a hotel - up to you how much you spend, self catering or package. The latter former: A week's ski is usually about GBP500 a head (could be a bit less, could be almost double on the busy half-term week) but as a yardstick a monkey is what you're looking at. This includes flights, transfers, an evening meal (with booze) with breakfast and usually an afternoon tea after leaving the pistes.

Now, when you see 500 it looks to be a deal, BUT (do you like big buts?) this does not include lunch (usually), does not include a ski pass - Eur200 and does not include ski hire - Eur100. There is also one night a week where you will not get fed as the chalet staff are entitled to one night off - perish the thought that enough staff be employed to cover this contingency.

So there you go, the best part of a grand, but this will come with peace of mind. Now the other type of holiday is your self-catering. I'm going to say for a two bedroom apartment in some comfort (such as Alice in Monetier) you're looking at Eur1000 for low-season and say Eu1500 for higher, more if it's half term. Of course you can squeeze your mates in on the sofa-bed, but aren't you getting a bit old for that? I's not 18-30 you know. So let's say Eur300 p/p for a bed.

Flights say Eur100 p/p, could be less, could be more, but as a working figure it's about right. Transfers: Eur50 each way p/p. Or a hire car. The airports that serve Serre Chevalier are Turin and Grenoble with Lyon only 20 minutes beyond that. Car hire is about Eur150 a week.

So we're up to Eur400 right there. Ski pass and hire brings you to Eur700 and I'd say you'd get change out of Eur100 for a supermarket shop for a week, with booze, you do get the ability to make a lunch up, so that makes up for paying rather a lot for food on the hill.

I wish I could say eating on the piste is good value, but you're probably looking at Eur20 p/p per meal. For a family of four that's Eur480 over the week. Yes you can have a sandwich and a bowl of onion soup, always the most economical and hearty, in which case you can pay less. Not certain kids would understand why they can't have a can of coke, but there you go.

Chuck in lessons, that's another Eur100 for the class. There are some places that do bundles lessons, ski-pass and ski hire, such as the Serre Che-based Ski Connections, this can help shave points off the price and are worth investigating. There are some deals to be had, but for the packages these are usually in January or April, the price soars in school holiday times - and anyway why be on the slopes when they are full of kids?

In truth skiing is expensive, but man is it worth it.

The Cost Of A Winter Holiday

It's something that one assumes everyone knows, namely how much is a week's skiing? But I watched something with Eddie Edwards (yes, "the eagle") some woman and some PR bloke from Austria and it dawned on me that perhaps people might like to be told.

Skiing (when I say skiing I mean sliding on snow holidays, boarders don't get your noses out of joint, it's just skiing is a shorter word to type) has always been considered expensive, there was a democratising of price that went on during the eighties and until quite recently, but now you'd be lying to say it was cheap, although perhaps we had more money then.

The papers and PR mouthpieces always try and say "good value yada, yada" - do not believe it, in truth I reckon you're looking at the best part of a grand in any currency for a week per person.

There are three ways you can do the holiday: a hotel - up to you how much you spend, self catering or package. The latter former: A week's ski is usually about GBP500 a head (could be a bit less, could be almost double on the busy half-term week) but as a yardstick a monkey is what you're looking at. This includes flights, transfers, an evening meal (with booze) with breakfast and usually an afternoon tea after leaving the pistes.

Now, when you see 500 it looks to be a deal, BUT (do you like big buts?) this does not include lunch (usually), does not include a ski pass - Eur200 and does not include ski hire - Eur100. There is also one night a week where you will not get fed as the chalet staff are entitled to one night off - perish the thought that enough staff be employed to cover this contingency.

So there you go, the best part of a grand, but this will come with peace of mind. Now the other type of holiday is your self-catering. I'm going to say for a two bedroom apartment in some comfort (such as Alice in Monetier) you're looking at Eur1000 for low-season and say Eu1500 for higher, more if it's half term. Of course you can squeeze your mates in on the sofa-bed, but aren't you getting a bit old for that? I's not 18-30 you know. So let's say Eur300 p/p for a bed.

Flights say Eur100 p/p, could be less, could be more, but as a working figure it's about right. Transfers: Eur50 each way p/p. Or a hire car. The airports that serve Serre Chevalier are Turin and Grenoble with Lyon only 20 minutes beyond that. Car hire is about Eur150 a week.

So we're up to Eur400 right there. Ski pass and hire brings you to Eur700 and I'd say you'd get change out of Eur100 for a supermarket shop for a week, with booze, you do get the ability to make a lunch up, so that makes up for paying rather a lot for food on the hill.

I wish I could say eating on the piste is good value, but you're probably looking at Eur20 p/p per meal. For a family of four that's Eur480 over the week. Yes you can have a sandwich and a bowl of onion soup, always the most economical and hearty, in which case you can pay less. Not certain kids would understand why they can't have a can of coke, but there you go.

Chuck in lessons, that's another Eur100 for the class. There are some places that do bundles lessons, ski-pass and ski hire, such as the Serre Che-based Ski Connections, this can help shave points off the price and are worth investigating. There are some deals to be had, but for the packages these are usually in January or April, the price soars in school holiday times - and anyway why be on the slopes when they are full of kids?

In truth skiing is expensive, but man is it worth it.

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Cost Of A Winter Holiday

It's something that one assumes everyone knows, namely how much is a week's skiing? But I watched something with Eddie Edwards (yes, "the eagle") some woman and some PR bloke from Austria and it dawned on me that perhaps people might like to be told.

Skiing (when I say skiing I mean sliding on snow holidays, boarders don't get your noses out of joint, it's just skiing is a shorter word to type) has always been considered expensive, there was a democratising of price that went on during the eighties and until quite recently, but now you'd be lying to say it was cheap, although perhaps we had more money then.

The papers and PR mouthpieces always try and say "good value yada, yada" - do not believe it, in truth I reckon you're looking at the best part of a grand in any currency for a week per person.

There are three ways you can do the holiday: a hotel - up to you how much you spend, self catering or package. The latter former: A week's ski is usually about GBP500 a head (could be a bit less, could be almost double on the busy half-term week) but as a yardstick a monkey is what you're looking at. This includes flights, transfers, an evening meal (with booze) with breakfast and usually an afternoon tea after leaving the pistes.

Now, when you see 500 it looks to be a deal, BUT (do you like big buts?) this does not include lunch (usually), does not include a ski pass - Eur200 and does not include ski hire - Eur100. There is also one night a week where you will not get fed as the chalet staff are entitled to one night off - perish the thought that enough staff be employed to cover this contingency.

So there you go, the best part of a grand, but this will come with peace of mind. Now the other type of holiday is your self-catering. I'm going to say for a two bedroom apartment in some comfort (such as Alice in Monetier) you're looking at Eur1000 for low-season and say Eu1500 for higher, more if it's half term. Of course you can squeeze your mates in on the sofa-bed, but aren't you getting a bit old for that? I's not 18-30 you know. So let's say Eur300 p/p for a bed.

Flights say Eur100 p/p, could be less, could be more, but as a working figure it's about right. Transfers: Eur50 each way p/p. Or a hire car. The airports that serve Serre Chevalier are Turin and Grenoble with Lyon only 20 minutes beyond that. Car hire is about Eur150 a week.

So we're up to Eur400 right there. Ski pass and hire brings you to Eur700 and I'd say you'd get change out of Eur100 for a supermarket shop for a week, with booze, you do get the ability to make a lunch up, so that makes up for paying rather a lot for food on the hill.

I wish I could say eating on the piste is good value, but you're probably looking at Eur20 p/p per meal. For a family of four that's Eur480 over the week. Yes you can have a sandwich and a bowl of onion soup, always the most economical and hearty, in which case you can pay less. Not certain kids would understand why they can't have a can of coke, but there you go.

Chuck in lessons, that's another Eur100 for the class. There are some places that do bundles lessons, ski-pass and ski hire, such as the Serre Che-based Ski Connections, this can help shave points off the price and are worth investigating. There are some deals to be had, but for the packages these are usually in January or April, the price soars in school holiday times - and anyway why be on the slopes when they are full of kids?

In truth skiing is expensive, but man is it worth it.

The Cost Of A Winter Holiday

It's something that one assumes everyone knows, namely how much is a week's skiing? But I watched something with Eddie Edwards (yes, "the eagle") some woman and some PR bloke from Austria and it dawned on me that perhaps people might like to be told.

Skiing (when I say skiing I mean sliding on snow holidays, boarders don't get your noses out of joint, it's just skiing is a shorter word to type) has always been considered expensive, there was a democratising of price that went on during the eighties and until quite recently, but now you'd be lying to say it was cheap, although perhaps we had more money then.

The papers and PR mouthpieces always try and say "good value yada, yada" - do not believe it, in truth I reckon you're looking at the best part of a grand in any currency for a week per person.

There are three ways you can do the holiday: a hotel - up to you how much you spend, self catering or package. The latter former: A week's ski is usually about GBP500 a head (could be a bit less, could be almost double on the busy half-term week) but as a yardstick a monkey is what you're looking at. This includes flights, transfers, an evening meal (with booze) with breakfast and usually an afternoon tea after leaving the pistes.

Now, when you see 500 it looks to be a deal, BUT (do you like big buts?) this does not include lunch (usually), does not include a ski pass - Eur200 and does not include ski hire - Eur100. There is also one night a week where you will not get fed as the chalet staff are entitled to one night off - perish the thought that enough staff be employed to cover this contingency.

So there you go, the best part of a grand, but this will come with peace of mind. Now the other type of holiday is your self-catering. I'm going to say for a two bedroom apartment in some comfort (such as Alice in Monetier) you're looking at Eur1000 for low-season and say Eu1500 for higher, more if it's half term. Of course you can squeeze your mates in on the sofa-bed, but aren't you getting a bit old for that? I's not 18-30 you know. So let's say Eur300 p/p for a bed.

Flights say Eur100 p/p, could be less, could be more, but as a working figure it's about right. Transfers: Eur50 each way p/p. Or a hire car. The airports that serve Serre Chevalier are Turin and Grenoble with Lyon only 20 minutes beyond that. Car hire is about Eur150 a week.

So we're up to Eur400 right there. Ski pass and hire brings you to Eur700 and I'd say you'd get change out of Eur100 for a supermarket shop for a week, with booze, you do get the ability to make a lunch up, so that makes up for paying rather a lot for food on the hill.

I wish I could say eating on the piste is good value, but you're probably looking at Eur20 p/p per meal. For a family of four that's Eur480 over the week. Yes you can have a sandwich and a bowl of onion soup, always the most economical and hearty, in which case you can pay less. Not certain kids would understand why they can't have a can of coke, but there you go.

Chuck in lessons, that's another Eur100 for the class. There are some places that do bundles lessons, ski-pass and ski hire, such as the Serre Che-based Ski Connections, this can help shave points off the price and are worth investigating. There are some deals to be had, but for the packages these are usually in January or April, the price soars in school holiday times - and anyway why be on the slopes when they are full of kids?

In truth skiing is expensive, but man is it worth it.

The Best Places to Ski Around Geneva

When you are flying into Switzerland for a holiday spent hitting the slopes, one thing you want to consider before you land is organising your Geneva airport ski transfers to your intended destination. But, don't worry if it seems like everyone seems to be headed off to the same ski slopes; there are plenty of places within easy reach of the city that provide an amazing array of activities, both on and off the slopes.

If you are contemplating where you may want to go skiing, from Geneva you have a couple of countries to choose from. You can go to the Alps in France at Chamonix, or head across the border to the Italian side to the resort town of Courmayeur before the Geneva airport ski transfers take you back to the busy Swiss, airport hub.

Skiing in Chamonix When you land at Geneva airport, ski transfers will be ready to take you to the heart of the French Alps, to one of the best-known, popular and oldest ski resorts in the Mont Blanc area, and all of France: Chamonix. Located in south eastern France, this commune was the site of the innagural1924 winter Olympics. Chamonix has three main ski areas that consist of 108 kilometres of pistes; the 69 pistes, including 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green ones that will keep you busy all day. This resort is popular with snowboarders and you can now catch your skills on camera at the Grands Montets freestyle park! In addition, Chamonix is great for off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those who are a bit more experienced and want to really sink their skis into the fresh powder. And, if you find yourself a bit tired of skiing and want to try something new and different, in Chamonix you can give cross-country skiing and paragliding a go. But if all this seems a bit tame and you want to get a bit of speed under your wings, give the new sport of speed-riding a try! It combines paragliding with freeriding incorporating jumps, twists, turns and getting some air-time with a small parasail. Fun unlimited!

Skiing in Courmayeur If you have chosen to book your Geneva airport ski transfers to take you to and from the Italian side of the Alps, then you are in for a real treat in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is an Italian commune in northern Italy, situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe east of Russia.

Skiing at an altitude of up to 2,700 metres, the slopes are aimed at intermediate to good skiers with a variety of off-piste action for those who are real experts. If you are a very seasoned skier, and feeling brave, head up in the small cable car to ski the Cresta D'Arp, which is the highest point to ski at 8,954 feet; this off-piste skiing is only for the experts and in order to do it, you need to book a trained guide to go with you.

But even if skiing isn't your thing, in Courmayeur you can sled, slide, snowshoe and hike around the area - proving there really is something for everyone, on and off the slopes.

The Cost Of A Winter Holiday

It's something that one assumes everyone knows, namely how much is a week's skiing? But I watched something with Eddie Edwards (yes, "the eagle") some woman and some PR bloke from Austria and it dawned on me that perhaps people might like to be told.

Skiing (when I say skiing I mean sliding on snow holidays, boarders don't get your noses out of joint, it's just skiing is a shorter word to type) has always been considered expensive, there was a democratising of price that went on during the eighties and until quite recently, but now you'd be lying to say it was cheap, although perhaps we had more money then.

The papers and PR mouthpieces always try and say "good value yada, yada" - do not believe it, in truth I reckon you're looking at the best part of a grand in any currency for a week per person.

There are three ways you can do the holiday: a hotel - up to you how much you spend, self catering or package. The latter former: A week's ski is usually about GBP500 a head (could be a bit less, could be almost double on the busy half-term week) but as a yardstick a monkey is what you're looking at. This includes flights, transfers, an evening meal (with booze) with breakfast and usually an afternoon tea after leaving the pistes.

Now, when you see 500 it looks to be a deal, BUT (do you like big buts?) this does not include lunch (usually), does not include a ski pass - Eur200 and does not include ski hire - Eur100. There is also one night a week where you will not get fed as the chalet staff are entitled to one night off - perish the thought that enough staff be employed to cover this contingency.

So there you go, the best part of a grand, but this will come with peace of mind. Now the other type of holiday is your self-catering. I'm going to say for a two bedroom apartment in some comfort (such as Alice in Monetier) you're looking at Eur1000 for low-season and say Eu1500 for higher, more if it's half term. Of course you can squeeze your mates in on the sofa-bed, but aren't you getting a bit old for that? I's not 18-30 you know. So let's say Eur300 p/p for a bed.

Flights say Eur100 p/p, could be less, could be more, but as a working figure it's about right. Transfers: Eur50 each way p/p. Or a hire car. The airports that serve Serre Chevalier are Turin and Grenoble with Lyon only 20 minutes beyond that. Car hire is about Eur150 a week.

So we're up to Eur400 right there. Ski pass and hire brings you to Eur700 and I'd say you'd get change out of Eur100 for a supermarket shop for a week, with booze, you do get the ability to make a lunch up, so that makes up for paying rather a lot for food on the hill.

I wish I could say eating on the piste is good value, but you're probably looking at Eur20 p/p per meal. For a family of four that's Eur480 over the week. Yes you can have a sandwich and a bowl of onion soup, always the most economical and hearty, in which case you can pay less. Not certain kids would understand why they can't have a can of coke, but there you go.

Chuck in lessons, that's another Eur100 for the class. There are some places that do bundles lessons, ski-pass and ski hire, such as the Serre Che-based Ski Connections, this can help shave points off the price and are worth investigating. There are some deals to be had, but for the packages these are usually in January or April, the price soars in school holiday times - and anyway why be on the slopes when they are full of kids?

In truth skiing is expensive, but man is it worth it.


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