France is still the most popular choice for Brits wanting a quick ski holiday, whether last minute or a planned getaway, the reason for the popularity is simple, France claims to have the largest number of skiable slopes in the world and some of the best can be reached in just a few hours from the UK.
Although the Pyrenees on the French - Spanish border offers some superb slopes and great resorts, the best-known French ski resorts are to be found in the Alpine region and being closest to the UK, this is exactly where most of the skiers head.
There are about 40 ski resorts within just an hour's drive of France's Chambery airport, which is called the gateway to the Alps. The resorts include the popular destinations of Courcheval and Meribel and those prepared to drive for a further two hours are spoilt for choice, with a further 74 ski resorts to choose from, not least of which is the deservedly popular Chamonix.
Of course, you could take the ski train. Board at London's Waterloo International (or at Ashford International in Kent) to enjoy a non-stop journey, all the way to the foot of the slopes in the French Alps. Or alternatively, take advantage of an overnight coach service for your travelling to give you more time on the slopes.
Both our recommended suppliers are established holiday providers with excellent reputations. They are also ABTA and ATOL bonded, so customers can be assured that their travel arrangements and holiday money is protected and secure. However, note that ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents and ATOL, the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing schemes are both UK operated organizations and as such, scheme benefits usually only cover UK customers. As always, you must check and confirm all details with supliers before making any payments.
The picture of Morzine was photographed by Steven Griffin.
We have found some of the best online ski holiday deals for UK snow lovers with Co-operative Travel. Your spoilt for choice with these ski and snowboarding holidays to the most popular ski resorts across Europe including France, Austria, Bulgaria and Andorra and further afield to the USA and Canada. What's more, the Co-operative Travel are the largest independent travel agent in the UK and since they are both ABTA and ATOL bonded, customers have a 100% financial guarantee.
Toulouse, Pas de la Casa Crest Pas Apartments
10th Jan 2010, 7 nights Gatwick
Adult prices from £224pp
Turin, Sestriere Edelweiss Apartments
3rd Jan 2010, 7 nights Gatwick
Adult prices from £284pp
Innsbruck, Mayrhofen Hotel Alte Post
19th Dec 2009, 7 nights Gatwick
Adult prices from £369pp
Chambery, Val Thorens Les Olympiades
12th Dec 2009, 7 nights Gatwick
Adult prices from £434pp
Salzburg, Kitzbuhel Aurach Hotel
23rd Jan 2010, 7 nights Gatwick
Adult prices from £474pp
It doesn't matter if you’re new to the slopes or an experienced skier, your sure to find a great deal amongst this fantastic range of ski holidays, which feature offers from all the major ski tour operators including Neilson, Crystal, Inghams and Virgin. Whether staying in a chalet, hotel or in self-catering accommodation there is something for everyone; individuals, families and groups. Take a look, if you like what you see, you can book straight away.
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada, hosts the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and I thought that you might like to see this vid, courtesy of Whistler Outfitters, while we still have plenty of the white stuff to play in.
Well the nights are drawing in for the northern latitudes and many of us are beginning to think about an affordable winter break. In recent years Bulgaria has come to the fore as a winter destination and snow junkies will love a High Peaks Snowshoeing holiday in Bulgaria, a winter trekking holiday on snowshoes! This week-long adventure explores the dramatic snow-clad forests, peaks and valleys of the Rila Mountains. There are daily hikes of four to five hours that take walkers to sights such as the 70m Skakavitza waterfall, which is often frozen solid in the winter. Other hikes take in the historic Rila monastery; Mount Maliovitza; and the celebrated Seven Lakes area.
For full trip details from the Adventure Company, see High Peaks Snowshoeing in Bulgaria.
Anyone wanting a winter adventure suitable for the whole family, should head to the Rhodope Mountains on the Bulgarian Winter Experience. This trip combines cross country skiing, snowshoeing, animal tracking and the wonder of star gazing.
Just as snow lovers in Europe are packing away their skis at the end of another season, the Australian, NSW Southern Alps resorts are reporting blanket cover. Even in the absence of snow falls. their ski resorts are able to maximize top-to-bottom cover on runs throughout the season, thanks to extensive snow-making capacity.
The snowfields are easily accessible, with on-snow accommodation and a complete range of snow holiday packages for skiers and snowboarders of all experience levels. Who said Hamilton Island offered the best dream job in the world? They don't have snow.
So unless your up to your knees in the cold white powder this weekend, check out Jill's article and don't just dream a little, dream big. Happy Thanksgiving.
A while back the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Slovak ski resort of Hrebienok in the High Tatras mountains. It was part of a state visit by the British monarch and was her first visit to a ski resort, somewhat marred by a freakish lack of snow.
However, the High Tatras mountains do provide great skiing and snowboarding, and there are numerous other activities such as sledging and snowmobiling. The highest and steepest slope is situated at Tatranská Lomnica, while terrific skiing can also be enjoyed at Lomnické sedlo, and new pistes from Skalnaté pleso to Tatranská Lomnica. Several slopes utilizing artificial snow if nature fails.
Europeanrail are promoting the Bergland Express direct to Austrian ski resorts such as St Anton, Kitzbuehel, Innsbruck and Zell am See. UK skiers and snowboarders can travel on the mid-afternoon Eurostar high speed train from London or Ashford to Brussels and then connect with the overnight ski train Bergland Express. They are also offering an eight day Ski Week in Kitzbuehel.
Kitzbuehel, is famous for the 'Hahnenkamm' downhill race which takes place in January each year, but it offers a wide range of skiing and non-skiers can enjoy the quaint town of 14th century painted medievel houses, or take a short trip on the train to Salzburg or Innsbruck.
Rail Europe's popular Eurostar Ski Train has kicked off another season. Tickets for departures between December 14 and January 15, 2009, are already on sale and tickets for the period from February 9 to March 6, 2009, go on sale tomorrow.
The Eurostar Ski Train runs between England's London St Pancras to Bourg Saint-Maurice in the French Alps and the new high-speed rail links mean that Alpine hubs such as Grenoble are a mere six hours from London.
The giant escalator is on London's Underground and is at The Angel tube station, I believe that it is the deepest station on the Underground Tube Network. Thanks to TotalVidInc for the video.
Well, a week's free tuition for first-time skiers paying for certain package holidays from 17 or 24 January, 2009.
The Association of Snow Sports Countries has revived a scheme, partnering seven tour operators, to offer free tuition. 50 ski resorts in Austria, Switzerland, France, Andorra, Canada, Finland and Norway are participating in the deal which includes a lift pass and equipment hire. This represents quite a saving but places are severely limited, so early booking through www.freshersskiweek.com is recommended to avoid disapointment.
Speed riding is a mix of skiing and paragliding, a bit like kiteboarding on snow. It was popularised by a group of French paragliders and is said to be the fastest way to get down a mountain, at least in one piece.
It still seems like a pretty extreme way to get an adrenaline rush though. World champion Liox Jean-Albert, saw in the new year at a New Zealand Hospital after crashing at Treble Cone a few days earlier. He had been hoping to compete in the New Zealand Airgames.
Reporter Jeannette J. Lee of Associated Press, has written an informative article in HeraldNet, about the Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, and the efforts by its wealthy owner, John Byrne III, a self-professed ski junkie from Utah, to encourage snow lovers to abandon the classic slopes of Whistler, Deer Valley and Aspen and head to the far north.
Jeannette J. Lee reports that this long-time niche venue for locals and adventure skiers, is undergoing a $25 million expansion, including refurbished guest rooms, to lure larger groups of winter vacationers, particularly families, to its peaks.
Negotiations are underway to open hundreds of acres of raw terrain in the Chugach Mountains to skilled off-piste or backcountry skiers and snow-boarders but beginners are also being catered for, with a new conveyor-belt lift and snow-making machines. It seems the competition on the slopes is getting hotter.
The first forecast of the American ski season from the Boulder-based Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), which started up operations this week, indicates that a few inches of the white powder could pile up by Wednesday morning. It seems that colder temperatures, along with a dusting of snow this week, could significantly improve the outlook for Skiing during Thanksgiving in western Colorado. The best chance for snow being Tuesday night.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has upgraded its website with more archived reports on avalanche accidents and a Google Maps platform offering information on avalanche problems and travel recommendations.
Now if you're thinking of enjoying winter sports in Europe, here is an idea for adding zest to this season's skiing trip. How about combining it with Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna in Sicily.
Volcanoetna.com has comprehensive information about the volcano, including spectacular pictures of the recent eruptions, and features an article about trips to Mt. Etna. Climbing mount Etna is described as an unforgettable experience and regarded as a must do activity, during a Sicily tour.
Etna offers different tourist activities at different times of the year; the ski season on Mount Etna runs from November to March, and you will find detailed information about skiing on the mountain at the Volcanoetna.com website.
Global warming continues to cause havoc with the European ski season, the Sofia Echo reported on Monday 22 January, 2007, that in Pamporovo, the resort most affected by the warm weather, temperatures reached 4 Celsius in the morning and the sun melted the thin snow cover.
All of Bulgaria's leading winter resorts were forced to open the season without much snow and at Bansko resort, skiing conditions are being maintained by using artificial snow machines.
It doesn't matter if you’re new to the slopes or an experienced skier, your sure to find a great deal amongst this fantastic range of ski holidays, which feature offers from all the major ski tour operators including Neilson, Crystal, Inghams and Virgin. Whether staying in a chalet, hotel or in self-catering accommodation there is something for everyone; individuals, families and groups. 
