We may be still enjoying the last rays of sunshine of summer, but winter is coming!
Many winter resorts and ski holiday companies are already gearing up for the snowy season. Courchevel this year celebrates its 70th anniversary as a ski resort. The resort was the first of its kind to be built totally from scratch and has been to the forefront in many of the innovations and technologies that are now commonplace in the modern ski resort, including snow grooming, artificial snow and instruction.
The arrival of the Barrière’s Les Neiges luxury hotel at Courchevel is the big news for the 70-year-old resort
The famous luxury hotel group Barrière will open their latest creation here in December. It will have direct access to the Bellecôte piste and features Nathalie Ryan designed interior décor and food from Michelin-star chef Mauro Colagreco (of the 2-star Mirazur in Menton).
Crystal Ski Holidays, meanwhile, has just launched “Your Guide to the Mountain”. Described by the Dublin-based winter holiday specialists as “the ultimate guide to skiing holidays”, it with has 196 pages jam-packed with winter holiday inspiration.
Crystal covers some 117 resorts worldwide, including plenty to France – the world’s top winter holiday destination – with direct flights into Chambéry, Geneva, Turin and Toulouse. If you do want to get your booking in early, it’s worth noting that guys at Crystal are offering hotel credit of up to €100 per adult in selected hotels if you book by 28th September 2016.
For those thinking of taking the children on the skiing adventure, you might want to note that you can take advantage of Crystal childcare in the Hôtel La Brunerie in Les Deux Alpes with a “Pepi Penguin” nursery and “Whizz Kids Club” for kids aged 4-11. There are also free child places throughout the season and free ski equipment for children in several French resorts if an adult pre-books the same. You can also avail of lift-pass inclusive packages in La Clusaz and Chamrousse and buy one lift pass, get one half price for Winter 16/17 bookings AND 2 for 1 lift passes over New Year’s for bookings made from 23rd August to 12th September 2016.
Here are some examples of the good-value packages on offer in French resorts for the early-booking ski fan:
Crystal Ski Plus packages from €645pp
Spend 7 nights at Les Village du Bachart Apartments, Chamrousse, France on a self-catering basis.
Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation as stated, local lift pass, ski/board hire or ski carriage, taxes and charges. Price based on four people sharing.
Book by: 30th November 2016
Travel: 7th January 2017
Alpe d’Huez, France from only €559pp
Spend 7 nights at the Blanc Apartments on a self-catering basis.
Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation as stated, taxes and charges. Price based on four people sharing.
Travel: 8th January 2017
To book your holiday or to order a guide call the Crystal Ski Holidays Specialists on 01 4331080 or visit www.crystalski.ie
Some freshly-published images of Courchevel (courtesy of Gosh.live images)