Where to Ski

ANDORRA

You would expect the small state of Andorra to be a backwater when it comes to tourism but in reality this far from the case, particularly when we are talking winter sports. The Principality of Andorra has the largest skiable area in the Pyrenees. The country can offer 5 ski stations, 177 slopes representing a distance of 286 km, 105 ski-lifts, the services of about 580 instructors and 1083 snow canons which guarantee skiing during the whole season. All this in a territory which measures only 468 sq.km.

In Andorra, depending of course on the amount of snow, the ski resorts usually open for the first weekend in December, coinciding with the feast of Purissima (December 8th), and normally close at the end of Easter, although some resorts may stay open until early May.

AUSTRIA

Austria has always been the king pin of the European ski world and has led the way and continues to push the envelope when it comes to its slopes for one and all, its teaching history and the best ski infrastructure in the world. Not to begin to talk about the sheer international and cosmopolitan buzz you get there. Skiing in Austria is as diverse and fun as anywhere in the world, and you are in basically the home of Alpine skiing. The Austrian Tirol, The Arlberg and Land Salzburg are just a few of the better known destinations. All offer magical and thrilling skiing as well as a unique Austrian way of life, not to mention the night-life

BULGARIA

If you're looking for something a little different to the traditional European ski destinations, Bulgaria is for you. With beautiful scenery, hospitable locals, and ridiculously low prices it's easy to see why Bulgaria is rapidly gaining in popularity as a winter sports destination.

Whatever your level of ability is, the basic cost of a skiing holiday to Bulgaria compared very favourably to other countries. A lift pass in some of the French or Austrian resorts for example can be up to three or four times the cost of a pass in Bulgaria and we are continuing to offer a Free Lift Pass to clients who book a full ski pack. Compared to other destinations this makes for a big, big saving and is a vital consideration when you’re planning your ski holiday.

The resorts of Bansko, Pamporovo and Borovets can compete alongside most in Europe with state of the art infrastructure, excellent ski schools and a superb variety of slopes. There's nothing lacking off the slopes either with high standard accommodation and an enviable selection of lively bars, clubs and restaurants to tickle your fancy.

CANADA

Canada boasts some of the most beautiful wilderness and open spaces in the world. With friendly locals and an abundance of snow in the winter, Canada is one of THE premier ski destinations in the world. With skiing on both West and East coasts, coupled with high resorts and cold winters, Canada’s ski season runs from mid November to Late May.

In Canada you'll find massive mountains, pristine powder, awe-inspiring peaks and dramatic splendour in the more than 100 ski resorts stretching from the Coast Mountains of British Columbia to the Laurentians of Québec and beyond.

FRANCE

France boasts a great variety of excellent ski resorts for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, including the most popular ski resorts in Europe. Choose from traditional, village ski resorts or ski-in ski-out modern resorts in the largest interlinked ski domains of the world. French ski resorts have something that will appeal to everyone on their ski holiday. Accommodation is of the high standards that you'd expect in a leading ski region with apartments providing particularly good value.

Every year over 200,000 of us fly, drive or catch the train down to the French Alps and enjoy some fun in the snow. The appeal of a ski holiday in France is obvious: you can be there in a matter of hours, French ski areas are varied and extensive, the most popular being the Three Valleys ski area and L'Espace Killy, and the snow is reliable.

ITALY

Skiing in Italy is packed with special experiences that will provide you with unforgettable memories. On these pages we offer but a small selection of the available choices, but we will be adding to them frequently so please come back often. And don't forget the city of Torino (Turin) is host of the 2006 Olympics. Not in the city mind you but in the great resorts in The Val d' Suza. Visiting Italy is unique and travelling within Italy is a remarkable experience.

The ski resorts in the Italian Alps reflect the laissez faire attitude of the rest of the country. They are beautiful, functional and endowed with a charm that can only be Italian. They are not as wallet-sapping as other Alpine ski resorts and yet attract the glitterati of European skiers, who are more interested in skiing and après ski than posing. The selection of slopes and restaurants make skiing in Italy a culinary as well as sporting experience and we would heartily recommend it.

NORWAY

Norway is a ruggedly beautiful country of mountains, fjords and glaciers. The central part of Norway takes in the country’s highest mountains, largest glacier and most spectacular fjords. Norway has thousands of kilometres of maintained cross-country ski trails and scores of resorts with downhill ski runs, including Lillehammer and Hafjell.

The ski resorts not only offer slopes for all different levels of skiers but also huge mountain areas with cross-country skiing and super après ski possibilities.

Snowboarding is extremely popular in Norway, and you can try it wherever you find a ski slope. The snowboard offers great opportunities for acrobatic and creative displays while speeding down the mountain. A good many ski resorts have special snowboard areas, often with half-pipes. And if you are a real thrill-seeker there are heaps of opportunities for extreme snowboarding.

Slovenia

All the ski resorts in Slovenia are suitable for families, offering plenty of beginner and intermediate runs, and very competitively priced ski lessons, in a friendly relaxed atmosphere. The major ski resort in Slovenia is Kranjska Gora, sitting on the Italian and Austrian borders, in the gorgeous alpine Zgornjesavska Valley. The host of the Alpine Skiing World Championships, Kranjska Gora is home to some fantastic challenging competitive runs, however the majority of the slopes are gentle and wide, with the 30km of pistes offering something for everyone. Kranjska Gora has invested heavily in its’ snow making facilities, and its’ fairly sophisticated après-ski scene adds to its’ appeal.

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland , Europe's spotless land of lakes and mountains. If skiing in Europe is your dream or if you do it frequently, skiing in Switzerland is a wise destination choice. World class ski resorts are all over Switzerland. World class ski lifts and mountain transportation will safely and comfortably get you into ski country, and some of the best hotels and restaurants in Europe will see to your comfort in Switzerland

Everyone who is anyone skis in Switzerland. It's a bit more formal and usually better organized than France or Italy, has more slopes than Austria or

Germany and offers up bags of easy access resorts never more than an hour or three from major population centres.

USA

The USA has all the requirements for the ski holiday of a lifetime including excellent standard accommodation, second to none ski infrastructure and first class service throughout. Throw spectacular scenery, outstanding snow conditions and scintillating après ski into the mix and you're in for an unforgettable skiing experience.

In general, people who ski America for the first time are captivated by the experience and by the contrasts with European resorts. The American piste's are

blissfully free of crowds and the excellent lift systems devoid of queues are like a breath of fresh air. Piste grooming is taken very seriously and every morning you can expect to step out on to perfect 'corduroy' pistes.

The USA has skiing on both coasts and we've carefully selected resorts from each side of this vast country which encompass the unique flavour of skiing

state side. On the East coast we're featuring the traditionally styled resort of Killington and the vast expansive slopes of New Hampshire. While in the west

we're offering the aptly named Heavenly, which lies on beautiful lake Tahoe and is as popular for its Casinos as it is for its slopes.