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Try a ski holiday in La Tania!
It's in the massive 3 Valleys ski area, it's got it's own special feel and Ski Amis have got all the information about it here! Try La Tania – you won't be disappointed.
La Tania is a small and pretty resort surrounded by trees and beautiful forestry. This resort was originally built to house journalists for the 1992 Albertville winter Olympic Games. The resort centre itself is a third generation purpose-built resort. The apartments were made to have eye-catching chalet style designs, rather than the normal concrete rectangles. La Tania has great access to the Three Valleys with neighbouring resorts like Courchevel and Meribel that you can access via lifts, skiing, car or bus.
Activities in La Tania
There are plenty of non-skiing activities in La Tania to keep you busy if you fancy a day off from the slopes, or a member of your group isn’t keen on the idea of skiing! Here is just a few things you could get up to:
- Dog sledding
- Snow blading
- Snow shoeing/Cross Country Skiing
- Torch Lit Descent
The Torch Lit Descent is a true alpine classic across all resorts and is a must see if you are in the mountains during winter. The members of the ESF ski school come down the slope with flaming torches in their hand and create a line of fire into the town. This is followed by fireworks and free Vin Chaud, not to be missed!
A little bit of shopping – why the hell not?!
Shopping in La Tania is actually quite limited, with few shops, a post office, a bakery and a sherpa – all you need for getting the essentials. If you are a shop-o-holic, then take the free shuttle bus for a trip over to Meribel or Courchevel to get your fix.
Events for the 2018/19 season
- Opening parties (everywhere)
- Christmas Party and Santa skis into La Tania
- New Year Mayhem and Fireworks Party
- Kids Fortnight with special events for children of all ages
- La Tania Family Charity Fete
- The 3 Valleys Charity Day
- Music Festival
- Closing parties (everywhere)
New and Shiny
- New Grangettes Gondola that takes pedestrians and skiers between Courchevel 1550 and 1850. This upgrade will be more comfortable, more reliable AND the new 10 seater cabins means shorter and quicker queues for 2018/19
- 5 new pistes across the Three Valleys – improving, the already great, ski area!
- Courchevel Luge run which will stretch to 3km long. This will be a great evening activity for the children (and the adults of course)
Where to Eat in La Tania
- Snack Bar Le Snow Food – great for a quick bite. You can also take-out sandwiches, paninis and pizzas
- Restaurant La Ferme De La Tania – a homely place which serves everything from Crepes to local Savoyard specialities
- Restaurant Les Chanterelles – they are famous for their savoury crepes and other dishes that includes “cripites” which is a thin pizza variety
- Restaurant Les Marmottons – they serve up Savoyard specialities and every Thursday night there is a special meal of Mussels and chips – which is perfect if you’re hosts day off lands on a Thursday – and if you like Mussels of course!
- Le Farcon – this is top of the list of restaurants as it has been awarded a Michelin star for providing a new twist on the regional French cuisine
Relaxing your muscles whilst in La Tania
If you are looking to wind down and relax after a day of skiing/snowboarding then you can head on over to the “Le Montana” and the “Christina Apartments”. They have fitness centres, saunas and solariums to offer. The Montana also has a heated swimming pool (plunge pool) which has great views of the slopes outside, a steam room and a Jacuzzi – it is free for guests staying at the hotel but for others there is a fee. The hotel also has a masseur available to provide treatments.
La Tania Bars and Après
There are a handful of bars in La Tania which are normally very lively places to be, especially with the Brits.
- Le Chrome Bar – they are usually buzzing thanks to the happy hours and live music that they have on all season. They also serve fast food for lunch and dinner to get down with your pint!
- Pub Le Ski Lodge – People call it the “Most well-known meeting point for the English community in the 3 Valleys” and they also run happy hours, concerts and also theme nights – including a shots raffle on Mondays where you could be in for a chance of winning a brand new pair of Skis. It’s usually very busy and closes around 2am. Also serves food for lunch and dinner.
- La Taiga Lounge – This place is more of a sophisticated cocktail bar rather than your local pub setting so if you’re looking for something a bit more refined then this is the place to be and it also serves up some lovely food if you want to gather round with some friend/family and enjoy the night.
Why Ski Amis love this beautiful resort
- Great skiing throughout the trees
- Excellent location and speedy access to the Three Valleys
- Plenty of places to eat and drink
- Lively and friendly atmosphere
- Loads of Events and Activities to choose from
Where to stay in La Tania
There are many catered chalets and self-catered properties in La Tania – you have a wide choice of companies to pick from! Tour Operator Ski Amis have 6 catered chalets in this resort, as well as an extensive list of self-catered options. Each catered chalet has its own quirks and they can sleep from 8-28 guests – room for all the family! They are all very close to the lifts, 5 minute walks at a maximum and some you can ski back to the door through the trees.
Ski Amis have brought back their SUMMER SIZZLER discount for the whole of July. Book ANY of their catered chalets for ANY week of the season and receive 15% off! Offer must end on 31st July. Check them out!
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Samoens’ Wild West Weekend
As the USA gears up for the big July 4th celebrations this week, thousands of miles away, in the heart of the Haute Savoie, the charming alpine town of Samoens is also getting ready for its annual celebration of Americana. There'll be free Country & Western concerts, you can sign up for line dancing lessons, see the great parade of Harley Davidsons, classic American cars and cowboys, and enjoy special American-style menus in the local restaurants.
Samoens' American Festival is now in its 10th year and it promises 4 days of fun and entertainment, kicking off at 8.30pm on July 5th with a Country Ball. Throughout the weekend there's lots of opportunities to practise your country moves, shop for stetsons and cowboy boots, and see the best French barrel racers in the rodeo area.
The entertainment is free, if you want to hone your line dancing skills there is fee for lessons but there's lessons for beginners right through to advanced dancers!
If you haven't discovered Samoens in the summer then it is a real gem. Set in the beautiful Giffre Valley and just an hour from Geneva airport, it's a great destination with a lot to offer whatever the season.
Alps Accommodation can provide some excellent places to stay for all kinds of group sizes and you can find the full summer line up of events on their website. They specialise in accommodation in both Samoens and Morillon.
July is a busy month in the French Alps, there's national celebrations for Bastille Day on July 14th, the Tour de France alpine stages will be coming through during the latter part of the month (more details here), and generally lots of festivals, fun and events for the summer months.
We'll keep you posted – and if you have any news of what's going on and want us to shout about it just send us an email!
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Les Menuires – All you need to know about Les Bruyeres
Are you looking for a different destination for your next ski holiday? Check out Les Bruyeres, part of Les Menuires in the massive Three Valleys ski area – and a favourite with Ski Amis. Here they give us all the info!
Les Bruyeres:
The village of Les Bruyeres, situated at 1850m, can be found in the heart of Les Menuires and offers all you could need for a ski holiday – it has even been described to be its own ‘mini resort’. The Three Valleys are literally right on your doorstep, with fantastic easy access up to Val Thorens or the Meribel Valley.
Why is Les Bruyeres great for families?
- Nursery slopes and ski school meeting points right at the foot of the piste
- The gondola lift is also located near most accommodation too, so for little legs carrying their own skis and walking with heavy boots on, it’s not far to go!
- The gondola lift is also having an upgrade over the 2018 summer ready for the 2018/2019 season. There are rumours it is going to hold more people and be a lot comfier!
- There are a range of slopes to suit all abilities that are easily reached, as well as being an excellent base for high-altitude skiing
- There are plenty of non-ski activities to keep children entertained in Les Bruyeres. An Aqua Fun swimming pool and a mini rollercoaster called Speed Mountain
- For smaller children between 18 – 30 months, there is even a ‘Club Piou-Piou’, a day nursery run by ESF for you to keep your little ones occupied and looked after whilst you venture out on the pistes
How far away is the Croisette? (Town centre)
The Croisette is the main hub of activity in Les Menuires; it’s where you will find the majority of bars, restaurants and local shops and amenities. The walk to here from Les Bruyeres will only take you around 15 minutes, and if that is too much after a full on day of skiing then there is a free shuttle bus from Bruyeres to the Croisette every 20 minutes.
Places to eat and drink
There are plenty of choices for you to enjoy that traditional French cuisine you’ve been dying to try; ‘La Marmites’ in Les Bruyeres has some excellent reviews – this is the place to try! It offers traditional Savoyard dishes such as fondue and raclette, along with other hearty dishes such as steak or duck breast! Perfect for refuelling after tearing up the piste! Another fantastic restaurant would be ‘Les Marmottes’ – again, it has been highly praised in reviews and offers a quality French menu created using as many locally sourced products as they can.
Why Ski Amis love this mini resort
- Great views
- Excellent location
- Speedy access to slopes
- Snow Sure and great access to high altitude skiing
- Fun for all
Where to stay in Les Bruyeres
Ski Amis offer quality catered accommodation within their very own ‘Chalets des Bruyeres’. There are 5 chalets for you to choose from, all very similar inside but 3 different sizes to choose from depending on your group size. They are located just opposite the Bruyeres Gondola lift and are all ‘Ski in/Ski out’, so the location couldn’t get much better!
For the month of June Les Menuires is their ‘Resort of the Month’ and they are offering a fantastic promotion of £50 off per adult for any Les Menuires catered chalet booking made before the end of the month. Contact them now!
So there you have it! For more options in Les Menuires click here!
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We’re all set for February skiing – fresh snow, blue skies, great conditions!
But don't just take our word for it – here's the latest report from TDC Ski. If you're heading out for half-term holidays you're in for great snow.
This week is set to remain cold too!
Snow Report 5th Feb 2018 Val d'Isere Tignes from tdc – the development centre on Vimeo.
There's still time to organise a last minute Half Term break check out our Half Term offers!
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This week’s snow report from TDCSki from Val d’Isere
Snow Report 21st Jan 2018 Val d'Isere Tignes from tdc – the development centre on Vimeo.
There's been more wild weather across the Alps – and loads more snow. Yes it's turning out to be an incredible winter in terms of snowfall with January bringing us a series of storms and snow dumps measuring in the metres.
It's not all been rosy – the snow has come with high winds and temperatures have been very up and down – resulting in high avalanche risk and lift closures. However the skiing that has been available has been great! At this rate we'd say it's unlikely that you'll see a rock until at least April.
Mountain weather is changeable and the large accumulations of snow will inevitably bring risks. Lift companies will be pulling out all the stops to make sure that areas are secured and once they are you can be sure of great conditions. From tomorrow there will be a respite from the stormy weather and sunshine and warmer temperatures before temperatures plunge again at the weekend.
If you're tempted to go skiing it's certainly not a bad idea to escape the winter wet and head for the snow! Check out our Last Minute Offers!
More about TDCSKI
The old style of ski school, and ski lessons where you follow around your ski instructor needed a revamp. So TDC have adopted a much more dynamic and personal program of ski coaching and ski improvement. Experience the difference with small, high quality ski coaching clinics, which allows your coach to concentrate on you.
Gone are the days of "bend ze knees" – they have the philosophy that you can improve with greater success when you are presented with intelligent, clear and well presented information. Do this in a positive and safe learning environment and the results will be easily seen.
TDCski are a group of highly motivated ski instructors who hold the highest international qualification with full French equivalance. Having all qualified through the British system and with English as a first language, they specialise in high-quality, focused and rersonalised ski coaching.
With centres in Val d'Isere, Tignes, Meribel and Courchevel. why not get in touch with them to take your skiing to the next level! See their website: TDCSKI
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Snow Report from TDCSki in Val D’Isere
Looks like it's definitely going to be Happy Holidays for Christmas and New Year. Snow depths for this time of year are the best they've been for several years. There's a great base and it looks like there'll be some sunshine over the next few days – a welcome respite from the arctic temperatures and low visibility skiing of last week. If you're heading out for Christmas you'll have a great time!
time!
Snow Report 19th Dec 2017 Val d'Isere Tignes from tdc – the development centre on Vimeo.
Thanks to TDCSKI
The old style of ski school, and ski lessons where you follow around your ski instructor needed a revamp. So TDC have adopted a much more dynamic and personal program of ski coaching and ski improvement. Experience the difference with small, high quality ski coaching clinics, which allows your coach to concentrate on you.
TDCski are a group of highly motivated ski instructors who hold the highest international qualification with full French equivalance. Having all qualified through the British system and with English as a first language, they specialise in high-quality, focused and rersonalised ski coaching.
With centres in Val d'Isere, Tignes, Meribel and Courchevel. why not get in touch with them to take your skiing to the next level! See their website: TDCSKI
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Why Les Gets?
Chalets1066 give us the lowdown on Les Gets – what keeps people coming back to this charming Haute Savoie village in the Portes du Soleil?
Les Gets is popular because it offers an intimate, authentic French atmosphere. The small, attractive, family-friendly resort offers a genuine Savoyard experience. The main street is lined with appetising food and wine shops that specialise in the local produce. The two main pistes (Chavannes and Mont Chery) both begin and end in the village itself, making access very easy. The base of the Chavannes piste offers specially designated slopes for sledding – a winter sport the whole family can enjoy.
The village has a quiet ambience that appeals to families. This is not to say that the village does not cater to all types of guest as there are a variety of bars and a nightclub to liven up your apres ski experience. The centre of the village is very pedestrian friendly and boats an attractive and popular outdoor ice rink. There is also a cinema and a bowling alley to keep the youngsters amused after the slopes close.
The area of slopes that Les Gets shares with Morzine is the most extensive local network in the region, easily accessed by the Chavannes and Mont Chery gondolas, as well as the Chavannes Express chair lift. There is a charming mini train that shuttles between the two gondola stations so no need to carry your skis or snowboard through the village. There is also a free ski bus that runs every 15 mins during the season and this service allows easy access the chalets located on the slopes around the village.
Another advantage is that the village offers one of the shortest transfers from Geneva at around an hour, so you can catch a morning flight from the UK and hit the slopes by lunchtime.
The fabulous views from the Mont Chery side of Les Gets offer spectacular views of Mont Blanc on a clear day, as well as great skiing as the Mont Chery is usually not as bust as the Chavannes. It is also possible to snow shoe, cross country ski or hike to Mont Caly from the mid station. The round trip is around 6 km’s and there is a charming restaurant at Mont Caly called Les Chevrelles that offers hot and cold drinks and lunch. Once again, the views of the Mont Blanc Massif are breathtaking.
Les Gets offers many activities for those that prefer not to ski. The village itself has a variety of super spas that offer day packages for those wishing to indulge in a massage or just want to relax at the indoor pool and sauna. The gondolas allow pedestrians and this allows access to the mid stations. From here it is possible to walk or snow shoe on the many trails and enjoy the beauty of the forest.
At night the twinkling lights of the chalets and the village create a winter wonderland as a spray of golden lights light up the sky. The village itself is has the most charming atmosphere.
The resort is the proud owner of the “Famille Plus Montagne” label, which means that the needs of younger guests have been carefully considered.
All in all, the question is not why, but why not?
With a massive choice of accommodation in Les Gets take a look at Chalets1066 for great holiday ideas for winter and summer!
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Big improvements to snow-making in Meribel underway!
Summer is the time when resorts can make serious improvements to infrastructure.
Meribel in the Three Valleys has been increasing it's capacity for snow-making with a massive expansion of the Meribel reservoir.
Hot off the press, Jerry of Chalet Bartavelle and Summit Chalets took a walk up there this week to see how the work was going and he has sent us the pic below:
As Jerry says; "… Not a great photo as it is so big it was not possible to take a photo of the whole lake.
This is about 25% of the total size. The original reservoir was 5 times smaller, so if you are worried about snow conditions for the Christmas week and season ahead then seriously don’t. Meribel has always had a vast amount of snow cannons but now they will be able to work for longer than ever before."
With the first falls of snow in the Alps over the last week, and that autumn, back to school, feeling in the air, it's great to know that winter is on its way – and resorts will be ready for it!
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Spring events in Courchevel 2017
As the days get longer and sunnier, Clare of Ski Magic has sent us this handy guide on what's happening for spring in Courchevel.
Skiing in the Three Valleys in March and April is not only perfect because of the sunny days, high altitude snow and friendly atmosphere, there are loads of events lined up which are great for planning days (and nights) during your trip and making the most of what’s on offer in the largest ski area in the world!
Here’s the line-up:
March 20th – 24th
Ronnie Loves Music Festival 2017 at the famous apres-ski destination, Le Rond Point, Meribel.
Acts include Norman Jay MBE, Craig Charles Funk & Soul, Sunset Sons, The High Jives and local bands The Dominoes, Bring Your Sisters, Bubble & Crisp…
March 25th
Derby du Roc Merlet, Courchevel Moriond
A famous annual descent from 2734m down into Courchevel Moriond. Race on Ski, Snowboard, Telemark, Monoboard, SnowScoot – you name it!
18€ to enter (includes meal and drink at the Funky Fox, Moriond)
Booking via ESF Courchevel 1650 Moriond
April 2nd
3 Valleys Enduro Race: Across the 3 Valleys
Fun day of racing and activities for everyone beginners – experts, including Big Air Bag, Boardercross, Family Schuss and a big Savoyard lunch included!
April 5th
Family Charity Fete 2017, La Tania
Help to beat last year’s total of over £15k raised for UK and French charities, through money-raising kids’ games, bouncy castle, ski race, BBQ
April 12th
3 Valleys Charity Day, Meribel Village Local bands, live music and DJs, kids zone & bouncy castle, raising money for UK and French charities.
16th April
Feria Blanche, Courchevel 1850
Two water slides will be open at the family park, along with snow scooter, music, BBQs, prize raffles, equipment tests, biathlon, big air bag, snow-mobiling, paragliding and more…
16th April
Dynastar X3 Mountain Triathlon
Starting at Le Carrey (830m) and reaching the heights of La Saulire (2710m) the 3 stages of the race include a 13.9km bike ride, 6.3km trail run and 4.8km ski tour – watch these impressive athletes as they whizz by!
Easter 2017
Look for chocolate eggs on the bubble lifts all over the Courchevel Valley!
>> SEE OUR SPRING SPECIAL OFFERS! Big savings on our last few holidays available for Spring 2017. Late deals and discounts available for Easter skiing and 1st April
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Aspen for Extremely good ski holidays
Ever watched Aspen Extreme? It's one of the first (and possibly the cheesiest) ski movies ever made – and a particular favourite in CD HQ. Look out for a young Trevor Eve, and an even younger Martin Kemp in the role of the top dog Austrian ski instructor who gets all the business and the girls until two new kids on the block arrive in town.
With first hand experience, Helen of Chalets USA, tells us how it is to ski Aspen now.
Experience how the other half live … if only for a little while.
Arriving in Aspen Snowmass can feel like travelling to a different planet. You pass the private jets at Aspen Pitkin airport, easily viewed from the highway and then see the boutique shops by appointment & you could be forgiven for thinking what am I doing here?
And then, as you get to know the Aspen Snowmass area, you realize Aspen is just really good at looking after its guests & making everything as easy as possible for them. So want to be treated like a queen? Go skiing in Aspen!
Take lift tickets for example – they’re delivered to your accommodation & given to you when you check in. So you can start skiing as soon as you’re ready, without having to queue to pick up your lift passes.
If you rent skis with Chalets USA & Four Mountain Sports, transfer of ski or snowboard gear between the 4 Aspen Mountains is free. If you’re skiing at Snowmass one day and want to ski at Aspen Highlands the next, simply take your equipment to the transfer station & they will deliver it to Aspen Highlands for you, ready for you to pick up the next day. If you don’t rent, you can still use this service for a nominal fee. They will also store your gear if you want to ski the same mountain 2 days running, meaning no carrying skis or snowboards to & from the slopes.
The lodging properties in Aspen Snowmass even make it easy to get from Aspen airport to your accommodation, with many places including airport transfers in their rates. If you can fly into Aspen airport it’s a great idea, as the transfer is only about 15 minutes to Aspen or Snowmass.
Dining in Aspen town is legendary & the variety of top notch restaurants astounding. You can really spoil yourself by exploring the many independent & celebrity chefs run eating establishments, such as the Chef’s Club in the St Regis. However if you don’t want to break the budget, many Aspen restaurants let you sit & eat at the bar for a lower price & more limited menu, a great way to experience the quality of the food without the hefty price tag. Alternatively walk a couple of streets away from the centre of Aspen and you’ll find some wonderful “locals” restaurants which are very reasonably priced – The Bangkok Happy Bowl is tiny, but has authentic Thai food (& you can get take away or free delivery), or try The Hickory House for wonderful BBQ ribs & more.
Aspen is famous for its nightlife & has a vibrant late-night scene. Spot the celebrities as you watch bands at Belly Up or dance the night away at Bootsy Bellows, owned by David Arquette, Courtney Cox’s ex-husband. Aspen even has the Wheeler opera house performing opera & live theatre, if that’s more your style or you want to treat yourself to a special evening out.
The on mountain restaurants have wonderful & varied food, quite unusual in US ski resorts – Bonnie’s on Ajax for example has been around forever & offers wonderful salads, chilli, apple strudel & to-die-for views from its legendary slope-side deck. Prices are surprisingly kept to a reasonable level on the slopes. When we were last in Aspen we were asking how could this be the case? For many of its on-mountain restaurants, Aspen has decided to deliver good quality food at reasonable prices to ensure guests have a great experience skiing & otherwise. Try the Elk Camp restaurant on Snowmass for example.
Little touches on the slopes make the whole ski experience so enjoyable – tissues at the lifts & sometimes complimentary orange juice or hot chocolate at the top of the lifts to warm you up, just when your hands are feeling chilly.
Aspen is far enough away from any large metropolitan area that it tends not to get the crowds at weekends & I’ve only ever seen lift queues at the start of an epic powder day! Normally slopes are quiet & lift queues rare.
Snowmass in particular has many ski in, ski out properties which again make life easy. Isn’t it wonderful to step out of you apartment or hotel room, click into your skis & go! Crestwood for example is true ski in, ski out right above the base area, making it quick & easy to hop on the slopes.
The modern “Treehouse” kids ski school & childcare centre is perfectly located at the base of the lifts in Snowmass, making it extremely convenient for parents to drop off their children in the morning & go skiing! It also makes it super easy for mum’s and dad’s to check in on their children during the day & maybe grab a bite to eat at lunchtime in the plaza cafes & restaurants nearby.
Snowmass is also home to the “skittles” officially called the “Sky Cab gondola”, which takes both skiers & non-skiers from Snowmass base village to the Snowmass mall area, a little way up the mountain. The skittles (so named because the lift is made up of 3 little gondolas in a row), runs into the evening, again making life easy for guests to access restaurants in either area even if you’re staying at the other.
Talking of ease of getting around, Aspen Snowmass has a wonderful bus system. It’s free & easy to use – the buses are marked with the
destinations they’re going to “Aspen Highlands” mountain or “Snowmass” for example & they run frequently into the evening.
All in all Aspen Snowmass does everything possible to make the skiing & après ski parts of your holiday run like clockwork. Rub shoulders with the rich & famous & live like them too, if only for a little while…!
UFO Boogie from THE FREAKS on Vimeo.
